2019 - 2020
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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
RIVER CITY SOUND CHORUS
RIVER CITY SOUND CHORUS A Chapter of Sweet Adelines International
MISSION STATEMENT River City Sound is a diverse group of determined and dedicated women who are connected by a kindred love of singing. We are “sisters in song”. Our passion for vocal excellence is surpassed only by the desire to entertain our audiences with vibrant, innovative and trend-setting performances. We are an award-winning women’s Barbershop chorus based in the Rockford, Illinois area. As a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, the purpose of our organization is to train women in the art of fourpart a capella harmony in Barbershop style. We also provide entertainment for community and private events.
Whatever the occasion, let us entertain you! rivercitysound.org
@rivercitysoundchorus
rivercitysoundchorus@gmail.com
River City Sound Chorus
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MISSION STATEMENT Elevating women singers worldwide through education, performance, and competition in barbershop harmony and a cappella music.
I will be your harmony.
FOUNDING First meeting: Friday, July 13, 1945 in Tulsa, Oklahoma
VISION STATEMENT Inspiring and empowering voices to joyfully harmonize the world.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES MUSICAL EXCELLENCE:
We honor and embrace artistry, education and innovation in the performance of women’s a cappella music while championing the barbershop style.
CULTURE OF BELONGING:
We create harmony where every voice matters. We foster a culture that provides a joyful place to share our uniqueness within a global community united in song.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION:
We celebrate our differences as essential to the rich harmony that unites us. As we recognize brabershop’s African American origins and learn from our exclusionary past toward women of color, we reject discrimination and unwaveringly strive toward greater awareness, openness and understanding of each other.
PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT LEADERSHIP:
We encourage and empower everyone to lead from where they stand. We foster individual skills, nurture personal growth and provide education and mentoring to develop strong, effective leaders on and off the stage.
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Learn more at SweetAdelines.com
OUTREACH:
We build strong connections by sharing our love of barbershop harmony throughout our communities, countries and the world. Life on a High Note.
rivercitysound.org rivercitysoundchorus@gmail.com
REAL WOMEN REAL HARMONY REAL FUN
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River City Sound Chorus is more than an a cappella ensemble. It is a family. We love getting together each week and sharing friendships as well as great music. If you like to sing, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re invited to visit River City Sound Chorus and discover your INNER DIVA! Sitting in on one of our rehearsals is the perfect way to ďŹ nd out more about us and what we can oďŹ&#x20AC;er you! Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have the opportunity to hear us perform four-part a capella harmony and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get the chance to join us on the risers to experience the music, friendship and fun weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re known for!
CHECK US OUT REAL SOON!
We rehearse each Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. Community Building Complex of Boone County 111 W. 1st St., Belvidere, IL GUESTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! Check our website or Facebook for any schedule or location changes.
The STASSEN
@rivercitysoundchorus
INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. 1662 S. Eastwood Dr
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River City Sound Chorus
RCS thanks John and Cyndy Lane For their support
elitefasteners.com
River City Sound Chorus
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COMMUNITY
@rivercitysoundchorus
Our favorite thing to do is sing for YOU! Our members can be found performing at various locations around the region! We have been featured in summer concert series at Spring Creek United Church of Christ and Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Rockford. Despite the often high temperatures, Kiwanis Brat Days in July is a favorite among our local performances! We’ll have a chance to experience the flip-side of July heat and hockey fans can catch us singing out on the ice at an upcoming Rockford IceHogs game! River City Sound Chorus and our quartets are available to entertain in the community at local churches, various corporate and charityy events as well as retirement and nursing facilities.
HARMONY SATURDAY 5:00 PM BMO Harris Bank Center & HOCKEY! 11/30 300 Elm St. | Rockford, IL
Tickets Available from our members & online! $16/ea.
