Three University of Kentucky School of Music students earned international recognition at the 2024 International Varsity Quartet Contest in Cleveland, Ohio, this summer. The group’s barbershop quartet FreshF placed 16th in the Next Generation category at the contest, hosted by Barbershop Harmony Society.
FreshF is comprised of choral music education undergraduates Jayden Bowman, and Jackson Staton, choral music education and music performance undergraduate Zachary McCord, and Chase Miller, Bluegrass Community and Technical College student. Bowman, Staton, and McCord are also members of the UK Men’s Chorus and the AcoustiKats.
The bass singer of the group, Zach McCord, says FreshF was among the youngest quartets to compete. “The age range of this contest is 18-25 years old, and we were informed that we are among the youngest quartets to ever compete (the mean age of the quartet is 19). It was an amazing contest and convention!”
Following qualifying preliminary events and video submissions, the quartet competed regionally in the Cardinal District (Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio) and placed second across the district.
“It was after that contest last October that we were approached by some great friends of ours about submitting a video to the international collegiate contest,” says McCord. “The group has five more years to compete in the collegiate contest before we age out, and we have heard from many past champions that they expect us to take home the gold in the next few years.”
Until then, he says FreshF will perform in regional and international competitions, and plans to host a benefit concert in the near future to raise money for the next international convention in Denver, CO.
FreshF’s performance of “Till There was You,” from The Music Man and “Many Tears Ago,” by Michael Webber is available to view online.
Founded in 1938 as the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc., the Barbershop Harmony Society preserves and extends the reach of a uniquely American close harmony musical art form whose roots lie in African-American improvisation and European harmony traditions. The organization provides active programs and resources in music education, publishing, performance, and community outreach.