Voices of Gotham
Voices of Gotham (VoG) is a competitive and performing chorus composed of approximately 60 singers from New York City and surrounding areas. VoG represents the Hell's Kitchen, New York chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, and is the 2012 & 2014 Mid-Atlantic District Chorus Champion. VoG most recently finished as the 10th best barbershop chorus in the world at the 2016 Barbershop Harmony Society Chorus Competition in Nashville, TN.
History
Voices of Gotham was founded by 12 charter members who met for their first rehearsal on January 8, 2008. After missing qualifying as a chorus wild card for the 2010 International Chorus Competition by a single point, VoG made its international debut as the mic tester. VoG repeated as mic tester for the 2011 Chorus Competition. Later in 2011, VoG won the District Chorus Championship to claim its first international berth going on to finish 18th in the 2012 Chorus Competition in Portland. VoG continued its international contest ascendancy by jumping 10 places in one year to tie for 8th and finish as the most improved chorus in the 2013 International Chorus Competition.
Founding Director Larry Bomback left the chorus due to a career opportunity after the chorus claimed its 2nd M-AD Chorus Championship (awarded in Fall 2013) and finished 15th at the 2014 BHS International Chorus Competition. After a lengthy search, William Stauffer Jr. (lead of M-AD District Quartet Champion DoubleTake) was selected as the new Musical Director in December 2015. In the first contest under a new director, VoG reached its highest contest placement to date with a 6th place finish at the 2015 BHS International Chorus Competition in Pittsburgh, PA.
Chorus Traditions
Voices of Gotham hosts an annual event called the Tin Pan Alley Novice Quartet Contest each year in varying locations in New York City. A large number of quartets, many assembled specifically for the event, sing one song each in pursuit of their goal to "Win the Tin." Despite the somewhat informal nature of the event, a panel of accredited judges from the Barbershop Harmony Society adjudicate the event. In addition to standard Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, the winning quartet is also awarded the coveted Tin Pan, an antique tin pan inscribed with the quartet names of all prior champions.
Partner Choruses
The Hell's Kitchen chapter is host to several choruses
Contest Placement
International
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MT | MT | 18th | T-8th | 15th | 6th | 10th | 10th | - | T-13th | - | 16th | - |
| - | - | 81.8 | 84.0 | 83.9 | 87.2 | 87.3 | 87.8 | - | 84.2 | - | 83.9 | - |
District
The Hell's Kitchen, NY chapter is a member of the Mid-Atlantic District.
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | 4th | 4th | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 4th | - | 2nd |
| 76.6 | 79.2 | 78.9 | 80.3 | 83.0 | 83.7 | 85.3 | 86.4 | 85.4 | 86.7 | 85.0 | 86.1 | 78.3 | - | 86.4 |