 |
|
|
November 2009 |
|
|
This newsletter is intended to inform, encourage and inspire you on your journey towards chartering as a Sweet Adelines chorus. We hope you enjoy this issue. |
|
|
Transitions New
Step 1 Prospective Chapters Newly
Named Prospective Chapters Submit Your Stories Prospective
Syringa Sound Chorus
The leadership team met to finalize the paperwork for chartering, update our standing rules and bylaws, and work out a formal audition procedure. It was encouraging to be moving forward. Even more exciting, we asked for whole-group participation in two fundraisers. We had a successful yard sale in September that allowed us to purchase costumes for our whole chorus. We are now preparing for a Craft Bazaar in November, the proceeds from which will purchase our costume accessories. The members are elated to be all decked out for holiday sing-outs, and we have four already slated! The discouragement we faced in the summer only served to make us more determined to succeed. There was also one more happy event. Our director, Andy Maddox married Svetlana, a classical pianist, who is his former accompanist and long lost love. Right now there's a smile on everyone's faces as we bring 2009 to a close and look forward to a great 2010. Judy
Craig Prospective
Dutch Pride Chorus
We all love to sing modern barbershop songs and that is what we're doing. In July we celebrated our ten-year anniversary with a singing tour through the canals of Utrecht and a great dinner. Prospective Dutch Pride, along with nine other choruses, gave a show in our city called Dutch Pride & Friends. All styles of music were performed. It was a great success and everybody liked this so much that we are considering making it an annual event. Our director, Kit de Bolster, was the first woman in the Netherlands to start barbershop singing and she did a great job. There are now about 40 active male and female barbershop choruses and many quartets. After many years Kit returned to her barbershop roots and we are all very pleased to have her back. Della
Hogen Prospective
Barberina Chorus Prospective Barberina is a chorus of 17 women, which in recent months has faced the challenges associated with its size. Like everyone else, no doubt, our members all have commitments to families and careers, that at times take priority over attendance at rehearsals and unfortunately, these absences have interrupted our progress. When a chorus is large enough, a few absentees from any section won't spoil the rehearsal for everyone else. However, a small chorus can find itself with a missing section at times. I now understand why there is an advantage in being a bigger chorus. I have also just discovered the great resources available through the Sweet Adelines International's Marketing Center. Visit the Marketing Center here for recruitment materials and resources. We would love to hear about successful recruitment and retention tactics used by fellow prospective choruses that may help us strengthen our membership. Please send an e-mail to rivlinr@013net.net. Rosemary
Rivlin Prospective
Milltown Sound Chorus
Our next exciting milestone was our first chorus retreat. We descended upon a little farm in the Peak District, England for a weekend of fun and hard work. Not only was this our retreat but it was also going to be our first official visit in the chartering process. Glenn Chaney, director of The Lace City Chorus, arrived at our retreat to hear us sing and to see us work. We decided to sing to him the ballad we had been working on for convention and his comments made us all very happy. It made all of our hard work seem worthwhile. Every step that we take seems to get more exciting and this did not stop when we entered our first ever competition, a local festival. This was very nerve-wracking as not only was it our first time on the competition stage but we were also doing it with only 15 singers! At the end of the competition, the judge got on the stage and gave each chorus feedback. Ours was absolutely amazing and it made us feel so excited. This excitement rose even further when she announced that the chorus finishing in third place was Prospective Milltown Sound! Words cannot express how we felt that evening. Over the coming weeks we have two fundraisers and lots of Christmas sing-outs, so the future is looking very exciting for Prospective Milltown Sound Chorus. Kim
Potter Prospective
in Bremen Chorus
Our director, Gordon Hamilton, who has directed us for almost four years, recently went back to his home country Australia and he will be missed. We were so very lucky to almost immediately find Lennard Bertzbach, a talented young man to be our new director. We are looking forward to his directing at the German Convention in March 2010. We are very happy about meeting our mentor Patsy Meiser next summer and look forward to our progress as a prospective chorus of Sweet Adelines International. Marlen
Sieglin, president Prospective
Harmony Gateway Chorus Prospective Harmony Gateway Chorus has been doing its part to harmonize its section of the world. We are singing to our neighbors wherever we find them. Our repertoire is growing steadily and we are very proud of our product. We've chosen a competition ballad and started working toward our charter and future on-stage performance for our peers in Region 2. We had several performances this summer, including a black and orange party at rehearsal for Halloween. One thing we know how to do is party and we all had a great time rehearsing and snacking. We also recently celebrated our youngest member's 15th birthday. We will have a visit from Linda Liddicoatt, regional director coordinator, soon and Donna Brichta, membership coordinator, will accompany her if possible. We are happy to entertain and receive direction from these knowledgeable women. A November performance will kick off the holiday season with a USO Variety Show at the Pix Theater in Lapeer. We will be doing a package of patriotic songs for the variety show honoring the brave men and women serving our country. Our Christmas repertoire is rarin' to go. We've been rehearsing Christmas music since August along with the rest of our repertoire. The chorus will perform in December for the Lapeer Zonta Club's Christmas party and Lapeer Family Education in Mayfield Township. Prospective Harmony Gateway is hoping Santa will bring us a tenor or two for Christmas. We hope that everyone has a safe and happy holiday season. Our New Year's resolution is to "Keep the Music Ringing" and our chorus growing in 2010. Peggy
Hall, president Prospective
