Phoenicians ft. Lemon Squeezy

Join us for a night of fantastic music at the Orangewood Presbyterian Church. Get ready to be blown away by the harmonious melodies and energetic performances of the Phoenicians Chorus, with a special appearance by the international sensation quartet from Stockholm, Sweden Lemon Squeezy. It's going to be a night to remember, so mark your calendars and bring your friends for an unforgettable experience!

Victor Nilsson · Tenor • David Holst · Lead • Martin Jangö · Bass • Sam Molavi · Baritone

Lemon Squeezy is a Swedish vocal group consisting of four gentlemen. Since singing their first chords together in 2010, they have had one goal: to sing as fresh and have as much fun as possible. Through the years they’ve become well acquainted with many genres of music. While stemming from a strong Swedish choral tradition, they have truly found their footing in barbershop, jazz, and anything that grooves.

In 2012 they won the Barbershop Collegiate World Championships and finished second in the world at the International Barbershop Harmony Society Contest 2016 and 2023. So far they’ve recorded two albums, traveled all over the world, and created their own style with a strive to push the envelope of what a men’s a capella quartet can be.

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Jordan Rakita - Director

In keeping with the legend, the Phoenicians have once again risen from the ashes.

At this time in 2023 the three-time International Barbershop chorus champions, had dwindled to 10 or 12 persistent active members meeting to sing and socialize without a director or plans for chorus competition or performances.

Knowing that the 80-year old singing group was close to shutting down for good, they placed an ad on the Far Western District website asking for candidates for the director’s position. Of the responses was one from a Barbershopper who was working at Arizona State University toward his doctoral degree in choral directing. He had directed a number of youth and adult choral groups and had sung with the championship Westminster chorus. He suggested that some men in his choral classes might be interested in performing our four-part style of singing.

After several months of conversations with Chapter leaders the candidate, Jordan Rakita, was appointed to the position. The newly reconstituted Phoenicians began meeting twice monthly at the beginning of this year with 25 to 30 students, current and former members of the chorus and several men new to Barbershopping.

After three months of rehearsing and improvement under Jordan's and the Music Team's leadership the chorus competed in the Spring Arizona Division chorus contest, coming in third and qualifying to compete in the five-state FWD contest this fall. In that contest last month the Phoenicians scored fourth among 15 choruses.

But wait, there's more! When you’re doing things right people take notice and the Barbershop Harmony Society has taken notice and has honored the Phoenician Chorus by inviting us to be the Mic Tester Chorus in July at the annual BHS Convention and Contest in Denver. Mic Testers take the stage at the start of the contest and perform so that judges can make technical adjustments and be sure that the stage and its equipment provide the best visual and vocal setting for the competition. Our chorus will not be scored or compete but it is a distinct honor to be invited to be part of the prestigious contest from among hundreds of choruses around the world.

What a difference a couple years make! From being in the brink of pulling the plug on life-support to taking the international stage, it's fair to say, "WE'RE BACK!"

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