Ambassadors of Harmony

The Ambassadors of Harmony (AOH) is a 130+ member men's barbershop chorus, based in St. Charles, Missouri. The chorus won International Championship gold medals in 2004, 2009, and 2012, each time singing two arrangements by David Wright, under the direction of Dr. Jim Henry, and then again in 2016, under the co-direction of Jonny Moroni & Dr. Henry. Their 2009 victory broke a nearly three-decade winning streak by the Vocal Majority. The Ambassadors are the current reigning champions, having won the contest in July 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Contents

• Ambassadors of harmony top of the world medley 2016 international barbershop chorus champions
• Ambassadors of harmony 2009 international barbershop chorus champions
• Municipal Opera performances
• Other performances
• Youth Activities
• International performances
• Discography
• Selection of songs list
• Awards and recognition
• Songs
• References

Since 1994, the Ambassadors of Harmony Chorus has won top honors in the every district chorus competition they have entered for the 5-state Central States District of the Barbershop Harmony Society (formerly known as SPEBSQSA, Inc). In this period the AOH acquired four 4th place, five 3rd place, and three 2nd place medals in international chorus competition, as well as the 2004, 2009, 2012, and 2016 gold medals.

At the BHS international chorus contest in July 2007, the group tied for first place with the Westminster Chorus. The winner was then determined by the singing category score, earning AOH its first silver medal. The group won another silver medal in the July 2008 international contest in Nashville, Tennessee, then won their second gold medal in July 2009 in Anaheim, California. Their third gold medal was won in 2012 in Portland, Oregon. Their fourth gold medal was won in 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee.

The group was formed in 1963 as the Daniel Boone Chorus with 26 members, and became a member of SPEBSQSA (the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America) the following year. The chorus changed its name to the Ambassadors of Harmony in 1990 following its first international competition. The chorus was directed by noted arranger and mathematician David Wright (now assistant director) from 1981 to 1990 and again in 1999 to 2000 and has been directed from 1991 to 1999 and since 2001 by Dr. Jim Henry (now co-director), bass singer of the 1993 International Quartet Champion, The Gas House Gang, and the 2009 International Quartet Champion, Crossroads. Since 2013, the group's co-director has been Jonny Moroni, baritone of Vocal Spectrum, the BHS 2006 International Quartet Champion & 2004 International College Quartet Champion. The chorus is noted for its crisp choreography and its broad demographics.

The chorus continues to expand its reputation as a premier arts organization while expanding both the depth and breadth of how they engage their audience. Their Christmas shows continue to be among the most popular holiday concerts in St. Louis, averaging over 7,000 patrons per year, while their youth programs continue to expand and equip young singers in substantive ways. The chorus has established a foundation to ensure that its mission to youth will continue to deepen, and as of 2017 it added an annual fundraising Gala to its calendar to engage the community to join in their goals.