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MORE HISTORICAL FACTS From 50-Yr Anniversary Booklet
2007 Minneapolis Commodores "Here Comes the Showboat" Hilites & Awards
Chapter Goals from 1949
International Competition History
Quartets at Competition
Annual Show Facts
Commodores Barbershopper of the Year ("BOTY")
Past Chapter Presidents
Commodores Photo Gallery
  • Recent Shows & Performances
  • International Competitions
  • District Competition
  • Quartets Past & Present
HILITES & AWARDS
  • Chartered in 1944
  • 15 LOL District championships
  • Four medals were earned in competition with the best choruses in the society
  • Finished in the top ten at international competition eleven times
  • Ten quartets from the Commodores have won the LOL District Contest
  • One quartet earned the gold medal in international competition
  • One quartet was named the International Seniors Quartet Champion
  • A Minneapolis quartet has earned the right to sing in international competition
  • 53 times Commodores have had well over 100 registered quartets in their 50+ year history
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CHAPTER GOALS adopted in 1949 along with the constitution and bylaws of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America have long guided the activities of the Minneapolis Commodores.

  1. To keep barbershop quartet singing in its rightful place as a highly traditional form of American folk music.
  2. To give every member an opportunity to sing in a permanently organized quartet and to encourage and assist the forming of as many good quartets as possible from the members.
  3. To promote the best possible chorus singing of songs arranged in barbershop style.
  4. To foster maximum altruistic participation of SPEBSQSA units in worthwile community, state and national projects.
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INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION HISTORY From 50-yr Anniversary Booklet
YEAR SITE DIRECTOR PLACE
2009 Anaheim Paul Wigley 25th
2007 Denver Paul Wigley 18th
1986 Salt Lake City Doug Miller 9th
1985 Minneapolis Doug Miller 8th
1984 St. Louis Doug Miller 10th
1983 Seattle Doug Miller 7th
1982 Pittsburgh Spong/Rod Johnson 6th
1980 Salt Lake City Richard Dick 4th
1979 Minneapolis Richard Dick 3rd
1978` Cincinnati Robert Spong 5th
1971 New Orleans Robert Spong 10th
1970 Atlantic City Robert Spong 12th
1966 Chicago Harold Ulring 11th
1964 San Antonio Harold Ulring 11th
1962 Kansas City Harold Ulring 5th
1959 Chicago Regs Ellefson 11th
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COMMODORES QUARTETS AT COMPETITION From 50-yr Anniversary Booklet
Grandma's Beaus 1990 International Seniors Quartet Champions
Talk of the Town 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984 1976 LOL District Champions
Roadrunners 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984 1972 LOL District Champions
Ring of Gold 1981, 1983  
Red Barons 1972 1971 LOL District Champions
Men of A-Chord 1963, 1964  
Mel-O-Dons 1960, 1964  
Little Rascals 1981, 1982, 1983 1981 LOL District Champions
Lake Aires 1958, 1960)  
Hut Four 1958S, 1959S, 1969S, 1961S, 1963, 1964, 1965S, 1966S, 1967S, 1969 1958 LOL District Champions
Harmony Works 1985 1985 LOL District Champions
Harmony Galore Four 1975, 1976 1975 LOL District Champions
Happiness Emporium 1973, 1974F, 1975 Champions 1973 LOL District Champions
Corporate Image 1975, 1976 1974 LOL District Champions
Celebration 1985  
Atomic Bums 1947, 1948F 1950F, 1952, 1953F, 1954, 1955, 1957 1949 LOL District Champions
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ANNUAL SHOW FACTS Last Update: 2011 December
# YEAR NAME CHAIR DIRECTOR SITE
           
65 2012 On The Road Again [Flyer] Blake Wagner Paul Wigley Bethel, Benson Great Hall
64 2011 The Magic that was Radio [Flyer] Mark Ortenburger Paul Wigley Bethel, Benson Great Hall
  2010 Holiday Show [Flyer]      
  2010 Autumn Cabaret [Flyer, Postcard]      
63 2010 Steppin' Out [Program.pdf, Flyer] Dave Speidel Paul Wigley Bethel, Benson Great Hall
62 2009 Gotta Keep Singing [Program] Hardin Olson Paul Wigley Bethel, Benson Great Hall
  2008 Holiday Show [Flyer]      
61 2008 Salute to Disney [Program] Gary Jacobson Paul Wigley Bethel, Benson Great Hall
60 2007 Here Comes the Showboat!
