The Ambassadors of Harmony (AOH) is a 120+ member men's barbershopchorus, based in St. Charles, Missouri. The chorus won International Championship gold medals in 2004,[1] 2009,[2] and 2012[3] – each time singing two arrangements by David Wright, under the direction of Dr. Jim Henry – and then again in 2016[4] and 2023,[5] under the co-direction of Jonny Moroni and Dr. Henry. Their 2009 victory broke a nearly three-decade winning streak by the Vocal Majority.[note 1][6]
Noted for its crisp choreography[7][8][9] and its broad demographics,[10][11][12][13][14][15] the chorus continues to expand its reputation as a premier arts organization[16][17][18] while expanding audience engagement. Their Christmas shows are among the most popular holiday concerts in St. Louis,[19] averaging over 7,000 patrons per year, while their youth programs continue to expand and equip young singers in substantive ways.[20] The chorus has established a foundation to ensure that its mission to youth will continue to deepen, and as of 2017 it added an annual fundraising gala to its calendar to engage the community to join in their goals.[20]
History
The chorus was formed in 1963[21] as the Daniel Boone Chorus with 26 members,[22][12][23] and became a member of SPEBSQSA (the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America Inc.)[24] the following year. The chorus changed its name to the Ambassadors of Harmony in 1990 following its first international competition.[25] The chorus was directed by noted arranger[26] and mathematician David Wright[27][13] (now associate director) from 1981 to 1990[22][28][29][30] and again in 1999 to 2000[31] and has been directed from 1991 to 1999[32] and since 2001[33] by Dr. Jim Henry (now co-director), bass singer of the 1993 International Quartet Champion, The Gas House Gang,[34][35][36] and the 2009 International Quartet Champion, Crossroads.[37] Since 2013, the group's co-director has been Jonny Moroni, baritone of Vocal Spectrum, the BHS 2006 International Quartet Champion and 2004 International College Quartet Champion.[38][39][40]
Barbershop Harmony Society medalists
The Ambassadors of Harmony performed their championship swan song set in 2005.
Since 1994,[41][42][43] the Ambassadors of Harmony Chorus has won top honors in every district chorus competition they have entered for the 5-state Central States District of the Barbershop Harmony Society (formerly known as SPEBSQSA, Inc).[44] In this period the AOH acquired four 4th place,[45] five 3rd place,[46][47][10] and five 2nd place medals in international chorus competition, as well as the 2004,[48][49] 2009,[6][50][51][37] 2012,[52][53] 2016,[11][54][55] and 2023 1st place gold medals.
At the BHS international chorus contest in July 2007, the group tied for first place with the Westminster Chorus. The winner was then determined by the singing category score, earning AOH its first silver medal.[56][57] The group won another silver medal in the July 2008 international contest in Nashville, Tennessee, then won their second gold medal in July 2009 in Anaheim, California. Their third gold medal was won in 2012 in Portland, Oregon. Their fourth gold medal was won in 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee, and their fifth in 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Acappellooza Fall – Begun in 2002, in partnership with the University of Missouri St. Louis, the program provides an opportunity for 1,100 high school students to take a day trip to work with director Dr. Jim Henry, be mentored by and hear a set by AOH.[110][111][112][113][114]
College Scholarship – ongoing since at least 1997, provides a scholarship for a male high-schooler from St. Charles County,[115][116][117] and since 2016 expanded to include St. Louis and St. Louis County[118]
Recruits Chorus – Formed in 2012, it is a mixed chorus for youth aged 9–25. The Recruits are co-directed by Keegan Eich and Eric Dalbey; they have competed in the BHS MidWinter contest.[119]
Acappellooza Summer – Since 2013, a four-day camp on the campus of UMSL, led by Dr. Jim Henry and Debbie Cleveland, teaching barbershop and a cappella singing[120][121][122][123]
Project Harmony St. Louis – Ambassadors encourage and mentor students at local high schools in barbershop quartetting[20]
AcaFest – The newest outreach, since 2016, an October gathering of local high school and college a cappella groups to form stronger relationships with the youth a cappella community. The first event took place on the campus of Missouri Baptist University.
