The Adirondack Harmony

Article by Kathleen Hay
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December 30, 2009

Williamstown - The sweet sounds of barbershop harmonies have sent a quartet with local connections back to an international competition.

The Adirondack Harmony Company, based in Massena, complete with baritone John Hamilton, of Williamstown, will participate in the International Seniors' Competition in Tampa. The ensemble won the honour to compete at the event after capturing the Seneca Land District Sr. Quartet Championship held earlier this fall in Rochester, N.Y.

It is the second time they will be traveling to Florida for the competition as they also won top honours at the Rochester in 2008. "We though we had improved from last year's performance in Rochester, so we were hoping to do better at this performance in Tampa," said Hamilton. "We were very pleased and excited when we did win. "We had prepared quite a lot for it.''

Also performing in the quartet are Lansing Laraway (lead), Ronal Prutzman (tenor) and Stanton Smith (bass). The Adirondack Harmony Company had to defeat 15 other quartets in the New York State contest to advance to Florida. "In Tampa, we'll compete against participants from 16 districts in North America, as well as eight wild card spots,'' ?Hamilton said. "I believe there's at least one coming from overseas, too.''

In last January's first foray to Florida, the quartet placed 15th, not too shabby for a first effort. "We were pleased, but this year we hope to be in the top 10.'' he continued. "I'd die if we were in the top five!"

Because of their outstanding effort in Rochester last year, the quartet was selected to attend Harmony University in St. Joseph's, Missouri, this past summer. There they spent an intense week being coached on stage various aspects of music including one-on-one sessions with world renowned barbershoppers. "One fellow would take our songs, then tweak the arrangements to improve them," explained Hamilton. "He was a world-class lead whom I respect immensely. "Another would videotape our performances, then we'd work on our stage presence.''

Hamilton met up with the American singers a few years ago. They had come over to Cornwall to catch a C-Way Sound Barbershop Chorus performance at Aultsville Theatre.
Adirondack Harmony Company shared a few songs with the local ensemble, then made an appeal for a new baritone, as their current one wanted to move on to a new endeavour.

"A quartet is very much like a marriage, it's a real commitment.'' joked Hamilton. "Except

• there's four people involved and no sex!"