Help me get to the Barbershop Internationals in Orlando, Florida

My Chorus Vocal FX has qualified for the international competition in Orlando, Florida in early July 2018.

As the only group from Oceania to have scored high enough to do so, I am a proud member of this prestigious group; who in past international competitions have consistently placed within the top 10 choruses around the world.

For those who have not heard barbershop singing before, It's an acapella music form (no instruments), where participants sing in 4 part harmony: Tenor, Lead, Baritone, and Bass. I personally sing the Lead part, which means I hold the melody.

We sing in a style called 'just intonation', which essentially means we are able to tune each chord of a song to match the flavour of the music being performed, as well as the notes that make up that chord; the result of this is rich sounds that cannot be achieved through most instrumental pieces.

We will be competing with two songs: an uptune (high-tempo, exciting song), and a ballad (much slower and more beautiful). However, we will also be taking a number of other songs with us to perform in America. These include classics from all genre's, and a 'cultural set' of songs, that will share New Zealands unique culture to the rest of the world.

I have been singing barbershop since year 8 in college, where I competed in the young singers in harmony national conference placing first with my chorus 'Acafellas' in numerous years, and also placing in the top 3 of quartets singing with multiple trio's. However, I always admired the music that Vocal FX could create.

Since leaving college I have sung for the manawatu-based group the 'Manawatunes', as well as coaching local college quartets and chorus' with the knowledge learned from my 10 years of singing the genre.

I was lucky enough to be welcomed into the Vocal FX family myself just over a year ago, and have continued to devote myself to the art-form because of the joy it brings me to sing to others, but also in hopes of one day being able to represent New Zealand.

I am asking for support in raising funds to attend this event. I have always loved to sing barbershop music, and attending this event would see me achieve one of my life-goals.

I would be tremendously grateful if you would support me in achieving this.

Thank you.

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