Harmony Roundup

CHORAL-AIRES ENSEMBLE PERFORMS AT DISNEY WORLD

“A dream is a wish your heart makes…”

Harmony Roundup

Asmall ensemble within the Choral-Aires Chorus (Elmhurst, IL) dreamed big and then made it happen! The eighteen members of “Evening Edition” learned of the audition process to perform for Disney World's Performing Arts department with little time to prepare, but that didn’t discourage them. The group was chosen to perform after submitting an audition video with members in stage make-up and costumes—singing in tune, of course!

In addition to performing in the famed resort's Disney Springs area, the group received a personalized lesson with one of the Disney Performing Arts directors then celebrated at a private Frozen-themed party. What were the highlights from this trip?

“Performing for an enthusiastic evening crowd followed by fireworks in Disney World,” said Evening Edition Director Cheryl Tweddle, “with team building par excellence!” Event manager, Sheila Verkamp added, “The skills we learn through our chorus were simply strengthened and reinforced during the educational session—and our pride just grew!”

“Needless to say, our goosebumps, tears of joy and mutual love will be with us forever,” she said.

Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun! Members of Choral-Aires ensemble Evening Edition pose with their new friend Tigger at Disney Springs, where they recently performed.

Marie Dallam (center) and the OK City Chorus ring in the Christmas season with a performance that had the internet buzzing!

Article and Photo By Jane Toftey (Choral-Aires)

OK CITY CHORUS WINS THE INTERNET

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer...”

OK City Chorus member Marie Dallam jingled all the way at her chorus’s Christmas performance, and the internet loved it!

Wearing green Christmas-tree shaped sunglasses with blinking lights, Dallam had both her live audience and viewers around the world in stitches with her, to put it mildly, expressive performance with a set of jingle bells when her chorus performed the song of the same name. The video of Dallam’s enthusiastic bell-ringing had over 12 million views (and counting) on social media, and it was featured on several local and national news shows, including CBS This Morning, Inside Edition and Fox News.

Dallam is a professor of religious studies at the University of Oklahoma and the author of two books. Like many Sweet Adelines, she said her chorus is an outlet.

“Being a member of OK City Chorus allows me to run off in the evenings and indulge in my silly side,” she told Inside Edition. “I think of myself as a serious person and shy in my normal life.”

Dallam said that OK City Chorus is known for humorous performances, and she certainly kept that tradition alive! To see the video (and its very funny follow-ups), visit the OK City Chorus Facebook page.