Harmony Explosion! 2024 exceeds expectations!

By Jerry Meier

Harmony Explosion! 2024 was held Saturday, Feb. 17, at Grace United Methodist Church in Olathe, Kan. I can honestly say it was much better than I expected!

Seventy-eight students from ten schools sang on stage in 19 quartets. Fourteen of the quartets earned GOLD medals; twelve of them performed in the afternoon Parade of Quartets Concert.

Barbershop Harmony Society 2023 NextGen Varsity Quartet Silver Medalist and Central States District Champion Tofu Concern was the featured quartet. Donell Torres, Austin Stevens, Sam Rinkenbaugh and Marshall Crowl enjoyed their first appearance as a featured quartet at Harmony Explosion after a long, adventurous journey from St. Louis.

The students really liked Tofu Concern's comments, their tags and their performances. Marshall was the emcee at his second Harmony Explosion. Sam Rinkenbaugh was at his third Harmony Explosion -- this time as a judge and featured quartet performer. The previous two times as lead and bass in his Augusta High School student quartets in 2017 and 2018.

We were pleased to hear the 2023 Central States District Novice Quartet Champion Gateway perform two songs at the afternoon concert. Tofu Concern and Gateway both qualified for the 2024 BHS Next Generation Varsity Quartet Contest in July in Cleveland, Ohio. Special shout out to Gateway baritone Cole Williamson (son of Pam Williamson and four-year Harmony Explosion participant at Olathe Northwest High School) for making time to sing in a competitive quartet, while going to college at Emporia State and rehearsing with members of Ambassadors of Harmony and Central Standard. He is in very good hands.

The newly crowned Barbershop Harmony Society Junior Varsity Champion Quartet highkey! from Wichita Northwest High School also sang for the students before lunch and again in the Parade of Quartets Concert. Maggie Vogt (tenor), Ayah Gharbi (lead), Cam Roberts (baritone) and Lea’cher Kennedy (bass) earned an Outstanding Rating at the BHS Midwinter Convention in New York City and GOLD medals at Harmony Explosion!

THANK YOU to the dozens of volunteers from BHS choruses Heart of America and Olathe Trails West and from Kansas City Chorus of Sweet Adelines who worked to produce the event, along with the staff at Grace United Methodist Church. I think everyone thoroughly enjoyed the event and had fun helping these students throughout the day.

THANK YOU to the vocal music teachers at these ten schools for sending their students to Harmony Explosion:

David Davis - Harmony Middle School (1 Quartet).
Cassie Southerland - California Trail Middle School (1 Quartet).
Pam Williamson - Olathe Northwest HS (2 Quartets).

Jason Cole - St. James Academy (5 Quartets).
Robin Christie - Bishop Miege HS (1 Quartet).
Elise Peterson - Olathe South HS (1 Quartet).

Austin Snell - Washington High School (1 Quartet).
Dr. Dwayne Dunn - Lawrence HS (1 Quartet).
Nicholas Franssen - Augusta HS (4 Quartets).
Michael Mays - Wichita Northwest HS (2 Quartets).

Medals were awarded to the following quartets:

8th Grade: GOLD Medal - Three Chips and a Guac (Harmony MS, Blue Valley)
8th Grade: GOLD Medal - Encore (California Trail MS, Olathe)

10th Grade: GOLD Medal - The Harmaniacs (Olathe Northwest High School)
10th Grade: GOLD Medal - The Fake Tenors (St. James Academy)
10th Grade: SILVER Medal - Sing-A Ladies (Bishop Miege High School)

12th Grade: GOLD Medal - Petey and the Squiggles (Olathe South High School)
12th Grade: GOLD Medal - Marvelous Melodies (St. James Academy)
12th Grade: GOLD Medal - High Voltage (St. James Academy)
12th Grade: GOLD Medal - All Naturals (Olathe Northwest High School)
12th Grade: GOLD Medal - Eleventh Hour (Augusta High School)
12th Grade: GOLD Medal - Draw 4 (Wichita Northwest High School)
12th Grade: GOLD Medal - Sunshine Sisters (Augusta High School)

12th Grade: GOLD Medal - Cherry Bomb (Wichita Northwest High School)
12th Grade: GOLD Medal - Hatune-Ah Fermata (Lawrence High School)
12th Grade: GOLD Medal - 5th Wheel Syndrome (Augusta High School)
12th Grade: SILVER Medal - Thunderous Harmony (St. James Academy)
12th Grade: SILVER Medal - Beauties and the Bass (Augusta High School)
12th Grade: SILVER Medal - Radiant Harmony (Washington High School)
12th Grade: SILVER Medal - Maybelles (St. James Academy)

SAVE THE DATE -- Harmony Explosion! 2025 will be held on Saturday, Feb. 22, at Grace United Methodist Church in Olathe, Kan. I will introduce a new, improved format in 2025 to encourage more student quartets to perform on stage. I can't wait to see you there next year!