Harmony Rag Quartet of Nations Newsletter, Region 31 Sweet Adelines International Autumn2010
Don’t Stop Believing! DaleDiva Wins TV Finals DaleDiva is proud to have helped bring Barbershop singing to a new national audience by winning the final of the new allsinging, all-dancing Channel Five show, “Don’t Stop Believing”.
And in the process musical director Ally Law achieved what she wanted to do - to challenge the old-fashioned stereotypes and give Barbershop a funky, 21st century twist! “We won our heat in show three of the series with a mash-up of one of our own Diva’s arrangements of ‘The Power of Love’ and the Beyonce hit dance track ‘Single Ladies’ with the vocal harmonies arranged by Ally and her assistant director Harriet. In the final we wowed the judges with the Donna Summer/Barbra Streisand duet ‘No More Tears (Enough is Enough)’ finished off with some ‘Hot Stuff’,” writes Liz Tomes. “First of all we want to say a MASSIVE thank you to all our Region 31 friends who voted for us and sent us much-appreciated messages of support – and SAI Barbershoppers around the world who have sent us congratulations and fabulous messages of support.” “It was an absolutely amazing experience to win the Don’t Stop Believing final and we are all still on an absolute high,” said an ecstatic Ally. “But what made it extra special for us was the support, goodwill messages and congratulations we’ve had from all our Barbershop friends.
“I’m proud that one of the things the judges particularly commented on was our vocal tuning, harmony and blend, which is of course down to the work we do singing in fourpart harmony.
him but we were secretly his favourites we think! “I was so thrilled when I heard compliments about how we weren’t fazed by performing live - I certainly put it down to the average 20 performances we do
performance while maintaining good vocals, Tamzin Outhwaite said ‘now that’s a show choir!’ And we loved the fact High School Musical choreographer Chucky Klapow said ‘Beyonce
the same place so many famous people have worked including Michael Jackson and Sir Elton John. You can catch up with our winning performances, see backstage footage and learn our two dance
“The high standards demanded by Barbershop ensure we put good vocals first and I think that’s what came over in our performances. “We’re getting used to choreographic routines enhancing our songs - but nothing could prepare us for the moves that ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ creative director Kim Gavin and his team of choreographers had planned for us! “Kim was responsible for producing Take That’s ‘Circus Tour’ so dealing with 46 very excited women was a new challenge for
each year. I always remind the girls that if we’re having fun performing, our audience will have fun watching us - and we think they did have fun. “We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported us and voted for DaleDiva. It got us to the title and means the world to us.” One of the celebrity judges, American pop goddess Anastacia, said our vocal blend was beautiful and sounded like ‘one instrument’. Meanwhile, talking about our energy and
should be hiring you guys!’ and that Tamzin thought we were not just ‘rock-star ready - but Vegas ready!’ But it has to be said – most of the Divas will never forget the lovely Duncan James calling us ‘Divalicious’ and commenting how he’d ‘like to put a ring on it….!’ Happy memories! Now we’re really looking forward to recording our album at London’s Rak Studios in October and promoting it in the run-up to Christmas. We still can’t believe we’ll be recording in
routines at www.five.tv/ dontstop or on YouTube. It’s been great to get your messages and we love to hear from you. Please visit our guestbook at www.dalediva.co.uk or visit our Facebook page. We would especially like to hear if anyone has approached your chorus about joining since watching the show. It would be the icing on the cake if we knew we had played some small part in introducing new members to our fantastic hobby. Liz Tomes - PRO www.dalediva.co.uk
Quartet of Nations Regional Newsletter
Singing in Caves and Cathedrals From Lisbon, via Sao Bras to Seville, down to Gibraltar, up past
tour round Lisbon with our Insight Travel tour manager who organised coaches,
then backstage after a Flamenco performance and the next day we were invited by a group of women to join them in a party on their roof-top. They sang in three-part harmony and were bowled over hearing the four-part Barbershop sound. This is a group that Patsy will encourage to join Sweet Adelines. In between all this activity, we had time to soak up the atmosphere, wander round the alleys and take trips on the river. Going south to Gibraltar, we sang in the caves – the resonance was like singing in a mighty cathedral - ‘awesome’ as many of us agreed. On the way up north to Madrid, we stopped in Cordoba
Spinnaker proudly presents: JUST GOES TO SHOW... ...singing songs from Broadway at the New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth on October 16th Featuring the International Medalist quartet from Sweden The RingMasters For details, visit www.spinnakerchorus.co.uk Cordoba to Madrid and hotels, excursions, and Tickets available from Theatre Royal Our Box Office:ending up in Barcelona is New travel timetables. 023 9264 9000but a great tour in itself, first sing-out was in the combined with theatre in the grounds Barbershop it circleof£15 a cork museum, Stallssinging, £15 • Dress • Upper dressnear circle £10 • becomesConcessions an incomparable available Faro. We shared a concert experience. with a newly formed group There were 40 of us who called ‘Bella A Cappella’ – met in Lisbon, coming from probably the first up and the USA, Canada and GB. coming Barbershop group We had our first rehearsal, in Portugal. under the direction of In Seville we sang in the Patsy Meiser, and had a Cathedral Chapter House,
Champagne is 25! This year Champagne Cornwall Chorus has celebrated 25 years.
