From the Pfizer St Louis Newsletter
7/09/04

Chesterfield Colleague Wesley Newgard Member of Winning Barbershop Choir

Diligent Practice Pays Off

Performing for more than 8,000 people, The Ambassadors of Harmony Chorus, or A.O.H., of St. Charles, Missouri, won the first place trophy and gold medal in the Barbershop Society's 2004 International Championship over the 4th of July weekend in Louisville, Kentucky.

"We wanted to win this year more than ever, and we had a wonderful time sharing this contest with our show patrons and the superb audience in Louisville. We see this as just a beginning, and look forward to earning that gold medal every time we step on the risers. You'll be hearing more from us soon," said Jim Henry, director of The Ambassadors of Harmony.

A.O.H consists of over 160 men, making it the largest group ever to perform in this competition. One of the members is Pfizer's Wesley Newgard, a validation engineer at the Chesterfield site, and a bass singer in A.O.H.

"I practice at least twenty minutes a day and the group gets together for three hours once a week to practice as a team," said Newgard. "While our group is extremely dedicated to what we do, we also do it to have fun and make the audience smile with a gift they will never forget."

"Just as in Pfizer, close harmony and togetherness is the key. We are well aware it takes many people working closely together to produce a new drug. Similarly, the Ambassadors must work in close harmony to produce the necessary sound and pitch for the song to be appealing," said Newgard. "This event is a real team activity, where everyone relies on each other in order to win."