If I could choose one talent to take with me through life, there would be no question what it would be. I want to sing.

I want to sing a song. I want to sing out loud. I want to sing out strong.

The only problem is, I really don't worry if it's not good enough for anyone else to hear. I just want to sing, sing a song.

Unfortunately for me and those near to me, I have what is perhaps the worst singing voice in the history of singing voices.

It's one of those cruel tricks of life. Why was I given the desire to sing, but no talent to do so? That's one of those questions that will likely never be answered.

I've never felt too badly about my musical shortcomings. After all, I had other talents. I bet, for example, Aretha Franklin can't juggle.

Suffice it to say I had come to terms with my shortcoming.

Saturday, all of the feelings of inadequacies came flooding back to me.

DeSoto High School hosted the musical competition, Harmony Explosion. Dozens of barbershop quartets from around the state gathered at the school to perform.

Thinking it would make for some nice photographs, I decided to attend.

Given my work schedule, weekends are precious to me. A Saturday afternoon assignment is not something I generally look forward to.

I showed up around 1 p.m., planning to get in, take a few quick photos and get out. Those plans were quickly aborted.

I have to say, it was one of the most entertaining events I have ever attended.

I was amazed by the level of talent the young people displayed.

The teams from DeSoto and Mill Valley high schools represented the area well. They were on tune, in sync and entertaining all at the same time.

Equally impressive was the poise shown by all of the participants. They actually seemed to be having a good time.

For those who are not familiar with the barbershop quartet style, it is a mixture of harmony and comedy. The students must do more than hit the right notes, they also earn points by making the audience and the judges laugh.

As I watched and listened, I thought back to my high school speech class. I remember the paralyzing fear I felt standing before a class of 30 students and giving a three-minute speech. Singing in front of an auditorium full of my peers? No way.

With all of the recent news about school violence, it's refreshing to see so many confident, talented and seemingly happy teens. With all the talk about what we are doing wrong with our young people, it was great to see an example of what we are doing right.

I take my hat off to the talented teens who participated in Saturday's event. They have gifts that I can only dream about.

But can they juggle?