TOWSON, Md. — A remarkable achievement has been made by a Barbershop quartet that includes two teachers from Baltimore County Public Schools. The quartet, named GQ, has become the first female group to win the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Quartet Contest, a milestone in the organization’s 88-year history.
The victory was secured on July 4 during the Barbershop Harmony Society's 2026 International Convention held in St. Louis, where GQ outperformed 51 competing quartets from around the globe.
The members of GQ include Katie Gillis, a professional singer, farmer, and potter; Ali Hauger, a kindergarten teacher at Colgate Elementary School and a Patapsco High School graduate; Amanda Sandroni, a vocal music teacher at Chapel Hill Elementary School; and Samantha Tramack, a music teacher based in Virginia.
Throughout the competition, GQ showcased their talent by performing six songs over three rounds, drawing from a diverse repertoire that included Broadway hits, pop classics, and Americana. The Barbershop Harmony Society praised the quartet for their energetic performances, noting their impeccable tuning, rich vocal textures, and passionate delivery.
This victory follows years of dedication and progress for GQ, which placed fourth in 2022 during the first international competition to welcome non-male participants and secured fifth place in 2025.
Founded in 1938 as an all-male organization, the Barbershop Harmony Society opened its membership to all singers in 2018, marking a significant shift in its history.
In addition to GQ's success, Maryland musicians also excelled in the International Chorus Contest. Parkside Harmony, directed by Amanda Sandroni's husband, Vince Sandroni, achieved a fifth-place finish in the chorus category. Vince Sandroni is a music educator at Cockeysville Middle School and a graduate of Parkville High School.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR 2 News (source).
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