Direct all correspondence, editorial copy and photographs to communications@sweetadelines.com.
Deadlines are 60 days prior to publication. Not all submissions will be published.
Regional competitions are in full swing, and already we’re looking forward to an exciting milestone. This October, we’ll gather in Columbus, Ohio, to celebrate 80 years of Sweet Adelines International! In this edition of The Pitch Pipe, you’ll discover fun facts about this vibrant city. You’ll want to arrive early to take part in the educational offerings on Monday and Tuesday. From small group tabletop discussions and panel conversations to singing with queens, there’s something for everyone. Don’t forget to get your “passport” stamped for a chance to win some fantastic prizes!
I have a refrigerator magnet that has been on my desk for years. The word "harmony" stands out boldly, with its definitions layered in the background: "agreement in feeling or opinion, accord; a pleasing combination of elements in a whole; combination of sounds considered to be pleasing to the ear." Interestingly, the musical definition is listed last. For us as singers, that meaning is often at the forefront. But harmony is more than pleasing music.
Visual harmony, for example, is described as achieving a balance of unity and variety. Doesn’t that sound like Sweet Adelines? Variety comes from the uniqueness of each member. We have different viewpoints, interests, and life experiences. Unity is what happens when we come together to rehearse and perform. Sweet Adelines come from all walks of life, representing diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives. Yet, when we unite our voices, those differences create a vibrant palette, forming a work of art.
Our voices don’t just blend — they complement each other, working together to create something greater than any one voice alone. Together, we make chords ring and overtones soar, reminding us that harmony requires connection. After all, we can’t sing harmony alone — unless you’re Ophelia, Morticia’s sister from The Addams Family!:
In a world that can sometimes pull people apart, we find unity when we sing. Through our music, we discover common ground, build friendships, and create music that leaves a lasting impact far beyond the stage. As we prepare to gather in Columbus, let’s celebrate not just the music we create, but the harmony we embody. Sweet Adelines is more than an organization; it’s a testament to what happens when diverse voices join as one. Whether on stage or off, our unity is a powerful reminder that harmony isn’t just heard — it’s the result of open minds and open hearts.
See you in Columbus for a week of learning, singing, and celebrating the beautiful harmony we create together!
In harmony,
Mary Rhea
"Through our music, we discover common ground, build friendships, and create music that leaves a lasting impact far beyond the stage."
“Harmony and Friendship”
Remembering donor Anita Evermann-Gibbs
Anita Evermann-Gibbs’ obituary describes her as a “social butterfly” who “was most passionate about music.” That description echoes the many memories and tributes shared on social media from the singers who knew and loved her. Sweet Adelines International is honored that Anita shared her beautiful tenor voice and joyful friendship with our organization for 53 years.
She also shared a wonderful estate gift that helps ensure the future of the music and organization that she loved so much. As a long-time member, Anita saw the changing needs of Sweet Adelines. She directed her gift to the Greatest Need Fund, which means it can support Sweet Adelines now and in the future, in whatever ways best serve our members.
Anita generously shared her talent and energy out of love – and throughout her life, she always found Sweet Adelines to sing with wherever she went.
“I believe Anita was dedicated to Sweet Adelines because she truly loved the harmony and friendships,” Judy says. “She moved several times, and any move would necessitate finding a chorus that she could continue with. When attending the international convention all those years, she would reacquaint herself with friends from previous choruses. Through the years, I experienced that with Anita, no matter how far away. She liked everyone, and everyone remembered and liked her.”
Judy Kaeser was there in 1968 on the night of Anita’s first-ever Sweet Adelines rehearsal with the Iowa-Coral Belles Chorus. (The chorus was later renamed Iowa City Chorus and is now Metro Mix Chorus.)
