FIVE-TIME INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION CHORUS

The Ambassadors of Harmony® (AOH) is the St. Louis area's premier men's a cappella chorus of more than 100 voices known for powerful and musically masterful performances. Its repertoire includes Broadway classics, barbershop, jazz, pop and a wide selection of holiday favorites.

AOH earned its fifth gold medal at Barbershop Harmony Society's July 2023 international contest in Louisville, Kentucky. AOH has sung for audiences across the United States and has also performed in England, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden.

The chorus represents the St. Charles, Mo., chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. It was founded in 1963 in St. Charles as the Daniel Boone Chorus. As the chorus improved and began winning competitions, it rebranded itself in 1991 as the Ambassadors of Harmony. Since then, the chorus has won dozens of competitions hosted by the Barbershop Harmony Society. Today, AOH puts on numerous shows per year including a popular holiday concert that fills Touhill Performing Arts Center in St. Louis each year.

The Ambassadors of Harmony® chorus seeks to change the lives of audiences worldwide through artistic and emotionally-driven a cappella performances. AOH also strives for musical excellence and to promote the barbershop style.

For a detailed history of the chorus by AOH member Justin Watkins, click here.

The Ambassadors of Harmony - St. Louis Children's Choir - Rehearsal at Powell Symphony Hall 2014 There's nothing as moving as children's voices to inspire yo...

“St. Louis is fortunate in its abundance of fine choirs of every stripe and purpose, sacred and secular, and among those prominent for sheer inventiveness and brilliance of execution must be The Ambassadors of Harmony®. Their talents and commitments have rightly won them admirers in the Midwest, and far beyond.”

— Philip Barnes, artistic director of the St. Louis Chamber Chorus

“A force to be reckoned with, the Ambassadors of Harmony® continue to be one of St. Louis’ premier men’s ensembles. They electrify audiences with fresh and creative arrangements, sung with amazing precision and clarity.”

— Kevin McBeth, associate conductor, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

“The Ambassadors of Harmony, led by the brilliant Jim Henry, make their virtuosic arrangements sound effortless. Gorgeous singing and clever productions join to make a unique and always entertaining musical experience. I laugh and smile and marvel at their performances!”

— Amy Kaiser, director of St. Louis Symphony Chorus

“If we could send the Ambassadors of Harmony® to the Middle East, there would be world peace in less than two hours. It’s not a concert, it’s an experience! All the qualities that make a great chorus, plus an entertaining delivery. Reading about the Ambassadors of Harmony won’t do a thing for you. You’ve got to hear and see them to believe it can be so good.”

— Dennis Sparger, director, Bach Society of St. Louis

MUSIC LEADERSHIP

Jim Henry, co-director, has led the Ambassadors of Harmony® chorus since 1990 and has been singing a cappella since he was a child. He serves as the head of choral studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and has a doctorate in music composition from Washington University-St. Louis. Henry also arranged for and sang bass in The Gas House Gang, the 1993 international champion quartet. Henry now sings bass with Crossroads, the 2009 international champion quartet. In his spare time, he travels the world as a guest conductor, coach and lecturer.

Jonny Moroni was named co-director of AOH in June 2013 after several years as the chorus' associate director and baritone section leader. Moroni sang in several quartets in high school and college where he started singing baritone with the quartet, Vocal Spectrum, that later won the Barbershop Harmony Society's 2006 international contest. Moroni works in online marketing and lives in St. Peters, Missouri with his wife, Lexi, and their four children.

David Wright, associate director, has led the chorus since 1981. He directed the chorus until 1990 when he turned over the reins to Jim Henry. Wright has been the musical vision of the Ambassadors of Harmony by producing numerous arrangements for the chorus. He is the former chair of the mathematics department at Washington University-St. Louis, has served for years as a music judge in the Barbershop Harmony Society and has sung in three award-winning quartets.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to educate our membership in order to continually improve in vocal quality, performance and personal fulfillment in a cappella singing. When we perform, our goal is to give a gift that will change the lives of the people in our audience.

VISION STATEMENT

The Ambassadors of Harmony® will be recognized as the highest quality and most entertaining choral organization in the St. Louis metropolitan area and the Barbershop Harmony Society.

INCLUSIVITY STATEMENT

Ambassadors of Harmony is a men's a cappella chorus focused on bringing excellence to the art form. We encourage participation from all those who identify as male as well as gender-nonconforming individuals who are comfortable singing in a men's chorus, regardless of race, color, religion, or sexual orientation. To be part of the performing chorus, candidates must pass a vocal performance audition, visual performance audition, and adhere to the chorus’ performance attire.