"It was an honor for us to perform with them..."Bobby Gray Jr, Saturday Evening Post
TVNZ One News - July 12, 2006
A heroes welcome greeted
four New Zealand world champions when they arrived home in Wellington on Wednesday
afternoon. The Musical Island Boys are the first non-Americans to win a prestigious international barbershop competition."I just (cried), I'm supposed to be the rugby player of the group," says Lusa Washburn of the group.
The
quartet won the under-25 International Collegiate Barbershop Competition in
Indianapolis.
"Never
did we think that when we first sang together a few years ago that this would
end up where it is today," says Matthew Gifford.
The Barbershop
Harmony Society says 30,000 men in North America are passionate about this
hobby, but suspects followers in New Zealand are not quite so numerous.
"It's definitely opened up the eyes of the barbershop community around the world," says Gifford. View the TVNZ news footage here.
Northern Courier (front page) - July 19, 2006
IT was truly a case of
history in the making recently when Tawa’s own Musical Island Boys became
the first ever non-American quartet to win the International Collegiate Barbershop
Competition in Indianapolis. Originally formed at Tawa College, the Musical
Island Boys – or ‘MIB’ as they are affectionately known
– consists of Jeff and William Hunkin, Lusa Washburn and Matthew Gifford.
When they entered the competition this year – their third time –
they had no idea they were about to make history. But make it they did –
taking Gold in the competition’s Under 25 section. “We’re
extremely excited to have won this year,” said MIB bass Matthew Gifford.
“We were really surprised to find out we were the first ever non-American
group to have won the competition – we feel so humble to have won, and
being the first non-American quartet feels really great.” The MIB have
placed third equal both previous times they entered the competition and, this
time round, chose to perform the songs ‘Darktown Strutters Ball’
and ‘Come Fly With Us’ – song choices that helped them finish
with a final score of 970 to beat a total of 22 other groups from throughout
the world. “Our score was the second highest since the competition was
started, and we’re really excited about that,” Mr Gifford said.
“The next highest score behind us was 948. “Winning the award
has opened the door for New Zealand barbershop singers and international groups,”
Mr Gifford said. “Hopefully we’re the first of many non-Americans
to win.” First prize meant the MIB were awarded the coveted trophy and
a prize pack – which includes an expenses-paid trip to New Mexico for
a barbershop convention in January, a return fare to next year’s International
Collegiate Barbershop Competition in Colorado and $1,500 cash. Although all
four MIB are studying at Victoria University and have part-time jobs, Mr Gifford
says training became a top priority as the competition drew closer. “It
was very hard to get practice in because we’re all so busy with study,
jobs and commitments to the community,” he said. “But we knew
it had to be a priority for us to get together and practice – we were
practicing up to twice a week, consistently, and it paid off.” And,
he admits, from now on it will never be the same. “Everything changes
for us now,” he said. “Next month we’re travelling to Perth
for a week-long visit to increase participation in barbershop singing. And,
next year, we hope to enter the international competition’s Open Men’s
section.” Kiwi
barbershop quartet wins in US
TVNZ One News - July 9,
2006
The Wellington barbershop
quartet, Musical Island Boys, has won first place in an international competition
in the United States.Jeff
and William Hunkin, Lusa Washburn and Matthew Gifford won gold in the Under
25 section of the competition being held in Indianapolis.
It is the third trip to the competition for the former Tawa College pupils - they came third in the previous two trips. Jeff and William Hunkin's sister Henrietta says family and friends watched them perform via a webcast early on Sunday morning and says the win opens many doors for the quartet.
The Musical Island Boys sang Darktown Strutters Ball and Come Fly With Me to win the competition.
NZ Embassy, Washington DC - July 14, 2006
The Musical Island Boys (MIB) from Wellington, New Zealand, have taken first place at the Collegiate championships at the International Barbershop Convention in Indiana
The quartet came out 30 points ahead of the second place American quartet with their performance of Frank Sinatra's 'Come Fly with Me' and 'The Darktown Strutters' Ball'.
They also scored the second highest points in the history of the American Under 25s Barbershop competition.
MIB became the first quartet outside America to win bronze medals in 2004 and 2005, and now the gold in 2006.
The quartert comprises Matt Gifford, Jeff and William Hunkin, and Lusa Washburn. Former students of Tawa College the boys are currently studying at Victoria University.
TVNZ - July 13, 2006
Cook Islands News - July 15, 2006
A young Cook Islander
topped the world last weekend when the Musical Island Boys, a barbershop quartet
from Wellington, became the first quartet outside of America ever to win the
world championship in the International Collegiate Contest in Indianapolis.The quartet includes 20-year-old Matt Gifford, of New Zealand Maori (Ngati Kahungunu) and Penrhyn descent, brother of 22-year-old Leah Gifford who took part in the recent Miss Cook Islands pageant. Leah recently returned to live in Rarotonga.
Matt's father Mehau is from Penrhyn island and Matt is the grandson of the late Tarani and Charles Gifford.
Matt sings bass for the Musical Island Boys and is currently studying for conjoint B Tchg and B Art degrees at Victoria University in Wellington.
He has just turned 20 and also tutors music at Upper Hutt College, tutors Maori tourism at Sir George Seymour College and tutors kapahaka at Tawa College. He is also a duty manager for Woolworths Kilbirnie.
Matt was recently in Rarotonga for the pageant to support his sister and loves the island and the lifestyle very much-so much so, his mum says, that he almost didn't get back on the plane to return home.
The Musical Island Boys have achieved much success in the music arena having performed and recorded with Hayley Westenra and John Rowles and appeared often on NZ television's Tagata Pasifika, Good Morning Show, Praise Be and What Now! The three other members of the quartet are brothers Jeff and William Hunkin of Samoan/Niuean heritage, and Marcellus Washburn who is Samoan.
Winning this recent competition opens many doors for the Musical Island Boys now-they have been the darlings of the barbershop world for the past few years exciting crowds with their unique Pacific blend of a-capella singing and releasing their first CD last month.
The boys are very committed to their families, their culture and their churches and are excited about the prospect of bringing their music home to their native islands. - JW
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