“Anita was always a very social person, welcoming to everyone,” Judy recalls. “She volunteered readily when mixer quartets or practice quartets were put together, even at a very early stage. She was not shy about singing in front of others, and justly so, as she had a beautiful tenor voice. We became immediate friends because our tenor section was quite small, and we had a common workplace, the University of Iowa. Anita was a great performer, whether in a quartet or chorus. She was always expressing and selling the performance. She was a smart singer.”
Over the course of her career, Anita sang tenor in nine choruses and several quartets, including Funesse, Note 4 Note, and Savoir Flaire. In addition to performing, she also sewed costumes, taught tags, and volunteered for several jobs within her chorus and region.
As a long-time friend and chorus-mate, Judy says Anita’s musical legacy is far-reaching and deep.
“Anita truly loved our four-part harmony barbershop-style singing,” she says. “I will always remember her as ‘the Tag Queen.’ Whether at a regional music school, pre- or post-rehearsal, or parties, Anita had a load of tags to teach everyone in the group. She was so good at making people use their ears in ringing those chords. We spent every late Saturday night contest weekend singing tags, line-singing, and laughing. Anita is missed.”
Her voice may be a memory, but the many singers she taught, influenced, and inspired will carry it into the future. Anita’s estate gift helps ensure that Sweet Adelines International can provide singers the musical experience that brought her so much joy.
If you would like to include Sweet Adelines International in your estate planning, please contact Susan Smith, Chief Philanthropy and Administrative Officer at susan@sweetadelines.com.
From Our CEO
Hello, Sweet Adelines!
As I write this letter, we are heading into an exciting regional competition season – and looking forward to our Rising Star and Diamond Division Quartet Contests in Tulsa, Oklahoma in August (page #)! I’m always amazed at the grace, dedication, and sheer hard work our members put into each competition and performance. The results are dazzling!
The rehearsals, retreats, coaching sessions, vocal training, and other musical endeavors culminate in magical harmonies and memorable experiences. Music is at the heart of our organization, but to keep the music strong, our chapters and quartets have to keep members strong –creatively and personally fulfilled, inspired and motivated to stay active, on and off the risers.
To that end, the International Board of Directors approved THRIVE (To Help Regions Increase Vibrant Engagement), a pilot program that runs from May 1, 2025-April 30, 2026 to support regions with financial resources targeted to the needs of their chapters. The main goal of THRIVE is to provide regions with a lump sum of money (allocated based on the number of chapters in the region) which they can use to provide education specific to their choruses’ needs beyond music, such as chorus culture, leadership, administration, and more. At the end of the program, chapters will provide reports and feedback.
Members were sent an email this week about THRIVE and regional leaders will begin working with chapters on how to steward the funds for their greatest needs. We’ve been so impressed by the thought, effort, and creativity you’ve put into the Ignite the Sound and Mission: Retention initiatives, and we look forward to seeing how you interpret and enact the opportunities available through THRIVE!
Another aspect of THRIVE is a resource library where newlycreated documents and videos are collected alongside resources from previous membership programs and the Retention Handbook. These resources are organized by subject matter for ease of use and can be accessed by any Sweet Adeline by logging into the Sweet Adelines International website and visiting the THRIVE page.
As always, thank you for the incredible good work you do in your communities, both on and off stage. For our regional, Rising Star, and Diamond Division competitors – break a lash! We look forward to seeing everyone onstage, in education classes, in the audience, and in the hallways this October at our International Convention in Columbus, Ohio. We will do everything we can to help our members THRIVE!
In harmony,
Tammy Talbot
To Help Regions Increase Vibrant Engagement
Welcome Returning IBOD Members
The Sweet Adelines International website defines the International Board of Directors (IBOD) as “the governing and decisionmaking body of the organization [with] the authority to spearhead all actions necessary to fulfill its purpose.” From strategic planning and program development to making decisions that affect all Sweet Adelines and outline our future, the IBOD members bring a wealth of experience to the organization.