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Congratulations
Amolee Patel
on receiving a Doctor of Pharmacy degree Class of 2019!! Love, Mom & Dad
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River City Sound Chorus
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Gift & Greeting Card Centerɪ River City Sound Chorus
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River City Sound Chorus
OUR DIRECTOR
Leading, Teaching, Inspiring
JOAN BOUTILIER Master Director President-elect, Sweet Adelines International 2008 International Quartet Champion, Four Bettys Since 1989 Joan (affectionately known as “Boots” by the chorus) has been very active in Sweet Adelines International. Her degree in Music Education from the University of New Mexico was a springboard for her many accomplishments which include Certified Sound Judge, chorus and quartet coach and a member of the international faculty. She is currently an Approved Candidate Judge in a second category, Expression. Under her direction, Joan led her former chorus, Choral-Aires (Region 3), and her current chorus River City Sound (Regions 22 and 3) to the international competition stage multiple times. River City Sound Chorus is the 2019 Chorus Champions of Region 3. Joan is also an accomplished quartet singer, winning the International Championship as Tenor with 2008 Quartet Champions, Four Bettys, and finishing in 6th place in St. Louis in 2018 with Spritzer Quartet. Joan has served on many committees at the international level as well as serving on the International Board of Directors, and is currently President-elect of Sweet Adelines International.
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River City Sound Chorus
When she’s not busy with Sweet Adelines, you’ll find her spending time with her husband, Eric, her 3 adult children and baby granddaughter.
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MIDWEST HARMONY REGION 3 CHAMPIONS
RIVER CITY SOUND CHORUS TENORS
BARITONES
SUE ARNTZEN .......................................................................Roscoe,IL
KIM ANDERSON ................................................................. Roscoe, IL
SUE DIRKS ............................................................................ Sterling, IL
SUE deNEVEU ...................................................................... Roscoe, IL
JODY JOHNSON ............................................................ Madison, WI
LEANNE HOLZBAUER ........................................... Cherry Valley, IL
DONNA MELCHER ..........................................................Rockford, IL
CONNIE SELMI ............................................................... Rock Falls, IL
RENEE Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;DELL.................................................... Machesney Park, IL
MARYANN SUPRENANT ...............................................Rockford, IL CAROLYN VAASEN.................................................... Winnebago, IL CAROL WILSON ........................................................... Loves Park, IL
LEADS JEANNE ANDERSON ..................................................... Belvidere, IL KATHY BLOSSER...............................................................Rockford, IL DEANNA BREDESON .....................................................Rockford, IL CAROLINE CULBERTSON............................................. Marengo, IL ANNE DUSENBURY ................................................Schaumburg, IL MARIE GRAFWALLNER-HUSETH ...........................Lake Mills, WI ALICE HAMILTON .......................................................Waunakee, WI CAROL HATCH ...............................................................Janesville, WI LYNNE ISTAD.....................................................................Rockford, IL LEANN KUHLEMEYER ................................................... Delavan, WI RUTH MEYERS ...................................................Machesney Park, IL JUNE NICHOLLS...............................................................Rockford, IL CAROL PANN ............................................................. South Beloit, IL AMOLEE PATEL .................................................................Rockford, IL ANN PATEL.........................................................................Rockford, IL JUDY TOTTEN ............................................................... Loves Park, IL GAIL WILSON................................................................. Edgerton, WI
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BASSES MEREE BRIDGEWATER ................................................. Sycamore, IL RUTH CHANCE ................................................................ Belvidere, IL DENISE GORSKI ...............................................................Rockford, IL JANET LUNDIN ...............................................................Caledonia, IL LEANN NELSON................................................ Machesney Park, IL SONJA PENROD.............................................................. Belvidere, IL MARY RAPP ................................................................. Cambridge WI JANET RATHKE ................................................................ Belvidere, IL JOAN RETTIG .................................................................. Madison, WI LINDA WASSNER .............................................................Rockford, IL CINDY WALKER ...................................................... Lake Geneva, WI
REAL WOMEN REAL HARMONY REAL FUN River City Sound Chorus
1:30 - 1:55 DOORS OPEN
Thank you for your support! Enjoy the show!
Browse the Raffle Baskets & Purchase Cash Raffle Tickets!
