tidelanders QUARTET HISTORY
1960 - 1979
The International competition in San Francisco will be remembered as a “victory” because it was there that the INNSIDERS earned Houston’s first International Quartet Gold Medal. The INNSIDERS who won the Gold medal barely resembled the original quartet, formed in 1968. Tidelanders “Old-timers” joke that almost half the chorus was an INNSIDER at one time or another. Ultimately, in 1971, the winning group, with John Devine singing Lead, Dr. Tom Pearson the Bass, Guy McShan the Baritone and Mike Cox the Tenor, was assembled. That ensemble of INNSIDERS placed 3rd in that 1971 Southwestern District competition. Then, in 1972, they placed 2nd in District and 15th in their first International bid. They again won District competition in 1973 but were unable to compete at International.
When the INNSIDERS returned to the International stage in 1974, they skyrocketed to a 4th place finish. Convinced they could win, they sought the coaching skills of Don Clause, rehearsed at least twice a week, and managed to move up to 2nd place in 1975. The INNSIDERS worked incredibly hard in 1976, often rehearsing as many as five to six times a week during the month before International. In fact, they had rehearsed so much, that tenor Mike Cox claimed that he didn’t remember singing the first set at International. That performance must have been good enough to win because 1976 was the year in which the INNSIDERS brought Houston its only Quartet Gold medal.
The INNSIDERS performed on Tidelanders’ shows and traveled throughout the United States and internationally for many years, despite losing Mike Cox to a job transfer in 1978.
1980 - 1999
The INNSIDERS stayed together until 1986, singing with replacement tenors Ken Litman, Jim Sikorski, and for many years, with Lloyd Erickson.
In July 1997, THE ARRANGEMENT quartet, Tracy Shirk, Lloyd Erickson, Rob Smith and Jason Pinkall, our 1996 SWD Champions, made their second consecutive trip to the International Contest, proudly representing the Houston Chapter.
The 1998 Spring Show, our 48th, entitled “Phantom of the Music Hall”, was held at the Music Hall. Past International Quartet Champions, GAS HOUSE GANG, were the headliner quartet. Sadly, this was the last time the Tidelanders performed in the great old Music Hall. It was demolished in June, 1998, to make way for a new Theatre for the Performing Arts.
THE ARRANGEMENT quartet again qualified for International competition and in July 1998, they placed 34th among the 50 best quartets in the world who competed. In mid-year, Wayne Hardin resigned as President to take a new job in Dallas. Keith Kauffman replaced him. In August 1998, the Tidelanders again won the Division Chorus Contest in San Marcos and headed for the SWD contest in New Orleans. Unfortunately, the Tidelanders only placed 3rd, by a few points, behind the Heart of Texas and Central Cities (OK), who tied for 1st place.
In 1999, Keith Kauffman continued as Chapter President. The Annual Spring Show at the Wortham was entitled “Grandpa’s Attic” with MICHIGAN JAKE as the special guest quartet.
2000 - 2009
In 2000, the Annual Spring Show, “Alex in Wonderland”, was again held at the Wortham. The headliner quartet was PLATINUM, the 1999 International Silver Medalist quartet.
PRESTO, with Tracy Shirk, Rob Smith, Keith Kauffman and Steve Coon, finished 2nd in the 2000 SWD Quartet Contest. NOTE-ORIETY, with Stefan Hussenoeder, Mike Wilson, Pete Hasbrook and Dave Frye, won the SWD Novice Quartet title.
The show in 2001, entitled “Frog Kissin’ was moved to August and included International Quartet Champs FRED as the headliners
The August 2002 Show, “A Show of Champions”, moved to the Wortham Brown Theatre for the first time. Both ACOUSTIX and STERLING, the 2001 SWD quartet champs, appeared.
International quartet finalists, SATURDAY EVENING POST, were the headliners for our August 1982 Show. The chorus and quartets were again active throughout the year with many area performances in churches, hospitals.
The August 2004 Show, “TIDELANDER REALITY”, was once again held at the Wortham, with an added Sunday Matinee for the first time in many years. FOUR VOICES, the 2002 International Quartet Champions, were our headliner quartet. The chorus and our quartets were very active during the year, again doing a Good Time Show in Clear Lake and performing at Pasadena Memorial High School and Holy Spirit Episcopal Church.
Both our August and Christmas Shows in 2005, “FORE PART HARMONY” and “A GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS”, were held at the Wortham. METROPOLIS was the August headliner quartet and the Houston BoyChoir joined the Tides for the Christmas performances.
In 2006, the chorus performed at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Holy Spirit Episcopal Church and Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church and continued its August (“BEST OF BARBERSHOP”) and Christmas (“A SANTA CLARA CHRISTMAS”) Shows at the Wortham Center. The DALLAS KNIGHTS were the August headliner quartet and, as in 2005, the Houston BoyChoir joined the Tides for the Christmas Show.
August (“VARIATIONS ON A THEME”) and Christmas (“HOLIDAY HARMONY”) 2007 shows were again held at the Wortham. Former International Quartet Champions, GOTCHA, were the August headliners and they were joined by the HOUSTON HORIZON chorus.
Both the August (“THE TIDELANDERS GO WEST”) and the Christmas (“THE SECRET OF CHRISTMAS”) shows were held at the Wortham’s Cullen Theatre in 2008. MAX Q, another former International Quartet Champion, was the August headliner.
We held both the August Show (“CURSES! FOILED AGAIN!”) and the Christmas Show (“CHRISTMAS TREASURES”) at HBU in 2009. EUREKA, a SWD Senior Quartet champion, headlined the August Show. Musical programming for the year concluded with the annual M. D. Anderson performance.