The election to select members to serve on the International Board of Directors concluded Wednesday, December 4, and following the election, the IBOD appointed one additional member. The following members were elected to a three-year term that runs May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2028 and will serve along with the continuing members of the Board:
Elected to a three-year term beginning May 1, 2025
Thérèse Antonini, North Metro Chorus, # 16
Jenny Harris, The Annapolis Blend Chorus and Harbor City Music Company Chorus, #19
Valerie Taylor, Vocal Dimension Chorus, # 31
Appointed to a one-year term beginning May 1, 2025
Jean Schoenlank, Harmony Celebration Chorus, #15
Learn more about Jean on page 10 of this issue.
Thérèse Antonini is a 31-year member of Sweet Adelines International and sings with 2025 International Champion North Metro Chorus (#16). She has served in many leadership roles in the organization, including as international president (2022-2024). In her nomination questionnaire, she wrote, “I envision an organization that attracts vibrant, talented members because we are seen as a pivotal force in the lives of our members and our communities around the globe. An organization where we are welcomed, encouraged to grow, and celebrated as our authentic selves.”
Learn more about Thérèse in her series of international president’s letters in the 2022-2023 issues of The Pitch Pipe.
Jenny Harris is the director of The Annapolis Blend and a member of Harbor City Music Company Choruses (both #19). She also sings bass for 2018 Sweet Adelines International Champion Quartet, Lustre. A 22-year member of the organization, she has served on the IBOD since 2019, including as secretary (2022-2024) and Task Force Specialist and Resource (2020-present). She writes, “I’m eager to continue bringing fresh perspectives and ideas to the table related to social and cultural change and growth for the organization. I hope to continue bringing my skills to bear on our organization’s challenges, especially those unique to small chapters around the world.”
Learn more about Jenny in her profile article on page 11 of the April 2022 issue of The Pitch Pipe.
Valerie Taylor is a 28-year member of Sweet Adelines International and Master Director of Vocal Dimension Chorus (#31). She has served on the IBOD as international treasurer and Education Direction Committee member, among other roles. She is a Certified Sound Judge and Panel Chair and is a member of the Education Direction Committee. She writes, “As a current Board member, I have a lot more to give to this organization that I feel so passionately about. I have a breadth of experience as a director, singer, coach, sound judge – and lawyer – that brings a unique perspective. I seek to work collaboratively to achieve shared goals.”
Learn more about Valerie from her profile article on page 8 in the April 2022 issue of The Pitch Pipe.
I“My opportunity to say yes”
Introducing New IBOD Member Jean Schoenlank
n 1986, Jean Schoenlank had recently graduated from college. Her best friend’s mother, Sally Novak, invited her to visit her Sweet Adelines chorus. Jean sang with Sally’s daughter in high school and continued to sing throughout college. Jean’s mother had recently passed away, so Sally also knew she could use the extra love.
Sally’s chorus was the celebrated Ramapo Valley Chorus, directed by Renee Craig.
“I joined in the summer, and we won the international championship that fall in Philadelphia!” Jean says. “After we won, we all got on a bus and were taken to an afterglow. I remember going into this big open atrium lobby and Renee was sitting there with the trophy and an arm full of roses. She was like a queen, and people were approaching her as if she was. I remember thinking, ‘She's probably pretty important in this organization!’ I was just blessed from the moment I joined to be singing for this icon and to win a gold medal within months of joining. It's just been an incredible journey ever since. I was very young when I joined, and in many ways I became who I am –and I say this without any exaggeration – because of Sweet Adelines. It’s given me so many opportunities to grow as a person and as a leader, which I then used in my professional life.”
school principal in 2021. Today, she shares her experience with the next generation of educators as an adjunct professor at William Paterson University.
“For a long time, I didn't have the capacity to serve Sweet Adelines beyond the chorus level because I was a very dedicated educator and principal, but I was always a leader within my chorus. Toward the end of my time as a principal, the former Region 15 education coordinator, Harriette Walters, asked if I wanted to be the education coordinator. I had just been to International, and someone who had gotten an award spoke about what Sweet Adelines had meant to them. They said this is such an important organization and if somebody asks you to serve, you should say yes. That really stuck with me, so shortly after that, when Harriette asked me to consider being education coordinator, I thought, ‘This could be my opportunity to say yes.’”