2:00 SHOW BEGINS Enjoy your desserts! Intermission - Purchase more tickets! End of show - Drawings for Baskets and 50/50 Cash Raffle
CELEBRATING 39 Years of Harmony in Northern Illinois!
CHORUS AWARDS YEAR CONTEST
AWARD
LEVEL
2000 Region 5
1st Place
Division A
2001 Region 5
1st Place
Division A
2001 IES
3rd Place
Small Chorus International
2002 Region 5
1st Place
Division A
2004 Region 5
1st Place
Division A
2004 IES
3rd Place
Small Chorus International
2005 Region 22
1st Place
Division A
2006 Region 22
1st Place
Division A
2009 Region 22
1st Place 1st Place 28th Place
Overall Division AA International
1st Place 1st Place 14th Place
Overall Division AA International
1st Place 1st Place 2014 Baltimore, MD 21st Place
Overall Division AA International
2015 Region 3
1st Place 1st Place 18th Place
Overall Division AA International
1st Place 1st Place 28th Place
Overall Division AA International
1st Place 1st Place TBD
Overall Division AA International
2010 Seattle, WA 2011 Region 22 2012 Denver, CO 2013 Region 22
2016 Las Vegas, NV 2017 Region 3 © Re Read ad Pho hoto togr grap aphy hy
2018 St. Louis, MO 2019 Region 3
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2020 Louisville, KY
River City Sound Chorus
OUR JOURNEY
to International Competition!
Chartered in the summer of 1980 as Rock Valley Chorus of Sweet Adelines International, the chorus started as a small group of 18 singers. Almost four decades later, River City Sound has expanded to include over 40 women living within a 100-mile radius of the Rockford, Illinois area. We are women of every age and occupation.
We worked very hard and we won the 2011 Region 22 contest in Appleton, WI. We raised money, had a lot of great coaching and worked even harder as we prepared for the 2012 International Contest in Denver.
In 2000, the chorus received a 1st Place Ribbon in the newly created “Small Chorus Division A” and hasn’t looked back since. In 2001 they were invited to the first ever International Contest for Small Choruses in San Antonio, Texas and were awarded 3rd Place in the world. As a member of a small chorus you always dream about being on the international stage, but with a chorus of only 40 women think that you’ll never be able to compete at the big show... or can you? Our dreams were realized in 2009 when under the direction of master director, Joan Boutilier, we won our first regional competition in Region 22 in Cedar Rapids, IA. That win qualified us for a spot in the Sweet Adelines International Competition in Seattle in 2010. The whirlwind to prepare for contest and travel began! There were mushrooms to sell, bowling for barbershop and rummage sales to make the extra money it would cost for coaching, costumes and travel. Our goal that year was to not finish last. We met our goal placing 28th out of the 33 competitors from all over the world. After our first taste of the International stage, we knew there was no turning back. We wanted to do it again and again and again.
River City Sound Chorus
Our goal in Denver was to place “above the fold”. That meant placing 20th or higher. When it was announced that we placed 14th, you’d have thought we won the whole competition! We started seeing 14’s everywhere we went! The very last Region #22 Contest was held in 2013, so why not take home the last trophy ever awarded by the region? River City Sound did just that with our highest score ever and qualified to compete in Baltimore, MD in 2014. In 2014 the Regions of Sweet Adelines International were revised and River City Sound was made part of Region #3. We are now in a Region with at least 2 choruses who had place in the top ten at international, one of these winning an unprecedented seven International Championships! Some thought that our journey to international contest had come to an end, but they didn’t know us very well. In the spring of 2015, the chorus scored an all-time high score of 652, winning the Region #3 contest and earning a trip to compete on the International Stage in October 2016. The contest in Las Vegas, NV 2016 was filled with moments to remember, including our 18th
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OUR JOURNEY to International Competition!
