The Pitch Pipe July 2022

The

pitchpipemagazine.com | July 2022 | Volume 76 — No.1

Pitch Pipe THE

VOICE

OF

SWEET ADELINES INTERNATIONAL

A Membership Growth Initiative

When barbershop singers couldn’t come together to sing, we came together to help our communities.

Choruses and quartets made masks, delivered snacks to healthcare workers, and did all we could to encourage our neighbors and each other during some truly challenging years.This Barbershop Music Appreciation Day, let’s reflect with gratitude on the bonds of music and friendship that keep us strong. We encourage Sweet Adelines to spend this time in service to their communities.

Remember to share your service and celebration photos on social media!

#sweetadelines

Happy Birthday Sweet Adelines International!

The

Pitch Pipe July 2022 | Volume 76 — No.1

In Every Issue

3 5 22 56

From Our President From Our CEO Harmony Roundup Accolades/In Memory

Education

4 18

So Much More Than Singing

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Stagecraft: Your Visual Toolbox to Bring the Music to Life On Stage

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Director Hacks

Beyond Inclusion: Fostering a Culture of Belonging

Events and Competition

14 28 30

Are You Ready to get Fired Up in Phoenix?

Making History on Video Regional Results 2022

Membership

8 10 26

Lions Gate Chorus Wows the Judges on Canada's Got Talent Building up Barbershop: Return to Recruitment Dorothy’s Story: The Song Goes On

Philanthropy

6 15 17

Supporting the Big Ideas of the Future “I Think It’s Beautiful” A Place for Remembrance

O n t h e C o v e r : It's time to Ignite the Sound!

Our new membership growth initiative launched on June 6 and runs through April 30, 2023. Gain new members and maybe win some money! Learn all the details inside this issue and on the website at www.sweetadelines.com/membership.

July 2022 |

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Read The Pitch Pipe on ISSUU!

Pitch Pipe

July 2022 | Volume 76 — No.1 | www.pitchpipemagazine.com.

Sweet Adelines International Elevating women singers worldwide through education, performance, and competition in barbershop harmony and a cappella music.

_____________________________________ INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS Tammy Talbot Chief Executive Officer Kim Berrey Editor-in-Chief Stacy Pratt Staff Writer Ben Larscheid Graphic Designer Joey Bertsch Staff Photographer

INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS May 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023 Thérèse Antonini, International President Joan Boutilier, Immediate Past President Mary Rhea, President-elect Jenny Harris, Secretary Janice McKenna, Treasurer Sharon Cartwright Vickie Maybury JD Crowe Julie Starr Paula Davis Valerie Taylor Annika Dellås EDUCATION DIRECTION COMMITTEE Marcia Pinvidic, Chair Joan Boutilier Sandy Marron Betty Clipman Mary Rhea EDITORIAL REVIEW BOARD Joan Boutilier Mary Rhea Elaine Hamilton Kate Towne Michelle Neller ______________________________________ The Pitch Pipe 9110 S. Toledo Ave., Tulsa, OK 74137 U.S.A. Telephone 1.918.622.1444 • Toll-free 1.800.992.7464 Fax 1.918.665.0894 • www.sweetadelines.com Office hours: M-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (CT) ______________________________________ Advertising 1.918.622.1444 • communications@sweetadelines.com Direct all correspondence, editorial copy and photographs to communications@sweetadelines.com.

Deadlines are 60 days prior to publication.

Not all submissions will be published. ______________________________________

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From Our President

WE DID IT! T

hink back with me to the beginning of 2020 when we were preparing for regional competition. Our performers were rehearsing, meeting with coaches, and making travel arrangements. Our regions were finalizing arrangements with hotels and performance venues. Our Judges were meeting at ‘Boot Camps’ to prepare to deliver a unified, consistent approach, and our Headquarters Staff were processing the first of regional registrations. We were progressing well in all of our preparations.

Then the impossible happened. Everything stopped. Goals for ‘personal bests’, lists of regional volunteers, booked travel, orders of appearance – all of our preparations became meaningless in the face of restrictions at every level. And everything was on hold for an unknown and unforeseeable duration of time. It was a cataclysmic paradigm shift for us as a singing organization!

Fast forward to the beginning of 2022, and in that paradigm shift, ‘impossible’ was being seen from a different perspective.

It was at the root of the big question that loomed before us as an organization as we faced a decision about our third regional competition season since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The question was quite simply, ‘Can we do this?’ The Judge Specialists provided us with the framework of saying ‘yes’.

Our Regional Management Teams stepped up to adopt and adapt that framework, and every RMT worked diligently to ensure every chorus and quartet would have the opportunity to perform and compete once again! It is significant to note that every region found the way that worked best for its own members, and our Headquarters Staff revised processes and procedures to support our volunteers and ensure the 2022 Regional Competition would indeed proceed. Judges worked with regional resources to tailor their practices to specific needs. Regional members gathered in person and virtually to cheer on the most important contributors of all, our glorious performers! It is an inspirational model of what we, as an organization, can achieve when we all pull together in pursuit of a common goal, and it fills me with hope for an exciting future that lies ahead of us.

This issue of The Pitch Pipe, then, has a real sense of ‘We did it!’ for me. In many ways, competition looked different than it had before. As we celebrate a new set of Regional Champions for the first time in three years, I am filled with appreciation and

admiration for each and every performer who ‘stepped on to the stage’, whether in person or through virtual participation. Whether your scores reflected an exciting personal best or fell short of what you hoped, they are simply one set of scores like any other, and as always, the comments you received are especially valuable input as you set your path going forward. In my acknowledgment of the magnitude of what you have done, I hope you will also recognize that, whatever the outcome, the fact that you stepped up to the challenge and faced it head on makes you an important part of what will always be seen as an historic regional competition. You did it!

For those who were not yet able to return to competition in 2022, your support of this year’s competitors also contributed to our success, especially in providing the sense of shared pride and accomplishment we as Sweet Adelines feel when we see each other succeed. We know our time will also come, and I for one am inspired and excited as I look forward to that!

Special congratulations to all of those whose achievements we celebrate in the pages that follow! Among these competitors are quartets who will represent their regions internationally in Phoenix in 2022 and choruses who will represent their regions in Louisville in 2023. Thank you for laying the groundwork for our next two International competitions!

Thanks (for everything you do),

Thérèse Antonini

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Education

So Much More Than Singing!

Tips for sharing the joy of Sweet Adelines

W

hen I first joined Lions Gate Chorus back in January 1986, I really had no idea what I had gotten myself into, other than that I loved to sing and here was a group of women who clearly loved to sing too. I had no concept of “International” or “Regional,” or what Sweet Adelines International was. I’d never heard of the organization or barbershop music, but when I stood up on those risers and was welcomed into that chorus, I knew I had found my place.

Being part of a chorus is so much more than being one of the singers. It is a community; a friendly collection of like-minded people who love to make music together; a group of people who might not have anything to do with one another if it were not for the music bonding us together. Numerous studies have shown that making music with others increases oxytocin (the pleasure hormone) and bonds people together socially. It enhances trust and empathy and frees people from stress. When we sing and dance together, we move as one towards a common goal with shared intentions. No wonder we can come to chorus after a lousy day and feel invigorated and euphoric by the end of the evening!

All of these benefits I found in Lions Gate, and on top of that, I found unconditional love and support from women I can always count on to have my back! When I wasn’t sure if I was qualified enough to run for the International Board, my chorus mates buoyed my confidence and encouraged me to make the leap.

When I had to have a hysterectomy and eight months of chemo for ovarian cancer, my chorus was there to support me through it all. I know that I can walk into a Sweet Adelines rehearsal anywhere in the world and be welcomed as one of the family.

Belonging to a chorus is a powerful experience and one that is worth sharing with others. How do we do that?

1. Humans are social animals. We want to experience community and feel as though we belong. Why did YOU join? Why do you stay? Tell someone! Tell everyone!

2. Speak positively about your experiences. You never know who is listening!

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3. Be proud of singing barbershop. It is an extraordinary skill and worth boasting about. Be proud of your chorus and that pride will shine through what you say about it.

4. Be knowledgeable about your chorus, your region, the organization – how and when they started. Visit the Sweet Adelines website to learn more.

5. Make your membership public via social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. Talk about your chorus experiences and your community. Make sure you have Sweet Adelines linked on your chorus or quartet webpage too! More ideas on using social media can be found here.

6. Get involved! From the newest chorus member to the International Board of Directors, Sweet Adelines International relies on volunteers. There is always something to be done, and your experience will be richer if you are helping your community, even in a small way.

7. Hone your “elevator pitch.” An elevator pitch is a short synopsis of what you love about belonging to your chorus, told in the time it would take to go a few floors in an elevator.

For examples, click here.

Being a Sweet Adeline has changed my life. I am part of an inspiring, learning community that supports me, nourishes me, feeds my soul, and fills my heart with joy. I will continue to do my part to make sure as many others as possible get to experience this life-changing organization. Won’t you join me?

Cammi MacKinlay is a member of Lions Gate Chorus (#26) and the quartets Fandango and Cascadence. She is the 2019 Sweet Adelines International Lifetime Achievement recipient and has served on the International Board of Directors and as International President (2010-2012), among many other leadership roles.

From Our CEO

BUILDING CONNECTIONS THROUGH HARMONY

A

new season is upon us, and the joy of barbershop music is in the air. Whether you are preparing to join us at IES in San Antonio, International Convention & Competition in Phoenix, or enjoying time in your own community singing and performing, now more than ever, sharing our joy and love of singing can bring people closer.

As a member of Sweet Adelines, you are invited to support our Guiding Principle of Outreach: We build strong connections by sharing our love of barbershop harmony throughout our communities, countries, and the world. On July 13, music fans around the world celebrate Barbershop Music Appreciation Day – a day that commemorates the founding of Sweet Adelines International. On the occasion of our 77th birthday, it is amazing to think of all the singers who have been part of our organization over the years and the many ways they have impacted their communities.

During the pandemic, we have all witnessed the struggles faced by so many in our communities. Whether it has been food insecurity, homelessness, access to healthcare or child care, unemployment, the last two years have been a tremendous strain for individuals around the world.

When I think of our motto, Harmonize the World, I think about how we can help our communities through the offering of our music. It is a way to help with moving us forward after this very difficult time. The performances of our choruses and quartets are a visible demonstration of the organization’s desire to be part of the fabric of society and help those in need. It is a way to provide a service that can help bring us all together in a positive way.

As a part of Sweet Adelines, you can contribute to something bigger than yourself. As we are rebuilding ourselves, now is the perfect time to consider how your music and performance can bring enjoyment and harmony within your community.

Perhaps you can help shed light on some of the challenges in your community by volunteering your music for an event or volunteering your time to assist another organization with their goals to improve the community.

Another way to bring our music to others is by encouraging singers to be part of the organization. We recently announced the Ignite the Sound membership recruitment and retention campaign as a way to challenge ourselves to share what we love with individuals who may not know about Sweet Adelines. To find out more, see page 10 of this issue of The Pitch Pipe.

No matter the direction you choose to go, everyone is in a position to help us extend our outreach into the communities where we live and perform. We each have an opportunity to create a stronger and more vibrant place for our neighbors, friends, and singers. As members of Sweet Adelines, we can truly make a difference in our world through the emotional connection we create through our performances. This is no easy task, but if the last two years have taught me anything, it is that members of Sweet Adelines can do whatever we put our minds to. As Helen Keller stated, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, but must be felt with the heart.” Sweet Adelines have the biggest hearts I’ve ever witnessed.

In harmony,

Tammy Talbot, CEO

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Philanthropy

SUPPORTING BIG IDEAS OF THE FUTURE A talk with SA donor and IBOD member Sharon Cartwright

A

month before the pandemic began, Sharon Cartwright and her husband Geoff left their fast-paced lives in Sydney to move to a mountain village in Queensland, near where they grew up. It was a lifestyle change that allowed them more time to devote to Sharon’s parents and some personal interests and passions. For Sharon, one of those passions is Sweet Adelines International.

Sharon has been a Sweet Adeline since 2008. After many years with Northern Beaches Chorus, she now sings with Vocalescence Chorus and Luminous Quartet.

She is a member of the Sweet Adelines International Board of Directors, where she is chair of the Regional Leadership Committee and a member of the Board Resource Advisory Committee. She is also a member of the Region #34 education faculty.

Because Sweet Adelines International has been so important in her life, Sharon and her husband decided to include it in their estate planning.

“The move interstate meant we needed new wills as we’re now under different state laws,” she said. “Having just changed our life significantly, updating our wills was a smart thing to do. ” Including an estate gift to Sweet Adelines International wasn’t something Sharon had thought about until the Nancy Bergman Legacy Society was launched in 2019. Although Australians are renowned for being big-hearted and generous when giving for disaster relief or local community fundraising, making financial contributions through estate planning isn’t as common as it is in some other countries. Sharon recalled her late sister-in-law Mary supported a charity she was passionate about in her will. As music is a passion Sharon shares with her sons Richard, Julian and Oliver, she was inspired to follow Mary’s lead by planning an estate gift to Sweet Adelines.

“Some people in Australia take offense when they are asked to donate money over and above paying their dues, volunteering their time and supporting the many activities in their chorus and region,” says Sharon. “I assumed philanthropy is something corporations and foundations do, not everyday people on average incomes like me. When I read stories about why some members gave to Sweet Adelines, I was inspired by their belief in the

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transformative difference their gift can make. Being a member of the board, I know there are bold and exciting dreams to grow the organization beyond where we are today, the kind that can’t happen with dues alone. Geoff and I saw my gift as a way to ensure something is ongoing as a result of me being part of an organization that gives me so much pleasure and is a personal passion.”