International performances
Several international affiliate organizations of the Barbershop Harmony Society have invited AOH to perform at their gatherings.
"Seventy-Six Trombones" 2009 – As of 2023, AOH's performance of this song at the 2009 BHS International Chorus Contest still holds the record for highest score in the 'Performance' category for an individual song (99.6%)
^ abRao, Natalie (2016-07-20). "Song and Dance Men". Riverfront Times. p. 39. Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2016-09-15 – via issuu.com.
^Hamm, Harry (2016-12-11). "Total information AM weekend" (Podcast originally aired on KMOX 1120 AM). Play It Podcasts. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
^Cantrell, Scott (1993-05-21). "Barbershop choruses sing in 80-part harmony". Preview. Kansas City Star, The (Metropolitan ed.). p. H18 – via Newsbank.
^Currier, Joel; Kunz, Michael (May 2010). "The Harmonizer"(PDF). pp. 18–24. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2016-09-21 – via barbershop.org.
^Wright, David; Thomas, Jude (2016-03-12). "David Wright: A Conversation". Voices of Gotham. Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
^"Men's Chorus Places Sixth in Contest". St. Charles post. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 1989-07-26. p. 7SC. Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2016-09-17 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Chorus Places". St. Charles Post. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 1984-10-23. p. 3SC. Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2016-09-17 – via Newspapers.com.
^Fenning, Esther Talbot (1993-09-06). "Rich Knight: Making Gas House Harmony". St. Charles Post. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 1SC. Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2016-09-18 – via Newspapers.com.
^Viets, Elaine (1994-08-30). "Biker Barbershop? Weird But Real". Everyday. St. Louis Post Dispatch. p. 3D. Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2016-09-17 – via Newspapers.com.
^Kunz, Michael (November 2004). "The Harmonizer"(PDF). pp. 11–15. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved September 14, 2016 – via barbershop.org.
^Newmark, Judith; Bonetti, David; Johnson, Kevin C. (2007-07-15). "Award-winning harmony". Arts & Entertainment. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. F2. Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2016-09-18 – via Newspapers.com.
^Newmark, Judith (2000-06-11). "At the Muny, Bigger Is Better". A&E. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Five Star Lift ed.). p. F1. Retrieved 2016-09-14 – via Newsbank.
^Newmark, Judith (2003-08-06). "Sky's the Limit for This "South Pacific"". Everyday Magazine. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Five Star Late Lift ed.). p. E3. Retrieved 2016-09-15 – via Newspapers.com.
^Venhaus, Lynn (2009-07-22). "'Music Man' Charms Despite Some Weak Links". Regional/Business. Belleville News-Democrat. p. 9B – via Newsbank.
^Miller, Sarah Bryan (2014-02-14). "A Choral Celebration of St. Louis". Go!. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. GO4. Retrieved 2016-09-18 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Ambassadors of Harmony to perform tonight on televised singing contest". St. Charles County Journal. 2011-08-03 – via Newsbank.
^Sonderegger, John (2004-12-15). "Ambassadors bring magic touch to holidays". St. Charles Post. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Five Star Late Lift ed.). p. SC2. Retrieved 2016-09-14 – via Newspapers.com.
^Sieloff, Alison (2007-12-05). "Living in Harmony". Riverfront Times. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
^Fenning, Esther Talbot (1993-11-25). "Holiday Trimmings for Shoppers". St. Charles. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Five Star ed.). p. 4. Retrieved 2016-09-14 – via Newspapers.com.
^"You've Got Voice Male". St. Charles County Post. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Five Star Late Lift ed.). 2003-09-26. p. 02. Retrieved 2016-09-14 – via Newspapers.com.
^Lode-Gerke, Von Martina (8 March 2004). "Blendender Barbershop und gehaltvolle Shows". Kultur in Dortmund. Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. p. WDO 05.
^Lode-Gerke, Von Martina (8 March 2004). "Botschafter der Harmonie – dieser Name ist Programm". Kultur in Dortmund. Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. p. WDO 05.
