Dear Friends -
I guess it's time to take that step and admit to ourselves that sometime we have to come down from the high we've been on since July 5th. It's almost impossible to explain just what winning the quartet and chorus championships mean to us, but I guess that's part of the year as a champ... coming to grips with the reality that all the rehearsals, the time on the road, hours spent coaching and the many shows and tags shared with friends have really paid off. It's an odd feeling, fulfilling a lifelong dream... it's part relief, mostly elation and a healthy portion of shock.
The past few months have been full of hard rehearsals, chorus practice, coaching and somewhere in there, work and loving our families. We'd be remiss to forget to acknowledge several key people and organizations that have nourished OC Times to where we are today.
Our choruses, the Reno Silver Dollar Chorus, the Westminster Chorus and the Masters of Harmony. Our mentors and friends, Rob Menaker, Jeff Baker, Brett Littlefield, Mark Hale and Aaron Dale. Our loving families--mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wife (Lani York), daughter (Kalea York), and girlfriends. Your patience, guidance, support and love made all of this possible, we truly could not have done it without you. Finally, we thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the talents He gave us, the loving people He put in our lives, and the opportunity to share His love through our music.
The past few months have also brought much change for the OC Times family. Baby Kalea York, is the light of both Shawn and Lani's lives and a particular highlight in ours as well. Cory graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in May and moved to Lake Tahoe to work at an environmental policy and consulting firm. Furthermore, Patrick is getting back to work on his "ten year plan" at Orange Coast College. Finally, Sean graduated from Azusa Pacific University and recently accepted a position with the Harmony Foundation in Nashville, TN at the beautiful BHS headquarters.
With all this change, many of you may be wondering "whatever is going to happen to OC Times?!" We want you to know... we're going to be around for a long, long time. We love innovating, performing, entertaining, teaching and sharing with barbershoppers, youth and any audience that is willing to lend us an ear. We're always accepting shows, youth harmony camps and other performances - and we don't see an end in sight.
On a much more serious note, we also recently lost a good brother in Harmony, Rich Hasty, a fellow member of the Masters of Harmony, comedic genius, accomplished arranger, esteemed judge, great friend and loving husband and father. His sudden passing reminds us all that our time here is so short... we're so blessed to be a part of such an amazing family of barbershoppers. At a recent Masters of Harmony retreat, we were urged to remember that for some people in the audience -- and even on the risers -- it may be their last... little did we know how true those words would become. Pray for the Hasty family for strength during this trying time and find comfort in knowing that Rich is singing praises in the "chorus in the sky." It was an honor knowing you, Rich.
That same family lifted Cory up when he was injured earlier this year. Your cards, e-mails, teddy bears and prayers paid off and he is making progress with his vision daily. All of these events have made us realize how truly great is to be a barbershopper. We count ourselves blessed to be a part of this wonderful family.
We are humbled and honored to be your quartet champions. We promise to represent you well -- to close out all the afterglows we can, sing tags with any willing singer, teach the youth, support our choruses and spread the love of barbershop to audiences wherever we are privileged to go. We look forward to what exciting things the coming years have for us, and for barbershop. Until we meet again...
Sincerely yours,
Shawn, Sean, Pat and Cory
OC Times
2008 International Quartet Champions
www.octimesquartet.com