REAL WOMEN REAL HARMONY REAL FUN
place finish and our director’s quartet, Spritzer’s 6th place finish. Spring of 2017 took us to Regional Contest once again, where we won first place chorus Mid-sized and Over-all sending us to the International Contest in St. Louis fall 2018. Here we place 28th of 33 choruses from all over the world. Keeping the streak alive, we claimed the regional title for a 6th time in spring 2019 and will be taking another trip to the International stage in Louisville, KY fall 2020! We’ll be embarking on fundraising to cover the travel and coaching expenses and cost of new costumes and we are so excited to have the chance to sing on the big, beautiful international stage again! It’s such an amazing opportunity to connect with members of the organization from around the country as well as from around the globe!
Stay tuned to our Facebook page to get updates about our fundraising endeavors, guest nights, community performances, etc. We’ll provide links for the webcast of the competition in Kentucky as well!
@rivercitysoundchorus
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OUR LEADERSHIP CHORUS MANAGEMENT TEAM
KIM ANDERSON
JOAN BOUTILIER ............................................DIRECTOR
Assistant Director
JOAN RETTIG ...........................................TEAM LEADER
Kim is the baritone section leader in River City Sound. She has passed all the tests and requirements to be a CertiямБed Director in Sweet Adelines International. Kim directs the chorus at many local events and leads vocal warm-ups for many rehearsals. The chorus is appreciative of her dedication and skills!
DEANNA BREDESON ........... EVENT COORDINATOR CONNIE SELMI ..............FINANCIAL COORDINATOR LEANN NELSON..........MARKETING COORDINATOR GAIL WILSON ...........MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR RUTH CHANCE ............................................. SECRETARY
To the RCS Bass Secton: What a privilege it is to work with such an inspiring and dedicated group of women. I look forward to singing with you in Louisville! London
Maree Bridgewater Ruth Chance Denise Gorski Leann Nelson
Sonja Penrod Mary Rapp Janet Rathke
Jae Rettig Cindy Walker Linda Wassner
Break a lip! Wishing you a great day And a fabulous show. Rich & Janet
RAFFLE BASKETS SPONSORED BY: JEANNE ANDERSON
GREENFIRE
ROCKFORD ICE HOGS
KIM ANDERSON
LYNNE ISTAD
CONNIE SELMI
RUTH CHANCE
LEANN KUHLEMEYER
STONE EAGLE
ANNE DUSENBURY
RICH & JANET LUNDIN
CINDY WALKER
MARY RAPP
River City Sound Chorus
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OUR QUARTETS
BY REQUEST
ANGIE WILLIAMS ..........................................TENOR MARIE GRAFWALLNER-HUSETH ................ LEAD JENNIFER JOHNSON ............................ BARITONE JANE RICHARD ................................................. BASS CONTACT: pumpkinpeanutsmom@gmail.com
CHARISMA!
JODY JOHNSON ............................................TENOR DEANA GRADE .................................................. LEAD APRIL LUEDTKE ....................................... BARITONE JOAN RETTIG ..................................................... BASS CONTACT: bill-joan@sbcglobal.net
ï¬&#x201A;threads@gmail.com
DRIVETIME
PAM SHELDON ..............................................TENOR JAN BERLAND ................................................... LEAD KATHY CRISP ........................................... BARITONE SONJA PENROD ............................................... BASS CONTACT: harmnyst@aol.com
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CORPORATE SPONSOR OF RIVER CITY SOUND CHORUS AND THEIR JOURNEY TO LOUISVILLE!
The Seasons of Selmi’s start in the SPRING, Home-grown, quality garden and bedding plants. Open April-May
Fresh Homegrown Sweet Corn and To Tomatoes omatoes are the highlights ts of Selmi’s SUMM SUMMER. MER. Open July-August ugust at 3 Location Locations ns ns
FALL at Selmi’s includes Apples, Homegrown wn Pumpkins, Gourds, Squash, plus on weekendsdsds Haunted House, Corn Maze, Horse Drawn n Wagon Rides, Petting Farm and more!
1206 Dixon Rd. Rock Falls, IL www.selmi.com
©Read Photography
Every night IS
GUEST NIGHT Come Sing with us! W E D N E S D AY
OCTOBER 23 7-8:30 P.M. Community Building 111 W. 1st Street | Belvidere rivercitysound.org
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