Sharon said her favorite part of being a Sweet Adeline is the collaborative nature of it.

“I love performing, and I always have,” she says. “It’s more than just the spotlight being on you and singing on a stage. Starting with the sheet music and a learning track, you know that, before long, something amazing is going to be created. It’s four voice parts, the arranger, the lyricist and composer, the director…Everybody's energy goes into creating this precious thing that can be offered to people to bring them joy.”

Sharon says volunteering, holding leadership positions, and all the other work that goes into Sweet Adelines International is also meaningful.

“Every time I'd offer a little bit of help, I could see the difference it made straight away and how people appreciated it,” she recalls about her early days as a Sweet Adeline. “That combination of seeing an instant result for my effort, as well as people being genuinely appreciative and gracious about the fact that I was donating my time to do these things made me feel that it was really worthwhile. I could see that being in Sweet Adelines was not just a hobby and a place to sing. I was growing, I was learning, I was able to make a difference. I was making new friends from all different places and walks of life, and I just thought more people in the world should have what I had. Now, leaving money to Sweet Adelines in my will makes me feel that what I've contributed doesn't have to stop.’"

To find out more about donating to Sweet Adelines International, contact Chief Philanthropy and Administrative Officer, Susan Smith at philanthropy@sweetadelines.com or visit www.sweetadelines.com/give.

Regional Results 2022 B+ and Above Choruses

Sweet Adelines congratulates and recognizes the accomplishments of all competing choruses. During the 2022 regional competition season, these choruses earned B+ scores (592) and above. Choruses receiving a score of 700 or higher are marked by an asterisk.

Harmony on the Sound Chorus, #1 Millennium Magic Chorus, #1 Grand Harmony Chorus, #2 London Chorus, #2 Choral-Aires Chorus, #3 Melodeers Chorus, #3 Midwest Crossroad Chorus, #3 Diamond Jubilee Chorus, #4 Scioto Valley Chorus, #4 TuneTown Show Chorus, #4 Topeka Acappella Unlimited Chorus, #5 Vocal Standard Chorus, #5 Spirit of Harmony Chorus, #6 High Country Chorus, #8 Toast of Tampa Show Chorus, #9 Alamo Metro Chorus, #10

Verdugo Hills Chorus, #11 Bay Area Showcase Chorus, #12 Diablo Vista Chorus, #12 Mission Valley Chorus, #12 Alaska Sound Celebration Chorus, #13 Carolina Harmony Chorus, #14 Greater Nassau Chorus, #15 Sirens of Gotham Chorus, #15 Canadian Showtime Chorus, #16 Buffalo Gateway Chorus, #17 Greater Cleveland Chorus, #17 Voices in Harmony Chorus, #17 Dundalk Chorus, #19 Harbor City Music Co. Chorus, #19 Vocal Harmonix Chorus, #19 Scottsdale Chorus*, #21

OK City Chorus, #25 Talk of Tulsa Chorus, #25 Lions Gate Chorus*, #26 Pacific Edge Chorus, #26 Forth Valley Chorus, #31 Lace City Chorus, #31 Heartbeat UK Chorus, #31 Viva Acappella Chorus, #31 Vocal Dimension Chorus, #31 Alba Show Chorus, #32 Malmö Limelight Chorus, #32 Rönninge Show Chorus*, #32 Stockholm City Voices Chorus, #32 Brindabella Chorus, #34 Waikato Rivertones Chorus, #35

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Membership

LIONS GATE CHORUS WOWS THE JUDGES ON CANADA'S GOT TALENT Sweet Adelines showcase musical bonds on popular television show

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fter 18 months of not being able to sing together as a chorus, an idea was born that would change our lives forever. The television show Canada’s Got Talent (CGT) was accepting audition videos from performers hoping to appear in their upcoming season. At first, the idea was just that — only an idea.

Then it became a reality.

A glorious window of opportunity opened at just the right time.

Between the Delta and Omicron waves of COVID-19, mandates and restrictions loosened up and Lions Gate Chorus was able to start rehearsing again, first outside in the park and then, in September 2021, back in our rehearsal hall wearing masks. It wasn’t perfect, but we were on the risers again, together!

On September 14, we found out our application for CGT had

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been accepted and we had to submit a live performance video with costumes, makeup, and choreo by October 1...YIKES!!

We scrambled, we relearned, we rehearsed, and on September 28, Lions Gate recorded an audition video of our contest uptune, Cabaret, and submitted it. Then the news came back: CGT loved us, but getting copyright clearance for a song from a musical was unlikely. Did we have another song? Could we get another video to them within two weeks?

The music team went into high gear. What did we have, with choreo, that everyone knew — including our new members who had joined during the pandemic? How could we pull this off with so little time? We found a song that could work. We borrowed an intro from an old contest uptune. We Zoomed with our beloved

choreographer, Jan Alexandersson, who lives in Sweden, to learn new choreography. We learned, rehearsed, recorded, and submitted the video. Then we waited.

Two weeks later we got the news. We were going to Niagara Falls in November for the audition round of CGT! The news was exciting, electrifying, exhilarating, and a little terrifying! There was a ton of paperwork to complete, flights and hotels to book, risers to rent, rehearsal space to find…so many things to do in so little time. In true Lions Gate style, we rose to the occasion.

To say our experience in Niagara Falls was life-changing may sound extreme, but it truly was. Traveling together, singing together, and sharing our love of a capella music together again meant the world to us. After being kept apart for so long by the pandemic, it was a gift to have this opportunity as a chorus.

We sang our hearts out on that CGT stage and told our story of community, music, and love. The judges were convinced. They loved us and gave us four “yes” votes. That meant we would be appearing on Citytv as a contestant on Canada’s Got Talent!

Our time on the CGT stage was amazing. The reaction from the audience and judges filled us with such energy and affirmed for us that our love of barbershop singing reaches far beyond our community of friends and family. It showed once again that our music has a universal appeal across ages, cultures, and genres.

Watching our episode on television on March 22 was both joyful and moving as we saw our story brought to life. We were not allowed to share competition results until the episode following ours had aired.

In the end, there was only room for 12 acts (in addition to the six golden buzzers) to go through to the semifinals of Canada's Got Talent, and Lions Gate didn’t quite make the cut. We may not be heading back to Niagara Falls, but our hearts are full. We did something “incredible, electric” as CGT judge Trish Stratus said! We gave a fantastic performance and shared who we are and what we do with a brand new audience, new judges, and all of Canada. As CGT judge Lilly Singh said, “It makes me so happy to see a group of women that’re like, ‘We love each other, we’re having fun, we’re going to do this for US!’” Along the way, we met amazing people and performers from across our great nation. Strong and free and celebrating our diversity, we turn our hearts and give our CGT audience votes to our new friends and hold onto great memories of our time in the CGT spotlight.

You can watch the video of our appearance on Canada’s Got Talent at the link below.

In Canada, full episodes are available here.

If you are in the rest of the world, you can watch the Lions Gate Chorus segment here.

Jennifer Champagne is the Music Team Coordinator for Lions Gate Chorus and a 32-year member of Sweet Adelines International

RE GI

ST E

Sing the World with Harmony Travel!

London “Sing In Harmony” Festival • June 14-21, 2023

R

TO DA Y!

$2,959 USD per person/Double Occupancy • Perform with fellow Sweet Adelines at historic venues in London and Oxford, UK! • See the sights with dedicated tour managers.

• Enjoy organized social events.

• Meals, cultural events, ground services, and transportation included.

Featured Guest…2018 International Champion Quartet, Lustre!

Harmony Travel will donate $100 USD per participant to Sweet Adelines International via Sweet Adelines Support Life on a High Note.

Add on Tour!

Quartet photo courtesy of Sweet Adelines International.

Post-festival motorcoach tour, June 21-26, 2023, from Caen to Paris .

For more information, visit www.harmony-travel.net.

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Membership

Building up Barbershop: Return to Recruitment W

e are getting back into the swing of things here at Sweet Adelines, and we know our choruses are too! Many choruses are participating in the Ignite the Sound recruitment initiative, and even before it began, choruses were doing great things to bring new singers to their risers. Whether your chorus is trying to win one of the Ignite the Sound prizes for most new members or just wanting to make sure your future singers can find you, it can be helpful to hear what has worked for others.

Here, we look at some methods that choruses around the world have used over the past year to collectively add 70 members to their rosters.

How might you apply these methods to your chorus?

Host a Membership Drive. One of the most successful ways to recruit new members is to have a specific night planned far in advance to welcome potential new members to your chorus, give them a taste of what you’re about, and get them interested in the process by seeing it in person. Endeavour Harmony Chorus (#34) has an entire program, with assigned greeters, information brochures, and the following format: introduction, performance, ice-breaker, tag, and light snacks or other refreshments. Remember that you must market this event!

Many choruses mentioned sharing on Facebook groups and other social media, advertising on local radio or newspapers, and even distributing flyers at places like local coffee shops or community boards.

Teach Barbershop. Barbershop has been called the “black belt” of a cappella, and many singers haven’t experienced it firsthand. Having a program to teach barbershop to new members can help alleviate any fear or anxiety about joining a barbershop chorus. Brisbane City Sounds Chorus (#34) held a four-week program during their normal rehearsal time, culminating in a performance of a song at a movie screening fundraiser and fashion parade.

This program helped new members feel confident in singing barbershop and further advertised the chorus to the community!

Assign a Buddy. When you’re brand new to a chorus, it’s nice to see a familiar face. Many choruses assign mentors or buddies to any prospective member. This person is there to answer any question they may have and make them feel more comfortable throughout any new member onboarding. Indian Blue Chorus (#34) has an entire “meet and greet” team to support their new members along the way.

Circle Back. Life circumstances change all the time! Someone who couldn’t belong to your chorus in years past may be in a different position now. Oregon Spirit Chorus (#12) has a specific mailing list of people who either expressed interest in the past or are former members who might be interested in rejoining at some point.

Network, Network, Network. One of the best ways to find potential singers in your community is to talk about Sweet Adelines to the people in your life, be it a neighbor or your hairstylist, and see if they might be interested in checking out your chorus. Tri-City Chorus (#2) did not have a specific program or membership initiative, yet they managed to bring in over half-a-dozen singers through word of mouth alone. Judy Wallace, Tri-City membership chairperson, explains, “We didn’t have any special plans or programs to recruit. We got a couple of new people who were excited and brought in friends and others they knew, and it just kind of snowballed.” No Borders Show Chorus (#31) recruited several new members by having members attend an annual international camping and singing weekend. You never know who may be a budding barbershopper in your life!

If your chorus has a great member recruitment program, idea, or success story they would like to share, send details to member@sweetadelines.com.

For more information on the Ignite the Sound recruitment initiative, as well as resources on recruitment and retention, visit www.sweetadelines.com/membership.

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rs be em d m an ew 22 in! t n 20 w os , o m e6 3t he Jun 202 tt , ui en 0 c r w e il 3 Re bet pr A A Membership Growth Initiative

Win money for welcoming new singers into your chorus!

That’s how the contest portion of Ignite the Sound works. In simple terms, recruit the most new members between June 6, 2022 and April 30, 2023 to win money and other prizes!

And that’s not all!

Log in to the members-only section of the Sweet Adelines website to find recruitment and retention materials shared by choruses whose great ideas worked!

Watch this tutorial to find out where to find tools and resources on the SA website at www.sweetadelines.com/membership.

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Are you ready to get Fired Up in Phoenix?

International Convention & Competition 2022

It’s happening, Sweet Adelines! After two years of cancellations, we are returning to the international competition stage, the afterglows, the fun, the excitement…Are you ready?

Know Before You Go If you’ve been to the Sweet Adelines International Convention & Competition, you know there are some things you can always expect: happy reunions with barbershop music friends, listening to great performances, and, of course, lots of singing! A few things will be a little different this year, so make sure to check out the Know Before You Go FAQ page on the Sweet Adelines International website for advice and information to make your return to convention as smooth as your harmonies!

Shop Harmony Boutique Boulevard

In between classes and competitions, rehearsals and reunions, visit Harmony Boutique Boulevard for a curated selection of barbershop merchandise from independent vendors as well as Sweet Adelines International Sales. Located right outside the competition hall, Harmony Boutique Boulevard is a pared-down, updated version of former convention shopping experiences. In this transition year, we are featuring only vendors confirmed prior to the 2020 cancellation. We look forward to bringing back more vendors for 2023. This year, enjoy cashless payment options in a comfortable environment created with care, especially for you!

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Safe, secure ss contactle payment only!

Live Webcast for Only $25 (USD)

Webcasters Sue Casey and Sharon Cartwright bring the action live from New Orleans to viewers at home in 2019.

Be there from anywhere!

International Convention & Competition Webcast!

For only $25 (USD), bring the excitement of international barbershop singing competition to your own screen! The popular Sweet Adelines International Convention & Competition webcast streams live during competition so you can gather your friends for a watch party…...or cheer on your favorites in the chatroom.

(We know. They’re all your favorites!)

This year’s emcees are fired up and ready to guide you through the return of live barbershop competition!

2022 Webcast Emcees Harmony Classic: Diane Huber and Shelly Alt Quartet Semi-Finals, First Session: Jenny Harris and Caitlin Castelino Quartet Semi-Finals, Second Session: Jenny Harris and Amy Brinkman Chorus Semi-Finals, First Session: Elaine Hamilton and Di Porsch Chorus Semi-Finals, Second Session: Elaine Hamilton and Janet Crenshaw Quartet Finals: Jenny Harris and Debbie Cleveland Chorus Finals: Elaine Hamilton and Lori Lyford The webcast streams live, but competition performances will be available later on the Sweet Adeline International YouTube channel. Visit www.sweetadswebcast.com to watch the competition!

