Alex Gallafent

Alex Gallafent

Alex Gallafent is the New York-based correspondent for The World. His reporting has taken him to Swaziland, Turkey, Chile, and India, among other places.

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Ringmasters: A Swedish Barbershop Quartet

July 19, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment
Ringmasters Barbershop Quartet (Photo Credit: Shawn York)

Ringmasters Barbershop Quartet (Photo Credit: Shawn York)

The latest winner of the Barbershop Harmony Society’s quartet competition is Swedish.

Ringmasters, from Sweden, is the first quartet from outside North America to win the Society’s gold medal. Barbershop singing is a quintessentially American music and the Swedish singers spent years learning and refining their technique.

Ringmasters won the competition in Portland, Oregon earlier this month at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International convention.

The editor of The Harmonizer magazine, Lorin May, called their victory “unprecedented”.


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Discussion

7 comments for “Ringmasters: A Swedish Barbershop Quartet”

  • http://www.facebook.com/doug.weaver.739 Doug Weaver

    The Swedish Barbershoppers did very well in Portland. One of their quartets also won the Collegiate competition, and their chorus took fourth place in the chorus competition. They had a great week.

    In another sign of Barbershop becoming an international phenomenon, the second place quartet in Portland was from New Zealand. It was an amazing week.

  • SlickLead

    Ringmasters! are a very deserving champion this year.  On my card I had them winning a couple years ago.  We could indeed have another champ from another country next year if Musical Island Boys from New Zealand can take home the honors, certainly a possibility in that they have placed 2nd for the past two years.   SlickLead

  • http://twitter.com/martilovejoy Marti Lovejoy

    Actually, a quartet of Swedish women won the Sweet Adelines International championship in 1989 – the Growing Girls.  Two of them repeated in the quartet “Swinglish Mix” in 2002.  Several Swedish choruses have also won top awards.  Two quartets from New Zealand have won our “Rising Star” competition – this one consists of ladies age 25 or younger.  Backchat won in 2001 and The Fource won last year.

    • http://profiles.google.com/gallafent Alex Gallafent

      Hi Marti — thanks for adding these details. The international groups of Sweet Adelines International have been even more trailblazing than I said in the piece! All best wishes, Alex Gallafent (reporter)

    • DJ Brown

      Marti, There’s no question that the Swedish women rock the house. If you pay attention to this story by Alex, he states ”
      is the first quartet from outside North America to win the Society’s gold medal.” The Society is referring to the Men’s Society.  Sweet Adelines is a different but absolutely phenomenal organization. The talent is BOTH organizations continues to climb every year and new records are set by both women and men. Congrats, RIngmasters!!!! 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1373484763 Rob Campbell

    Also Marti, last year the Swedish group Ronninge Show Chorus made the highest score ever for an SAI set with their 1585. Melodeers won the overall contest 3091 to 3044, but for that second set it was all about the Swedish ladies!

  • 4MUSIC4

    Ringmasters performed at the Fly By Night Club in Fremantle, Western Australia last Saturday, 15 December 2012.  Absolutely brilliant.  They had such energy, perfection and skill. We look forward to them winning another competition and visiting Perth again.