Harmony Roundup

Harmony Roundup is a place to share your adventures and achievements!

Let us know what your chorus or quartet has been doing in your community. Email your submissions and photos to communications@sweetadelines.com.

Where We Sang

Endeavor Harmony Chorus (#34) was part of the mass choir that sang Christine Anu’s song “Kulba Yaday” on the fourth annual ABC “Sing Out Sydney” program in honor of the United Nations Year of Indigenous Languages. The song is in the Kalaw Kawaw Ya language from the North Western Island of the Torres Strait. Gateway Chorus (#26) sang at the 2019 Edmonton Woman’s Show in Edmonton, Alberta (CAN) in October, and California HEAT Chorus (#12) provided entertainment for the California State Garden Clubs’ three-day convention. Greater Harrisburg Chorus (#19) sang at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the United States, and Hobart Harmony Chorus (#34) sang at Taste of Tasmania, Australia’s longest-running food and wine festival. Lustre (#19) headlined and hosted its annual Backyard Barbershop Bash featuring fellow Region #19 quartets Group Therapy, Cheers, Karma, Unaccompanied Women, and Next In Line. Harmony Fusion Chorus (#12) performed before The Nutcracker ballet at Bankhead Theater in Livermore, California (USA) and also sang the “Waltz of the Snowflakes” during the ballet.

How We Sang

Harmony in Community, a film about Capital Accord Chorus (#19) won the DC Filmmaker’s “Make a Movie in a Month” 2019 Spring Grand Prize and aired at the Wheaton Film Festival (where it won three awards) and Community Stories Film Festival in November. The film was made by Berlin Waechter, son of “Accordian” Peggy Turney. When the film completes its festival circuit, the chorus looks forward to sharing it on their website. In October, Mo Barrett of Vienna-Falls Chorus/Twist of Fate Quartet (#14) gave a talk titled “The Power of Pulling Your Head Out” at TEDx Youngstown. Song of Sonoma Chorus (#12) performed at TEDx Sonoma County on Jan. 11. The TEDx program is part of the popular TEDTalks series of speakers. Bathurst Panorama Chorus (#34) won the community choir category and $700 bonus prize of the Everywhere Venues Australian Christmas Song Competition with their rendition of “Christmas Bells Ringing” by Hazel Hughes.

Why We Sang

Members of Scenic City Chorus (#4) taught a barbershop singing workshop during Hamilton Sings, a one-day event at which fifth-graders from each school in the Hamilton County School District (Tennessee, USA) attend workshops during the day and perform in the evening. Dundalk Chorus (#19) sang at a Goucher College Student Support Network fundraiser. The organization assists students experiencing homelessness or other difficulties. California HEAT Chorus (#12) collected women’s undergarments for Free the Girls, a nonprofit that supports women rescued from sex trafficking. Throughout 2019, members of Mayflower A Cappella Chorus (#31) collected funds for Elder Tree Befriending Service, an organization that helps elders maintain independence. At the end of the year, the chorus performed for the group and presented their donation. A quartet of singers from Greater Nassau Chorus (#15) performed at the 4th Annual Drumming for Our Veterans fundraiser in Huntington, New York (USA).

An ensemble from Talk of Tulsa Show Chorus (#25) was honored to sing at the February Naturalization Ceremony at the Tulsa office of Federal District Court, welcoming new citizens of the United States. Court Administrative Specialist Liz Wilson commented, “I think you all made the ceremony really special, and I just can’t thank you enough. There is so much talent in your group. It’s really impressive. I hope you all will come back!”

Grand Rapids Chorus (#17) ran a barbershop seminar for singers from the Grand Rapids Community College Madrigals choral ensemble. The seminar included lessons on the history of barbershop, tag singing, choreography, opportunities for competitions, and how to become part of Grand Rapids Chorus. Grand Rapids Chorus performed for and with the Madrigals at their choral concert in October.

One hundred years ago, Indiana ratified the 19th Amendment, which continued the national trajectory of women winning the right to vote in the United States. On January 16, 2020, an ensemble of 24 singers, led by director Kim Newcomb, from Capital City Chorus (#4) in Indianapolis, traveled to the Indiana Statehouse to perform for the Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial Celebration. Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch greeted the assembled guests, several of whom were dressed all in white, some in historical “suffragette” style. Capital City’s three celebratory songs were well received, and there was “much clapping and snapping along with us.” Following the 50-minute program, guests walked to the House Gallery to celebrate the passing of a resolution honoring the centennial. “It was a fabulous experience, and we were honored to have been involved and very proud to lend our voices to this momentous event,” said Newcomb.