Cheshire A Cappella Chorus
In September Prospective Cheshire A Cappella performed its new repertoire with verve and sparkling energy to friends, family and invited VIPs. Our "A Cappella Fun Night" was a complete sellout event and huge success! We were joined by guests, the men's chorus, Harmony Revival, and the current Sweet Adelines UK region quartet champions, Tone-Acity. Thanks to everyone for their fabulous compliments and support for a great evening's entertainment which we aim to repeat soon. Our recent three weeks free singing lessons course attracted many new ladies to our chorus rehearsals where we began learning Christmas songs for our upcoming sing-outs. Our membership is definitely growing as we've had to bring out more risers! We are now close to 50 members strong. Following a successful summer fashion show in July, we're holding a winter fashion fundraiser in November. Our schedule is now filling with sing-outs in December where we'll be complementing our expanding repertoire with Christmas songs and carols. We have a coaching weekend workshop booked in January with Carole Kirkpatrick and we intend to compete at the Hazel Grove Music Festival barbershop contest in February. Lastly, and most importantly, Prospective Cheshire A Cappella just had its second musical and administrative visits by the UK's regional management team and we're pleased to announce that we're being recommended for charter to Sweet Adelines International. We are really excited about this and can't wait to compete alongside other UK choruses next year. Hilary
Pinnock, PR Officer Prospective
Harmunichs Chorus
Then, in March 2010 we will compete at the biennial German Barbershop Festival, competing among male and female barbershop choruses, judged by an international panel. In 2006, we received the gold medal and two years later we placed second. We're eager to present another high quality package and are up to the challenge of out-singing our barbershop friends. Earlier this year, our director Monica Knox, together with the music team, picked a ballad and an uptune which suited our chorus. Our section leaders recorded the planned interpretation which was then distributed to each singer. Everyone uses an MP3 player to practice and to submit her tapings for evaluation. Further, we have scheduled two rehearsal weekends, one with a great coach and our former mentor �se Hagerman. We will spend the entire weekend singing, learning and happily afterglowing together. Additionally, to refine our individual presentation skills we record some rehearsals then upload the clips to our internet group. Each singer can self-check whether her own presentation fits into the big picture. The preparation time for contest is never enough. But together, with our great chorus spirit and hard work, we are up for these challenges all the while never forgetting to have fun and enjoy the music. Barbershop is still quite a unique musical trend in Germany but is growing! We are united with other choruses in Germany working towards establishing a Sweet Adelines International region here. Our director, Monica Knox, and our Vice-President, Jutta Taferner, are among the "founding mothers" of the movement and, together with representatives of other choruses throughout Germany, the Area Management Team is keeping the ball rolling. One great event towards this end was an awesome workshop held last May. The cr�me de la cr�me of Swedish coaches were flown in to share their skills (�se Hagerman, Alba Show Chorus, Britt-Hel�ne Bonnedahl and, H�lena Parm�r, Ronninge Show Chorus, and Mari Petterssen, Harmony Heights.) One-hundred-thirty women arrived from all over Germany to enjoy a weekend together polishing their voices, learning two songs and practicing important techniques of barbershop singing. Click here to find out more about Sweet Adelines International in Germany. Brigitte
Heuke, Monica Knox Prospective
Mountain Phoenix Chorus Prospective Mountain Phoenix Chorus has been very busy over the past few months. We had the privilege of having Mo Field come and coach us in September and we learned so much about vocal production. The chorus prepared for the regional music visit also in September and it was fun coming up with a script, costume and working hard on our package for presentation to the regional music representative, Marlene Greenough. Marlene helped us with our mission statement and goals so it was quite a packed day. What was really exciting was that we passed the audition and are now approved to sing out. Our membership is growing and we are up to 12 members now. We have a Christmas sing-out in December so we are working hard on our Christmas package. The chorus will be moving into its new rehearsal hall in January and will be doing a membership drive at that time. Our director, Kari Evens, and myself, Gail Litke, attended the International Convention and brought back a lot of information from the education classes. We look forward over the next several months to grow our membership in hopes of chartering in 2010. Gail
Litke, president Prospective
Vocal Vibes Chorus
With our increase in membership, it was becoming urgent to purchase some risers. We applied for and received a Community Development grant from the local Maroondah City Council. The grant was enough to buy one set of our much needed risers. And through the successful grant application we were asked to perform at the local Community Festival which we did just recently, to a very appreciative audience. With our successful public community debut, we now have the potential for further bookings through the Council for local events, which is very exciting, and fulfills our mission to contribute to our local community. In preparation for our first public performances, we held a dress rehearsal to show our loved ones what we have been doing on Monday nights for the past ten months. All of our husbands and some parents came along and were amazed and very proud of what we had achieved. We recently had our first public performance, which took the form of a Fashion Parade / Silent Auction where a wildly enthusiastic crowd of 220 family and friends applauded our efforts. Bass section leader Sue Harvey said, "My daughter was really proud to see me up there. She said she was really touched by the beautiful harmony, especially in the song I am Australian. Two of my friends were in tears." The audience in tears was enough to deem the night a success. The night was also a spectacularly successful fundraiser, raising more than enough to purchase our second set of risers.
