MARCH 22, 2025 REGIONAL COMPETITION
1st Place Division A • 3rd Place Overall
January • February • March 2025
A Cappella Unlimited presents the latest in what’s been happening with your favorite chorus! We welcome your feedback, questions and comments.
REGIONAL COMPETITION WRAP-UP
The new photo above was taken after our competition March 22 where we earned another first place (No. 8) in Division A and a third overall! Competition was all new this year…the venue was the Topfer Stage in the Zach Scott Theatre complex…in Austin!
A first for Au and Region 10. Competition has been held in Houston for the past 12-15 years…same hotel, which spoiled us by having everything in the same building. The Holiday Inn Town Lake was our headquarters hotel which presented a lot of new challenges to the competition planning committee. The usual rooms we had for rehearsals and chorus meals were not available to us. Buses were used to get performers and audience members to and from the hotel to the Topfer because of limited parking in the Zach Scott area. All-in-all the Competition Committee did an excellent job adjusting to new normals. Sweet Adelines International choruses, like the rest of use, are are looking for ways to save money by doing some things differently. Some regions are even combining their competitions in order to share costs.
Competition last but not least, Huge CONGRATULATONS to Au quartet Better Than BeFour who, in their first-ever competition, medaled in 5th Place and were awarded the Novice Quartet title. Kadi Conklin-Tenor, Melonie Mills- Lead, Kathy Wilson-Bass and Laura
DeAngelo-Baritone had only been singing together since June and three of them had never competed in a quartet before. We are very proud of them.
MOVING ON TO OUR OTHER NEWS
Our January ended with an exciting and special invitation to perform at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Southwestern District’s Midwinter Convention. The convention was held at the lovely Lila Cockrel Theatre in San
Antonio. Au shared the stage with such luminaries as BHS’ Panda Ring, Studio Talk and New Fangled Four quartets, Region 10’s own Saving Grace, and BHS Space City Sound Chorus. It was an awesome experience for all…with the exception of one of our members who collided with the street on her way to the performance. But
stalwart that she is, Carol Roettinger performed with an incredible shiner and bruised knees saying, “The show must go on!”
Into February we kicked up our preparation for competition. We previewed our competition set at BHS chorus, A Cappella Texas’ Valentine Show as invited guest performers. Our director, Katy Dane, has also directed ATX since 2017 and this was her last performance with them. Her parents and other family members were in the audience as she was recognized for her contributions to ATX.
March rolled in and we shifted into high gear with a Send-Off Show March 1 at the San Marcos Public Library. Their entry hall is a great place to sing with a soaring ceiling and the intermittent swish of the automatic front doors. One more coaching session with the incredible Caroline Durrett (lead of the Ladies). She helped us with expression and reminded us to think about doors slamming and doughnuts! (You had to be there). Her awe-inspiring work with us was manifested with improved expression scores at competition.
Au’s Send-Off at the San Marcos Public Library. Caroline Durrett, our coach for the day-long rehearsal prior to the send-off, is in the center
And speaking of competition…having it in Austin, so close to many of our members, was a plus and a minus. We missed our annual Saturday breakfast as the hotel didn’t have the rooms needed for catered events, and seeing all the bluebonnets on our drive to Houston, but we loved being on the Topfer Stage in the Zach Scott theatre complex, and the short drive home! Contest was rewarding as well as we captured another Division A First Place, but It was also bittersweet as it was the last time Katy directed us.
The following Monday we had a sendoff party for Katy and showered her with mementos for her upcoming move.
Katy’s farewell party and parting gifts. It’s been a great ride and we’ll certainly miss her.
Members and guests enjoyed each others company and the great food (and beverages) at Z Tejas Restaurant. Sunflowers were our theme for contest and for the dinner.
Our director search continues at this writing with some super candidates in the pipeline and auditions taking place in April. Hopefully in our next News For You, we’ll be able to introduce our new Au director! Keeping our fingers crossed.
As always, we love our friends and families who support us in our crazy hobby. We try not to have our hands out all the time, but funding is a fact of life for non-profit organizations like ours. We prefer to earn our money by performing so if you have or know of an organization and/or business that is looking for something different to entertain their customers or employees please consider hiring Au. We can provide a full chorus performance, a quartet or a VLQ (very large quartet…usually 8-12 singers.) Fees are reasonable and can be tailored to the customer.
What’s Next for Au
April—Auditions with director candidates. Selection of our next 24K Sweet Adeline of the Year. Election of team members for the 2025 - 2026 year.
April 5—ATX Spring Sing (photos in the next issue)
May—Introduction of new director! Installation of new team members and announcement of 24K Sweet Adeline. Katy’s wedding and Happily-Ever-After Party.
Mondays—Au Open Rehearsals, 7 - 10 p.m., Texas State University Music Building, 101 Pleasant Street, Room 222, San Marcos, TX. Paid parking in the Pleasant Street Garage (use the AMP Park app to pay). Check website for changes and/or updates.
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