To do this we held a show at the Keay Theatre on the 2nd of July. We were lucky enough to have The City of Gardens Chorus over from Canada and Mevagissy Male Voice Choir. At the end of the show City of Gardens and Champagne sang Good Ol’ Accapella together, then we invited Mevagissy on
stage to sing an 8 part arrangement of You Raise Me Up. It was lovely to see so many people who share a love for harmony up on stage. Afterwards we held a mini afterglow where more singing went on, where past and present Barbershoppers were singing together in harmony. Lauren Bailey Champagne Cornwall Chorus
2 | HARMONY RAG | autumn 2010
where there is a clash of architectural cultures - a Christian church built inside a mosque. Singing there was a very moving experience. In Madrid, one of the highlights was singing in a ‘Centro Cultural’ concert between two male Barbershop quartets, the Four Tune Tellers and the Investigators. All the singers are Spanish and members of SABS (Spanish Association of Barbershop Singers). The Investigators were going on to compete in the Barbershop Harmony Society International Festival in Philadelphia. I never realised that there is Barbershop in Spain, but this is the kind of
link that Patsy Meiser’s pre-tour research can make. Young women in the audience, when they talked to us afterwards, spoke of their joy at hearing Barbershop and I’m sure this is another connection Patsy will nurture. When I relayed the tales of my travels to some of my chorus, they wondered if we could go on a similar trip. The answer is ‘yes’ – in 2012 Patsy is looking to take a chorus to France. She will make the connections for performances and Insight Travel will co-ordinate coaches and hotels. I’m saving up already – watch this space! www.tropicalharmony.com
Spinnaker proudly presents:
... W O H S TO S E O G y JUST oadwa r B m o r songs f g n i g n ...si
International Medalist Quartet
Ringmasters
Premier A Cappella Group
Vox Concordia
Introducing JaZZmine – ladies Barbershop quartet
New Theatre Royal • Portsmouth October 16th Tickets available from the Box Office 023 9264 9000 Stalls £15 • Dress circle £15 • Upper dress circle £10 Concessions available
For details, visit www.spinnakerchorus.co.uk
Our own Amazing Octogenarian!! Earlier this year members of Spinnaker Chorus joined with her family and friends to help passionate bass, Gladys Pile, celebrate her 80th birthday.
Glad is creative in many areas of her life and produces amazing handmade and embroidered good luck cards to cheer us on in competitions, and makes the most delicious jams that we, of course, make sure we get to sample whenever we can. Although not singing with us at convention she certainly made her presence felt arriving on the day with a beautiful sequined ‘Spinnaker’ banner she proceeded to wave from the 3rd level as we arrived on stage to perform. And despite the distance between the stage and where she was sitting we are fairly certain we could hear her voice cheering us on.
