Music Background
Hello and thank you for reviewing my musical education and experience!
I have been honing my musicianship over the past 'few' years, and strive daily to improve some aspect of my leadership, directing, singing, and coaching. I do my personal best to increase my own self awareness and share my observations of my own progress with others.
Allow me to provide you with a brief snap shot of my musical training.
My Youth:
1978-1980 I took voice lessons with Connie Friessen
1980-1990 I played tenor saxophone in concert, jazz and military bands
1990 I sang in Jazz choir and a vocal quartet “The Shadows” in my last year in Chilliwack Senior Secondary
1996 I started singing with High Country Harmony Chorus in Kamloops B.C.
I have attended schools on Directing with:
Charlie Metzger – Introduction to directing seminar fall 1998
Charlie Metzger – Directors of the future program 2004
Dale Syverson (SAI) Master Direction Class spring 2007
Mark Hale – Master Directing Class fall 2007
Mac Dalman (CDWI) – Chorus Directors Workshop Intensive 1 summer 2008
Kim Hulbert (SAI) - Master Directing Class spring 2008
Royce Ferguson – Master Directing Class fall 2008
Steve Armstrong - Master Directing Class fall 2009
I have been coached on directing by:
Raymond Swartzkopf – BHS music judge
Kari Metzger – SAI director and top ranked quartet singer
John Newell – Gold Medal winning lead singer of Realtime Quartet
Charlie Metzger – former singing judge, head of BHS directors education, and director of the Gentlemen of Fortune
Don Rose - top 20 quartet singer, director, head of Harmony University BHS
I have attended seminars run by:
Rene Prozelle (Gold Winning Melodeers Chorus Choreographer)
Brava – Masters class on the quartet’s road to Gold
Masters of Harmony – Masters class on how to become a gold winning chorus
Ambassadors of Harmony - Master class on how to become a gold winning chorus
Debra Lynn - how to be a consistent resonating instrument (Harmony University @ Las Vegas July 2014)
Directors Round Table - Harmony University @ Las Vegas July 2014
Other workshops:
I have attended Harmony College Northwest with a competing quartet on 4 occasions in the past 10 years.
I have also attended Chapter Officer Training Schools for the president and music vice president streams.
Spring 2009 I attended a Chor Leoni workshop with celebrated arranger Greg Chilcott
Spring 2009 Donya Metzger – love your voice workshop - a workshop that concentrates on body release exercises
Influential Vocal Coaches: Idea's from each of these coaches remain in my personal tool box
Mark Hale - Gold medalist quartet singer with Michigan Jake and Gold medalist Director of Masters of Harmony
Royce Ferguson - Gold medalist quartet singer with Revival and Gold medalist Director of Westminster
John Newel - Gold medalist quartet singer with Realtime - https://www.facebook.com/LetItOutVocals
David Cotton - 2nd place Evergreen District quartet singer with Vocal Works and nicest guy in all of Barbershop
Tom Metzger - Gold medalist quartet singer with Realtime
Debra Lynn - Belcanto Buzz - https://www.facebook.com/BelCantoBuzz
Influential Performance Coach
Marty Lovick - he is the gold standard of performance coaching in the Barbershop Harmony Society
Directing Accolades:
I have been blessed with the privilege of standing in front of some very talented ensembles! : )
Voices of Harmony:
Fall 2007 Small Chorus Champion and Most Improved Chorus for Evergreen District
Spring 2008 Very Large Quartet Contest Champion, Division One
Spring 2009 3rd place chorus Division One, Vernon B.C.
Fall 2009 Small Chorus Champions, Evergreen District
Green Heart Chorus:
Fall 2006 2nd Place Small Chorus, Region 26
Fall 2007 2nd Place Small Chorus, Region 26
The Squares Quartet Singers Association:
Spring 2014 First place chorus, Division One Contest, Abbotsford
Spring 2015 First place chorus, Division One Contest, Belingham
Spring 2016 First place chorus, Division One Contest, Vancouver
Fall 2014 Third place chorus, Evergreen District Contest, in Surrey BC
Spring 2017 First place chorus, Divsion One Contest, Vancouver BC
Spring 2018 First place chorus, Division One, Nanaimo
Spring 2019, Second place chorus, Divsion One, Bellingham
Quartet ranking:
I have been singing in quartets since 1990. I started competing in Barbershop contests in 2001, and have enjoyed some success over the years.
