Showpiece Quartet performs the national anthem at the 2022 Allstate Sugar Bowl. Photo by Wally Porter.
When Daniel and Phillip Zeagler step onto the Superdome playing surface tonight, it won’t be the first time they’ve performed in the iconic building. However, it will be quite a bit different from their previous visits.
Both of the brothers were members of the West Monroe High School marching band (at different times) when the Rebels played for Louisiana state football championships in the Superdome. Tonight, the brothers will be joined by Geoffrey Kannenberg and Chip Davis as they form the Showpiece Quartet, a Louisiana-based, award-winning barbershop quartet that is performing the National Anthem.
“In high school, I played mellophone [French horn] for West Monroe,” Daniel said. “I’ll never forget the moment marching into the Superdome, with the bass drum cadence. Soon as the band marched past the awning, the sound of the beating drum dissipated into the gigantic stadium. Then finally, you hear it come back at you a second a half later. That was the “holy smokes” moment. As high school kids, we were awestruck.”
The brothers and their barbershop “teammates” have quite a bit more experience these days. They have performed throughout the country in venues such as the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City and the Axis Theater in Las Vegas. In 2019, they won the Southwestern District’s barbershop quartet competition in Dallas.
But performing in the Superdome for the Allstate Sugar Bowl will be quite a step up for the four performers.
“We enjoy performing the National Anthem at local events in the Baton Rouge area,” Daniel said. “But this is the Sugar Bowl. This will be very exciting for all of us.”
Daniel, the elder Zeagler, is the lead for the Showpiece Quartet. His first major barbershop experience took place when he was five years old when he sang a singing valentine with his father’s quartet on the local early news station. In addition to performing with Showpiece, he directs the Red Stock Sound Chorus from Baton Rouge – a men’s acapella group in which his father also performs – and the Bayou Blend Chorus from Broussard.
Younger brother Phillip, the tenor of the group, has been an avid trombonist for the majority of his life. In addition to being an all-state selection with West Monroe, he was a member of the LSU Tiger Marching Band.
Geoff Kannenberg is the baritone for the Showpiece Quartet. He has appeared on the stage in over 250 performances. The bass is provided by Chip Davis. A vocal performance music major from LSU, he has been singing on stage and in other performance settings since the age of 10. With Phillip now living in Arkansas, Chip’s son Madison Davis fills in as the fifth member of the “quartet” when necessary.
While some may see a barbershop quartet as a light-hearted group simply having fun, the Showpiece Quartet takes its craft very seriously.
“It marries many of the things that we’ve all done previously,” Daniel said. “In barbershop, each member is responsible for their part. Everyone has to be spot on or it doesn’t sound right. It’s a massive challenge. But we’re all very proud of our accomplishments – we’re a polished group that sits among the top barbershop quartets in the world.”
While all four members of the group have performed in a wide-range of roles and found success on many levels, the Zeagler brothers have some added pressure for tonight’s performance – they’re third-generation barbershoppers appearing on their biggest stage to date.
“My father is thrilled that we’re performing at the Sugar Bowl in the Superdome as are many of our (Showpiece Quartet’s) family and friends,” Daniel said.
