Chorus Directors
Justin Miller
(Director from 2012 to present)
The son of John Miller, twice international champion bass [Grandma’s Boys, 1979, and New Tradition, 1985], Justin Miller grew up surrounded by quality barbershop music and “attended” his first international convention at the age of two. In 2002, when he was 18, he joined both the Barbershop Harmony Society and the Masters of Harmony, and, as a singer, won three gold medals with the chorus (2002, 2005, and 2008). He also served the MOH as a board member-at-large, presentation coordinator, and assistant director, and for four years attended Chapman University, earning a Bachelor of Music degree, majoring in both music education (vocal) and performance (conducting). Though primarily a baritone when singing in choruses, while at Chapman he sang tenor and entered the College Quartet Contest and finished fourth three times: with Afternoon Delight in 2005 and 2006, and with the University Vocal Band Express in 2008.
In 2008, Justin also became music director of The Westminster Chorus, with whom, as a singer, he had won the international championship the year before. In 2009, he directed Westminster to the title of “Choir of the World” at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales. The following year he directed Westminster to its second international chorus championship, garnering the highest score ever achieved by a competing chorus (97.7%), and also became the youngest director in Society history to win a chorus championship.
Understandably, Justin is extremely active in the Barbershop Harmony Society, where he is a certified Music judge. He has served on the faculty of Harmony University and is a sought-after quartet and chorus coach. While born in Southern California, Justin was raised primarily in Westport, Connecticut, and in 2010 moved back there to be the choral director at his alma mater, Staples High School, and also directed the Big Apple Chorus in Manhattan, NY. However, in the summer of 2012, Justin returned to Southern California to become the associate choir director at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, where, in addition to administrative responsibilities, he directs the men’s ensemble, the women’s ensemble, and the concert choir. He began directing the Masters of Harmony on August 22, 2012.
Mark Hale
(Director from 2000 to 2012)
After a six-month search for a new director, Mark Hale from Clarkesville, Indiana, was contracted in March 2000 to lead the Masters of Harmony into the new millennium. At 33, he had already amassed 15 years of directing experience with two choruses in Kentucky, and been a district quartet champion in 1987 and 1995. After joining the Masters he went on to win an international quartet gold medal in 2001, as the lead singer of Michigan Jake. Besides having arranged much of the music for Michigan Jake and continuing to introduce arrangements to the Masters of Harmony, Mark is a certified Music judge and a member of the Society’s Style Evaluation Committee.
His introduction into the Barbershop Harmony Society began in 1983 when he was just a high school sophomore in Kentucky, shortly after his participation in a school production of The Music Man. At age 16 Mark joined the local Mammoth Cave Chapter and his nine-year relationship there allowed him to experiment with arranging and directing. In 1990, Mark joined the Louisville Thoroughbreds chorus and soon became a member of its music team. His interests in directing and arranging grew even more, and in 1992 he became a founding member of the Louisville Times chorus, which he directed through 1999. On four occasions Mark led the 30-man group to the top ten at International.
Jeff Oxley
(Director from 1998 to 1999)
After a lengthy search for a new music director, the Masters of Harmony offered Jeff Oxley the role in January of 1998, a position he held for 20 months. Well known throughout the Barbershop Harmony Society as an outstanding vocalist, he has achieved three international quartet championships (as bass of The Rapscallions [1984], Acoustix [1990], and Max Q [2007]), and earned numerous gold medals with the Dallas-based Vocal Majority chorus. With the Masters of Harmony he traveled to Europe to perform at the Guinness Roaring 1920’s Festival in Killarney, Ireland (1998) and led the Masters to their 1999 International Chorus Championship in Anaheim, California.
Oxley had sung and played musical instruments since before his high school years, and in Ohio was All-State in band, choir, and orchestra. He earned a Vocal Scholarship Talent Award there at Bowling Green State University and continued his education with three music majors: Trombone, Violin, and Voice. Following graduation Oxley moved to Dallas, Texas, where he pursued a career in musical performance as a studio vocalist and entertainer. It was there he joined the Vocal Majority and quickly became their internal vocal coach and bass section leader.
Dr. Greg Lyne
(Director from 1987 to 1996)
Dr. Greg Lyne began barbershopping at the early age of 14 in his home state of Kansas, and at 16 published his first barbershop arrangement. He went on to pursue a professional career in music education and in 1976 received a Doctor of Arts degree in Conducting from the University of Northern Colorado. He subsequently taught at various universities around the United States before moving to California in 1987, where he became Director of Choral Studies at California State University, Long Beach. In 1993 he became Director of Choral Activities and Coordinator of the Graduate Conducting Program at Arizona State University. After his relocation to Phoenix, he commuted to California to attend chorus rehearsals and performances with the Masters of Harmony.
In the world of barbershopping, Dr. Lyne was a judge for over 35 years and has authored several popular arrangements. He previously served on the faculty of the Society’s Directors’ School and continues to be asked to coach both choruses and quartets around the world. Since 1999 he has been the artistic and music director of the Russian Barbershop Harmony Festival, held each August in St. Petersburg, Russia. Before joining the Masters of Harmony he directed choruses in Kansas, Washington State, and Illinois, and in 1987 achieved the first of four gold medals as a director when his West Towns chorus from the Chicago area won the international chorus championship. After leaving the Masters of Harmony in 1996, Dr. Lyne became the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Director of Music Education and Services in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a position he held until May 2005. Shortly thereafter he relocated to Northern California, where he became the music director of the newly formed Bay Area, California, Voices in Harmony. He currently also directs the Pride of the Pacific chorus of Sweet Adelines International.
