The Ambassadors of Harmony (AOH) is a 120+ member men's barbershop chorus, based in St. Charles, Missouri. The chorus won International Championship gold medals in 2004, 2009, and 2012 â each time singing two arrangements by David Wright, under the direction of Dr. Jim Henry â and then again in 2016 and 2023, under the co-direction of Jonny Moroni and Dr. Henry. Their 2009 victory broke a nearly three-decade winning streak by the Vocal Majority.
Noted for its crisp choreography and its broad demographics, the chorus continues to expand its reputation as a premier arts organization while expanding audience engagement. Their Christmas shows are among the most popular holiday concerts in St. Louis, averaging over 7,000 patrons per year, while their youth programs continue to expand and equip young singers in substantive ways. The chorus has established a foundation to ensure that its mission to youth will continue to deepen, and as of 2017 it added an annual fundraising gala to its calendar to engage the community to join in their goals.
The chorus was formed in 1963 as the Daniel Boone Chorus with 26 members, and became a member of SPEBSQSA (the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America Inc.) the following year. The chorus changed its name to the Ambassadors of Harmony in 1990 following its first international competition. The chorus was directed by noted arranger and mathematician David Wright (now associate director) from 1981 to 1990 and again in 1999 to 2000 and has been directed from 1991 to 1999 and since 2001 by Dr. Jim Henry (now co-director), bass singer of the 1993 International Quartet Champion, The Gas House Gang, and the 2009 International Quartet Champion, Crossroads. Since 2013, the group's co-director has been Jonny Moroni, baritone of Vocal Spectrum, the BHS 2006 International Quartet Champion and 2004 International College Quartet Champion.
Since 1994, the Ambassadors of Harmony Chorus has won top honors in every district chorus competition they have entered for the 5-state Central States District of the Barbershop Harmony Society (formerly known as SPEBSQSA, Inc). In this period the AOH acquired four 4th place, five 3rd place, and five 2nd place medals in international chorus competition, as well as the 2004, 2009, 2012, 2016, and 2023 1st place gold medals.
At the BHS international chorus contest in July 2007, the group tied for first place with the Westminster Chorus. The winner was then determined by the singing category score, earning AOH its first silver medal. The group won another silver medal in the July 2008 international contest in Nashville, Tennessee, then won their second gold medal in July 2009 in Anaheim, California. Their third gold medal was won in 2012 in Portland, Oregon. Their fourth gold medal was won in 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee, and their fifth in 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky.
St Louis Muny performances include:
Several international affiliate organizations of the Barbershop Harmony Society have invited AOH to perform at their gatherings.
Some of AOH's more popular songs, and their years in repertoire, are: