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

In August, Sirens of Gotham Chorus (#15) performed at the New York City Department of Transportation’s Summer Streets event, when seven miles of city streets are closed off for singing, snacks, and fun! Aberdeen Chorus (#31) sang at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a three-week celebration of arts and culture featuring thousands of performers from around the world. Stockholm City Voices Chorus (#32) performed at Stockholm City Hall to welcome participants in Wikimedia 2019, the 15th annual gathering of the international Wikipedia community. San Diego Chorus (#21) performed at Festival Internacionale Coralifornia in Tijuana, Mexico. The festival included five days of workshops and nine performances involving 17 choruses and choirs from the United States and Mexico. Region #19’s Electric Avenue and Lustre (2018 International Champion Quartet) sang at the National Folk Festival in Salisbury, Maryland (USA), one of America’s largest and longest-running arts festivals, which draws over 80,000 people. High Desert Harmony Chorus (#12) sang as the sun and a bunch of hot air balloons rose at the Great Reno Balloon Race in September. Also in September, California HEAT Chorus (#12) was a featured performer at the Tehama Jubilee, an event that brings around 3,000 visitors to the small town.

How We Sang

Heart of Illinois Chorus (#3) hosted a retreat for area choruses on July 13 for Barbershop Music Appreciation Day. Participating choruses included Sound Celebration (#5), Toast of Champaign

(#3), Metro Mix (#5), East Central Harmony (#3), O-Town Sound (#9), Vermillion Valley (#3), Melodeers (#3), River City

Sound (#3), and the Choral-Aires (#3)! Laura Baize of Heart of Illinois wrote, “A notable learning point from this coaching session demonstrated large choruses contend with some of the same issues as smaller choruses. We, as individual chorus members, should strive to continue to learn and take personal responsibility for efforts to grow and improve. Through renewed passion and energy for quality performance, next year when we have our 2nd Annual All-Chorus Retreat, we will be able to focus on additional facets to those discussed and learn more about the musical passion we all share!” Murrumbidgee Magic Chorus (#34) took home the open division trophy at the 99th Annual Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod, a regional arts and music festival in New South Wales.

Why We Sang

Voices United Chorus (#11) sang at the Dark Sky Festival at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California. The festival is designed to educate people about light pollution and the importance of preserving areas of natural darkness. Delmarva Chorus (#19) donated filled backpacks for the Worcester GOLD (Giving Other Lives Dignity) organization and rolls of table coverings for the Worcester County Development Center Arts Program. Valley Forge Chorus (#19) performed for the Variety Club Camp Children’s Charity, an organization focused on enriching the lives of children and young adults with disabilities. Ocean Bay Chorus (#19) participated in National Night Out in Salisbury, Maryland (USA), singing as they strolled through a local park. The event promotes police-community relationships and neighborhood camaraderie. Phoenix Chorus (#31) sang at The Royal British Legion Poppies at the Mill Festival in support of the Poppy Appeal (a fundraising event in support of Remembrance Day activities). Harmony Fusion Chorus (#12) sang at the Have a Heart concert, which raised funds for the Alameda Midway Shelter for Homeless Women and Children.

Crescent City Sound Chorus (#10) welcomed several dual members of Bayou Blend Chorus (#10) to join them on the international stage when they performed as mic testers at International Convention in New Orleans. Bayou Blend is based in Lafayette, which means these dual members drove around three hours one way to get to weekly (and weekend!) rehearsals in New Orleans, where Crescent City Sound is based. Only one member had sung on the international stage before, and they reported that it was “a thrill” to join their fellow Louisiana singers there! Pictured on the front row, left to right, are Brandi Zeagler, Catherine Sarwar, Mary Louise Lamm, and Bobby Comeaux. Back row, left to right, are Euna Poole, Marisa Fontenot, and Carol Broglio.

Orangeville Show Chorus (#16) performed as part of Theatre Orangeville’s production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Island Lake, an outdoor venue, in August. It was the largest production ever attempted by the theatre in its 25 year history and one of the largest in Canada, involving professional and amateur actors, creative partners on stage from Orangeville's community living group, large creative, administrative and production teams, and 30 members of the Orangeville Show Chorus! Anne Richardson (Orangeville Show Chorus) wrote, “The chorus experienced rehearsals in the pouring rain, shows in the heat of the summer sun and the cool of the evening after the sun had set. It was a step back in time, a step out of the chorus comfort zone, an endurance test of time and weather, an exposure to 1,400 audience members over the course of five shows, involvement in a large scale production in an outdoor, lakeside setting, an opportunity for community involvement, a learning curve in show business...but most of all, it was FUN!”

Liberty Oak Chorus (#15) participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life in June. Chorus members and their families teamed up to raise almost $3,000 in the fight against cancer, performing for survivors and other attendees at this moving event. “We were thrilled to share our love of music and support a good cause on a beautiful summer day!” they said.

In August, Voices Northwest Chorus (#13) sang at the Seattle send-off of The Maiden Factor as the ship's all-female crew continued its world tour. In 1989 the Maiden was the first ship with an all-female crew to complete the prestigious Whitbread Round the World Race, coming in second place in its class. Today, the Maiden Factor Foundation raises money to fund education for young women around the world.