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Now for e l b a l i ava r! e d r o e pr

Online pre-order deadline: Aug. 1

Get Fired Up For Phoenix with Sweet Adelines licensed event apparel!

Front:

Phoenix 2022 Convention & Competition Logo

Back:

Harmony Classic & International Competing Chorus Order of Appearance

Available in a variety of styles and colors!

Want To Customize Your Chorus Apparel?

Competing choruses have the option to place their chorus roster, instead of the order of appearance, on the back of each apparel item.

Provide chorus roster to Gold Medal Ideas by July 1.

Order Now!

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www.goldmedalideas.com/phoenix

Philanthropy

“I THINK IT’S BEAUTIFUL” A talk with SA Philanthropy Committee Member Deb Ferenc

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rom a young age, Deb Ferenc took singing lessons, and she tells a story familiar to many Sweet Adelines: “All my life, I had teachers tell me that I needed to sing higher and that the only reason my voice was so deep was because I was lazy,” she recalls. “I was ostracized because of my deep voice.”

That changed when a friend from her gym invited her to visit Greater Cleveland Chorus, where she still sings today. (She also spent nine years as a dual member with Scioto Valley Chorus.)

“Here I was, in my 40s, and I had these women loving me for my deep bass voice,” Deb remembers.

“And I thought, ‘I’m home. I’m home.’ I never looked back, and I’ve been a Sweet Adeline ever since.”

And a busy Sweet Adeline, too.

Deb spent 27 years serving in regional management and many years serving on her chorus board in various capacities. She retired from those roles on May 1, 2022.

Now, she says she “only” serves on her chorus music team, her regional convention committee (where she also works on the webcast), and the international nominating and philanthropy committees.

Deb says what she’s learned in her time as a Sweet Adeline is “almost indefinable,” but there have been concrete lessons as well.

“In almost thirty years of being a member, I’ve been given so much by Sweet Adelines,” she says. “I’ve learned much more than how to sing. To get really specific, I’ve learned about Excel, how to balance a budget, and how to use QuickBooks and manage a business. I’ve learned how to build a show from scratch and manage the show. I’ve learned how to emcee. How to handle a crisis, how to handle difficult situations…And I’m still learning how to sing. My new director has even taught me how to breathe!”

As a volunteer and donor herself, Deb says the Philanthropy Committee work is particularly rewarding.

“I’m very honored to be part of the Philanthropy Committee,” she says. “Susan Smith [Sweet Adelines Chief Philanthropy and Administrative Officer] has taken it to the next level, and I cannot believe what all of us members are accomplishing together. We need to keep it going, especially after what we’ve gone through in the last couple of years.”

As a member of the Philanthropy Committee, Deb participated in the planning of the Sweet Adelines International Memorial Wall, a virtual memorial to Sweet Adelines who have passed on. To read more about the Memorial Wall, see page 17 of this issue of The Pitch Pipe.

Deb said one of her favorite duties as a member of the Philanthropy Committee is calling members to thank them for donations.

“It is so heartwarming,” she says.

“They are overjoyed to give back to this organization for the same reasons I am: because this organization gives us so many intangibles. Besides the singing, the love and support and education I have been given from my Sweet Adelines family has been unsurpassed.”

As a singer, a volunteer, and a donor, Deb has witnessed the difference that individual Sweet Adelines can make when they work together.

“There are so many ways to give,” she says. “And it’s all important. We need it all to keep this going, to sustain the organization, and our members are stepping up. I think it’s beautiful.”

To find out more about donating to Sweet Adelines International, contact Chief Philanthropy and Administrative Officer, Susan Smith at philanthropy@sweetadelines.com or visit www.sweetadelines.com/give.

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Memorial Wall Honor the memory of a Sweet Adeline by having their name added to the new Sweet Adelines International Virtual Memorial Wall. Memorial donations help continue the legacy of our beloved members by providing funds for the events, education, and other programs that keep our organization thriving.

To find out how to give a memorial gift in the name of a Sweet Adeline, visit www.SweetAdelines.com/Give or email Philanthropy Coordinator Becky Duncan, becky@sweetadelines.com.

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Philanthropy

A PLACE FOR REMEMBRANCE

Sweet Adelines International Virtual Memorial Wall CELEBRATING UNIQUENESS:

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Linda Masterson is the first person whose name was added to the Virtual Memorial Wall.

A Certified Judge in the Music Category and a Certified Music Arranger.

She was a 45-year member of Sweet Adelines and sang for many years with Farmington Vlaley Chorus and, later, Cranberry Shores Chorus.

herever and whenever Sweet Adelines gather, whether in person or online, memories start to pour out. A song reminds someone of a past performance.

A name mentioned leads to one story after another about the dearly loved person. Singers take the stage, remembering wise guidance from directors, coaches, mentors, and friends who have passed on. Often, Sweet Adelines make financial gifts in memory of these departed singers as a way to honor their legacy and support the organization’s mission through its many programs.

Now Sweet Adelines have a place where the names of singers so honored will remain in perpetuity: The Sweet Adelines International Virtual Memorial Wall. The wall is a scrolling list of names of Sweet Adelines, accompanied by music. It can be found here. The idea for the wall was developed by Chief Philanthropy Administrative Officer Susan Smith and the Philanthropy Committee.

Deb Ferenc, a member of the Philanthropy Committee, participated in the planning of the wall. (For more on Deb’s work as a Sweet Adeline, see pg. 15 of this issue of The Pitch Pipe.)

“We wanted to create a way for the whole organization to honor people,” she says.

“Donors can give as little as $5, or they can give more. When the total received in honor of an individual reaches $1,000, their name is added to the wall. So it doesn't have to be a big donation all at once, from one person.

I think that's a lovely idea. It fits everybody's budget. It's a lovely tribute.”

The first name added to the Virtual Memorial Wall was that of Linda Masterson, a 45-year member of Sweet Adelines who sang with Farmington Valley Chorus and, later, Cranberry Shores Chorus. Linda was beloved for her beautiful voice and valuable contributions as a Certified Judge in the Music Category and as a Certified Music Arranger.

Upon Linda's passing, Sweet Adelines from around the world posted memories and condolences on social media. Linda’s daughter, Melanie Masterson, responded, “ My mother filled her life with music...and Sweet Adelines was a great passion for her: singing, arranging, judging, and many years of friendship and song with chorus members and the international Sweet Adelines community.”

Now, Linda’s name is joined on the wall by the names of many other singers for whom Sweet Adelines was also “a great passion.” A visit to the wall is sure to recall how all of them, in big and small ways, helped Sweet Adelines International become the beloved organization it is today. Making a donation in their names is one way to ensure that Sweet Adelines have the resources to continue singing, learning, and growing for years to come.

To find out how to give a memorial gift in the name of a Sweet Adeline, visit www.SweetAdelines.com/Give or email Assistant Director of Philanthropy Becky Duncan, becky@sweetadelines.com.

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Education

BEYOND INCLUSION: Fostering a Culture of Belonging Moving from policy to practice

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magine walking into a chorus rehearsal and instantly feeling like you’re at home — that you’ve found your people, that you fit in, that you’re included.

If you’re reading this, you’re still a member of Sweet Adelines and hopefully still feel that way. It may be because your chorus mates don’t wear scented products because they know you have an allergy.

It may be because your director accommodates your need to stand on a lower riser because of your discomfort with heights. Or your sense of inclusion may come from knowing that the lyrics of all music the chorus sings are intentionally chosen or revised to be gender neutral.

But do those inclusive behaviours actually make you feel like you belong?

We have spent a lot of time over the pandemic exploring the area of DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), but we sometimes fail to recognize that just because someone is included in our organization, it certainly doesn’t mean they feel they belong.

According to inspirational speaker Anita Sands, “Belonging is a feeling, and therefore a far more powerful force than any DEI strategy could ever be. It’s a fundamental human need, a word that translates across any language or culture, and a feeling that every human is wired to want. DEI may capture your head, but belonging captures your heart.”

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Put another way, diversity is a fact (the numbers are what they are), inclusion is a choice (you decide whether to include someone or not), but belonging is a feeling that can be fostered by a culture that you can purposefully create.

How do we purposefully create a culture of belonging in our choruses?

First we need to ask ourselves some questions: How do we treat each other? Is there open communication in which everyone’s opinion is heard and respected? Are there equal opportunities available to everyone? Are we kind to each other? Do we have each other’s backs?

We have to proactively choose to create and sustain this kind of culture. And it takes continual awareness and effort; it’s not a passive rule we make.

For example, do we all actively listen with interest when anyone asks a question from the risers? Do we make everyone feel like they have a spot on the risers regardless of height/size/ability? Do we choose costumes with consideration for all our members? Do we proactively seek to talk to others outside our best buddies? At a regional or international event, do we provide a way for people to know how to join others for meals?

Do we let go of our assumptions of what others should and should not do and instead give them some trust and grace? As an example, we might pass judgment on why someone isn’t standing on the risers all night when someone twice their age can. There are a lot of hidden reasons we can’t see that may make it difficult for a member to participate in certain things, and we should give them what Inner Coach of Barbershop Jan Carley calls an “MRI”: a Most Respectful Interpretation.

Jan also says the feeling of “belonging” is a social imperative to keep our brains out of a “threat” state. It connects to a lot of things that happened before the day we walked into the rehearsal — a lot in our DNA, past experiences etc. The feeling of not “belonging” is literally physical pain, carefully honed over many years and triggered for each of us by different things.

Creating a culture of belonging is a complex proposition.

Creating a culture of belonging is a complex proposition. You can involve your chorus members all you want in every activity, but involvement alone doesn’t make people feel like they belong.

They feel like they belong because their voice (literally and metaphorically) is important. They feel respected. They feel seen,

heard, and understood. They feel safe.

I have often said that I can’t believe more people don’t do this thing we do in Sweet Adelines. It’s a strong community that is a perfect fit…for me. But community isn’t a name or what we have in common (the love of singing), nor how and where we all spend our rehearsal nights. Community isn’t solely a common goal like qualifying for international competition, or the achievement of a medal or crown.

Community represents the sum of the positive relationships in a given group. These supportive and accepting relationships create that place where everyone has the deeply comforting and joyful feeling of truly belonging. No score, medal or crown can upstage that!

The good news is, with intention, commitment, patience, and communication, we can shift our cultures to cultures of belonging, where every voice truly matters.

Sandy Marron is Master 700 Director of Lions Gate Chorus, tenor of 2004 International Champion Quartet, Brava, Certified Sound Judge, and a member of the Education Direction Committee.

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Education

STAGECRAFT:

Your Visual Toolbox to Bring the Music to Life On Stage It’s all about the emotion!

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ake a moment and remember how a certain performance made you feel and, more importantly, what started all those emotions. Think of a time you left a musical, a theater,or a big show feeling excited about that performance and feeling all kinds of emotions. I am guessing your first memory wasn´t the color of the lipstick or exactly how many inches the fingers spread in a choreographed move. So why have we, as barbershop singers, been so obsessed with those details? It's time to shift our focus from those very small visual pieces to focus on the bigger picture — the emotions that those combined visual elements bring out in us.

Don't misunderstand me. We still need choreography, we still need costumes, shoes, lipstick (sometimes), and everything that those wonderful elements within stagecraft provide, but your first thought should always be about the purpose of those elements, focusing on doing something with intent, not just with perfection.

There are so many visual elements we can use to create our visual plan, but our goal is for the audience to enjoy a holistic experience of the performance and remember the excitement, not the details.

Within stagecraft, there are several elements we can use such as choreography or staging, costumes, makeup and hairstyles, props, stage decorations and lights. Now, go back to your favorite musical performance. Did the stage look a certain way? Of course, it did.

Did the performers have costumes that helped you understand their character? Yes! Were the lights and choreography planned ahead of time? Sure! But the main focus you, as an audience member, had during the play was probably on the storyline — the communication. All the visual elements helped you feel what you felt, and surely we have the same goal in a barbershop performance.

Use all the visual elements in the stagecraft toolbox to create and enhance all those wonderful feelings.

We want our audience to understand the plot, understand the message, and just follow the story. If we are watching a performance and some of the visual elements don't make sense, we will be distracted and confused, and we won't leave the performance with a strong experience. Make sure to choose visual elements that make sense for the performance. Choose a costume that helps the audience understand the message. Create staging and choreography that tell the story effectively. When we use the stagecraft elements creatively, the audience will be rewarded and leave the performance feeling satisfied and excited.

Let´s Dive Into the Technical Tools We Have to Create Our Visual Plan Choreography/staging is planned movement on stage. It can help the song become exciting and energized and keep the storyline moving forward. Planned movements that don't mean anything won’t add anything to the story and just become body parts that are moving or waving, causing distractions. Effective choreography/ staging matches what the eye sees to what the ear hears.

Costumes may be selected to match a theme, to illustrate a song, or to reflect your personality. When you don’t have a special theme or character, choose a costume with your favorite color, something that makes you happy or that makes a dramatic statement. What are you comfortable in as performers? Just ask yourselves, “Will our costumes make sense to our songs/message or will they be confusing for the audience?” Let the answer guide your choice.

Makeup/hairstyles may be used to create a mood, scene, or character. The primary purpose of stage makeup is to define facial features so that the audience can see and respond to the performers’ facial expressions. Uniform hairstyle for chorus or quartet members is not necessary; however, some degree of similarity provides an additional means of enhancing unit appearance.

Props/stage decorations can be a creative way to enhance characterization and storytelling. Make sure your props or stage decorations really add something to the performance and don't become a distraction for the audience or detract focus from you, the singers.

Non-singing moments can enhance audience communication.

We use our entire time on stage to create a mood, an emotion, a character, or a scene, including entering the stage, taking the pitch, accepting applause, and exiting the stage.

Lights when available, can assist with mood creation, and when used creatively and competently, can enhance the audience experience.

Use the various elements of stagecraft wisely and creatively to enhance your visual plan and give your audiences an experience to remember.

Anna Rosenberg is Master Director of Pearls of the Sound Chorus (#32) and a Certified Judge in the Visual Communication Category.

Technical Elements of Stagecraft Consider all when developing your visual plan

• Choreography/staging • Costumes • Makeup/hairstyles • Props/Stage decorations • Non-singing moments: Entrance, Break, Exit, • Pitchpipe technique • Lights July 2022 |

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Harmony up Round

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 Alberta Heartland Chorus (#26) performed at Edmonton, Alberta's Night of Artists Art Walk. In March, Muse of Fire Quartet (#34) sang at Kewfest Community Event. Jersey Harmony Chorus (#15) performed at the Springtime Market in Plainsboro, NJ (USA). Crosstown Harmony Chorus (#3) sang the U.S. national anthem at a Milwaukee Admirals hockey game in April. Na Leo Lani Chorus (#12) was invited to sing the anthems to open the awards ceremony for the first-ever class at University of Hawaii at Manoa NROTC Unit/Department of Naval Science.

How We Sang Perth Harmony Chorus (#34) performed at Singing in the City as a part of Heritage Perth Weekend.

Vermillion Valley Show Chorus (#3) performed at the Pontiac Swinging Bridges Art Festival in May. Bathurst Panorama Chorus (#34) won Open Choral and Open Popular Song sections of the Cowra Eisteddfod.

After being sidelined for two years, Verdugo Hills Chorus (#21) was able to host the 16th A Cappella Scholarship Festival (ACSF) in May, via video. They wrote on their social media, “Sixteen schools submitted two songs via video. We had a large screen set up and our three judges met with us and evaluated each group. With the sponsorship of the wonderful John C. Hench Foundation, ACSF awarded cash prizes totaling $88,500 (USD).”

Why We Sang In March, Cincy Noteables (#4) sang at a benefit for a local horse therapy facility. Members of Aurora Australis Chorus (#34) were honored to welcome 44 new citizens from 22 countries at an Australian Citizenship Ceremony in the city of Canada Bay, New South Wales -- during Harmony Week!

Coastal a Cappella (#34) sang at the Central Coast Council Citizenship Ceremony on Australia Day (Jan. 26) to welcome 160 new Australian citizens.

Shades of Harmony Chorus (#19) was honored to welcome home Honor Flight veterans. Honor Flight is a nonprofit which flies military veterans to visit the memorials for the wars in which they fought.

Columbia River Chorus (#13) sang the U.S. national anthem and Happy Birthday at a birthday celebration honoring a 103-year-old Army veteran.

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Bathurst Panorama Chorus (#34) held an open rehearsal to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8.

In March, members of Surrey Harmony Chorus (#31) received an honours certificate for competing at the Bromley (Kent) Festival of Music and Speech Competition.

Members of Greater Eugene Chorus (#12) sang the U.S. national anthem at several University of Oregon softball games.

Verdugo Hills Chorus (#21) was privileged, proud, and delighted to walk—and SING(!)—at the PanCanPurpleStride at the Los Angeles Zoo on April 30.

They wrote, “With a big boost from Gail Santanostasi Strohmeyer, our ‘Harmony Heals’ team raised more than $27,000 to support the work of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network!”

Valentines ‘R Us

Potluck delivers a special surprise Valentine

E Prospective WondAros Chorus (#32) performed at Enner Mark Prison in March. They wrote on social media, "We were allowed to sing to the prison choir, some other inmates, and a couple of prison officers. After the concert, we all drank coffee together, and we got an insight into everyday life as an employee!"

In April, San Diego Chorus (#21) performed at the San Diego Sings! Festival. The festival is an all-day event of three concert sessions featuring performances by 15 choral groups and massed choirs.

ach year I look forward to singing Valentine’s Day wishes to unsuspecting people in the Broward County area with my quartet, Potluck.

This year, we were given nine Valentines to deliver.

Eagerly, we delivered greetings and roses to very grateful people. Many of them were in their workplaces, and we even delivered one to a couple in an elevator! They were curious as to why four women were dressed alike walking around with roses!

But there was one special delivery we made that we will always remember. We were searching for a house number along a residential street when Lynne called out, “There it is!” We pulled into the driveway of the house and made our way to the door. As soon as we pushed the doorbell, two little dogs went crazy barking and barking. We could see them through the sidelights at the doorway. But no one answered the door. We were a bit early on our delivery schedule, so we took our time going back to the car, thinking maybe the person would soon be home.

After about five minutes, the door opened and a woman stepped outside wrapped in a blanket. We asked her if she was Wendy, our recipient. She said no, she didn’t know anyone named Wendy. Her name was Toni. We apologized if we had awakened her and explained what we were there for.

She told us she had broken her arm the day before and was recovering at home. We asked her if we could sing for her, and she said she could sure use a Valentine!

We sang Can You Feel the Love Tonight and soon had her tearing up. We knew then that it was serendipity that brought us to her house that day. We’ll never forget how we brought a little happiness into her life through song.

Christy Kelly has been a Sweet Adeline for over 20 years in Region #9. She sings bass in Potluck quartet and, as a dual member, sings bass with South Florida Jubilee Chorus and baritone with Spirit of the Gulf Chorus.

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Education

Director Hacks Resources for directors

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ou’ve probably heard of “life hacks” – a simple or clever tip or technique for accomplishing a task more easily and efficiently – but have you heard about “director hacks”?

Whether a director is just starting out or has been leading a chorus for decades, they each have a unique set of strengths and areas for potential improvement. Also, sometimes directors just need some new ideas or inspiration! There are many resources available to Sweet Adelines directors. Check out the list of resources and “director hacks” below!

Director Resource Toolkit: A website built by directors for directors, the Director Resource Toolkit includes a wide range of resources on topics such as vocal warm ups, member recruitment, developing a chorus culture, sample director contracts, and even a section dedicated to new directors.

Director Hack:

Use the vocal warm ups section to help plan your warm up/skill building time, or share the link with members of your leadership teams to inspire future work (i.e. goal setting, or establishing core values).

Director Certification Program (DCP): The DCP is an educational program designed to provide training and to develop skills for directors and other leaders within a chorus. It consists of 11 modules covering musical, leadership, and administrative skills.

Director Hack:

The DCP is done at your own pace, so it can be beneficial to work through the program with a friend as an added source of motivation to get it done! You can invite members of your music and management teams to work through the program with you to help strengthen your entire chorus.

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Judging Category Description Book (JCDB): The JCDB is the rulebook for our competitions, and it’s a great place to start if you want your chorus to sing and perform at a higher level, regardless of whether your chorus considers itself “competitive.”

Director Hack:

Have the JCDB readily available for your own reference, and find ways to incorporate it into rehearsals. As a chorus, review a category, then go over your recent scoresheets alongside your performance. There’s always more to learn!

Arranger Certification Program (ACP): The ACP is an educational program designed to provide training on how to analyze and arrange music in the barbershop style.

Director Hack:

Even if you have no intention of arranging, enrolling in the ACP means you’ll gain knowledge to assist you with selecting well-suited repertoire for your chorus. You can also ask an assistant director or music team member to enroll so they can be a resource when it comes to choosing and personalizing music.

Song Assessment Tool and Chorus Toolkit: Sweet Adelines has done considerable work in the areas of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), including creating the Chorus Toolkit, which helps choruses examine their cultures and take steps towards creating cultures of belonging, and the Song Assessment Tool (SAT), which assists singers with research to determine whether a song is appropriate to sing.

Director Hack:

Take the time to read through and familiarize yourself with the published materials to learn how to use the SAT and strengthen your chorus culture. Consider developing a team within your chorus to assist with this important work.

Director Community: Get to know the directors in your geographical area, your region, and across the organization. There’s even a Facebook group for directors!

Director Hack:

If you’re confused about something or feeling discouraged, odds are another director is, too! The director community is always supportive and willing to help. Consider finding a “director buddy” that you connect with on a regular basis. The role of director is unique, and no one will understand it like another director!

Bonus Director Hack:

Attend rehearsals or coaching sessions of nearby choruses. From watching other directors, to discovering new warm ups, to finding new ways to say things, there are so many lessons to be learned. If you’re not geographically close to another chorus, use technology!

Advisory Team: An advisory team is a small team of people in your chorus who give you insight and suggestions. They can let you know (privately and respectfully!) if a direction or instruction wasn’t clear and let you know when something does go really well so you can repeat it!

These are the people who will be honest with you and have your back!

Director Hack:

Most directors (even the most successful!) will tell you that they’ve stared at their hands in bewilderment or tried things that didn’t work at one time or another. Know that there will be missteps, but remember you’re all on the same team in wanting the chorus to succeed. Work together to make it happen!

Your Gut: If you’re unsure about something, your initial instinct is usually right!

Director Hack:

When in doubt, trust your gut. Most of the time, it will be right.

And when it’s not, you’ll still learn something in the process!

Resources Outside of Barbershop: Yes, there is a world outside barbershop! Learn from books, speakers, and organizations involved in other genres of music, other aspects of the arts, leadership, education, or anything else that might help you as a director.

Director Hack:

While they may not be specific to our art form, there are countless books and articles that can assist us, from lessons on conducting to culture building and everything in between. A few personal recommendations: The Culture Code (Daniel Coyle); With Winning in Mind (Lanny Bassham); and The Art of Possibility (Rosamund Stone Zander, Benjamin Zander).

FUN!: Surely, this one requires no explanation!

Director Hack:

Strive for three types of moments in every rehearsal: 1.AH!, 2.AHA!, and 3.HAHA! When in doubt, simplify, and focus on the opportunities for learning, personal growth, laughter, and fun in your rehearsals. When you have fun, the entire chorus will, too!

Anne Downton is Master Director of Westcoast Harmony Chorus (#26) and baritone of 2017 International Champion Quartet Frenzy. She is a member of the Sweet Adelines International Faculty.

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Membership

DOROTHY’S STORY: THE SONG GOES ON

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t seemed to be a straightforward request: Someone needed our help in finding the barbershop songs their grandmother, a former Sweet Adeline, sang and loved nearly a lifetime ago, to use them as part of their grandmother’s therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. The problem was that we didn’t know which songs or which chorus! The search was on. As Region #34 Communications Coordinator, not only was it a privilege to help, but I gained new insight into the healing power and longevity of our music.

Music is great therapy for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

According to the Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Jonathan Graff-Radford, “Research suggests that listening to or singing songs can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. Musical memories are often preserved in Alzheimer's disease because key brain areas linked to musical memory are relatively undamaged by the disease.

Music can also benefit caregivers by reducing anxiety and distress, lightening the mood, and providing a way to connect with loved ones who have Alzheimer's disease — especially those who have difficulty communicating.”

Shortly before Christmas, I received the following email from Joanne “Jo” Sanders: My Grandmother, Dorothy Kidd, was a part of a Sweet Adelines group many years ago, and I wondered if there were any records of her being in the group. It would have been here in Victoria, and I remember her telling me when I was younger that she travelled around to sing with the group.

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She has Alzheimer’s now, but I know music therapy can be really great, and although she cannot remember what her favourite songs were to sing, she still knows she loved singing.

I was hoping that if there was some kind of record of her attendance, perhaps we could find out what the more popular songs at the time of her being in the group were — and I might be able to find them to share with her.

I know this is probably a weird request, but if there is any chance that you might be able to assist, I would be very grateful.

Thanks!

Jo As a starting point, I suggested Jo should contact Melbourne Chorus or East City Sound, as their grandmother had lived in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Then Jo produced the vital document — a photo of a newspaper clipping headed, “We want to go to Hawaii to compete.” It showed Dorothy singing with the Templestowe Sweet Adelines with the late, great Marian Reinsch directing. Aha! Things began to fall into place.

Jo said the family didn’t know what year the photo was taken, but I was able to tell them that Melbourne Chorus went to Hawaii in 1987. After searching our records, I’m not sure whether there was ever any group called Templestowe or whether the reporter got it wrong!

There was the Yarra Valley Chorus (under Marian Reinsch) which later changed its name to Melbourne Chorus. Melbourne

Chorus went to Hawaii in 1987 with Perth Harmony Chorus, the first two Australian choruses to take part in an international competition.

The newspaper article mentioned Margaret Cornell, and I was delighted to find that she is still a member of East City Sound.

We couldn’t have found a better person to help us with this search for the music Dorothy would have sung. Marg also sang with Melbourne Chorus, and her husband, Bob Cornell, was a sound engineer at the time and recorded the chorus singing on cassette recorders and tapes. They found a 1985 recording of a senior citizens’ concert held at the Preston Town Hall, with Australia’s First Lady, Hazel Hawke, in attendance. With the help of her daughter, Kim Cornell, Marg was able to record the concert on an iPhone and send it to Jo. It was apparently a huge success!

Jo wrote the following email in response:

doubt she will enjoy them going forward as well. Sweet Adelines brought so much joy into her life. I consistently heard her talking about it as I was growing up, years after she had moved away, and it is no doubt a comfort to have now.

Grandma (Dorothy) spent the end of the Christmas holidays in the ICU with COVID (which you can imagine was stressful in addition to her dementia!) but willed herself through it and managed to get well enough to return to the home where she lives.

Today she was able to listen to the music Margaret was able to help provide for us, and my mother tells me she was singing and dancing along with her hands up in the air! I even got a phone call from her (with my mother’s help) thanking me, which is a bit of a big deal as she doesn’t speak much anymore.

The songs really brought a lot of sunshine into her day, and no

Epilogue

Thank you!

Jo I’m so happy to have been able to organise this for Dorothy.

