Sound of Illinois takes 1st place in Illinois District Fall Contest, qualifies for International competition in Portland, Oregon, in 2012.
SOI wins 2011 District to get tickets to 2012 International in Portland!
Bloomington — The Sound of Illinois (SOI) barbershop chorus of Bloomington will represent the state in international competition next summer for the fifth straight year after winning Saturday’s (Sept.24) contest. And for the second straight year, the state champion quartet comes from SOI.
In contest sessions at Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA), the SOI chorus topped a field of eight to earn a berth in next year’s Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) contest in Portland, Ore. Other choruses included Northbrook (2nd), Naperville (3rd), Rockford (4th), Lombard (5th), Sterling-Rock Falls (6th), Elgin (7th), and Springfield (8th). Waldorf Hair Company, an SOI quartet, won the state quartet championship in a field of 14. Last year’s quartet winner, After Hours, also is an SOI quartet.
SOI Director Terry Ludwig not only led the 80-man chorus to an unprecedented fifth consecutive spot in international competition, he also sang tenor in the winning quartet. Other members of the foursome: Tim Pashon, lead; Craig Ahlgrim, baritone; Bret Reinthaler, bass.
Five other SOI quartets placed in the top 10 (listed tenor, lead, baritone, bass):
3rd – Sound Opportunity: Dennis Grube, Clay Martin, Rich Hansen and Matt Trusner.
4th – The Committee: Bryan Jonsrud, Matt Carlen, Mark Sheffler and Brett Mulford.
7th – Ringtime: Derek Gilbert, Jeff Bowyer, Tim Woodall and Michael Bell.
8th – Odyssey: Ting Pong Chan, Bruce Richardson, Rich Howell and Chris St. Louis.
10th – Circle of Friends: Hugo Feugen, Bob Squires, Don Smit and David Brady.
Other highlights:
- SOI was judged the “most entertaining” chorus by a lay panel of audience members.
- The “Music Man Award”, which recognizes a member’s lifetime contributions to quartetting, went to Bloomington’s second chorus director Floyd Connett, who died in 1963. Last year’s winner was SOI member Jim Stahly of Normal.
