MANITOWOC – Manitowoc got a surprise dose of close harmony when Instant Classic — the 2015 International Champion Barbershop Quartet from Indianapolis — visited on Friday, April 17.
Presented by the Clipper City Chordsmen with support from a grant through the Association of International Champions, the group brought 17 years of singing together straight to local students.
Roncalli and Valders workshops reach 430-plus students
The quartet led hands-on workshops at Roncalli High School in the morning and Valders High School in the afternoon, reaching more than 430 students from fifth grade through high school.
Roncalli audiences also heard from the Fantastic Forte girls’ quartet from Two Rivers High School.
What makes barbershop a cappella ‘lock’ in perfect harmony
Between songs, Instant Classic broke down the barbershop sound — four parts tuned so tightly they can feel like one shimmering chord.
Then, they taught the room a tune and invited everyone to sing, so students could feel that classic moment when harmonies “lock” together.
Two Rivers stop honors the legendary Schmitt Brothers
During their lakeshore weekend, the quartet toured the Schmitt Brothers Stage in Central Park in Two Rivers — and sang a selection from the Schmitt Brothers’ first album to mark the group’s milestone anniversary of their 1951 international title.
Instant Classic members called the visit “incredible,” praising how the community remembers the Schmitts’ legacy.
Chordsman Bill Fricke summed up the day’s vibe: a little more harmony — onstage and off — can go a long way.
Find more about the Clipper City Chordsmen at https://clippercitychordsmen.org/.
Contact Brandon Reid at breid@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Instant Classic teaches harmony to 430 students at Roncalli, Valders
Reporting by Brandon Reid, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
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