Spirit of Harmony quartets at BABS Quartet Prelims 2017

Every year the British Association of Barbershop singers holds Quartet Prelims: an open quartet competition in which men's groups from across the country compete for a place in the national semi-final.

This year, Spirit of Harmony was represented in:

• Trigger's Broom - 2017 Senior Quartet Champions
• Waikikamukau - 2017 3rd Place Senior Quartet

Additionally, the Prelims weekend included the final round of the National Mixed Voice Quartet Contest. We were well-represented in this contest too, with Delekate and Pick 'n' Mix both making an appearance, and achieving great scores.

Sadly 4 On Demand, who were due to sing at Prelims, were unable to sing due to ill health on the day.

Congratulations to all the quartets who competed, particularly the Mixed Quartet medal winners, and the gentlemen fortunate enough to achieve a place in the semi-final!

4 On Demand place 6th in Europeans

Spirit of Harmony’s own quartet, 4 On Demand, were invited to represent the British Association of Barbershop Singers at the European Barbershop Quartet Competition in Bournemouth, on 29th October 2017.

We’re very pleased to report that 4OD finished 6th overall in the male competition - an excellent result for them as they prepare to enter the first round of the 2017/18 British national contest in just 2 weeks.

This was alongside 4 Gold Medals in National and European contests for our MD, Sally.

Local choirs raise £1000 for Leeds hospice

A panoply of choirs, including Spirit of Harmony, performed at St Edmund’s church in Roundhay, North Leeds on Friday in aid of St Gemma’s Hospice.

The event was a great success, raising a grand total of £1051.

Spirit of Harmony performed a 4-song set as part of a packed programme which included other local groups like Vocologee, Sally’s Army, and Good In Parts Community Choir.

Steve Jamison visits from the US

Spirit of Harmony is fortunate enough to have been coached by many great barbershoppers. One of those is Steve Jamison, who has been a judge with the Barbershop Harmony Society for nearly 40 years.

Steve is most famous in the UK for being one of the architects of the White Rosettes’ success - he has coached them for the last 10 years, during which they have consistently performed at an A-level standard.

We have been lucky enough to have worked with Steve on a few occasions, most recently on 15th June 2017. It was a great night - thanks so much to Steve for donating his time and boundless expertise!

Quartet success at BABS 2017

Spirit of Harmony is fortunate enough to be home to a number of great quartets. After a successful quartet prelims in November 2016, 3 of our quartets made it into the UK top 16, which earned them a place in the 2017 Semi-Finals.

This round took place on Friday 26th May, and all 3 of our quartets did themselves and Spirit very proud! In the toughest semi-final in competition history, under the scrutiny of an international panel of judges, South Parade achieved a great score of 64.2%, and Blueprint were awarded 69% and 13th place overall. 4 On Demand (current National Youth Champions) achieved a 73.3% score, which placed them in the UK top 6 and took them through to the final.

In the final on Sunday 28th May, 4OD came 6th with an average score across the 2 rounds of 72.1%. This is a great result and the highest score they’ve achieved to date.

We look forward to the next National Prelims in November 2017, where we hope to see another fantastic Spirit of Harmony representation.

Spirit of Harmony Represented at York Community Choir Festival

After the success of the inaugural York Community Choir Festival in 2016, Spirit of Harmony were invited to make a return performance.

We sent 4 On Demand - 2016 National Youth Quartet Champions - along with a scratch quartet formed of Spirit of Harmony members to represent the chorus in the matinee concert on 1st April at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.

The festival was once again a great success, and it was fantastic to perform alongside some of York's best choirs.

4 On Demand and 'SHQ' perform Is This the Way to Amarillo? to close their set.

4 On Demand become youngest ever Youth Champions

4 On Demand - Spirit of Harmony's resident youth quartet - came back from Manchester with the 2016 National Youth Quartet Championship in tow.

With an average age of less than 19, they are the youngest quartet to ever win the contest, which has been running since 2008.

Their average score of 71.3% also qualified them for a place in the 2017 National Semi-Finals, which take place in Bournemouth in May, in conjunction with the national chorus competition.