Don Barnick is a two-time gold medal champion, first on tenor with Grandma’s Boys and then as bass of Keepsake. A renowned tagger, he is a legendary tag teacher and lover of traditional barbershop singing. He does not, however, understand the phrase “just one more…” |
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Jay Butterfield has been active in BHS as a top 20 quartet singer, medalist (3rd) Chorus Director, Singing Judge, coach, faculty at Harmony University and at harmony schools in Germany, England, Ireland and throughout the US and Canada. He holds a Bachelor degree in Voice Performance, a Masters in Choral Conducting/Performance and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Jay sings baritone in the NSC quartet Goin' Coastal, and directs Palmetto Vocal Project. |
A 25-year Harmony University Faculty member and Dean of the Directors College at HU for eight years, Don Campbell has 53 years of experience as a conductor, music educator, voice teacher, clinician, and coach. He earned his B.A. from Cal State Fullerton, M.A. from Cal State Fresno, and his D.M.A. from Arizona State University. |
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Beverly Greene is a Certified Leadership Facilitator for BHS, VP-Communications for the Carolinas District, former Dean of their Leadership Academy, and part of the leadership faculty at HU. She has served on many advisory teams and groups within BHS. Bev holds a degree in Organization Development. |
Brandon Guyton is a two-time International gold medalist (Four Voices, Crossroads). He is currently a certified Singing judge and is the director of the Sound Of Tennessee chorus in Cleveland, TN. |
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Becki Hine is a Master 700 Director of the Song Of Atlanta Show Chorus. She has directed SOA since 1993 and is in high demand as a coach and creative artist. She is a Certified Judge in the Visual Communications category of Sweet Adelines International. |
Clay Hine is the director of the Atlanta Vocal Project. He is an International gold medalist (FRED), a certified Music judge, a renowned Society arranger, and a 45-year member of the Society. |
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During his 29 years of barbershop singing, Aaron Hughes has won four district quartet championships and the 2016 international quartet championship singing baritone with Forefront, has held multiple leadership positions in the Cardinal District QCA, and has taught multiple classes and coached many groups all around the world. |
Kevin Hughes is the lead of the 2016 international quartet champions Forefront and brings a strong musical background with him. That includes performing in other top-rated Cardinal District quartets as well as directing the Illinois Statesmen Chorus and Banks of the Wabash Chorus. |
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Mark Kettner is the Musical Director for the Appalachian Express Chorus in North East Tennessee. He has been a barbershopper for over 30 years. Mark is a certified Performance Judge, as well as being former Category Specialist of the Performance Category. |
Mark Lamback is the former baritone of the three-time medalist quartet State Line Grocery. He also won the college quartet contest in 1998 singing tenor with Prime Cut. A former school chorus teacher, Mark now is the full-time minister of music at Dunwoody United Methodist Church, north of Atlanta. |
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Brian O’Dell is the bass of Forefront, the 2016 international quartet champion. He has earned medals in the international chorus contest. Brian is known as a great performer and is a certified Performance Judge. |
Dylan Oxford has been a front-line director since 2012. A 30-year member of BHS. Dylan has taken on most of the musical leadership roles the BHS has to offer. He won District Quartet Champion pins singing three different voice parts, culminating in three international bronze medals as tenor with State Line Grocery. As a coach and certified music judge for BHS, he has traveled the world providing instruction. |
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Gary Plaag is a renowned performance and communication skills coach, and a Performance Judge for 21 years. He is a Mid-Atlantic District quartet champion and a 5-time international quartet contest participant. A faculty member at Harmony University for 17 years, Gary is an active international chorus and quartet coach, working with youth and adult, male, female and mixed quartets and choruses around the world. He has served on the HFI Board of Trustees and the BHS Board of Directors. |
Tim Reynolds is an International medalist on two different voice parts (lead of Riptide, tenor of A Mighty Wind, Category 4, and Brouhaha). He is currently a certified Singing judge and associate director of the Atlanta Vocal Project. |
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Mike Slamka sings the lead part, and he made his mark as the lead of Power Play and Crossroads. Mike also directs the perennial International SAI finalist, Spirit of the Gulf Chorus. |
Long-time barbershopper Jim Tarantino is a Carolinas District champion and a tag master of the highest order. He knows all the standards and more than enough funky ear candy to delight and challenge you all weekend. |
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Mike Tipton is a three-time DIX district champion on two different voice parts. He sang lead in the 1990 champ quartet Sound Standard and baritone with the 2000 champs Overture. Most recently, he sang lead with the 2016 champs Pinstripe. |
A barbershopper for over 50 years, Larry Triplett is a former music teacher who has been arranging that whole time. He has directed numerous groups over the years, including the NSC senior chorus, The Carolina Statesmen, and has served on the faculty of Harmony University. |
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Drew Wheaton is the tenor of the 2016 International Barbershop Quartet champions, Forefront, and baritone of the 2022 5th Place International Barbershop Quartet, First Take. He holds bachelors of music degrees from McGill University and a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Louisville, directing youth barbershop camps, and teaching at various contemporary a cappella workshops and camps. |
