Photo courtesy of California State University, Long Beach.
6,000 people invaded Toronto for the 75th anniversary of the Barbershop Harmony Society’s international convention that spanned June 30 through July 7–and the four boys of the Cal State Long Beach barbershop quartet snatched the collegiate quartet championship.
The Newfangled Four–consisting of Joey Buss, tenor, from Huntington Beach; Jackson Niebrugge, lead, of Los Angeles; Ryan Wisniewski, baritone, of Las Vegas; and Jake Tickner, bass, of Discovery Bay–scored gold with their rendition of classics like “Georgia Mae.”
The win officially springboards the group into the larger, open division contest where they will compete with international acts like quartet winner Masterpiece and reigning champs Ringmaster of Stockholm.
Though only two are music majors, the foundation of their barbershop success can be traced to their involvement in the Westminster Chorus, which also looks to seek its third gold medal.
“We haven’t spent a lot of time with coaches,” said Buss. “Because singing with the chorus every week is like a clinic in barbershop excellence.”
The Barbershop Harmony Society’s midwinter convention will be held here in Long Beach; no other details have been announced.
The top five college quartets were, in order:
- The Newfangled Four, Cal State Long Beach
- The Sunny Boys, Bowling Green State University, Florida National University, Miami Dade College, Western Michigan University
- The Con Men, Capital University
- The New Edition, Schoolcraft College, University of Minnesota, University of Missouri- St. Louis
- Phantom Fifth, University of North Texas