2001 - I competed with 4 Rhymesake and placed 10th at Division One in Abbotsford
2002 - I competed with PowerHouse and placed 9th at Division One/Prelims in Abbotsford
2003 - I competed with PowerHouse and placed 3rd at Division One in Abbotsford
- I also competed with Natural Gas and placed 7th at Division One in Abbotsford
2004 - PowerHouse and placed 5th at Division One in Abbotsford
2005 - Upstarts and placed 3rd at Division One in Abbotsford (we were awarded Novice Champions)
2006 - Tilt and placed 4th at Division One and 4th at District in Spokane
2007 - Tilt and place 3rd at Division One, 5th at Prelims and 4th at District Bellevue Washington
- TNBT and placed 4th at Division One in Abbotsford and 6th at District in Bellevue Washington
2008 - West Coast Fusion and placed 1st at Division One and 4th at District in Boise Idaho
2009 – West Coast Fusion and placed 1st at Division One in Vernon
- West Coast Fusion and placed 2nd at District in Whistler
2010 - West Coast Fusion and placed 1st at Division Two in Seattle Washington. http://picasaweb.google.ca/SeanHuston/201004DivisionTwoContestRentonWashington#
- West Coast Fusion and place 2nd at District in Portland Oregon <a href="https://plus.google.com/106708919218326223579" rel="publisher">Google+</a>
2011 - The Squares and placed 2nd at Division One in Abbotsford
- The Squares and placed 5th at District in Spokane Washington
2012 - The Squares and placed 1st at Division One in Abbotsford
2013 - The Squares and placed 3rd at Division One in Nanaimo
- The Bons Vivants and placed 2nd at Division One in Nanaimo
2014 - The Squares and placed 2nd at Division One in Abbotsford
- The Bons Vivants and placed 1st at Division One in Abbotsford
2015 - The Bons Vivants and placed 2nd at Division One in Bellingham
- Quartet One and placed 3rd at Division One In Bellingham
- Craft and was awarded Novice Champion at Division One in Bellingham (two members had never competed before)
2016 - Bon Vivants and placed 2nd at Division One in Vancouver
International Chorus Appearances
I sang on the international stage with the following ensemebles as a chorus singer
2012 Portland - Northwest Vocal Project - 6th pace finish (just one shy of a medal)
2013 Philadelphia - Northwest Vocal Project
2014 Toronto - Salem SenateAires
2015 Las Vegas - Salem SenateAires and Northwest Vocal Project
2016 Nashville - Salem Senate Aires
2018 I directed the Squares at the Orlando Convention as representatives for Evergreen District!
Youth Workshops:
I have also assisted with the Division One Harmony Experience Camps in 2007, and 2008, and delivered close harmony presentations to high school students throughout the lower mainland, from Chilliwack to North Vancouver in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and 2010. http://picasaweb.google.ca/SeanHuston/200100501KayMeek#
Big Band Singer:
I started singing with the Moonliters Big Band in November of 2009 and I am loving the challenge of being a true lead vocalist! The band hosts dance parties for the dance schools in the Fraser Valley several times during the school year. For more info you can click the link above to go to the bands website. I also sing with Port Moody's Inlet Jazz Band.
Big Band Saxophone Player:
After a 20 year break, I started playing the baritone saxophone fall of 2010 with Inlet Jazz Band in Port Moody for two years. The band plays in the community through the school year. I sang and played baritone saxophone with Inlet Jazz on our CUBA tour in March 2015. I have also played baritone saxophone with the Port Moody Community Band.
Summary:
I remain committed to continuing education, and attend workshops as often as I can. I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others, and bringing out the strengths that already exist in fantastic singers and performers. If you would like to work with me there are links to my contact information and coaching information.