Curly is the reigning 2022 International Chorus Champion Show Dog from the Music City Chorus and has his own gold medal. At the 2022 International Convention, Curly received a standing ovation for making sure Forefront nailed their entrance and exit. He is the 2022 Barberdoggie of the Year and has 7 Pups of note. | ![]() |
Class | Faculty | Description |
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Session 1: Friday, 8:00-10:00 pm | ||
Music Theory 1 | Larry Triplett | Music theory fundamentals: note names, durations, major and minor scales, key signatures. This course assumes knowledge of note names in at least treble or bass clef. |
Tag Singing | Don Barnick & Jim Tarantino | This isn't your ordinary tag session! You'll sing great tags, and also learn some craft and barbershop history. Don and Jim have handpicked their favorite tags, one from each decade since the Society's founding, to highlight the evolution of the Barbershop style. |
Building Voices | Drew Wheaton | From body alignment to tone and resonance, we build the voice form the ground up to achieve a freely-produced sound. |
Conducting Techniques | Don Campbell | A class for front-line and assistant directors to develop and/or refine conducting techniques to better communicate to your choruses through gesture. Dr. Don will adapt his teaching to the individual needs of each director. If possible, please bring Barberpole Cat Songbook Volume I and/or II to use in class. |
How To Find Chapter Leaders | Bev Greene | What makes a leader step up and take responsibility for a project, or volunteer for specific jobs that will make for a stronger singing community? How can we find, encourage, help members to grow in leadership and responsibilities? |
Session 2: Saturday, 9:15-11:15 am |
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How To Be A Great Tenor | Drew Wheaton | Tips and insights from the tenor of Forefront quartet. |
How To Be A Great Lead | Kevin Hughes | Tips and insights from the lead of Forefront quartet. |
How To Be A Great Bari | Aaron Hughes | Tips and insights from the baritone of Forefront quartet. |
How To Be A Great Bass | Brian O'Dell | Tips and insights from the bass of Forefront quartet. |
Basic Barbershop Arranging | Larry Triplett | How to use chords to support a given melody. Discussion of chord voicings, chord types, and common chord usage. This class assumes your knowledge of basic barbershop chords—triads and seventh chords. |
Directors Seminar | Don Campbell | An extension of the Conducting Techniques class or as a stand-alone class. We will discuss issues pertaining to directing including, but not limited to gesture, vowel agreement, vocal/choral pedagogy, riser placement, etc. |
Session 3: Saturday, 12:40-2:40 pm | ||
Music Theory 2 | Larry Triplett | Music theory chord fundamentals: types of chords used in barbershop, and some common voicings and progressions |
Tag Singing | Don Barnick & Jim Tarantino | This isn't your ordinary tag session! You'll sing great tags, and also learn some craft and barbershop history. Don and Jim have handpicked their favorite tags, one from each decade since the Society's founding, to highlight the evolution of the Barbershop style. |
Vocal Production | Brandon Guyton | Ever wonder what the difference is between "lock" and "ring"? Learn basic vocal production techniques as well as how to ensure that you are generating a freely produced and naturally resonant tone (even if you are a baritone). |
Let It Move You! | Becki Hine | Learn how to use physicality to enhance the character and delivery of your musical performance. Bring your eyebrows! |
Learn Songs Fast | Drew Wheaton | Effective and efficient practice techniques to best utilize learning tracks to learn songs quickly, and correctly the first time. |
How To Find Chapter Leaders | Bev Greene | What makes a leader step up and take responsibility for a project, or volunteer for specific jobs that will make for a stronger singing community? How can we find, encourage, help members to grow in leadership and responsibilities? |
Session 4: Saturday, 3:00-5:00 pm | ||
Vocal Production | Drew Wheaton | Ever wonder what the difference is between "lock" and "ring"? Learn basic vocal production techniques as well as how to ensure that you are generating a freely produced and naturally resonant tone (even if you are a baritone). |
So You've Learned A New Song, Now What? | Brian O'Dell | How to approach your performance of a song in order to get the most out of it. |
Inside The Music | Clay Hine | Take a deep dive into high-level performances examining why/how certain chord progressions, embellishments, and artistic musical choices have significant audience impact. |
Review Of International Videos | Aaron Hughes | Participate in discussions of interesting and notable international quartet and chorus performances. |
Creative Thinking Workshop | Bev Greene | Why you continually need to be exploring "What's next?" and some roles and tools to assist in your Singing Community's future. Bring your ideas of possibilities. |
Care Of The Senior Voice | Don Campbell | Why can’t I sing like I did when I was younger? What is happening in and to my vocal folds? How can I strengthen my voice? Have you ever asked yourself those questions? Dr. Don will offer guidance in traversing taking care of your voice as you “approach middle age.” |
FRIDAY | ||
3:00 | 7:00 | Check-in (Dinner on your own) |
7:30 | 8:00 | Opening General Session |
8:00 | 10:00 | Class Session #1: Theory 1 / Tag Singing / Building Voices / Conducting Techniques / How To Find Chapter Leaders |
10:00 | Until | Ice Cream Social - Quartet Parade |
SATURDAY | ||
7:00 | 9:00 | Breakfast |
9:15 | 11:15 | Class Session #2: How To Be A Great Tenor-Lead-Bari-Bass / Basic Arranging / Directors Seminar |
11:15 | 12:45 | Lunch |
12:40 | 2:40 | Class Session #3: Theory 2 / Tag Singing / Vocal Production / Let It Move You! / How to Find Chapter Leaders / Learn Songs Fast |
3:00 | 5:00 | Class Session #4: Inside the Music / Creative Thinking / So You've Learned A Song, Now What? / Care Of The Senior Voice / Review Of International Videos |
6:00 | 7:00 | Dinner |
7:30 | 9:30 | The BIG SHOW! |
10:00 | Until | Afterglow & Pizza Party |
SUNDAY | ||
7:00 | 9:00 | Breakfast |
Schedule subject to change based on final planning committee tweaking.