It was the Olympics of a capella―the biggest a capella singing competition in the world, and both Ringmasters - new international quartet champions - and Lemon Squeezy - collegiate barbershop quartet champions - from Stockholm, Sweden, won the gold in their categories!

On Tuesday, July 3, the Barbershop Harmony Society opened its 74th Annual International Barbershop Harmony Competition with the Harmony Foundation Collegiate Barbershop Contest at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon. A field of twenty-three collegiate quartets from around the world competed for medals.

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Lemon Squeezy, composed of tenor Alexander Löfstedt, lead Victor Nilsson, baritone Jonathan von Döbeln and bass Martin Jangö, won the International Collegiate category by a mere 9 points over silver medalist Instant Classic from Indiana, followed by bronze medalist quartets from Texas, Missouri and Ohio.

Barbershop harmony, a uniquely American music genre, has been widely embraced in Sweden. At this year’s convention, three additional Swedish quartets are in the running. Trocadero competed in the collegiate category and placed 14th, and Ringmasters and Absolut, also from Stockholm, competes in the non-collegiate category beginning Wednesday, July 4, with the finals on Saturday, July 7. Lemon Squeezy will also compete again in that category.

The quartet members also sang the Swedish National Anthem at the opening of the Quartet Quarterfinals on Wednesday July 4, and with the Swedish barbershop chorus, zero 8, directed by Doug Harrington, in the International Barbershop Chorus competition on July 6 - where zero8 took home the 4th place Bronze Medal. This marks the first time in history that a non-North American chorus has medaled in this competition.

See more information on these successful Swedish groups at http://www.ringmasters.se. http://www.lemonsqueezy.se/ or zero 8 at www.zero8.se. And, on the Barbershop Harmony Society: http://www.barbershop.org/

Barbershop harmony is a uniquely American musical art form. It is known for its four-part harmony and the “expanded sound” created by its consonance, unique chord structure and vocal placement.