The 2012 Ballad Town Contest was held Friday and Saturday, March 30-31, 2012 in Forest Grove, OR at Forest Grove High School.

The contest was open to all male and (for the first time in many years) female quartets. They sang two songs a cappella style (without instrumental accompaniment) in “Gay 90s” costume.

The first song--the warm-up number--could be in any style and was not judged. The second song had to be in the barbershop style. If the quartet made the finals, they had to sing the same contest number; however, the warm-up number could be varied.

Judging was based on the following simple rules:

• Technique: Blend, Pitch, Diction and Precision ...... 40 Points
• Use of Barbershop Style- Harmony and Swipes ...... 25 Points
• Stage Presence- Showmanship and Personality ...... 25 Points
• Appropriateness of Selection ................................. 10 Points

Winners of the 66th Annual All-Northwest Barbershop Quartet Contest:

1st Place: Momentum(Portland Area, Phoenix, Arizona, and Atlanta, GA) with Gary Steinkamp,  Tenor; Tim Reynolds, Lead; Tim McCormick, Baritone and Kevin Stinson, Bass.
2nd Place: Sold Out (Portland/Salem Area...previous two-time Champs)
3rd Place: Quadraphonics(Portland Area/Long Beach CA...last year's Champs)
4th Place: Soundwave(Portland Area...our first women's finalists! Heck, our first women's competitors!!)
5th Place: Seventh Heaven (Portland Area)
6th Place: 4.0(Seattle Area)
7th Place: Code Blue (Seattle Area)
8th Place: Time After Time (Portland Area)

Congratulations to all!

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