Instant Classic
Instant Classic
2015 International Champion
Instant Classic is a barbershop quartet comprised of David Zimmerman, Theo Hicks, Kohl Kitzmiller, and Kyle Kitzmiller. They are four good friends with a passion for barbershop harmony, a cappella music, and music education.
The quartet began singing together in college and first competed in the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) International Collegiate Quartet Competition in 2009. The group has since become the 2011 Cardinal District Quartet Champions, the 2012 International Collegiate Quartet Silver Medalists, and in Pittsburgh, PA they earned the title of the 2015 International Quartet Champions. They have also been recognized in the Cardinal District as Quartet of the Year in 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017. They are also all proud members of their home chapter in the BHS, the Greater Indianapolis chapter (Circle City Sound).
The group has performed all over the world, including the United States, Canada, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Australia. They have appeared on National Television in the US, including opening for the Sing-Off Tour in Indianapolis in 2015 and performing as a featured act on the Today Show in 2016. They have also served as guest clinicians and teaching quartets for Youth in Harmony Camps (such as Camp A Cappella), Harmony University, and Harmony Academies around the world since their formation. The group features arrangements by all four of the quartet members and has recorded four albums – Instant Classic; Instant Classic: Start of Something Big!; Instant Classic: Simple Gifts; and Instant Classic: An Icy Holiday EP. You can purchase digital or hard copies of the albums directly from their website or find their music through online music stores such as iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Play.
To keep up-to-date with the quartet, you can find updates on their website www.instantclassicquartet.com, or LIKE them on their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/instantclassicqt.
2015 International Championship
Winning Members
David Zimmerman
David was born and raised in Richmond, IN, and became a member of the BHS at the age of 20, when he met Kyle while in college. He is currently a member and Assistant Director of the Circle City Sound, and also arranges vocal music and teaches private voice lessons (davidpzimmerman.com). Having graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education, he has taught in the public schools for over 8 years, and now holds the position of Choral Director at Avon Middle School South in Avon, IN. As a Certified Music Judge for the BHS, he also serves as the Cardinal District Representative for Contest & Judging (DRC&J). He currently resides in Indianapolis with his wife, Laura.
Quartet Championships
| Name | Year | Part |
|---|---|---|
| Instant Classic | 2015 | Tenor |
Theo Hicks
Theo Hicks is in his fourth year at Ball State University (BSU) pursuing a Doctor of Arts degree in choral conducting with a secondary in voice performance. As a graduate assistant at BSU, he is the director of University Choral Union, teaches Basic Music for Classroom Teachers, and supervises student teachers. He also serves as adjunct professor at Anderson University, teaching two sections of Aural Comprehension.
He has recently accepted the Director of Choral Activities & Voice Coordinator for Anderson University (Indiana)'s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. He is eager to begin Fall 2021!
Theo studied voice, piano, acting, and composition in his undergraduate program and graduated Cum Laude from Anderson University with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education. After graduating, he served in Indiana public schools for over seven years, most recently at Madison-Grant Jr./Sr. High School as the choral and drama director. He then began graduate studies at Ball State University and earned his Master of Music in Choral Conducting in 2019.
Theo is an active member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS). He has been a guest presenter at numerous conferences, published several articles, served as a guest clinician/conductor, and written music for many ensembles within the organizations. As a member of the BHS, he currently directs the Greater Indianapolis Chapter, Circle City Sound.
Quartet Championships
| Name | Year | Part |
|---|---|---|
| Instant Classic | 2015 | Lead |