Many thanks, too, to Margaret and Kim Cornell for supplying the music. They were thrilled to have been able to help. There’s a lot to be said for hanging on to those old recordings; thanks to a longforgotten cassette tape recording of a long-gone local civic event, we have been able to prove that if we want it to, “the song really does go on!”

Dorothy passed away on Friday 18 February. Jo wrote, "I wish she had longer, but I am so thankful we were able to get the music to her in time so that she could enjoy it right at the very end. The last time I heard her speak was when she rang to thank me for the music."

Sue Gilkes is Immediate Past Region #34 Communications Coordinator and a member of Aurora Australis Chorus. This article originally appeared in Issue 82 (Oct. 2021-Feb. 2022) of OzChords, the magazine of Sweet Adelines Australia.

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Making History on Video Stories from the first-ever Sweet Adelines video regional competitions

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fter two years of cancelled regional competitions, Sweet Adelines were able to return to the competition stage in 2022!

While some regions were able to hold competitions in person, others hosted the first-ever Sweet Adelines International regional video competitions. Singers discovered that video competition has its own set of joys and challenges. Read on for just a few examples of what quartets and choruses experienced and learned.

Region #21 Champion Scottsdale Chorus

Golden West Region #21 Takes the Lead The intrepid singers of Golden West Region #21 were the first Sweet Adelines to compete virtually, with their competition held on March 20, 2022. Here is what their champions had to say about the experience: Region #21 Champion Quartet Soiree

Various Scottsdale Chorus members contributed to this collection of “takeaways” from our first-ever video regional convention – Master 700 Director Lori Lyford (Scottsdale Chorus) • When competition was distilled down to this bare minimum, we discovered what we really want from our contest experience: to be adjudicated and learn more.

• Since we’d previously recorded our CDs in our rehearsal room, we knew it could be done.

• The rules didn’t change. The judging standards were the same, even if nothing else was.

• We learned how to be expressive, even while wearing our masks.

We rehearsed like we would for a typical competition. We had coaching sessions, slumber parties and much laughter, of course!

There were bonfires and karaoke. We ordered our dresses and, by some miracle, they were a perfect fit for each quartet member.

Shoes were ordered, and earrings were purchased. For the recording of our contest video, we enlisted the support of our dear friends, Russ and Wendi Young. We appeared on their doorstep with “Instacarted” groceries and were welcomed with open arms into their home. Following this endeavor, we returned to our various homes and hoped for the best.

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• We had to reinvent ourselves, yet we are still the same, with the same desire to do the best we can, and we are different, with new people, new music…and no lipstick!

• We were ready to go on a stage to sing in person and then it shifted to a video. The venue changed, but the journey didn’t. We love to be with our friends on the risers. No matter the circumstances or outcome, we love singing together.

• We learned that we could sing with passion, joy, and energy without an audience!

• Normally we practice in our rehearsal hall then go compete or perform somewhere else. This regional, it all happened in our rehearsal hall. Maybe we could rehearse in this room at a 700 level all the time? (The chorus would like to note that this comment didn’t come from Lori or leadership, as might be expected!)

• When the electronic pitch pipe fell on the risers during the uptune, when the tripod clicked, when one of the ceiling lights was out, when the camera tilted just slightly and the whole chorus looked like we were listing to the right…we learned that the show must go on!

• We also learned that by participating in this regional, and qualifying for Louisville, we are part of the grand effort to keep Sweet Adelines moving into the future. We are happy and proud to do so.

Phew!: VITA Quartet’s Border Crossing Journey to Competition VITA Quartet is made up of three singers who live in British Columbia, Canada – tenor Jackie Baron, lead Lisa Hills, and baritone Barbara Peachey – and bass, Rebecca Wright, who lives in Washington, U.S. Pandemic restrictions at the border meant they spent a long time apart, but they were able to compete when Region #26 (Maple Leaf ) held its video competition on May 1.

VITA posted regularly about their adventures, with the following on April 23:

Later, tenor Lisa Hills posted on the Facebook group ConverSAtion about the emotional experience of virtual competition: “…anyone else out there who did virtual contest realize how anxious you would get just doing a file upload? My baritone and I just did our quartet submission, while on Zoom with each other, triple checking all file names and then trying not to throw up when watching files upload.”

The quartet praised the many people who help with competition, both in-person and virtual. They wrote, “It takes a village to do this thing, and thank you to our village who helped us with all of the extra things it takes to do a video contest. Turns out we get spoiled by the contest organizers who take care of venues, scheduling, traffic patterns, photos, stage and audio, tech etc.”

On Friday May 1, 2020, which was to have been the Region #26 quartet contest night, the quartet had gotten together for their usual post-contest pizza party and scoresheet reading on Messenger video...with no scoresheets. They wrote, “We reminisced and lamented, not knowing when we could sing again and, with a closed international border between us, when we could even see each other.”

May 1, 2022 was much better. On that day, VITA found out they came in third place in the Region #26 virtual competition. There was much rejoicing!

SoloVoce: A Photo Journey On March 13, Region #21 (Golden West) quartet SoloVoce shared a photo series chronicling their virtual competition journey on their social media. They write of the experience, “We did many things just like a regular regional, including spending the entire weekend together…and getting emotional at all the right times.”

Here is a selection of photos of their journey, which led to a fourth place finish. To see the rest of the SoloVoce regional photos, visit their quartet social media pages.

We finally got our video uploaded a few days ago. No one told us just doing the upload submission would be as nerve wracking as the recording itself!

What a journey it’s been, and now we are truly in waiting mode!

7 online Jamulus rehearsals 3 trio outside rehearsals over an international border 2 trio rehearsals of the Canadian 3 2 duet rehearsals 2 actual full rehearsals 1 coaching session 1 trio performance/1 full practice performance for chorus 1 recording session Phew!

To all regional competitors, whether virtual or in-person, congratulations on a return to competition! Keep reading to find out the results of the 2022 Sweet Adelines Regional Competitions.

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Regional Results 2022 Region #1 North Atlantic

Quartets First Place

Saffron • Score: 618 Christine Bulgini (t) Chapter-at-Large, Region #1 Amanda Fowski (l) Chapter-at-Large, Region #1 Valeri Reynolds (bt) Sound of New England Chorus Susan Berry (bs) Chapter-at-Large, Region #1 Songs: I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling (N. Bergman); What Kind Of Fool Am I? (D. Harrington)

Third Place

Carried Away • Score: 537 (Coastline Show Chorus, Chapter-at-Large, Region #1, Merrimack Valley Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 8

Second Place First Place Saffron

Rhythm Method • Score: 573 (Chapter-at-Large, Region #1, Sound of New England Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Harmony on the Sound Chorus Karen Sweeters, Director Score: 662 • 56 on stage Songs: Yes Yes No No Medley (Craig); I’ll Be Easy To Find (Minshall)

Second Place First Place Harmony on the Sound Chorus

Millennium Magic Chorus Beth Paul, Director Score: 629 • 18 on stage

Third Place

Royal River Chorus Rhonda Williams, Director Score: 557 • 23 on stage

Division A

Millennium Magic Chorus Laurel Strielkauskas, Director Score: 629 • 18 on stage Songs: If I Had My Way (D. Harrington); Smile Medley (C. Hine)

Division AA

Division A Millennium Magic Chorus

Harmony on the Sound Chorus Karen Sweeters, Director Score: 662 • 55 on stage Songs: Yes Yes No No Medley (R. Craig); I’ll Be Easy To Find (J. Minshall)

Competing Choruses: 4 Photos: Laura Carey

Division AA Harmony on the Sound Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #2 Border Lakes

Quartets First Place

Girl Talk • Score: 639 Staci Slamka (t) Chapter-at-Large, Region #2 Holli Houtz (l) Chapter-at-Large, Region #2 Kathryn Summers (bt) Motor City Blend Chorus Kendra LaPointe (bs) Motor City Blend Chorus Songs: Fit As A Fiddle (D. Wright); May I Never Love Again (Craig)

Third Place

Sashay • Score: 512 (Grand Traverse Show Chorus, Chapter-at-Large, Region #2)

Competing Quartets: 10

Second Place First Place Girl Talk

Spectrum • Score: 521 (Motor City Blend Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Grand Harmony Chorus Andrew Carolan, Director Score: 607 • 28 on stage Songs: Oh Look At Me Now (A.Dale); Climb Every Mountain (C. Hine)

Second Place First Place Grand Harmony Chorus

London Chorus Julia Beadle, Director Score: 593 • 38 on stage

Third Place

Shoreline Sound Chorus Diane Catellane, Director Score: 553 • 31 on stage

Division A

Grand Harmony Chorus Andrew Carolan, Director Score: 607 • 28 on stage Songs: Oh Look At Me Now (A.Dale); Climb Every Mountain (C. Hine)

Division AA Division A Grand Harmony Chorus

London Chorus Julia Beadle, Director Score: 593 • 38 on stage Songs: Once Upon A Time (J. Dale); I Love A Piano (J. Bescos)

Most Improved Chorus

Grand Harmony Chorus Andrew Carolan, Director Score: 607 • 28 on stage Points Improved: 18 Songs: Oh Look At Me Now (A.Dale); Climb Every Mountain (C. Hine)

Competing Choruses: 10 Division AA London Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #3 Midwest Harmony

Quartets First Place

PRISM • Score: 592 Cynthia Ahlgrim (t) Melodeers Chorus Jenelle Lambert (l) Melodeers Chorus Janet Masters (bt) Choral-Aires Chorus Deborah Lee (bs) Choral-Aires Chorus Songs: What’ll I’ll Do (E. Waesche & R. Craig); I Can’t Give You Anything But Love/ L.O.V.E Medley (N. Bergman)

First Place PRISM

Third Place

By Request • Score: 546 (Yahara River Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 9

Second Place

Stiletto • Score: 553 (Choral-Aires Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Melodeers Chorus Jim Arns, Director Score: 692 • 52 on stage Songs: The Very Thought Of You (J. Arns); I’m Looking At The World Through Rose Colored Glasses/When You Wore A Tulip, (J. Arns)

Second Place First Place Melodeers Chorus

Choral-Aires Chorus Amy Brinkman & Bonnie Fedyski, Director Score: 650 • 63 on stage

Third Place

Midwest Crossroad Chorus Tori Hicks, Director Score: 632 • 42 on stage

Division A

Great Lakes Sound Chorus Carol Thompson, Director Score: 578 • 29 on stage Songs: Next Time I Love (L. Wright); I’m Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover/ It’s A Good Day (J. Arns)

Division A Great Lakes Sound Chorus

Division AA

Melodeers Chorus Jim Arns, Director Score: 692 • 52 on stage Songs: The Very Thought Of You (J. Arns); I’m Looking At The World Through Rose Colored Glasses/When You Wore A Tulip, (J. Arns)

Most Improved Chorus Heart of Illinois Chorus Lora Wright, Director Score: 497 • 16 on stage Points Improved: 40

Competing Choruses: 12 Division AA Melodeers Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #4 Harmony Heartland

Quartets First Place

Endeavour • Score: 599 Amanda Kaufmann (t) Scioto Valley Chorus Laura Kitchel (l) Chapter-at-Large, Region #4 Amy Leacock (bt) Scioto Valley Chorus Serena Davis (bs) Scioto Valley Chorus Songs: That’s Life (BHS); May I Never Love Again (Craig)

Third Place

Vivace • Score: 574 (Metro Nashville Chorus, K-Town Sound Show Chorus, Song of Atlanta Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 16

Second Place First Place Endeavour

Lipstick Scoundrels • Score:588 (Scioto Valley Chorus, Diamond Jubilee Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Scioto Valley Chorus Kerry L. Denino, Director Score: 694 • 64 on stage Songs: How Deep Is The Ocean (Rob Hopkins); World Here I Am/There’ll Be Some Changes Made Medley (P. McAlexander)

Second Place First Place Scioto Valley Chorus

Diamond Jubilee Chorus Jean Barford, Director Score: 603 • 28 on stage

Third Place

TuneTown Show Chorus Steve Scott, Director Score: 601 • 38 on stage

Division A

Diamond Jubilee Chorus Jean Barford, Director Score: 603 • 28 on stage Songs: Georgia May (A. Dale); Next Time I Love (L. Wright)

Division A Diamond Jubilee Chorus

Division AA

TuneTown Show Chorus Steve Scott, Director Score: 601 • 38 on stage Songs: The Way You Look Tonight (M. Hale); Almost There (A. Dale)

Most Improved Chorus River Magic Chorus Beverly A. Miller, Director Score: 504 • 14 on stage Points Improved: 100 Songs: Once Upon A Time (J. Dale); It’s A Good Day (C. Schmidt)

Division AA TuneTown Show Chorus

Competing Choruses: 10 Photos: Jon Read Photography

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Regional Results 2022 Region #5 Spirit of the Midwest

Quartets First Place

First Class • Score: 678 Wendy Pool (t) Vocal Standard Chorus Stacy Schumacher (l) Vocal Standard Chorus Kristin Drummond-Mance (bt) Vocal Standard Chorus Maria Christian (bs) Song of the Lakes Chorus Songs: More Than You Know (L. Wright); Ain't Nobody's Business (M. Hine)

Third Place

Flourish • Score: 590 (Vocal Standard Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 15

Second Place First Place First Class

Journey • Score: 647 (Topeka Acappella Unlimited Chorus, Chapter-at-Large Region 5)

Choruses First Place

Vocal Standard Chorus Rob Mance, Director Score: 670 • 33 on stage Songs: This Can't Be Love (D. Wright); There's A Fine, Fine Line (C. Hine)

Second Place First Place Vocal Standard Chorus

Topeka Acappella Unlimited Chorus Michelle Hunget & Susan Ives, Directors Score: 620 • 88 on stage

