Butterfield-Odin Public High School vocalists attend 11th annual Youth In Harmony events
The 11th annual Youth In Harmony Festival and Concert was held at the BARC (Business, Arts and Recreation Center) in Windom for the first time in its history this past Saturday, January 24. For the event’s previous 10 years, it was held at the Jackson County Central Public School’s Performing Arts Center in Jackon.
Attendees at the day-long activity were Butterfield-Odin Public High School vocalists Mackenzie Blickem, Julie Saunders, Alicia San Miguel, Wong Vue, Jordyn Connell and LaMar Sengsouvanh, along with Sarah Cartwright, the school’s vocal instructor. The Windom Area Chordhustlers hosted the event.
The day, which is open to all area high school students, began at 9 a.m. with clinics and rehearsals – and ended with a concert at 4 p.m. that included an eight-part mass barbershop chorus.
Guest clinicians this year were the Sweet Adelines’ quartet Medallion and the Barbershop Harmony Society quartet Grand Design. Medallion held clinics with the ladies while Grand Design worked with the men.
Featured groups in the concert were the Youth in Harmony Young Women’s and Young Men’s Choruses, as well as special selections by the guest quartets, along with the Chordhustlers.
The Youth In Harmony Festival is a celebration of barbershop music. Barbershop-style a capella music is uniquely an American musical art form. It is known for four-part harmony and “expanded sound” created by its consonance, unique chord structure and vocal placement.
