New Tradition Chorus

Since the Chorus first qualified for International Competition in 1987, they have never failed to win a medal, and have 8 Silver Medals and won the Gold medal in 2001. Musical director Jay Giallombardo caught the barbershop bug at the ripe young age of 15 when he happened to see the 1965 SPEBSQSA film short which featured the Four Renegades, the '64 International Quartet champs, at the local Wilmette IL movie theater. Shortly after, he saw on a poster that that very quartet was to appear on the Wilmette Bowl Show; after seeing the Renegades, he was hooked on barbershop! Soon after, he went to his first rehearsal at the North Shore (Illinois District) chapter. Legend goes (it's really a true story) that upon his next visit to the chapter the following week, he was teaching tags to all the chapter "vets"! New Trier High School, at that time, also had a boys' barbershop club as a part of their musical curriculum, and that's where the nucleus of Grandma's Boys was formed. In the fall of 1968, they were encouraged by Bob (Moose) Haeger to register with the Society and compete in the upcoming Illinois District contest in Quincy, which they subsequently won (their average age was 17). After a lot of part shifting (the original foursome were made up of 3 bass/baritones and a rugby halfback!), Grandma's Boys went on to win the International Championship in 1979 with Jay singing baritone. Concurrently during his involvement with Grandma's Boys, he achieved his Bachelor of Music Education from Boston University in 1972, and his Master of Music Composition from Northwestern University in 1974. During that time, he also studied with Hugo Norden, a noted counter point authority, and with Leonard Bernstein and John Oliver in conducting at the Tanglewood Institute. He taught secondary music education at several area high schools before giving it up to do barbershopping full time. Jay has also served as musical director of the New Tradition Chorus in Northbrook from its inception in 1982 until present, with a short 2 year hiatus during 1990/91. His prior directorships were the Arlingtones and North Shore chapters of SPEBSQSA., the Melodeers of Sweet Adelines International, and the Village Vocal Chords of Harmony Inc. He directed the Melodeers to a 3rd Place Bronze at the Sweet Adelines International Contest in 1976, and he directed the Village Vocal Chords to a 1st Place Gold Medal at the Harmony Incorporated International in 1980 and 1982. Jay is also a Certified Music Category Judge for SPEBSQSA.

Discography

When You Wish

Be Our Guest The Bare Necessities When You Wish Upon a Star A Whale of a Tale Beauty and the Beast Mary Poppins Medley You've Got a Friend in Me Under the Sea Can You Feel the Love Tonight Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Circle of Life

Disney is, of course, famous for it's animated movies and a big part of those movies success has been the wonderful songs the studio has always been an expert in commissioning. Barbershop music has always leant itself well to a Disney song so what a treat it is to have a recording by one of the top barbershop choruses in the nation that focuses entirely on Disney movie songs. Old classics like "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" and the wonderful "The Bare Necessities" are included as well as more recent songs such as "Beauty And The Beast" and Elton John's "Can You Feel The Love Tonight". This is already our favorite barbershop chorus recording and think it will soon become yours also.

Listen to "The Bare Necessities" in Real Audio

For All Your Miracles

Come and See What's Happenin Festive Carol Medley Over the River and Through the Woods Here We Come A Wassailing Boar's Head Carol Deck The Halls I'll Be Home for Christmas / Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas The Christmas Rag Away In a Manger / Amazing Grace For All Your Miracles The Christ Child Medley Lo How A Rose E're Blooming The Holly and the Ivy Coventry Carol The First Noel Feast of Lights Have You Seen the Child Bell Carol Medley Ding Dong Merrily on High I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Carol of the Bells Jingle Bells More Than Enough

After winning 13 consecutive medals in as many years, the New Tradition ChorusÊwas crowned International Chorus Champion of the Barbershop Harmony Society in 2001. In this their third holiday recording, the New Tradition combines their warm, rich sound with exquisite arrangements by director Jay Giallombardo. Their recordings just keep getting better and better but this one clearly reaches a new high standard.ÊThe album includesÊfavorites like "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and more contemporary titles like "Come and See What's HappeninÕ in the Barn". Jay's arrangement of "Away in the Manger / Amazing Grace" is as soft and gentle as a newborn baby and "Christmas Rag" is just plain fun. When you hear this inspiring collection, you'll want to make this recording a permanent part of your holiday celebration.

Listen to " For All Your Miracles" in Real Audio

Sentimental Journey

Big Band Days Tuxedo Junction Taking A Chance on Love Skylark Everything Old Is New Again Do Nothin Till You Hear From Me You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby Java Jive The White Cliffs of Dover Gershwin Medley Imagination Sentimental Journey

Director and arranger Jay Giallombardo, who was a charter member of the group and a member of SPEBSQSA since 1968, has made his devotion to musical quality a guiding light for New Tradition since its inception. That smooth, powerful quality is clear on all of "Sentimental's" 13 classic cuts: "Big Band Days," "Tuxedo Junction," "Taking a Chance on Love," "Skylark," "Everything Old Is New Again," "Do Nothin' 'Till You Hear from Me," "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby," "Java Jive," a stunning "The White Cliffs of Dover" (recorded live at the 2001 SPEBSQSA Chorus Finals), a marvelous "Gershwin Medley," "Imagination," the lovely title tune, and a live bonus track, "dedicated to the heroes of Sept. 11, 2001." "Sentimental" is a nostalgic treat from start to finish by one of the best choruses on the planet.