[Program, Postcard]		 Carl Pinard Paul Wigley Bethel, Benson Great Hall
59 2006 Celebrating Musical Memories of a Lifetime [Program] Peter Jarnberg Paul Wigley Bethel. Benson Great Hall
58 2005 Sentimental Journey Dan True Paul Wigley Bethel, Benson Great Hall
57 2004 The Best of Broadway Dan Smith Paul Wigley Bethel, Benson Great Hall
  2003 Holiday Show [Program]      
56 2003 Around the World with Barbershop Dan Cole Paul Wigley Bethel, Benson Great Hall
55 2002 Remember The Days, A Salute to Vaudeville Dan Tonn Paul Wigley Bethel, Benson Great Hall
54 2001 The Belvedere Academy All-Class Reunion Bob Ringold Paul Wigley Bethel, Benson Great Hall
53 2000 There's No Business, Like Show Business Quentin Wood Paul Wigley Bethel, Benson Great Hall
52 1999 The Magic of the Minneapolis Commodores Joe Houser Bob Peterson Bethel, Benson Great Hall
51 1998 Come Join Us In Song Vern Halvorson Doug Miller Bethel, Benson Great Hall
50 1997 Fifty Years of Harmony Bill Shaw, Jr. Jim Halvorson Bethel, Benson Great Hall
49 1996 Tin Pan Alley Quentin Wood Doug Miller Ted Mann Concert Hall
48 1995 Reveille Remembered Wes Hatlestad Doug Miller Ted Mann Concert Hall
47 1994 K O R D - Minneapolis Doug Miller Doug Miller Ted Mann Concert Hall
46 1993 Just One of Those Thing Mark Conlon Doug Miller Northrop
45 1992 Summer Sounds Quentin Wood Dwight Mennenga Northrop
44 1991 I Feel a Song Comin' On Brooks Bergerson Dwight Mennenga Northrop
43 1990 Grandpa's Attic Brooks Bergerson Dwight Mennenga Northrop
42 1989 Ain't We Got Fun Denny Rolloff Doug Miller Northrop
41 1988 Heritage of Harmony Ron Setzler Doug Miller Northrop
40 1987 Back Home Again Dan Slattery Doug Miller Northrop
39 1986 Harmony Theatre Glenn Nellist Doug Miller Orchestra Hall
38 1985 Let There Be Music Roger Williams Doug Miller Orchestra Hall
37 1984 Around the World in Song Roger Meyer Doug Miller Orchestra Hall
36 1983 Midwinter Sunshine Mike Stump Doug Miller Orchestra Hall
35 1982 Barbershop Revue Bob Brutsman Robert Spong/Rod Johnson Orchestra Hall
34 1981 The Commodores Present Dave Paxson Richard Dick Orchestra Hall
33 1980 Show Time Norm DeCarlo Richard Dick Orchestra Hall
32 1979 Breakfast of Champions Jim Richards Richard Dick Orchestra Hall
31 1978 You Asked for it Norm Wolfe Robert Spong Orchestra Hall
30 1977 Spotlight Specialties John Hansen Harold Ulring Northrop
29 1976 We Love the Ladies Walt Swanberg Harold Ulring Northrop
28 1975 Music and Memories John Kulka Harold Ulring Northrop
27 1974 Riverland Harmony Hardin Olson Harold Ulring Northrop
26 1973 Melodies Bring Memories Orv Haugan/H. Ulring Robert Spong Northrop
25 1972 Alice in Harmony Land Marv Spears Robert Spong Northrop
24 1971 Singin' Sam Dick Plaisted Robert Spong Northrop
23 1970 Melodies for Maladies Rich WIlliams Robert Spong Northrop
22 1969 Harmony Hoedown Robert Johnson Harold Ulring Northrop
21 1968 Tunes in Toonerville Robert Spong Harold Ulring Northrop
20 1967 Harmony Circus William Shaw Harold Ulring Northrop
19 1966 Mardi Gras Olaf Lee Harold Ulring Northrop
18 1965 Iceland on Parade Malcolm Liepke Harold Ulring Northrop
17 1964 Coney Island Holiday Art Erlandson Harold Ulring Northrop
16 1963 Chording Twenties Larry Murphy Harold Ulring Northrop
15 1962 Stadium Harmony Bruce Churchill Harold Ulring Northrop
14 1961 I Love a Parade Mel Orenstein Harold Ulring Northrop
13 1960 Khords in the Klondike Ed Peterka Les Mikelson Northrop