Sadly Glad was unable to be on stage with us at Gateshead recently having fallen down some stairs exiting the stage after a Spinnaker performance, and ending up with her foot and ankle in plaster for 6 weeks. You would have thought that she would have stayed home and rested but no, she attended every rehearsal she could in the lead up to convention, even when it meant having to hobble around with the aid of stick or walking frame.
As far as she is concerned age should never be a barrier to any thing and believes that as long as the voice is up to it, anyone of any age should come and sample the delights of Barbershop singing. Mike Taylor, Spinnaker’s Musical Director said: - “I knew I had been accepted as the director of Spinnaker a month into its existence, when I was presented with a carrier bag full of Glad’s famous homemade jam.” Glad is pictured here enjoying the par ty, and with her special cake. Mary Golden. P.R.O. Spinnaker Chorus.
Art Appreciation Subject :The Warm up Room Artist : Susan Irvine
In studying this piece of art, one is drawn to the care and attention given to hair and make-up by all the participants, despite the lack of space.
Note the use the ladies make of any facilities provided – the chance to freshen up in a quick bath before the performance, or make use of the very convenient … convenience!! Note the resilience shown by all, ignoring the incredible heat of their surroundings while the
door is closed to allow for warming up their voices in the pursuit of excellence. Note the predominance of music notes featured in the picture, signifying that, despite all discomfort, singing is of paramount importance to these ladies. Note the faces showing the strain of claustrophobia and heat exhaustion, all of which are eventually put aside when these stalwart ladies will leave the warmup room to take their places for performance. Now the smile, the animation, the enthusiasm, the wonderful sound of four-part harmony will take over and all the worries of the warm-up room will be forgotten until ... THE NEXT TIME!! (Reflections on a sing-out by the Seattlites, a fundraising group from Forth Valley Chorus, on a hot summer afternoon.) HARMONY RAG | autumn 2010 | 3
Quartet of Nations Regional Newsletter
With thanks and a huge hug to all at the City of Roses Chorus Back in 2003 I joined what I thought was a “small singing group” based in Aberdeen with a view to having a bit of light relief on a Monday night. Ha! Within a couple of years the “light relief” had become a full-on commitment - but I’ve loved every minute of it. The friendship, the music, the laughter and sometimes the tears have made the last 7 years very special.
For those of you who don’t know us, the City of Roses chorus first competed back in 1997, when it won the small chorus award (and beat Lace City)! Since then it has had a chequered history, with numerous changes of Director, resulting in the inevitable downward trend in results. Did we
Jacqui, Tina, Alison and Jane mic warming at the Sage, 2010
despair? No! I am so proud of the fact that this wonderful group of ladies took the brave decision in 2008 to take a year out of competition, regroup and focus entirely on vocal skills. Since then, under the leadership of
Mary Robertson and with fabulous support from our regular coach Mike Warner (topped up with some sparkle and gentle bullying from Glenn Chaney and Elaine Hamilton) we have seen an outstanding improvement in results,
MEN’S BARBERSHOP CHORUS With a commitment to regular competitions and singouts requires an ambitious, enthusiastic
MUSICAL DIRECTOR Club membership of 40+ including many recently recruited singers. Applicants with Barbershop experience preferred. Rehearsals Wednesday evenings in Stockport, Greater Manchester. Informal enquiries by telephone to Martin Kelly, Chairman Stockport BHC (Harmony Revival) 0161 286 6282 or 07817 633685. Formal applications by email to martin@martinkelly.eu by 31 October www.harmonyrevival.co.uk 4 | HARMONY RAG | autumn 2010
