New Tradition Chorus Returns From International Competition

Northbrook's New Tradition men's chorus performed at an annual international singing competition in Toronto over the July 4 weekend. They earned 11th, a big jump since their last competition in 2010 when they earned 21st place.

"A lot of people were glad to see us back," chorus director Jay Giallombardo said during a New Tradition rehearsal. "We could tell from the audience response after the first song."

About 55 men performed with the New Tradition in Toronto on July 5. The group was third to perform in the competition and sang two songs, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and a song they call "The Smile Medley" arranged from two other songs.

Many of the performers had been at the international competition before, including Giallombardo who led the New Tradition to first place in 2000. 

"This was probably the most outstanding [competition] I've seen in terms of creativity," said singer Bill Schwarz, a bass vocalist who's been with the New Tradition for about 17 years. "They did stuff on stage that left you mesmerized."

The New Tradition reached the international competition by earning second place in a regional qualifier. The winner of the regional qualifier from Bloomington, IL, earned 16th overall place in the competition.

The group is now rehearsing for a Veterans Day show with the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra scheduled for November.