Third Place

Sound Celebration Chorus Terry Ludwig, Director Score: 556 • 28 on stage

Division A

Sound Celebration Chorus Terry Ludwig, Director Score: 556 • 28 on stage Songs: You Turned The Tables On Me (N. Bergman); I Wish You Love (D. Wright)

Division AA Division A Sound Celebration Chorus

Vocal Standard Chorus Rob Mance, Director Score: 670 • 33 on stage Songs: This Can't Be Love (D. Wright); There's A Fine, Fine Line (C. Hine)

Most Improved Chorus

Topeka Acappella Unlimited Chorus Michelle Hunt & Susan Ives, Directors Score: 620 • 88 on stage Points Improved: 125 Songs: Beer Barrel Polka (K. Bomert); Auld Lang Syne (C. Hine)

Competing Choruses: 8 Photos: Jon Petersen Photography Division AA Vocal Standard Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #6 Northern Lights

Quartets First Place

Spice • Score: 606 Angela Blackwood (t) City of Lakes Chorus Heidi Dick (l) City of Lakes Chorus Liz Miller (bt) City of Lakes Chorus Jan Rick (bs) City of Lakes Chorus Songs: When I Fall In Love (D. Wright); Smile Medley (C. Hine)

Third Place

Upbeat • Score: 551 (City of Lakes Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 5

Second Place First Place Spice

Affinity • Score: 563 (Spirit of Harmony Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Spirit of Harmony Chorus Judy Weipert, Director Score: 594 • 28 on stage Songs: All The Way (B. Graham); How Many Hearts Have You Broken? (J. Arns)

Second Place First Place Spirit of Harmony Chorus

Acapella Express Chorus Megan Argall, Director Score: 469 • 13 on stage

Third Place

Vallee de Croix Chorus Brandon Gailbrath, Director Score: 465 • 14 on stage

Division A

Spirit of Harmony Chorus Judy Weipert, Director Score: 594 • 28 on stage Songs: All The Way (B. Graham); How Many Hearts Have You Broken? (J. Arns)

Most Improved Chorus Division A Spirit of Harmony Chorus

Vallee de Croix Chorus Brandon Gailbrath, Director Score: 465 • 14 on stage Points Improved: 38 Songs: Good Luck Charm, (A. Dale); Somewhere Out There (M. Bailey)

Competing Choruses: 4

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Regional Results 2022 Region #8 Rocky Mountain

Quartets First Place

Last Call • Score: 651 Lizzie Loomis (t) Skyline Chorus Becky Maybury (l) Skyline Chorus Lily Radack (bt) Skyline Chorus Laura Barnick (bs) Skyline Chorus Songs: When I Fall in Love, (D. Wright); Ain’t He Sweet?/Yes, Sir, That’s My Baby (C. Hine)

Third Place

Nothin’ But Treble • Score: 600 (Chapter-at-Large, Region #8, Bella Voce Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 17

Second Place First Place Last Call

Kindred • Score: 623 (Skyline Chorus)

Choruses First Place

High Country Chorus Rebecca Richards, Director Score: 601 • 45 on stage Songs: If I Had My Way (D. Harrington); You’re In Style With A Smile Medley (A. Reimnitz)

Second Place

First Place High Country Chorus

Bella Voce Chorus Jeana Womble & Anna-Lisa Glad, Directors Score: 591 • 23 on stage

Third Place

High Plains Harmony Chorus Annette Lambrecht & Julie Palagi, Directors Score: 577 • 38 on stage

Division A

Bella Voce Chorus Jeana Womble & Anna-Lisa Glad, Directors Score: 591 • 23 on stage Songs: Love Me Tender (D. Wright); This Joint Is Jumpin’ (N. Bergman)

Division AA

Division A Bella Voce Chorus

High Country Chorus Rebecca Richards, Director Score: 601 • 45 on stage Songs: If I Had My Way (D. Harrington); You’re In Style With A Smile Medley (A. Reimnitz)

Most Improved Chorus Greely Harmonix Chorus Julie Palagi, Director Score: 557 • 14 on stage Points Improved: 96 Songs: L-O-V-E (N. Bergman); My Romance (J. Minshall)

Competing Choruses: 12 Photos: Jon Read Photography Division AA High Country Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #9 Coastal Harmony

Quartets First Place

Duly Noted • Score: 657 Raegan Stauffer (t) Toast of Tampa Show Chorus Madison Slamka (l) Spirit of the Gulf Chorus KaleyAnna Raabe (bt) Spirit of the Gulf Chorus Emily Hitt (bs) Spirit of the Gulf Chorus Songs: Somewhere Over The Rainbow (C. Hine); Almost There (A. Dale)

Third Place

Ladybug • Score: 591 (Sound of Sunshine Chorus, O-Town Sound Chorus, Chapter-at-Large, Region #9)

Competing Quartets: 13

Second Place First Place Duly Noted

For The Love • Score: 605 (Toast of Tampa Chorus. Chapter-at-Large, Region 9)

Choruses First Place

Toast of Tampa Show Chorus Tony DeRosa, Director Score: 671 • 60 on stage Songs: One Moment In Time (C. Hine); Tip A Little Light Fantastic/ Step In Time (C. Hine)

Second Place First Place Toast of Tampa Show Chorus

Bridges of Harmony Chorus Kim Higdon, Director Score: 578 • 34 on stage

Third Place

Sound of Sunshine Chorus Gayle Burton, Director Score: 570 • 26 on stage

Division A

Sound of Sunshine Chorus Gayle Burton, Director Score: 570 • 26 on stage Songs: This Can’t Be Love (D. Wright); Oh! How I Miss You Tonight (J. Arns)

Division AA

Division A Sound of Sunshine Chorus

Toast of Tampa Show Chorus Tony DeRosa, Director Score: 671 • 60 on stage Songs: One Moment In Time (C. Hine); Tip A Little Light Fantastic/ Step In Time (C. Hine)

Most Improved Chorus

Sound of Sunshine Chorus Gayle Burton, Director Score: 570 • 26 on stage Points Improved: 10 Songs: This Can’t Be Love (D. Wright); Oh! How I Miss You Tonight (J. Arns)

Competing Choruses: 10 Division AA Toast of Tampa Show Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #10 Great Gulf Coast

Quartets First Place

Saving Grace • Score: 593 Elise J Miller (t) Chapter-at-large, Region #10 Mikayla Wallis (l) Chapter-at-large, Region #10 Kieley Simonsen Morales (bt) Chapter-at-large, Region #10 Marisa R Garza (bs) Chapter-at-large, Region #10 Songs: I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Fallin’ (N. Bergman); You Are My Sunshine (V. Uhr)

Third Place

Vitality • Score: 555 (Alamo Metro Chorus, Chapter-at-Large, Region #10)

Competing Quartets: 21

Second Place First Place Saving Grace

Live It Up! • Score: 593 (Houston Horizon Chorus, Simply A Cappella Chorus, The Woodlands Show Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Alamo Metro Chorus Ryan J Heller, Director Score: 628 • 40 on stage Songs: I Will Love You ‘Til the End of Time (A. Baker); I Love a Piano (J. Bescos)

Second Place First Place Alamo Metro Chorus

Houston Horizon Chorus Janet K Burnett, Director Score: 554 • 36 on stage

Third Place

Crescent City Sound Chorus Mary Beth McMurray, Director Score: 508 • 23 on stage

Division A

Crescent City Sound Chorus Mary Beth McMurray, Director Score: 508 • 23 on stage Songs: Once Upon a Time (J. Dale); I’m Sitting On Top of the World (N. Bergman)

Division AA Division A Cresent City Sound Chorus

Alamo Metro Chorus Ryan J Heller, Director Score: 628 • 40 on stage Songs: I Will Love You ‘Til the End of Time (A. Baker); I Love a Piano (J. Bescos)

Most Improved Chorus

Lone Star Chorus Becky Loveday & Charlotte Hoffman, Directors Score: 488 • 30 on stage Points Improved: 15

Competing Choruses: 13 Photos: Jon Read Photography

Division AA Alamo Metro Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #11 Sequoia Pacifica

Quartets First Place

SwingTime • Score: 621 Sally McLeish (t) Agoura Hills Harmony Chorus Shawnna Allen (l) Carpe Diem Chorus Courtney Anderson-Georges (bt) Carpe Diem Chorus Susan Kegley (bs) Pacific Sound Chorus Songs: I Wanna Be Around, (Giallombardo); If We Can’t Be The Same Old Sweethearts (Giallombardo)

Third Place

Troubadour • Score: 590 (Santa Monica Chorus, L.A. South Towns Show Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 7

Second Place First Place SwingTime

Gotta Sing! • Score: 609 (Santa Monica Chorus, Chapter-at-Large, Region #11)

Choruses First Place

Verdugo Hills Chorus Tammy Ragsdale, Director Score: 597 • 41 on stage Songs: Oh! Look At Me Now (A. Dale); All The Things You Are (J. Minshall)

Second Place First Place Verdugo Hills Chorus

Golden Sands Chorus Lou Burgess-Schroff, Director Score: 552 • 26 on stage

Third Place

Lady Luck Showtime Chorus Ami Nichelson, Director Score: 539 • 28 on stage

Division A

Golden Sands Chorus Lou Burgess-Schroff, Director Score: 552 • 26 on stage Songs: For All We Know, (J. Dale); I Love To Hear That Good Old Barbershop Style (Hicks/Lund)

Division A Golden Sands Chorus

Division AA

Verdugo Hills Chorus Tammy Ragsdale, Director Score: 597 • 41 on stage Songs: Oh! Look At Me Now (A. Dale); All The Things You Are (J. Minshall)

Most Improved Chorus

Verdugo Hills Chorus Tammy Ragsdale, Director Score: 597 • 41 on stage Points Improved: 11 Songs: Oh! Look At Me Now (A. Dale); All The Things You Are (J. Minshall)

Division AA Verdugo Hills Chorus

Competing Choruses: 5 Photos: Wyeth Lily

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Regional Results 2022 Region #12 Pacific Shores

Quartets First Place

LiveWire • Score: 615 Christine Jacobs (t) Mission Valley Chorus Karen R. Fish (l) Chapter-at-Large, Region #21 Suzanne Olsen (bt) Diablo Vista Chorus Lysanda Y. Lee (bs) Mission Valley Chorus Songs: How Many Hearts Have You Broken (J. Arns); Next Time I Love (L. Wright)

Third Place

Verve • Score: 594 (Bay Area Showcase Chorus, Diable Vista Chorus, Chapter-at-Large, Region #12

Competing Quartets: 11

Second Place First Place LiveWire

Equilibirum • Score: 599 (Greater Eugene Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Diablo Vista Chorus Caitlin Castelino, Director Score: 682 • 51 on stage Songs: I’ve Got Rhythm (D. Wright); Yesterday I Heard The Rain, (Manzanero & B. Graham)

Second Place First Place Diablo Vista Chorus

Bay Area Showcase Chorus Julie Starr Director Score: 632 • 45 on stage

Third Place

Mission Valley Chorus Angela Suraci, Director Score: 600 • 37 on stage

Division A

Greater Eugene Chorus Lauren Kahn, Director Score: 539 • 24 on stage Songs: Let’s Just Start Living Life Today (L. Kahn); Listen To My Heart (L. Kahn)

Division AA Division A Greater Eugene Chorus

Diablo Vista Chorus Caitlin Castelino, Director Score: 682 • 51 on stage Songs: I’ve Got Rhythm (D. Wright); Yesterday I Heard The Rain, (Manzanero & B. Graham)

Most Improved Chorus

Oregon Spirit Chorus Kathy Scheel, Director Score: 582 • 34 on stage Points Improved: 73 Songs: Smile (T. Gentry); Nobody’s Sweetheart (L. Wright)

Competing Choruses: 15 Photos: Mary Mamer Division AA Diablo Vista Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #13 North by Northwest

Quartets First Place

PrimeTime • Score: 623 Sylvia Posso (t) Song of Seattle Chorus Katy Hawley (l) Song of SeattleChorus Patti Burklund (bt) Song of Seattle Chorus Sonja Mejlaender (bs) Song of Seattle Chorus Songs: I Never Meant To Fall In Love (J. Liles); I Can’t Give You Anything But Love/ L-O-V-E Medley (N. Bergman)

First Place PrimeTime

Third Place

Happenstance • Score: 575 (Pride of Portland Chorus, Chapter-at-Large, Region #13)

Competing Quartets: 18

Second Place

Riot • Score: 584 (A Cappella Joy Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Alaska Sound Celebration Chorus Peggy Benton, Director Score: 612 • 29 on stage Songs: I Never Meant To Fall In Love (J. Liles); Everybody Step (C. Prietto)

Second Place First Place Alaska Sound Celebration Chorus

Voices Northwest Chorus Charlene O’Connor, Director Score: 583 • 23 on stage

Third Place

Olympia Chorus Margaret Eby, Director Score: 547 • 19 on stage

Division A

Alaska Sound Celebration Chorus Peggy Benton, Director Score: 612 • 29 on stage Songs: I Never Meant To Fall In Love (J. Liles); Everybody Step (C. Prietto)

Most Improved Chorus Division A Alaska Sound Celebration Chorus

Voices Northwest Chorus Charlene O’Connor, Director Score: 583 • 23 on stage Points Improved: 21 Songs: At Last (N. Bergman); I Feel A Song Comin’ On (N. Bergman)

Competing Choruses: 19

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Regional Results 2022 Region #14 Heart of the Blue Ridge

Quartets First Place

Presto! • Score: 664 Lindsay Patrick (t) Song of Atlanta Chorus Jennifer Cooke (l) Scenic City Chorus Kathe Schellman (bt) Song of Atlanta Chorus Kris Wheaton (bs) Chapter-at-Large, Region #4 Songs: I Love Jazz Medley (D. Wright); It’s You (R. Rund)

Third Place

Grit & Grace • Score: 611 (Song of Atlanta Chorus, Chapter-at-Large, Region #14)

Competing Quartets: 10

Second Place First Place Presto!