We recently were privileged to have a visit from Rose McGee, well-known and gorgeous Education Faculty Member, who came to coach us as part of the Steps Program. We will soon be moving on to the final step in our progression towards chartering. Our
dreams are finally coming true. All our hard work and patience has
paid off. We look forward to taking on our next challenge which
will be preparing for another membership drive and ultimately performing
on the Sweet Adelines International competition stage. But most
of all, we are blown away by the fabulous friends we have been making
along the way. It is such a joy to sing in harmony.
|
|
|
Seattle is a medley of picturesque views. Snowcapped mountains and sparkling blue waters create stunning views seen from the many vantage points throughout the city. Seattle's mild winters and cool summers work together to make the city lush and green, earning it the nickname, "The Emerald City." Sweet Adelines from all over the world will soon savor Seattle, October 19-23, 2010, for the 64th annual International Convention and Competition. Register online for the Nashville Convention or Download the Registration form here. ORDER 2009 NASHVILLE RECORDINGS NOW - ALL NEW RECORDING FORMAT! The Nashville Competition DVD will include performances by the top three International chorus and quartet finalists, first place Division A, first place Division AA, Most Entertaining chorus and quartet, the Harmony Achievement winner and the Rising Star champion. $30 (US plus shipping and handling) We are still producing a Top 10 Chorus CD as well as a Top 10 Quartet CD. $12 each plus shipping and handling. The International Sales department is offering delivery of music purchased as well as preview titles via e-mail as a .pdf attachment. At this time, it is not available as an immediate download when purchased through the International Sales Web site. If you would like this service, please contact a member of the sales department at 877.545.5441 or toll free at 800-992-SING (7464). Please check out additional exciting products available through the International Sales department: The Ann Minihane Anthology (songbook plus three learning CDs) - This Certified Music Arranger, who was especially fond of show tunes, had many arrangements published by Sweet Adelines International. Included within this book are three contest ballads, three contest uptunes and four show tunes. A must-have for any Sweet Adeline! "Being Your Own Vocal Teacher" presented by Peggy Gram. This DVD focuses on practical kinesthetic tools to use at home to become a more proficient singer and create more joy in your singing. Gain new insight into learning music and working it into your voice for maximum resonance, breath control, and tone quality. Increase your vocal range, quality of sound, plus much more. $25 (USD), plus shipping and handling. "To Move or Not to Move...That is the Question" presented by Ren�e Porzel. With this DVD learn techniques for making physical warmups fun and educational, techniques that keep visual elements integrated into the musical rehearsal plan, methods of designing choreography that support the musical plan created by the chorus director and so much more. $25 (USD), plus shipping and handling. Sing, Baby Sing! The Book is now available - Keep your collection going with the latest version in the very popular series. "The Perfect Blend" DVD and book by Timothy Seelig. This is a must-have for any choral director. More than 100 choral warmups. $50 (USD), plus shipping and handling. 2008 Hawaii International Competition recordings for quartet and chorus are now available DVD - $35.00 each and CD - $15.00 each Membership Campaign Bracelets Rubber bracelets embossed with real women. real harmony. real fun. are available for purchase for your next membership drive. These bracelets make a great gift to offer visitors, but most of all they are perfect for each chorus member to wear outside of rehearsal as an easy conversation starter. Buy yours today for $15 (USD) a dozen, or $1.50 (USD) each, plus shipping and handling. Cafepress.com Check out the Sweet Adelines International Online Store through Cafepress.com for a variety of promotional materials. You can purchase T-shirts, pins, mugs, totes and more with the new membership campaign logo, corporate logo and YWIH logo. New and updated items will be added regularly, so check back often as our selection of promotional items continues to grow. Radiate Your Passion! Today there is more opportunity than ever to share your joy of singing with the world, online! Through Sweet Adelines International's social media Web sites you can meet new people with common interests, create intriguing discussions, introduce your chorus and/or quartet to others, stay up-to-date on international events, campaigns, activities and much, much more. Follow
us on Twitter Be
a Fan on Facebook Be
a Friend on Facebook View
us on YouTube Network
