GAMBIT

Gambit is a Barbershop Quartet from Rochester, MN. They have sung together for many years as members of the Rochester Music Men Barbershop Chorus and together they have over 80 years of quartet experience.

If you would like to contact us about singing for your event, please contact us through the following info:

• Phone John Danilenko-Dixon (507) 358-1879
• Email John

Lead - John Danilenko-Dixon has been singing barbershop Harmony for most of his life… a whopping 35 years!!! John has been in many quartets, starting in Middle School. John's first High school quartet was called "Four of a Kind" and they came in First place in the very first "Young Men in Harmony Contest." During our Senior year in High School we changed a couple voice parts and became the "Class Reunion" and were lucky enough to compete on the International Stage 3 different times, placing as high as the 24th best quartet in the world. The "Class Reunion" became the Land O' Lakes district champions in 1983. John has been in the following quartets since the Class Reunion hung up the pitch pipe: CR Reunion, Pennies from Heaven, Cabaret!, APEX, Hot Topic! and several other chapter quartets. John has been the Music VP and one of the choreographers of the chorus. John is the Office Manager and Yearbook advisor at Willow Creek Middle School in Rochester, has 3 daughters and a fantastic Fiancé.

Bass – Michael’s first involvement with barbershopping was with a high school quartet. He then joined the Barbershop Harmony Society after moving to Rochester in 1991 and has been a member of the Rochester chorus and multiple quartets ever since then. His first quartet was put together for the chorus’ annual show, and aptly named ‘Frank’s Fault’ for the quartet’s creator. From there he was a member of Harmony Connection, Resonance, Hot Topic, and now Gambit. Hot Topic was Michael’s first competition quartet, taking Novice Champions of the LOL Southwest Division. He now enjoys singing with the members of Gambit and the wealth of quartet experience that they bring with them. Michael is currently the treasurer of the Rochester Music Men as well as working as a Project Manager at IBM in Rochester.

Baritone - Todd has been involved with barbershopping since he was in high school when his music teacher encouraged him to be part of a barbershop quartet for a school music contest. He's been involved with the Rochester Music Men Barbershop Chorus and various quartets for over 20 years now. Todd's previous quartet experience include "Pennies From Heaven", "Cabaret!", "Milestone", and the comedy quartet "Totally Uncalled Four." He's competed at the division and district level several times, having won a Novice Champion with his quartet, "Cabaret!" One of his barbershop career wish-list items came to fruition when he sang in the barbershop quartet in the Rochester Civic Theatre's production of The Music Man . Recently, Todd also checked off another barbershopper "things to do before you die" by singing a pole-cat with Disney World's permanent professional main street barbershop quartet, the "Dapper Dans." Todd continues to be active in his chapter by filling in as assistant director and holding various chapter officer positions. He loves to sing with his quartet whenever he can, including "National Anthem" appearances and the popular Singing Valentines fundraiser for the chorus. Todd currently works for IBM as a software engineer. He is happily married and has two fun-loving young boys.

Tenor - Merle has been a barbershopper since 1980, having been a member of the Windom MN, Sheldon IA, Worthington MN, and Rochester Chapters and has sung in quartets in each chapter.  He's been involved with the Rochester Music Men Barbershop Chorus and various quartets for over 20 years now.  Merle's previous Rochester quartet experience includes comedy quartets "The National Pastime" and "The Totally Uncalled Four."  One of his favorite barbershop experiences occurred when he sang with Todd in the barbershop quartet in the Rochester Civic Theatre's production of The Music Man.  Merle is the director of the Music Men Chorus and directs choirs in several of the public schools in Rochester.  He loves to sing with his quartet whenever he can, including "National Anthem" appearances and the popular Singing Valentines fundraiser for the chorus.  Merle's lovely wife is a NICU nurse at St. Mary's, they have three adult sons, and a daughter in high school.