Shenanigans • Score: 632 (Song of Atlanta Chorus, Chapter-at-Large, Region #11)

Choruses First Place

Carolina Harmony Chorus Susie Smith, Director Score: 614 • 16 on stage Songs: I Wish You Love (D. Wright); Oh! Look At Me Now (A. Dale)

Second Place First Place Carolina Harmony Chorus

Vienna Falls Chorus Claire Gardiner, Director Score: 577 • 29 on stage

Third Place

Vocal Matrix Chorus Jim Arns, Director Score: 575 • 38 on stage

Division A

Carolina Harmony Chorus Susie Smith, Director Score: 614 • 16 on stage Songs: I Wish You Love (D. Wright); Oh! Look At Me Now (A. Dale)

Division AA Division A Carolina Harmony Chorus

Vocal Matrix Chorus Jim Arns, Director Score: 575 • 38 on stage Songs: In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning (J. Arns); How Many Hearts Have You Broken (J. Arns)

Competing Choruses: 8

Division AA Vocal Matrix Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #15 Greater NY/NJ

Quartets First Place

Illuminate • Score: 644 Rebecca King (t) Merrimack Valley Chorus Alicia Caron (l) Spirit of Syracuse Chorus Jennifer Hunter (bt) Spirit of Syracuse Chorus Cherie LaDuke (bs) Coastline Show Chorus Songs: Next Time I Love (D. Wright); Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart (R. Craig)

Third Place

Elixir • Score: 577 (Liberty Oak Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 19

Second Place First Place Illuminate

Harmony • Score: 637 (Greater Nassau Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Greater Nassau Chorus Harriette Walters, Director Score: 663 • 46 on stage Songs: All The Way ( T. Gentry); I Never Knew/ I’m Getting Married (R. Craig & F. King)

Second Place First Place Greater Nassau Chorus

Sirens of Gotham Chorus N/A, Director Score: 623 • 30 on stage

Third Place

Spirit of Syracuse Chorus Kay Crawford, Director Score: 585 • 43 on stage

Division A

Sirens of Gotham Chorus N/A, Director Score: 623 • 30 on stage Songs: I’m Through With Love (L. Diamond); It’s Today (M. Hine)

Division AA Division A Sirens of Gotham Chorus

Greater Nassau Chorus Harriette Walters, Director Score: 663 • 46 on stage Songs: All The Way, ( T. Gentry); I Never Knew/ I’m Getting Married (R. Craig & F. King)

Competing Choruses: 9 Photos: Joan Hoeffer

Division AA Greater Nassau Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #16 Lake Ontario

Quartets First Place

Strike a Chord • Score: 590 Yve Moreau (t) North Metro Chorus Ine Ribeiro Cannella (l) North Metro Chorus Ashaya Babiuk (bt) North Metro Chorus Kathy Withnell (bs) North Metro Chorus Songs: Time After Time (D. Wright); Orange Colored Sky (D. Harrington)

Third Place

Tessitura • Score: 563 (North Metro Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 4

Second Place First Place Strike a Chord

No Compromise • Score: 570 (Canadian Showtime Chorus, Chapter-at-Large, Region #16)

Choruses First Place

Canadian Showtime Chorus Joe Connolly, Director Score: 595 • 51 on stage Songs: Young & Foolish (B. Graham); You Took Advantage Of Me (A. Dale)

Second Place First Place Canadian Showtime Chorus

The Heartland Singers Chorus Hannah Barton, Director Score: 571 • 24 on stage

Third Place

Barrie Soundwaves Chorus JanAke Weston, Director Score: 507 • 23 on stage

Division A

The Heartland Singers Chorus Hannah Barton, Director Score: 571 • 24 on stage Songs: Beyond The Sea (E. Gain); You Make Me Feel So Young (M. hale)

Division AA Division A The Heartland Singers Chorus

Canadian Showtime Chorus Joe Connolly, Director Score: 595 • 51 on stage Songs: Young & Foolish (B. Graham); You Took Advantage Of Me (A. Dale)

Competing Choruses: 4

Division AA Canadian Showtime Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #17 Great Lakes Harmony

Quartets First Place

DREAM • Score: 570 JoAnn Wilson (t) Greater Cleveland Chorus Ruth Bates (l) Greater Cleveland Chorus Jill Spriestersbach (bt) Chapter-at-Large, Region #17 Nancie Jaicks (bs) Chapter-at-Large, Region #17 Songs: Looking At The World Thru Rose Colored Glasses (D. Wright); Love Letters Straight From Your Heart (J. Arns)

First Place DREAM

Third Place

Sublime • Score: 544 (Fenton Lakes Chorus, Melodeers Chorus, Grand Rapids Chorus, Motor City Blend Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 6

Second Place

Baritone Blues • Score: 559 (Greater Cleveland Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Buffalo Gateway Chorus Diane Porsch, Director Score: 647 • 70 on stage Songs: Red Head (B. Graham); If You Love Me, Really Love Me (N. Bergman)

Second Place First Place Buffalo Gateway Chorus

Greater Cleveland Chorus Nathan Ogg, Director Score: 606 • 34 on stage

Third Place

Voices in Harmony Chorus Jennifer Jones, Director Score: 593 • 28 on stage

Division A

Voices in Harmony Chorus Jennifer Jones, Director Score: 593 • 28 on stage Songs: Smile Medley (C. Hine); Yesterday I Heard The Rain (B. Graham)

Division AA Division A Voices in Harmony Chorus

Greater Cleveland Chorus Nathan Ogg, Director Score: 606 • 34 on stage Songs: You’ll Never Know (J. Clancy); Get Me To The Church (A. Dale)

Most Improved Chorus

Battle Creek Chorus Lynne Peirce, Director Score: 560 • 22 on stage Points Improved: 45 Songs: Never Meant To Fall In Love (J. Liles); I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling (N.Bergman)

Competing Choruses: 12 Division AA Greater Cleveland Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #19 Atlantic Bay-Mountain

Quartets First Place

Sound Design • Score: 611 Susan Irwin (t) Harbor City Music Company Chorus Jennifer Newman (l) Chapter-at-Large, Region #19 Jennifer Myers (bt) Chapter-at-Large, Region #19 Sarah Nainan-Newhard (bs) Greater HarrisburgChorus Songs: Cry Baby (M.Hill & N. Bergman); Sweet Adeline (J. Giallombardo)

Third Place

Mix It Up • Score: 537 (Harbor City Music Company Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 11

Second Place First Place Sound Design

Rampage • Score: 567 (Dundalk Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Harbor City Music Co. Chorus Michael Gellert, Director Score: 678 • 79 on stage Songs: When I Fall In Love (D. Wright); This Can’t Be Love (D. Wright)

Second Place First Place Harbor City Music Co. Chorus

Dundalk Chorus Jennifer Williams, Director Score: 597 • 32 on stage

Third Place

Vocal Harmonix Chorus Lori Jo Williams, Director Score: 593 • 26 on stage

Division A

Dundalk Chorus Jennifer Williams, Director Score: 597 • 32 on stage Songs: Happy Days Are Here Again (M. Gellert); Smile Medley (C. Hine)

Division AA Division A Dundalk Chorus

Vocal Harmonix Chorus Lori Jo Williams, Director Score: 593 • 26 on stage Songs: Oh, You Beautiful Doll (J. Giallombardo); Next Time I Love (L. Wright)

Competing Choruses: 8 Photos: JB Photographers

Division AA Vocal Harmonix Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #21 Golden West

Quartets First Place

Soiree • Score: 639 Karen Littlefield (t) Chapter-at-Large, Region #21 Ashley Wright (l) Chapter-at-Large, Region #21 Sara Littlefield (bt) Chapter-at-Large, Region #21 Taylor Daniels (bs) Scottsdale Chorus Songs: It’s DeLovely Medley (L. Wright); In Your Eyes (L. Wright)

Third Place

Muse • Score: 566 (Tucson Desert Harmony Chorus, Chapter-at-Large, Region #21, Route 66 Sound)

Competing Quartets: 9

Second Place First Place Soiree

Girls Night Out • Score: 567 (Positively A Cappella Chorus, Chapter-at-Large, Region #21, Scottsdale Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Scottsdale Chorus Lori Lyford, Director Score: 700 • 74 on stage Songs: If I Loved You (L. Wright); Top of The World Medley (D. Wright)

Second Place First Place Scottsdale Chorus

Enchanted Mesa Show Chorus Denise King, Director Score: 517 • 30 on stage

Third Place

Simply A Cappella Chorus Wendi Young, Director Score: 488 • 22 on stage

Division A

Enchanted Mesa Show Chorus Denise King, Director Score: 517 • 30 on stage Songs: If I Give My Heart to You (J. Clancy); The Moment I Saw your Eyes (J. Liles)

Competing Choruses: 5 Division A Enchanted Mesa Show Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #25 Heart of America

Quartets First Place

JAZZ! • Score: 589 Pamela Mallard (t) Springfield Metro Chorus Diane Durham (l) Springfield Metro Chorus Tawny Brown (bt) Springfield Metro Chorus Diana Schweitzer (bs) Springfield Metro Chorus Songs: What I’ll Do (E. Waesche); Brand New Shoes (D. Metzger)

Third Place

Q • Score: 579 (Rich-Tone Chorus, Red River Valley Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 14

Second Place First Place JAZZ!

Montage • Score: 588 (OK City Chorus, Chapter-at-Large, Region #25)

Choruses First Place

OK City Chorus Mary Rhea, Director Score: 617 • 55 on stage Songs: All The Things You Are (J. Minshall); Are You Having Any Fun? (K. Keller)

Second Place First Place OK City Chorus

Talk of Tulsa Show Chorus Frank Friedemann, Director Score: 601 • 45 on stage

Third Place

Wichita Chorus Melynnie Williams, Director Score: 580 • 25 on stage

Division A

Wichita Chorus Melynnie Williams, Director Score: 580 • 25 on stage Songs: What'll I Do? (R. Craig); I’ll Never Say “Never Again” Again (T. Gentry)

Division AA Division A Wichita Chorus

OK City Chorus Mary Rhea, Director Score: 617 • 55 on stage Songs: What'll Do? (R. Craig); I’ll Never Say “Never Again” Again (T. Gentry)

Most Improved Chorus

Sooner Sensations Show Chorus Dawn Krones, Director Score: 529 • 16 on stage Points Improved: 29

Competing Choruses: 10 Photos: Jon Petersen Photography

Division AA OK City Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #26 Canadian Maple Leaf

Quartets First Place

Bewitched • Score: 586 Nicole L. Rahiman (t) Lions Gate Chorus Allison Young (l) Lions Gate Chorus Leila Msadek (bt) Lions Gate Chorus Jennifer S. Champagne (bs) Lions Gate Chorus Songs: Keepin’ Out Of Mischief (J. Berg); Flirty Eyes (Hill & Bergman)

Third Place

VITA • Score: 564 (Westcoast Harmony Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 5

Second Place First Place Bewitched

Thumbs Up! • Score: 581 (Gateway Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Lions Gate Chorus Sandy Marron, Director Score: 721 • 79 on stage Songs: Something Good (C. Hine); Cabaret (C. Hine)

Second Place

First Place Lions Gate Chorus

Rhythm of the Rockies Chorus Jo-Anne Killips, Director Score: 588 • 25 on stage

Third Place

Pacific Edge Chorus Julie Smith, Director Score: 597 • 36 on stage

Division A

Rhythm of the Rockies Chorus Jo-Anne Killips, Director Score: 588 • 25 on stage Songs: Next Time I Love (L. Wright); Oh! Look At Me Now (A. Dale)

Division AA Division A Rhythm of the Rockies Chorus

Pacific Edge Chorus Julie Smith, Director Score: 597 • 36 on stage Songs: Toooralooraloora (J. Dale); It’s A Great Day For The Irish/Shillel (J. Dale)

Most Improved Chorus

Pacific Edge Chorus Julie Smith, Director Score: 597 • 36 on stage Points Improved: 20 Songs: Toooralooraloora, (J. Dale); It’s A Great Day For The Irish/Shillel (J. Dale)

Competing Choruses: 8 Division AA Pacific Edge Chorus Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #31 Quartet of Nations

Quartets First Place

Muddy Stilettos • Score: 604 Hannah Bruce (t) Chapter-at-Large, Region #31 Chantel Parsons (l) Viva Acappella Chorus Christine Avis (bt) Viva Acappella Chorus Colette Coull (bs) Viva Acappella Chorus Songs: How Many Hearts Have You Broken? (J. Arns); How Deep Is The Ocean? (R. Hopkins)

Third Place

Nova • Score: 571 (Chapter-at-Large, Region #31, Vocal Dimension Chorus, Viva Acappella Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 13

Second Place First Place Muddy Stilettos

Sound Central • Score: 597 (Milltown Sound Chorus, Heartbeat UK Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Forth Valley Chorus David Sangster, Director Score: 696 • 76 on stage Songs: All The Things You Are (J. Minshall); I Got The Sun In The Morning (D. Sangster)

Second Place First Place Forth Valley Chorus

Heartbeat UK Chorus Nancy Kelsall, Director Score: 637 • 55 on stage

Third Place

Viva Acappella Chorus Helen Whittick, Director Score: 628 • 34 on stage

Division A

Vocal Dimension Chorus Valerie Taylor, Director Score: 593 • 29 on stage Songs: All The Things You Are (J. Minshall); It’s DeLovely Medley (L. Wright)

