Ring of Gold
Ring of Gold
1979 District Champion
The Ring of Gold came about in 1978 as three voices from the defunct Saturday Review began looking for a fourth part. Rip Kirby (bass), Barry Clapper (bari) and Ed Wirtz (tenor) ultimately found Rich Treptow to sing lead, even though his experience had been singing bari with the Harmony Galore Four, 1975 District Champs. The new combination worked, with the Ring of Gold winning the District Championship in 1979. They also competed at the International level in 1979, '81, and '83 placing as high as 25th. In 1980, Steve Hardy replaced Ed Wirtz as tenor. They had a rich sound and since all were instrumentalists, they kept a very solid beat their uptunes and swing numbers. Three years after they broke up, they reformed as a Dixieland Band named the Band of Gold, with Steve Hardy on trumpet, Rip Kirby on banjo, Bari Clapper on clarinet, and Rich Treptow on bari sax.
1979 District Championship
Current Members
Richard “Trep” Treptow
QUARTET HISTORY:
Harmony Galore Four – 1975 LOL District Champs (bari)
Ring of Gold – 1979 LOL District Champs (lead)
Happiness Emporium (1983-1987) – 1975 Int’l Champs (replacement bari)
High Spirits - 1990 Cardinal District Champs (bari)
Imagination – theatrical quartet – Show packages were the Addams Family & Insects! (bari)
Downstate Express – 2004 International Senior Quartet Champs (bari)
Northern Lights Gospel Quartet (NLGQ) – LOL Novice Quartet Champs (lead)
JUDGING HISTORY:
Certified Presentation Judge (1992-2007)
Presentation Category Board of Review (1993 – 2003)
Presentation (now Performance) Category Specialist (2004 – 2006)
International Contest Judge: 1995, 1998, 2001, 2003--2007
Member Society Contest; Judging Committee (2004-2006)
Trainer and mentor to Harmony Inc. Presentation Category for 5 years
CHAPTER/CHORUS/ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY:
Chap. President., Program VP, Treasurer, Marketing and PR Officer, Show Chairman, and Music & Performance Comm. Chairman
Association of District Champions (ADC): President, Treasurer, Sec’y
Associate Member, Association of International Champions (AIC)
4th Place Int’l Chorus Medal with Great Northern Union Chorus-1992
Coached numerous quartets and choruses in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana
OTHER HOBBIES: golf, sailing, & fishing
Very active in church activities, including church treasurer, financial secretary, and trustee
Graduated from seminary in 2016
Currently singing Southern Gospel music in Victorious Trio (Indiana) (see website)
Quartet Championships
| Name | Year | Contest | Part |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harmony Galore Four | 1975 | LOL | Baritone |
| Ring of Gold | 1979 | LOL | Lead |
Other Quartets
| Name | Part |
|---|---|
| Happiness Emporium | Baritone |