5641 CD $14.98

America

The Star Spangled Banner This Is My Country America The Beautiful God Bless The USA There Is Something About A Soldier White Cliffs Of Dover Cities Of America Medley God Bless America Tribute To World Peace Battle Hymn of the Republic

The 138-strong, white-uniformed New Tradition Chorus was formed in 1982 as a performance and competition chorus, directed by Jay Giallombardo (who also does most of their arrangements), with the goal of becoming the best male chorus in the world. Beginning in 1987, when they placed 4th in SPEBSQSA's International Chorus competition, they medaled every year since then, including winning the gold medal in Nashville in 2001. So here we have the best male chorus in the world, nailing arguably some of the best songs in the world (most recorded live): "The Star-Spangled Banner," "This Is My Country," "America the Beautiful," "God Bless the USA," "There Is Something About a Soldier," "White Cliffs of Dover," "Cities of America Medley" (which includes "Chicago, My Kind of Town," "Meet Me In St. Louis, Louis," "Gary, Indiana," "Mention My Name in Sheboygan," "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans" and "New York, New York"), "God Bless America," "Tribute to World Peace" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (piano accompanied and sung with the Northbrook Melodeers women's chorus). "Powerful" can only begin to describe the NTC, their music and this inspiring CD!

5508 CD $14.98

Broadway

It's A Grand Night For Singing Bring Him Home Do You Hear the People Sing? If I Loved You Phantom of the Opera / Music of the Night They Call the Wind Maria Climb Every Mountain There's No Business Like Show Business / Anoth Op'nin', Another Show Medley West Side Story Montage (Tonight, America, Maria, Somewhere) Oklahoma! Memory There Is Nothing Like A Dame Tradition / Sunrise Sunset The Impossible Dream

In 1981 a new barbershop chorus was formed in the Chicago area to foster the love of barbershop harmony and incidentally to focus on musical excellence as part of the expressed goal of becoming one the best male a cappella chorus in the world. With that goal in mind, New Tradition Chorus began competing in 1982 and became the Illinois District Champions in 1987. That success qualified them for the International Competition. From that year they have never failed to win a medal and have been Silver Medalists for the last five years. From the very beginning, the music director has been the prolific writer and arranger, Jay Giallombardo. Performances in the Chicago area include appearances at conventions, outdoor festivals, banquets and political events, including performing at the Democratic National Committee Media Party, on national TV for Chicago Bears football games, at Chicago White Sox baseball games and in Canada and Ireland (for the St. Patrick's day festivities in 1997.) The annual Spring Show production has 3 performances and presents the chorus and chapter quartets set in a particular theme (e.g. Broadway, Irish, Patriotic, Western). In addition to singing, the members write, produce, direct, and design lighting and scenery for these shows. As a result it was natural to produce a recording of Broadway show tunes. You'll hear music from State Fair, Les Miserables, Carousel, Phantom of the Opera, Paint Your Wagon, Sound of Music, West Side Story, Cats, and more, sung by this chorus who has not achieved their goal to be the best in the world just yet. To date they are 'only' one of the best!

5454 CD $14.98

Silver Linings

Irish Montage A Little Bit O'Heaven Sweet Hour Of Prayer I'm Looking Over A 4-Leaf Clover Impossible Dream Calendar Girl A Tribute To World Peace Ob La Di Ob La Da Show Business Medley This Is My Country Medley Once Upon A Time All The Little Toy Soldiers Toy Soldiers March On Parade Battle Hymn Of The Republic

The New Tradition Chorus, from the Chicago area of Illinois, have been International Competition Silver Medalists for the last six years (including Anaheim '99). This CD was inspired by the Chorus' trip to Ireland in 1997, and the opening track is an "Irish Montage," evoking their warmly-received performances there. The thirteen-member "Next Generation," a subsidiary group of the Chorus, performs "Ob La Di, Ob La Da" and "Calendar Girl," while the Sweet Adelines Championship Chorus The Melodeers contribute their voices for "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic," recorded live in 1995. The "Cities Of America" medley is an entertaining whistlestop tour; anyone who has seen the New Tradition Chorus live understands that, along with their musical excellence, the show's the thing!

5199 CD $14.98

A Holiday Tradition

In The First Light What Child Is This? Hark The Herald/Angels We Have Heard On High It Came On a A Midnight Clear Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy Silent Night O Holy Night O Little Town of Bethlehem I Have Seen The Light Deck The Halls Silver Bells Let It Snow March Of The Wooden Soldiers Light The Legend Sing A Song Of Hannukah The Prayer

And now, ladies and gentlemen, up on the stage, resplendent in their "76 trombones" uniforms, the pride of Northbrook, Illinois, directed by Jay Giallombardo, current SPEBSQSA Chorus Champions New Tradition are here with a very strong new Christmas CD! Christmas being all about tradition, nostalgia, spirit and sweet singing, "A Holiday Tradition!" is a winner on all counts. Enough said, except here¹s the songlist: "In The First Light," "What Child Is This?," "Hark the Herald/Angels We Have Heard On High," "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear," "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy," "Silent Night," "O Holy Night," "O Little Town Of Bethlehem," "I Have Seen The Light," "Deck The Halls," "Silver Bells," "Let It Snow," "March Of The Wooden Soldiers," "Light The Legend," "Sing A Song Of Hannukah" and "The Prayer." Enjoy!

Listen to "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in Real Audio

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