Meet New IBOD Member Elaine Hamilton

“To serve the membership is an immense honour.”

When Elaine Hamilton received the 2013 Ann Gooch Award, her nominator noted that, “She has reached out to all, and there are few choruses in the U.K. she hasn’t visited and encouraged.” The nominator wrote of Elaine, “Her unique gift is in really listening to what people are saying and designing clever, fun solutions to deliver what people want.” Elaine hopes to bring the same spirit of fun, inclusivity, and dedication to her role as newlyappointed member of the Sweet Adelines International Board of Directors (IBOD). She also hopes to contribute an international perspective and representation.

“I think it’s safe to say that the international membership is very keen!” she wrote in an email interview. “However, we do have different cultures, and it’s important we recognise this and use it to our advantage. I love how we are all different, yet we share the same love of singing that brings us together! Having more international representation on the Board allows us to better understand and learn from each other’s cultures and thereby perhaps broaden our reach and appeal. I hope my contribution to that will be of benefit.”

Elaine sings baritone with Forth Valley Chorus of Edinburgh, Scotland (UK), who in 2019 made history in New Orleans when they became the first chorus from Region #31 (Quartet of Nations) to place in the top ten at international competition.

In addition to singing with Forth Valley, Elaine sang at a Region #31 convention one year with Hillfoot Harmony Chorus and at international competition with Region #1’s Coastline Show Chorus. She has sung in an octet and in three quartets, including her most recent one, Mac4. (Though Mac4 no longer competes, the members still sing together and remain friends.) She has served as assistant director for Forth Valley and for a local men’s barbershop chorus, and she is the former director of the Edinburgh Police Choir. She also coaches and teaches, and she served as cochair of the 2019 International Education Symposium with Alyson Chaney and Paula Davis.

Elaine hopes Sweet Adelines will continue to develop as an educational organization.

“I see Sweet Adelines being recognised as the ‘go to’ organisation for barbershop and a cappella singing,” she wrote. “Our education is first class and our high standards give us an advantage. Having said that, attracting new members is crucial to our longevity and, again, I feel an international perspective plays an important part, as our cultural differences mean that something that may work in one country may not hit the right note (pun intended — sorry!) in another.”

She is excited to be part of the IBOD.

“Although this may sound cheesy or corny, I love Sweet Adelines,” she wrote. “I’m dedicated to making the best contribution I can. I have made friends all over the world through Sweet Adelines, and I hope to meet more. To be given the opportunity to serve the membership is an immense honour, and I’m excited for the year ahead.”