Our Annual Non-Vacation, Vacation

Every year our family travels to a city in the U.S. for the annual Barbershop Harmony Socitey International Convention and Competition.  I have discussed this before, but for any newcomers, here is a basic breakdown:

My husband and I both sing in “barbershop” groups.  I sing in a chorus.  He directs a chorus and sings in a quartet.  If you don’t know what “barbershop” is, here is a technical definition:  The Barbershop Style

In the men’s organization, the Barbershop Harmony Society (or BHS for short) there are choruses and quartets all over the world.  Hundreds of choruses and thousands of quartets compete each year in a local district contest for the right to compete at the International Contest in July.  Both of Dave’s groups have qualified for several years now and we make the trip every year.  Last year our daughter was bitten by the barbershop bug and went along and this year our son joined the chorus and competed in his first competition.

This year’s contest was held in the ever so lovely Anaheim, Calfornia.  We went a day earlier than normal and were able to sqeeze a day and 3/4 in at Disneyland, then the rest of the week is consumed with contests and events for the convention.  Disney even had “Barbershop Day” at Disneyland and we were able to see some friends of ours sing in the park.  (More on the family vacation portion of this trip in another post).

I am happy and proud to say that both of “our” groups finished in the top 10 in the world.  At least the world of barbershop anyway.  The quartet (The Allies) finished 8th overall and were pleased with their scores.  They continue to improve each year.

I am even more proud and happy and excited and other words that I don’t even have, to say that the chorus finished 6th, just 6 points out of 5th place, which would have won them all a shiny bronze medal to wear home.  Jamison was a super-star.  He performed like a champ and made us all so proud.  He actually had people asking for his picture while we were making our way back to the hotel.

Obviously the chorus did songs from Willy Wonka.   They sang “Cheer Up Charlie” as a ballad and a medley of tunes for our second song.  We did a total scene change with some fun Oompa Loompa stuff and Charlie ran around literally like a kid in a candy store.  At the end he was raised up on dad’s shoulders and he directed the cut off of the song.  The crowd gave a HUGE standing ovation and I cried.  It was awesome.

Not a bad way to spend the third week of my recovery.  Luckily I have one more week of leave before I have to go back to work.  One week to catch up on my reading (how does a swanky Hilton not have free internet?) and other such things.  It is nice to be home, but damn the OC is a nice place.  The weather is absolutely perfect compared to Ohio.  I could easily see myself living there, so if Twenty Four At Heart ends up needing another pool boy, I may have to sign up for the job!