About Us
Left to right: Bob Rodriguez, Kevin Rudy, Dave Updegrove, and Ray Sitter singing at a local event.
Dominion 4 Background:
The Dominion 4 barbershop quartet formed late in 2003 to sing 4-part harmony when Loudoun County’s newly formed barbershop Chorus of the Old Dominion needed people to deliver Singing Valentines in February of 2004. The first time that Bob Rodriguez (Tenor), Ray Sitter (Lead), Frank Shipp (Baritone), and Dave Updegrove (Bass) met to practice, they found they had the all-important blend of personalities, and a good vocal blend. With similar ideals of entertaining and a "leaning towards humor", they set to work to become a top-notch barbershop quartet, and the first to emerge from the Loudoun County chorus.
Just one year together, they were awarded the Barbershop Harmony Society’s, Mid-Atlantic District, Novice Quartet trophy in 2005. They have since evolved into one of Northern Virginia's prominent quartets. With Ray switching to Baritone and Kevin Rudy joining them as Lead, the quartet most enjoys entertaining, performing in a variety of musical styles ranging from traditional barbershop to pop, gospel to doo-wop, and oldies to Broadway. In the words of one of their fans, “Their passion for good music and fun is contagious.”
Quartet members:
TENOR Bob Rodriguez (Jr.) grew up in the Chicago area where he inherited a love for singing and entertaining from his father Bob Mack who sang tenor with the 1949 Championship Mid-States 4 quartet. Bob’s enthusiasm for close harmony was nurtured listening to quartets like The Four Lads, The Crew Cuts, The Arbors, and The Four Freshman. As a youth, Bob sang in church choirs, and has played lead guitar and sung vocals in various rock bands. But Bob’s real passion is singing and performing challenging four-part harmony. Before moving to Virginia in 1988, Bob sang barbershop with the DuPage Valley Chorus and The Street Corner Four quartet in Illinois. Along with his love for singing, Bob enjoys being semi-retired, spending time with his family, being involved with church activities, and amateur radio.
LEAD Kevin Rudy has been singing various kinds of music for much of his life. He started singing barbershop with the Chorus of the Old Dominion and competed with the chorus in 2005 when they sang at the Mid-Atlantic District contest in Wildwood NJ. Kevin then gravitated to singing lead with the gospel quartet "4tified" with Dave. In 2014 Kevin joined Dominion 4 to sing lead after Ray decided to move to Baritone. Kevin enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 kids, either traveling, playing tennis, or just hanging out as a family. Kevin is also very active in his church and especially loves singing those barbershop gospel tunes.
BASS Dave Updegrove started singing with church choirs in his early teens, progressed on to high school and college vocal groups, and was introduced to the joys of barbershop-style singing in his early married life. Yes, he is still happily married! He took a 20-year break from barbershop, but not from singing, and has performed with several “a cappella” groups over the years. He sang bass with “4tified”, a southern gospel quartet, but is thoroughly enjoying his return to his old routine of singing barbershop. An accountant by trade, Dave enjoys surf fishing and vegetable gardening in his spare time, and he treasures his walk with the Lord.
BARITONE Ray Sitter has over 25 years of Barbershopping, singing both lead and baritone in various quartets. Having been fortunate to begin and participate with an International Medaling Barbershop Chorus in Texas, Ray has been educated musically by various International qualified singers. Quartet singing is his love, second only to having a loving wife for over 35 years. Ray leads the pre-school music group at his church, and he hopes to show how Barbershop can not only refresh the old secular standards, but harmoniously bring out the message of the Hymns.
Dominion 4 Background:
The Dominion 4 barbershop quartet formed late in 2003 to sing 4-part harmony when Loudoun County’s newly formed barbershop Chorus of the Old Dominion needed people to deliver Singing Valentines in February of 2004. The first time that Bob Rodriguez (Tenor), Ray Sitter (Lead), Frank Shipp (Baritone), and Dave Updegrove (Bass) met to practice, they found they had the all-important blend of personalities, and a good vocal blend. With similar ideals of entertaining and a "leaning towards humor", they set to work to become a top-notch barbershop quartet, and the first to emerge from the Loudoun County chorus.
Just one year together, they were awarded the Barbershop Harmony Society’s, Mid-Atlantic District, Novice Quartet trophy in 2005. They have since evolved into one of Northern Virginia's prominent quartets. With Ray switching to Baritone and Kevin Rudy joining them as Lead, the quartet most enjoys entertaining, performing in a variety of musical styles ranging from traditional barbershop to pop, gospel to doo-wop, and oldies to Broadway. In the words of one of their fans, “Their passion for good music and fun is contagious.”
Quartet members:
TENOR Bob Rodriguez (Jr.) grew up in the Chicago area where he inherited a love for singing and entertaining from his father Bob Mack who sang tenor with the 1949 Championship Mid-States 4 quartet. Bob’s enthusiasm for close harmony was nurtured listening to quartets like The Four Lads, The Crew Cuts, The Arbors, and The Four Freshman. As a youth, Bob sang in church choirs, and has played lead guitar and sung vocals in various rock bands. But Bob’s real passion is singing and performing challenging four-part harmony. Before moving to Virginia in 1988, Bob sang barbershop with the DuPage Valley Chorus and The Street Corner Four quartet in Illinois. Along with his love for singing, Bob enjoys being semi-retired, spending time with his family, being involved with church activities, and amateur radio.
LEAD Kevin Rudy has been singing various kinds of music for much of his life. He started singing barbershop with the Chorus of the Old Dominion and competed with the chorus in 2005 when they sang at the Mid-Atlantic District contest in Wildwood NJ. Kevin then gravitated to singing lead with the gospel quartet "4tified" with Dave. In 2014 Kevin joined Dominion 4 to sing lead after Ray decided to move to Baritone. Kevin enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 kids, either traveling, playing tennis, or just hanging out as a family. Kevin is also very active in his church and especially loves singing those barbershop gospel tunes.
BASS Dave Updegrove started singing with church choirs in his early teens, progressed on to high school and college vocal groups, and was introduced to the joys of barbershop-style singing in his early married life. Yes, he is still happily married! He took a 20-year break from barbershop, but not from singing, and has performed with several “a cappella” groups over the years. He sang bass with “4tified”, a southern gospel quartet, but is thoroughly enjoying his return to his old routine of singing barbershop. An accountant by trade, Dave enjoys surf fishing and vegetable gardening in his spare time, and he treasures his walk with the Lord.
BARITONE Ray Sitter has over 25 years of Barbershopping, singing both lead and baritone in various quartets. Having been fortunate to begin and participate with an International Medaling Barbershop Chorus in Texas, Ray has been educated musically by various International qualified singers. Quartet singing is his love, second only to having a loving wife for over 35 years. Ray leads the pre-school music group at his church, and he hopes to show how Barbershop can not only refresh the old secular standards, but harmoniously bring out the message of the Hymns.