Division AA Division A Vocal Dimension Chorus

Heartbeat UK Chorus Nancy Kelsall, Director Score: 637 • 55 on stage Songs: Yes Sir That’s My Baby/ Get Me To The Church (D. Wright & S. Marron); Next Time I Love (L. Wright)

Most Improved Chorus London City Singers Simon Arnott, Director Score: 559 • 27 on stage Points Improved: 20 Songs: Pulled (S. Arnott); Almost There (S. Arnott)

Division AA Heartbeat UK Chorus

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Competing Choruses: 13 Photos: Ian Dearman

Regional Results 2022 Region #32 Nordic Light

Quartets First Place

ASKA • Score: 604 Jenny Myr (t) Chapter-at-Large, Region #32 Cassandra Jenner (l) Chapter-at-Large, Region #32 Anna Stenberg (bt) Chapter-at-Large, Region #32 Frida Rönnblom (bs) Chapter-at-Large, Region #32 Songs: Love Me And The World Is Mine (D. Wright); Too Darn Hot (Krigström)

Third Place

Don’t Panic • Score: 596 (Västerås Show Chorus, Stockholm City Voices Chorus, Farsta Harmony Bell Chorus)

Competing Quartets: 13

Second Place First Place ASKA

Keep Cruisin’ • Score: 597 (Rönninge Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Rönninge Show Chorus Anna Alvring, Director Score: 723 • 98 on stage Songs: All By Myself (D. Wright); Strong Enough (D. Wright)

Second Place First Place Rönninge Show Chorus

Malmö Limelight Chorus Sofia Feuer, Director Score: 617 • 39 on stage

Third Place

Stockholm City Voices Chorus Tindra Thor, Director Score: 616 • 47 on stage

Division A

Gothia Show Chorus Marie Erenstedt, Director Score: 478 • 25 on stage Songs: Love me And The World Is Mine (D. Wright); Too Darn Hot (Krigström)

Division AA Division A Gothia Show Chorus

Malmö Limelight Chorus Sofia Feuer, Director Score: 617 • 39 on stage Songs: Next Time I Love (Wright); Come Fly With Me (K. Keller)

Most Improved Chorus

Key Town Eskiltuna Chorus Annika Christensen and Maria Wessman, Directors Score: 588 • 95 on stage Points Improved: 74 Songs: If I Give My Heart To You (J. Clancy); Cabaret (L. Wright)

Competing Choruses: 13 Division AA Malmö Limelight Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #34 Southern Cross

Quartets First Place

Third Place

Debacle • Score: 608 George Spencer (t) Brindabella Caitlin Launt (l) Brindabella Tanya Kavanagh (bt) Brindabella Glenda Lloyd (bs) Brindabella Songs: Next Time I Love (L. Wright); No No Norman (C. Hine)

Cocktail Hour • Score: 582 (Hobart Harmony)

Competing Quartets: 16

Second Place First Place Debacle

Treble Makers • Score: 584 (Northern Beaches Chapter)

Choruses First Place

Brindabella Chorus Glenda Lloyd, Director Score: 619 • 27 on stage Songs: How Deep Is The Ocean (R. Hopkins); Let Yourself Go (D. Wright)

Second Place First Place Brindabella Chorus

A Cappella West Chorus Joanne Oosterhoff, Director Score: 582 • 48 on stage

Third Place

Circular Keys Chorus Vicki Dwyer, Director Score: 572 • 33 on stage

Division A

Brindabella Chorus Glenda Lloyd, Director Score: 619 • 27 on stage Songs: How Deep Is The Ocean (R. Hopkins); Let Yourself Go (D. Wright)

Division AA Division A Brindabella Chorus

A Cappella West Chorus Joanne Oosterhoff, Director Score: 582 • 48 on stage Songs: In The Wee Small Hours (J. Arns); Let Yourself Go (D. Wright)

Competing Choruses: 14

Division AA A Cappella West Chorus

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Regional Results 2022 Region #35 New Zealand

Quartets First Place

Unlimited • Score: 606 Kate Sinclair (t) Waikato Rivertones Chorus Jill Rodgers (l) Chapter-at-Large, Region #35 Helena Lister (bt) Chapter-at-Large, Region #35 Mehernaz Darukhanawalla (bs) Chapter-at-Large, Region #35 Songs: You Make Me Feel So Young (M. Hale); Time Waits For No One (N.Bergman)

First Place Unlimited

Third Place

The Low-Down • Score: 558 (Nelson Bays Harmony Chorus, Greater Auckland Chorus, Chapter-at-Large, Region #35)

Competing Quartets: 4

Second Place

Renew! • Score: 567 (Waikato Rivertones Chorus)

Choruses First Place

Waikato Rivertones Chorus Kate Sinclair, Director Score: 633 • 28 on stage Songs: Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man Of Mine (B. Beck); Smile Medley (C. Hine)

Second Place First Place Waikato Rivertones Chorus

Whangarei Harmony Chorus Kim Cairns & Fiona Boorer, Directors Score: 425 • 16 on stage

Division A

Waikato Rivertones Chorus Kate Sinclair, Director Score: 633 • 28 on stage Songs: Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man Of Mine (B. Beck); Smile Medley (C. Hine)

Most Improved Chorus

Waikato Rivertones Chorus Kate Sinclair, Director Score: 633 • 28 on stage Points Improved: 5 Songs: Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man Of Mine (B. Beck); Smile Medley (C. Hine)

Division A Waikato Rivertones Chorus

Competing Choruses: 2

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Regional Results 2022

2022 Wildcard Quartets

Nothin’ But Treble

Region #5

Journey • Score: 647 Michelle Hunget (t) Kansas City Chapter Susan Ives (l) Topeka Acappella Unlimited Janice Wood (bt) Topeka Acappella Unlimited Stacie Truax (bs) Chapter-at-Large, Region #5 Songs: Everybody Loves My Baby (D. Wright); Stars Fell In Alabama (D. Wright)

Journey

Extra

Region #8

Five Minutes More • Score: 599 Julie Winans (t) Chapter-at-Large, Region #8 Rebecca Richards (l) High Country Heather Tavel (bt) High Country Heather Reimnitz (bs) Skyline Songs: You Are My Sunshine (V. Uhr); Five Minutes More (A. Reimnitz)

Photos: Jon Read Photography

Five Minutes More

Gotta Sing!

Region #8

Kindred • Score: 623 Christine Weaver (t) Skyline Robin Mickle (l) Skyline Dawn Hewitt (bt) Skyline Kim Andrews (bs) Skyline Songs: Between You And Me And The Birds And Bees And Cupid (A. Dale); All The Way (Gentry)

Photos: Jon Read Photography

Kindred

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Equilibrium

Regional Results 2022 Region #8

Region #14

Photos: Jon Read Photography

Photos: Self-photographed

Nothin’ But Treble • Score: 600 Heleena Herrington (t) Chapter-at-Large, Region #8 Sarajane Houghton (l) Chapter-at-Large, Region #8 Ashlee Olson (bt) Bella Voce Stephanie Osmond (bs) Chapter-at-Large, Region #8 Songs: Hooray For Love/Let's Do It (L. Wright); Next Time I Love (L. Wright)

Grit & Grace • Score: 611 Amanda Koch (t) Chapter-at-Large, Region #14 Heather E. Brookshire (l) Song of Atlanta Sarah Clay Lindvall (bt) Song of Atlanta Karen Stauss (bs) Song of Atlanta Songs: Gimmie, Gimmie (A. Bock); It's You I Like (C. Outerbridge)

Grit & Grace

Region #14

Region #14

Shenanigans • Score: 632 Nicki D. Agner (t) Chapter-at-Large, Region #11 Missy Elam (l) Song of Atlanta Alexis Nicoletta (bt) Song of Atlanta Mary P Cox (bs) Song of Atlanta Songs: Love Medley-I Can't Give You Anthing But Love/Ya Gotta Know (N. Bergman); Love Me And The World Is Mine (D. Wright)

Extra • Score: 608 Karen L Maney (t) Chapter-at-Large, Region #14 Robyn Matula (l) Song of Atlanta Kerry L. Parker (bt) Alamo Metro Tianna V. Coffey (bs) Chapter-at-Large, Region #14 Songs: Someone Like You (L. Wright); As If We Never Said Goodbye (M. Hine)

Photos: Self-photographed

Photos: Self-photographed

Shenanigans

Region #15

Region #11

Harmony • Score: 637 Diane Duff (t) Greater Nassau Heidi Wilson (l) Greater Nassau Harriette Walters (bt) Greater Nassau Leigh Anne Dorman (bs) Greater Nassau Songs: I’m Through With Love (L. Diamond); Good Luck Charm (A. Dale)

Gotta Sing! • Score: 609 Anna-Pia Hubacher (t) Santa Monica Laura Pallas Singer (l) Santa Monica Tove Hoch (bt) Santa Monica Jennifer Febre (bs)Chapter-at-Large, Region #11 Songs: You Don't Know Me (N. Bergman); It's A Pity To Say Goodnight (N. Bergman)

Photos: Wyeth Lilly

Harmony

Region #12

Equilibrium • Score: 599 Merry Lardner (t) Greater Eugene Ginna Kayser (l) Greater Eugene Melissa Anne McNeer (bt) Greater Eugene Lauren E. Kahn (bs) Greater Eugene Songs: Bandstand in Central Park (N. Bergman); It's a Pity To Say Goodnight (N. Bergman)

Photos: Mary Mamer

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Accolades Accolades as of April 1, 2022

DIRECTOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Advanced to Approved Director Carol Pann, River City Sound, #3

Advanced to Certified Director Darin Drown, Velvet Hills, #8 Sofia Feuer, Malmo Limelight, #32 Joyce Liang-Ridley, Melbourne, #34 Nathan Ogg, Greater Cleveland, #17 Charlotte Pettersson, Stockholm Starlight, #32 Annika Tallsjö, Stockholm Starlight, #32

Memorial Gifts

Gifts given in honor of former Sweet Adelines March 1 - April 30, 2022

Nelda Lejeune, Chapter-at-Large, #10 Becky Buckner Ross, Triad A Cappella Connection, #14 Ruth Huebner, Member prior to 1999 Anne Mathews, Member-at-Large

Director Wanted for Top 30 Chorus!

River Blenders Chorus in St. Louis, Missouri seeks a knowledgeable, visionary, musical leader with consistent follow through and contagious energy!

We are a diverse, motivated, coachable chorus of 75 who loves performing in our great city!

Email your interest to directorsearch@riverblenders.org.

DIRECTOR SEARCH

We are seeking a director who will inspire us, collaborate with us, and take us to the next level on our journey to expand our vocal skills and our membership.

Heart of Long Island is a small chorus that has been around for over 60 years whose membersare fun-loving and hard-working.

If you are a director who is looking for a chorus, or know someone who is,email us at heartoflongislandchorus@gmail.com.

In Memory March 1 - April 30, 2022

Jan Wyckoff, L.A. South Towns Show, #11 Shirley Davidson, Sooner Sensations Show, #25 Linda Masterson, Cranberry Shores, #1 Jane Becker, Show-Me Harmony, #25 Ruth Ramey, Chapter-at-Large, #13 Jill Rattray, Vocal Edge Blue Mountains, #34 Evie Caldwell, Nebraska Pride, #8 Ferne Hogan, Chapter-at-Large, #11 Judy Ringering, Chapter-at-Large, #5 Joan McPherson, Harborlites, #21 Jan Matthews, Alaska Sound Celebration, #13 Jane Casey, Member-at-Large Jan McQuaid, Member-at-Large Sue Hahn, Chapter-At-Large, #13 Annette Douthet, Baton Rouge, #10 Terry Morgan, Blue Mountain, #13 Becky Wilkins, Queen Charlotte, #14 Joan Nauss, Spirit of the Gulf, #9 Marilyn Turner, Sooner Sensations Show, #25 Marlene Babb, Shoreline Sound, #2 Bonnie L. Joseph, Ohio Heartland, #4 Grace Urquhart, Vernon Kalamalka, #26 Laurel Santry, Redland Rhapsody, #34 Betty Garnett, Member-at-Large Shirley Janssen, Velvet Hills, #8 Mary Neff, Olympia, #13 Mary "Susanne" Dobel, Scottsdale, #21 Orysia Blahut, Alberta Gold, #26 Gayanne Niertko, Flagship City, #17 Leesa Boling, Pride of West Texas Show, #25 Fern Clark , Spirit of Spokane, #13

Virginia Coast Chorus Seeks a Dynamic Director Virginia Coast Chorus is a small chorus from coastal Virginia. Our long-time director has retired. Our challenge is to find another great director. We are looking for someone who is dynamic creative, and inspirational, with music and leadership skills.

Please contact marjoriestealey@yahoo.com.

Deadline: 7/31/2022

What's happening, Sweet Adelines?

Let everyone know about your regional, chorus, or quartet event using the

Sweet Adelines Community Event Calendar!

The SA Online Community Events Calendar is now available on the Sweet Adelines International website, www.sweetadelines.com/calendar. Add and publicize your upcoming event or search for an event by name and date. Find the calendar at www.sweetadelines.com under the “Events” tab titled "Sweet Adelines Community Calendar."

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R eg N is ow te ! r

International Convention & Competition 2022

74th Annual International Convention and Competition September 12-17, 2022 • Phoenix, Ariz. USA

Register and Reserve!

Register for the Sweet Adelines International Convention & Competition for five days of live-action barbershop singing. Reserve your place in the Sweet Adelines International official hotel block. You'll be right downtown, close to the convention center, food, shopping, and fun!

Find registration rates, hotel information, health and safety guidelines and much more on the Sweet Adelines International website, www.sweetadelines.com/phoenix.

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2023

AND WE'RE OFF! Save the Date

OCT. 30–NOV. 4, 2023