Wombat in Philly

[BRWombat]

Early start to the day and a looong drive across Pennsylvania and Ohio, and now we're in Cincinnati visiting friends of Becky's that she hadn't seen in 20 years. Home in two days!

I just realized that I'll need to update the VM pic in my signature now -- but not much! :( :p:

[BRWombat]

Okay, I'm back home, caught up on the thousands of SGT posts that I missed while I was away, and thought I'd share some details of my trip to Philly. Overall, the trip was amazing. I mean, obviously the biggest disappointment was not winning the gold. We actually hit a new high score again, but then were topped by a chorus who sang near the end of the contest. <SIGH>

The second biggest disappointment? Coming home it was my first time driving through Kentucky, and I did not see any grass that looked even remotely blue. So, not that many negatives. :D:

Had a wonderful time traveling with my wife and two boys -- spending 6-1/2 days in the car together could have been a nightmare, but it was actually really enjoyable, and we saw some amazing and beautiful country along the way. We had some great visits with friends we hadn't seen in a while, visited some incredible historic places, and made some memories that will last for a long while.

Philadelphia was an incredible host city -- very warm and welcoming, and the convention itself was a blast. We got to meet DragonFox and her daughter at one rehearsal, sang to but didn't get to meet NearPhilly at another. And we got some real cheesesteaks at Tony Luke's (thanks for the tip, leftcoaster!) -- so tasty! (And thanks for the ordering guide, NearPhilly! I made sure to know what I wanted before I got to the window, and the lady taking orders was still able to enter the order faster than I could talk.)

While we didn't get the gold, I came away with some experiences that will live in my heart forever. Jim Henry, the director of last year's champion chorus the Ambassadors of Harmony as well as bass of last year's champion quartet Crossroads, has spoken of "gold medal moments," times and experiences that far outweigh winning any contest. I was blessed to have three of those in Philadelphia, and I will share them with you (my online family!) in future posts.

I love and appreciate each of you here, and thank you again for your interest and support. I guess before too long I'll be starting a "Wombat in Kansas City" thread -- that's where the convention is next summer!

[hobie16]

I guess before too long I'll be starting a "Wombat in Kansas City" thread -- that's where the convention is next summer!

With this much advanced notice you should get plenty of travel tips. :D:

[BRWombat]

Gold Medal Moment #1:

This takes a bit of setup, particularly a reminder of last year's contest. When the Ambassadors of Harmony from St. Charles MO won last year, they considered it bittersweet -- they were happy to win, but hated to do it by beating the VM. In competitions in most other fields teams often despise each other, but not in the barbershop world. While we scrap for every point onstage, there is a lot of love and respect backstage, and the top directors, arrangers and leaders from various groups are always available to share arrangements and coach each other. The end result is more a brotherhood than a sports league, although we all really want to win and work hard to do so.

It was a natural response for us, but the Vocal Majority generated a lot of goodwill last year, both throughout the Barbershop Harmony Society and with the Ambassadors, by applauding the champs and not being sour losers. Well, this year it paid off in several ways, and this is my favorite:

Last Thursday, July 1, the VM was nearing the end of our morning rehearsal. Now, it's become a tradition that the previous year's winning chorus do something for each of the competing choruses, usually in the form of medallions for each man to carry on stage. So it was no surprise when a few of the Ambassadors showed up at our rehearsal that morning. Of course, it was pretty special that the ones who showed up were their director, Jim Henry, their associate director, David Wright (who had coached us and also arranged our uptune), their baritone section leader Brandon Guyton (who also coached us), and a few others. They stood in front of the risers and Jim Henry addressed the VM, telling us about the medallions they had for us to take with us.

And then he said this: "We usually send a delegation of 3 or 4 men to each chorus to hand out the medallions. But for the mighty VM, that just won't do. Guys?!"

At that, the back doors to our rehearsal room opened, and every single man in the 160-strong Ambassadors of Harmony came streaming into the room, clapping and cheering for us! It was overwhelming. Each man in AoH then found his counterpart on our risers and personally presented the medallion to him.

We ended up performing for them, and then we combined to sing "Harmony," as we did together with the Masters of Harmony at the Harmony Foundation Presents show in Anaheim last year. (It's another connection between our groups -- it's an original song composed by their associate director David Wright for the Vocal Majority many years ago.)

All in all it was a tremendous lovefest between our two choruses, and we came away feeling like champions already, whatever the next day's contest held.

(Still to come, gold medal moments 2 & 3!)

[BRWombat]

PICTURES!!! here:[/B]

http://s904.photobucket.com/albums/ac24 ... =slideshow

[DisneyMom]

LOVED the slideshow, Wombat! :)

[Main Streeter]

http://s904.photobucket.com/albums/ac24 ... =slideshow

Wombat, your pix are Gold! Kentucky Blue grass is @ churcill Downs. ;) :horse3:

[BRWombat]

Wombat, your pix are Gold! Kentucky Blue grass is @ churcill Downs. ;) :horse3:

Ah, thanks. But then, we went through Louisville... :)

For anyone who hasn't browsed through my photos, here's a pic of gold medal moment #1:



Gold Medal Moment #2:

With apologies in advance to any of you who are not followers of Jesus, but this was an amazing moment to me and others spiritually -- and I dare say even if the spiritual aspect didn't touch some people who witnessed it, the musical moment was still amazing.

The scene: in the auditorium at the Pennsylvania Convention Center last Saturday night, at the end of the quartet finals. We've spent the evening listening to the top ten quartet finalists -- all wonderful -- and are waiting to hear the results. But while the judges numbers are analyzed, last year's champion quartet, Crossroads, gets to perform a swan song. They are given fifteen minutes to sing, talk, thank people, whatever they want to do.

