Alliance
Alliance was formed in 2004 after experienced a cappella vocalists Ian, Adrian, Les (the quartet’s original baritone) and Dan got together over a long weekend in January of that year to try out their combination of voices. At the time Dan was living in Canberra and the rest of the group was located in Perth but having known each other for a number of years they had a strong suspicion that the blend would work well enough to justify the long commute.
In June of 2004, after just three such rehearsal weekends, the quartet won the AAMBS Western Region quartet contest with a record high score. Later that year the boys traveled to Christchurch, New Zealand to take part in the Pan Pacific Quartet Competition against an international field from New Zealand, Hawaii, the West Coast of America, Japan and other parts of Australia and were awarded the Silver Medal.
October of 2005 saw the boys reach what has been described as the pinnacle of the barbershop harmony art form in Australia by being awarded the first place gold medal in the Open Quartet Contest at the biennial Australian Association of Men Barbershop Singers (AAMBS) National Convention.
Richard joined the group in 2007, replacing Les in the baritone slot and Alliance kept the momentum going by recording and releasing their long awaited debut CD ‘Anthem’ in 2008.
In July 2009 Alliance traveled to Anaheim, USA as Australia’s representative to the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Quartet Contest. This proved to be an invaluable experience as they competed against many of the very best a cappella quartets in the world. Later that year Alliance travelled to Hobart for national competition in Hobart and were awarded their second gold medal at the AAMBS National Convention.
By this time all four members had also qualified as accredited barbershop harmony contest judges within Australia and New Zealand. They had also been part of the faculty for numerous harmony singing workshops around Australia, passing on their knowledge of the art-form.
Alliance returned to the USA in 2011 to again represent Australia in International competition and posted a record score and placing for an Australian quartet. On arrival home they got busy recording their second CD, Circle of Life, which was released in September. Soon after they travelled to Brisbane to compete in the Pan Pacific Quartet Contest and were awarded their third National Quartet Championship, and for the first time, the Pan Pacific Quartet Championship.
Bio’s
Ian Mulholland
A Life Member of AAMBS, Ian sings Tenor. He has now won four AAMBS National Quartet Contest gold medals. Ian was Co-Director and then Director of the Men in Harmony chorus for 4 years, before joining Vocal Evolution and acting in a number of roles, including President, and currently is the Vocal Evolution Music VP. In between, Ian is Chairman of the AAMBS/NZABS Guild of Judges and a certified Music Category Judge. He has also served as AAMBS National Vice President of Music. In his spare time Ian also arranges music and manages to fit in his family, which consists of a wife and two children, job as a geologist, enjoyment of playing golf, and other quartet Bad Habits.
Adrian Gimpel
Adrian sings Lead. He is certified as a Presentation Category Judge in the AAMBS judging program and is the current Market VP and a Past President of the Vocal Evolution chorus. In the career which actually helps pay his bills, Adrian is a Graphic Designer. He is also blessed with a wonderful family, comprising of a lovely, charming and very understanding wife and three children.
Richard Reeve
Richard sings Baritone and is no stranger to music or the stage, having been around amateur theatre since childhood. In his spare time Richard is completing a master’s degree in natural resource economics. He is the current Membership VP and also a Past President of the Vocal Evolution chorus.
Dan Millgate
Dan sings bass. He has now won four National AAMBS Quartet gold medals and three silver medals. He is certified as a Singing Category Judge (and Category Specialist). In his spare time Dan likes to play golf badly, watch hours of pointless television, and come up with new and exciting ways to irritate his fellow quartet members. The other guys in Alliance are all very jealous of Dan’s amazing musical talents, superior intelligence, rugged good looks, muscular physique and razor-sharp wit.
Anthem CD
