Full Effect members, from left, Brett Beard, Andrew Easterling, Wyatt McCarter, and Caleb Hayes
This March, Full Effect, a Lee University music students’ barbershop quartet, was seeded for first place in the Next-Generation Varsity Quartet Contest through the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Andrew Easterling and Wyatt McCarter, current students at Lee, formed Full Effect in August of 2022 alongside Caleb Hayes, a Lee alumnus, and Brett Beard. They have since performed at several venues in the Cleveland and Chattanooga area, as well as across the Southeast.
“The guys and I truly felt a calling from the Lord to sing together, and it’s been an incredible journey so far,” said Mr. Easterling. “Getting to sing with my best friends is such a blessing, and we’re so excited to show the world what we have been working on!”
Contestants submit recordings of two acapella songs sung in front of a live audience. Full Effect, one of 20 competitors to be chosen to compete in the national convention, submitted “You’re a Heavenly Thing,” a song made famous by Louis Armstrong and Cleo Brown.
“Even in the short amount of time we’ve been singing together, we have seen tremendous growth in our music,” said Mr. McCarter. “It is a great honor to qualify for first, and we’re excited for the challenge.”
The national competition will take place on July 5 in Louisville, Ky.
The Barbershop Harmony Society was founded in 1938 and seeks to promote an appreciation for the barbershop harmony style. The BHS is based in 17 districts in both the U.S. and Canada, as well as provides volunteer and internship opportunities. BHS also hosts annual competitions regionally, nationally, and internationally for its members.
For more information on BHS, visit barbershop.org.