Quartet Background:

Southern Harmony formed in February 1998 after a local, adult, barbershop quartet attend the school to promote barbershop quartet singing in the school. The demonstration was on Valentines Day and the demonstration quartet took time out from a busy day singing Valentines Messages to do a lunchtime “concert” for the school.  After the demonstration concert a number of lads approached the quartet and asked if they could try quartet singing.   Amongst these were three very tall Samoan lads.   The following Wednesday along with a bunch of other school boys the three lads joined their new coach and dragged along a 4th friend.  That day they showed real potential and Southern Harmony was formed and begun working hard to learn their first two songs.

In May the same year (only 3 months later) Southern Harmony placed second in the Wellington Regional Young Mens Secondary Schools Quartets Competitions with the only two songs they knew. This placing qualified them to attend the National Secondary Schools Finals held in Auckland in September 1998.

At these Finals and after only being a quartet for 7 months they won the National Gold Medal at the Young Mens New Zealand Secondary Schools Competition.

Southern Harmony were then honoured to be invited to attend the International MBNA America Collegiate (American University level) Competitions held in Anaheim in June 1999 - the very first Non-North American (USA/Canada) continent quartet ever to do so.  This event is held in conjunction with the Annual International Adult Mens Convention and Competitions.

After a great deal of fund raising and rehearsal they attended. Southern Harmony won the 4th Place Bronze Medal and became the very first Non-USA Collegiate level quartet ever to win a medal at this competition. They also became the very first New Zealand Quartet at any level - adult or college - ever to bring home a medal from the International Convention & Competitions.

The quartet then competed in a Wellington region competition against both Men and Women and were placed second overall.  Interestingly just 1 point behind The Razor’s Edge – their coaches own quartet. Their next target was the NZ National mens adult title and at the 1999 NZABS Convention they saw their target safely won. Southern Harmony - the 1998 New Zealand Secondary Schools Gold Medallists (and International Collegiate 4th Place Bronze Medal Winners) attended and competed in the Adult Barbershop Quartet Open Competitions. Against a field of 30 Quartets in three Grades (Open, Novice and Senior) Southern Harmony swept the field by winning the New Zealand National Championship Title outright. This is the first time a quartet that began at secondary school has progressed and won the adult competitions. Southern Harmony won by a healthy margin and won over highly experienced adult quartets. The talent of the four Samoan boys that make up Southern Harmony speaks for itself.

Southern Harmony is made up of: the following singers:

Derek Samuela-Gibbons singing Baritone;  Ben Komiti singing Bass;  Desmond Uili singing Lead;  Kevin Malagama'ali' i singing Tenor

Southern Harmony’s coach is Steve Currington. Steve is the tenor in The Razor’s Edge quartet who was the demonstration quartet when Southern Harmony formed.

Southern Harmony are members of the Harbour Capital Chorus. Wellington's first and largest mens barbershop chorus.

(Note: Southern Harmony lefi high school at the end of 1998. As at November 1999 are aged between 18 & 19 years old.)

Page Last Updated Monday, 30 October 2000 by Steve Currington