achieving our highest score ever in the 2010 competition. You can imagine my sadness, then, when in March 2010 I was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, a terminal condition with no known cure at present. The disease has already affected my speech and it is now difficult to sing. I do not know what the future has in store for me but I wanted to say of huge thank you to all those in the chorus who helped me make it to the May competition, not least my wonderful quartet, Alison, Tina and Jane; to Eddy who rang me every morning to make sure I was up (!); to all those who sent cards, presents, organised a riser chair and took me out for coffees
and run-outs in the car...I could go on. I could not have made it through those first few months without you. A small group of ladies, lead by Irene Mitchell and Patsy Gosling, are organising a cookery demonstration in aid of MND Scotland on 29th September 2010 at Trinity Church, Westhill, Aberdeenshire (contact Jane Kuipers for tickets on 07905258169). Also, in October my brothers will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. If you are able to sponsor them, their respective websites are www.justgiving. com/neilhookway and www.justgiving.com/ Ianhookway. Thank you for your support. Keep on singing! Jacqui Priestley
Regional Faculty The Regional Faculty is our own group of trained coaches and educators. They can help in a variety of ways including chorus and quartet coaching, as well as management and administrative advice. Please feel free to contact them to see what they can do for you. Alternatively if you are unsure who to contact, your Education Coordinator, Elaine Hamilton, can advise you on who would be best for you. Fees and expenses should be agreed with faculty members in advance. Anne Cargill Aberdeen Chorus Aberdeen – 01224 704627 acargill@lochside.fsbusiness.co.uk
Dorothy Main Aberdeen Chorus Aberdeen - 01224 782124 emmandee@tiscali.co.uk
Gwen Topp Aberdeen Chorus Aberdeen – 01224 575366 gmtopp@yahoo.co.uk
Alyson Chaney Lace City Chorus Nottingham – 01636 814377 alysonchaney@yahoo.co.uk
Rebecca Middleton Spinnaker Chorus Fareham – 01329 235549 becks2010@hotmail.com
Michelle Walker Lace City Chorus Nottingham – 0115 965 4524 shelbywalks@yahoo.co.uk
Glenn Chaney Lace City Chorus Nottingham – 07960 112732 glennsings@yahoo.co.uk
Mike Taylor Spinnaker Chorus Southampton – 01489 600134 mike@singwell.me.uk
Elaine Hamilton Forth Valley Chorus Edinburgh – 0131 334 2372 elainemrssh@aol.com
Valerie Taylor Prospective Vocal Dimension Chorus Croydon – 020 8660 8037 Valerie.taylor@privacysolutions.co.uk
Dates for your Diary International Convention 2010, October 19-23, Seattle WA 2011, October 18-22, Houston TX 2012, Oct. 30 - Nov. 3, Denver , CO 2013, Nov. 5-9, Honolulu , HI 2014, Nov. 4-8, Baltimore , MD 2015, Oct. 6-10, Las Vegas , NV 2016, Oct. 11-15, Las Vegas , NV 2017, Oct. 10-14, Las Vegas , NV
IES Events
2010, Nov. 11-13, IES Pacific Rim, Auckland , New Zealand
LABBS Convention
29th October - 31st October 2010 Llandudno
Regional Convention Dates 6th – 8th May 2011 Birmingham
BABS Convention
27th-30th May 2011 Llandudno
Got a Show?
Let us know the details and we will print it here. Swell those audiences free!
Regional Management Team 2009 – May 2010 Chris Bentley - Team Coordinator Forth Valley Chorus Tel: 0131 539 1247 chrisbentley963@hotmail.com Tracey Bailey - Directors’ Coordinator Champagne Cornwall Chorus Tel: 01726 63937 allthebaileys@aol.com Nuala Hobden - Finance Coordinator Spinnaker Chorus Tel: 02392 231569 nualahelen@aol.com Elaine Hamilton - Education Coordinator Forth Valley Chorus Edinburgh – 0131 334 2372 elainemrssh@aol.com
Have you got a story for
Harmony Rag?
DEADLINE for the next issue 26th November 2010
Contact the Editor: Rose Paxman 21/5 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1DN Tel: 07891 269212 Email: rosesings@gmail.com
Petrina Bache - Events Coordinator Phoenix Tel: 07772 932432 trinabache@btinternet.com Deborah Lamble - Membership Coordinator Spinnaker Chorus Tel: 01202 487287 deborah@lamble.plus.com Jean Graham - Communications Coordinator Mayflowers Plymouth Tel: 01752 783724 jean.graham2006@btinternet.com Emma Duguid - Marketing Coordinator Prospective Vocal Dimension Tel: 07815 114476 duguidemma@gmail.com
HARMONY RAG | autumn 2010 | 5