12 1959 The Blue and the Gray Cecil Brantner Regs Ellefson Northrop
11 1958 Afternoon in the Park Joe Dworsky Regs Ellefson Northrop
10 1957 Pageant of Beauty Maynard Szxe Luther Sletten Northrop
9 1956 Falls of Minnehaha E.H. Hamlet Luther Sletten Northrop
8 1955 Showboat E.H. Hamlet Luther Sletten Northrop
7 1954 Westward Ho Ralph Ibberson Luther Sletten Northrop
6 1953 Ye Olde Time Theater Joe Williams Luther Sletten Northrop
5 1952 Evolution of uartets Rudy Clark Luther Sletten Northrop
4 1951 Parade of Quartets Elton Bjorklund Luther Sletten Northrop
3 1950 Old Gang of Mine Elton Bjorklund Luther Sletten West High
2 1949 Frames of Yesterday C. Booth Luther Sletten West High
1 1948 Parade of Quartets Rudy Clark Luther Sletten West High
0 1944 none   Clarency Pingrey  
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COMMODORES BARBERSHOPPER OF THE YEAR ("BOTY") *=deceased
Dick Riemenschneider 2011
David Speidel 2010
Gary Jacobson 2009
Peter Jarnberg 2008
Paul Wigley 2007
Dan Cole 2006
*Mark Sathe 2005
*Joe Houser 2004
Dan Smith 2003
*Dave Bayer 2002
Guy St.Martin 2001
Wes Hatlestad 2000
Jim Windey 1999
*Bill Hamre 1998
Pete Villwock 1997
Carl Pinard 1996
Chuck Dostal 1995
Mark Conlon 1994
Doug Miller 1993
Bob Griffith 1992
*David George 1991
Brooks Bergersen 1990
Merrill Miller 1989
*Mike Stump 1988
Bill Shaw, Jr 1987
Ron Setzler 1986
Rod Johnson 1985
Norm DeCarlo 1984
Loren Berthilson 1983
Dan Slattery 1982
Hardin Olson 1981
Marv Spears 1980
*Orv Haugan 1979
Jim Richards 1978
*Will Sheldon 1977
*Bernard Lamotte 1976
John Hansen 1975
Bob Dykstra 1974
Dick Plaisted 1973
Bob Spong 1972
*Herb Friesen 1971
Rich Williams 1970
Harold Ulring 1969
*Art Erlandson 1968
*Bernard Page 1967
Olaf Lee 1966
*W.W. MacQueen 1965
Ed Peterka 1964
*Malcolm Liepke 1963
Les Mikelson 1962
*Regs Ellefson 1961
*Bruce Churchill 1960
*Cec Brantner 1959
*Ed Hamlet 1958
*William Furst 1957
*Rudy Clark 1956
*Maynard Saxe 1956
*Robert W. Browne 1955
*Joe Williams 1954
*Luther Sletten 1953
*Elton Bjorklund 1953
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PAST CHAPTER PRESIDENTS *=deceased
Dan Slattery 2011
Mark Ortenburger 2010
Mark Ortenburger 2009
Mark Ortenburger 2008
Curt Brekke 2007
Terry McClellan 2006
Peter Jarnberg 2003-2004-2005
Dan Cole 2003
Dan Tonn 2002
Dan Smith 2001
*Joe Houser 1999-2000
*Dave Bayer 1998
Bill Shaw 1997
*Carl Pearson 1996
Guy St.Martin 1995
Bob Griffith 1994
Jim Windey Mar-Dec 1993
*John Snyder Jan-Mar 1994
*Bruch Churchill 1992
*Tom Wickenheiser 1991
Carl Pinard 1990
Merrill Miller 1989
Mark Conlon 1988
Rich Evans 1987
Bill Shaw, Jr 1986
*Mike Stump 1985
Dave Goodwin 1984
*Ron Setzler 1983
Norm DeCarlo 1982
Dan Slattery 1981
Roger Meyer 1980
Stu Leck 1979
Marv Spears 1978
*Orv Haugan 1977
Jim Richards 1976
Hardin Olson 1975
*Bing Kaufman 1974
*Les McNeice 1973
Dick Plaisted 1972
Ron Thomley 1971
Rich Williams 1970
Gary Odland 1970
Robert Spong 1969
*Dr. William Thomas 1968
Joe Cameron 1967
Dick Plaisted 1967
*Art Erlandson 1966
Rich Williams 1965
Larry Murphy 1964
Olaf Lee 1963
*Mal Liepke 1962
Ed Peterka 1960-1961
*Regs Ellefson 1959-60
Les Mikelson 1958
*Bruce Churchill 1957
*Cec Brantner 1956
*Bill Furst 1955
*Percy Hopkins 1954
*Dr. Ed Hamlet 1953
*Rudy Clark 1952
*Maynard Saxe 1951
*Dr. Paul Hartig 1950
*Dr. Ralph Ibberson 1949
*Elton Bjorklund 1947-1948
*Bill Elliot 1946
*Tom Hastings 1945-1946
*Joe Williams 1945
*Ken Goit 1944
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