They come out to wild applause and launch right away into their contest ballad from last year, "Lucky Old Sun" (the video of which can still be found here -- see it if you haven't already). It's incredible and moving, perhaps more powerful than anything we've heard from this year's finalists. But that's not the moment. They thank many people for helping them through the years and then sing yet another song. Also not the moment.

Then Jim Henry speaks about how they have, between the four of them, twelve children, nine of them girls, and two grandchildren. They also speak of their Christian faith and say that they are giving all the glory to God and their savior Jesus Christ (huge applause at this, btw -- there is diversity within the barbershop ranks, but as a whole they are a big "God and country" crowd), and they would be remiss if they didn't give thanks to God for the many ways He has blessed them. And they've asked their families to give them a hand on the last number.

With that, the curtains part, and a swarm of people joined them on stage -- their four wives, three sons, eight daughters (one couldn't make it), and two grandchildren (one of them still a toddler being held).



As the cheers die down, three daughters step to the microphone and begin a beautiful three-part harmony on the Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow... (Religious and patriotic music both are not allowed in the contest, but returning champs pretty much have free rein to perform what their heart desires.)

The entire family sings on the second and third verses -- just magnificent harmony, obviously a very musical family and completely from the heart. That alone would have been enough... but there was even more to come!

The group finishes the third verse and modulates to a higher key, and as they return to repeat the first verse, the curtains fly open behind them and the lights come up -- and there is the entire Ambassadors of Harmony chorus on the risers joining them. I tell you, jaws were on the floor and tears were flowing throughout the arena, even if the content of the song didn't touch you (which it did for me and many, many others). So, lets see -- 160 men in AoH, 4 in Crossroads, 4 wives, 11 children, 2 grandchildren (okay, the baby wasn't singing. Probably) -- 180 voices raised in harmony, praising God. It was... beyond words to describe.



It was amazing, overwhelming, and something I will remember and treasure a long, long time!

[Lasolimu]

With apologies in advance to any of you who are not followers of Jesus, but this was an amazing moment to me and others spiritually -- and I dare say even if the spiritual aspect didn't touch some people who witnessed it, the musical moment was still amazing.

That does sound amazing and you are well aware on my stance on the religious area. Being a musician, I would have fallen into the category of those who would be touched by the musical aspect. I am well aware of this as I went to WDW around Christmas a couple of years ago and, of course, the Candlelight Processional was a must. I might not have been touched by the story or the lyrics, but the beauty of the music is more than enough to get me going.

[BRWombat]

That does sound amazing and you are well aware on my stance on the religious area. Being a musician, I would have fallen into the category of those who would be touched by the musical aspect. I am well aware of this as I went to WDW around Christmas a couple of years ago and, of course, the Candlelight Processional was a must. I might not have been touched by the story or the lyrics, but the beauty of the music is more than enough to get me going.

As always, we disagree on a lot, but I deeply appreciate the respect you show when discussions hit on these matters!

Okay, on to the final installment -- perhaps of this whole thread:

Gold Medal Moment #3:

The scene: Friday evening, after the chorus competition and the announcement that we had missed the gold medal for the second year in a row. The men of the Vocal Majority and our families have gathered back in our rehearsal room. When we're all here, families stay in the chairs, and the VM heads to our place on the risers.

A lot of what happens next is expected -- encouraging talks from our leadership about disappointment in the results but not us, not our performance; how we did everything asked of us and more; how we set a yet another high score. That before last year's performance in Anaheim, no chorus had ever been awarded a "100" by a judge at the International, and we had three on our uptune, and this year had two more, one of them on our ballad, another first. That we set out to touch people and win the audience, and we did that.

Once again, we accomplished every goal we had set for ourselves that was within our power. The one that we didn't reach, the color of our medal, was out of our hands.

And so, we stand on the risers as brothers, smarting from the loss, yet proud of each other and cheering our leadership, particularly our longtime director, Jim Clancy, who is retiring from competition after 35 years -- and who in 14 International competitions led the VM to 11 gold medals and 3 silvers. It is, like last year, a bittersweet time.

We also take the time to acknowledge our families, who have given us such love and support, and who have endured our long hours away from home. (One of our members has a t-shirt I've long admired. It reads simply, "I can't. I have rehearsal." :) ) Jim speaks briefly to our family members, thanking them, and then turns to lead us in You Raise Me Up in their honor. The words fit perfectly:

[INDENT]When I am down, and oh my soul, so weary,
When troubles come, and my heart burdened be,
Then I am still, and wait here in the silence,
Until you come, and sit a while with me.[/INDENT]

Except... we don't even finish this first verse. Jim Clancy cuts us off, and I for one am a bit puzzled as to why. But Jim then turns away from us, back to the spectator seats, and says, "Wives, come join us on the risers. Families too." Everyone stays seated for just a second to digest this -- for the years of my membership, I've sung to my family many times but, with the exception of my older son Brandon who has come to a few VM rehearsals, never have they had the experience of being on the risers with me. And trust me, there is a world of difference.

We have 136 men performing here in Philly, and not every man has family with him, but those of us who do have enough that we are easily totaling over 200 on the risers. It's a tight squeeze, but absolutely wonderful in every way. My wife and boys climb up to the back row with me, she on my right, they on my left. Many other men around me have wives with them, some also have kids. It's not as comfortable packed in like this, but there is an overwhelming sense of family that more than compensates.

And then Jim steps back up to have us sing You Raise Me Up. I somehow find it easy to sing; other men are choking up. I glance away from Jim's direction briefly and note that some family members are singing along; others have their eyes closed and are just soaking up the experience of being in the middle of the music. There are very few dry eyes.

Continued...