with us on LinkedIn Join Sweet Adelines International's online forums and NEVER MISS A BEAT! Sweet Adelines International's Free Webinars Sweet Adelines International's offers free Webinars for our members. These Webinars are a great way to stay in the know on up to date topics such as Marketing Your Chorus, Member Orientation, developing an effective Rookie Program and soon to come webinar on the Director's Role in Membership Recruitment. Don't miss out on these valuable learning opportunities. Click here to learn about upcoming Webinars as they become available. New Webinar topics will be posted regularly so check back often for updates. All previously presented Webinars are archived in the Training Library section of the online Marketing Center. We hope you will join us for our future Webinars! Communications
Department: |
|
|
|
|
After
a sad summer of good-byes to nearly half our chorus members who,
due to a variety of personal or family illnesses and tragedies,
had to quit, the remaining members of Prospective Syringa Sound
Chorus were at a crossroads. Our morale had suffered blow after
blow, but in the end we decided we still wanted to sing. We'd just
have to grow our chorus again and hopefully rebuild enough members
to charter by summer 2010, a year later than originally hoped. We
put ads in the newspaper and on Craigslist and eventually got some
newcomers to check us out. We recently accepted two new members
and are anticipating a third member soon, with more to come. We
are still small in comparison to other choruses, but our sound has
improved and is surprisingly strong. We sang for Boise's "Light
Up the Night" charity walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
and also sang for three retirement and assisted living centers.
We've already been asked back for encore performances. 
Ten
years ago a group of enthusiastic women, with experience in barbershop
singing, started their own chorus. Prospective Dutch Pride from
IJsselstein was born on July 14th, 1999. 
Since
our formation in March 2009, being a member of Milltown Sound Chorus
has been both fun and very rewarding. We have had a whirlwind seven
months and each and every one of us wouldn�t have it any other way.
Our first outing as a chorus came in May 2009 when we all traveled
to Gateshead for our region's annual convention. It was such a great
event and although we weren�t competing as a group, we took great
pride in supporting our quartet, BLONDE AMBITION.
The weekend was full of fun and laughter and we are keeping our
fingers crossed that we charter in time to compete next year. We
just cannot wait to be on that stage. 
We
are a group of harmony-loving women who enjoy singing, especially
barbershop. Our chorus was founded in 1994 and had previously performed
under the name "Sugar n Spice" since 1996. We have developed a colorful
repertoire consisting of ballads, pop songs and typical barbershop
numbers. With this mixed program we sing at a wide variety of events,
such as town festivals, private parties and shows we organize ourselves.
Highlights for us are coaching sessions by well known national or
international barbershoppers and participating at different barbershop
workshops and at the Germany-wide barbershop competition held every
two years. 
Prospective
Harmunichs Chorus has been singing barbershop for almost 15 years
and hopes to charter in 2010. 2009 has been a particularly busy
year as we have been preparing for two important contests. First,
in November, the Bavarian regionals for the national chorus competition
takes place. We'll be competing with 15 ensembles of A Cappella
Jazz, Gospel and Barbershop music, all eager to win the ticket to
the German Chorus Competition in 2010. The compulsory song in our
category is an eerie ballad by a German heavy metal band with mouth
percussion sequences and a fugue. Quite a contrast to the barbershop
style! 
Prospective
Vocal Vibes Chorus in Melbourne, Australia has taken a step closer
to chartering! Since the last issue we have achieved some amazing
things. We now have 25 committed, dynamic women, all of whom have
come to love barbershop harmony. Every rehearsal is filled with
enthusiasm and a real commitment to improve the sound. Our newest
bass, Heather, came along for the very first time just four weeks
ago. On her second night she asked if she could take home the music
for all five of our performance songs so she could learn them and
sing at our first public performance which was in just two weeks
time. Being an accomplished pianist, and all around musical genius,
she did just that. She is now truly hooked on those luscious chords.
To
support our chorus culture, we had a special logo designed by Norman
Connell Advertising where Assistant Director Kerry Haddow is Media
Manager. The logo represents our image beautifully. The singing,
dancing lady bursting out between the words is simple and stylish
yet it has great movement and energy. We had the logo screen printed
in silver onto the back of black tops and they look great, and we
feel great in them.
International
Convention and Competition October 19-23, 2010