Since that “yes,” she has also served on the Regional Leadership Committee (RLC) and the international nominating committee, encouraged by Sweet Adelines who believed in her. Now, Jean has been appointed to the IBOD for a one-year term beginning May 1, 2025. She brings lessons from her career in education to her new position.
When Renee retired, Ramapo Valley Chorus retired their name in her honor. Today, they are Harmony Celebration Chorus – and Jean still sings lead with them. Harmony Celebration is performing for evaluation only at the Region 15 contest and will compete on the international stage this year in Columbus. Also this year, Jean’s quartet, Just 4 (Kicks) celebrates its 25th anniversary, on the heels of their fourth-place finish at the 2024 Diamond Division Quartet Contest. Just 4 (Kicks), the 2018 Region 15 Champion Quartet, will compete again in Region 15 this year.
Jean graduated from three prestigious universities: Bucknell (bachelor’s in education), Harvard (master’s in curriculum and learning environments), and Seton Hall (doctorate in educational leadership). She taught for many years and retired as an elementary
“Leadership is very much about establishing trust and positive relationships with the people with whom you're working, and that's been a huge lesson to me in my career as an educator – that there's value in every person you encounter and you have to show respect for them,” Jean says. “As I've matured and grown as a person and as a leader, I’ve learned to see the value in what everybody has to say, even if I don't always agree with it. That's been an incredible journey for me to learn not to have knee-jerk reactions but to sit back and listen and try to understand where people come from.”
She says humor and joy are also important.
“As an educator and administrator, I found that laughing and finding humor in everyday life helps a lot,” she says. “You can always look for and find a little bit of humor and an opportunity to enjoy the moment.”
The Song Assessment Tool
A Guide for Arrangers and Singers
The Song Assessment Tool (SAT) is an element in achieving our organization’s Guiding Principles of Diversity & Inclusion and Culture of Belonging. It provides choruses and quartets with a tool to learn about the songs they are singing and consider inclusion aspects when selecting their repertoire. It is also an official evaluation method of a song's appropriateness for public performance by groups or individuals representing Sweet Adelines.
The SAT is not just for singers. Arrangers should be aware of the SAT process as well. Why? Because every song performed by our choruses and quartets begins with an arranger who creates a work of four-part harmony, barbershop style. Arrangers have a special responsibility to make well-informed choices about which songs to arrange.
Any song or arrangement performed by Sweet Adelines ensembles in any venue must be listed as admissible in the Song Evaluation Database (SED), which is available in the members-only area of the Sweet Adelines International website. The SAT form can be submitted by an arranger or by an ensemble.
When is an admissibility request required?
• When your song (single song or component of a medley) is not listed in the SED
• When your particular arrangement is not listed
• When your song is a parody
Find
the
SAT/SED
on the Sweet Adelines website under Resources.
Log in to the Sweet Adelines International website. Questions about the assessment process can be sent to songassessment@sweetadelines.com
The SAT contains links to online research sources that have been useful both for ensembles and for the SAT review teams. Arrangers should take advantage of these resources when researching the history of songs they are arranging. Arrangers should be especially attentive to sheet music. The older a song is, the more important it is to find the original publisher’s sheet music – what was published at the time the song was first released. It's important because music from the Tin Pan Alley era sometimes contains lyrics which we would consider racist today.
Arrangers have a special responsibility to make well-informed choices about which songs to arrange.
Over time, as sensibilities changed, original lyrics could be changed, either by a songwriter, a publisher, or a cover artist. Today, music publishers such as Hal Leonard publish compilations of wellknown songs from various decades. The lyrics in those compilations may not be what the composer originally wrote. Many historic sheet music collections can be found on the internet, along with historical performances of songs. Searching original sheet music can be tricky because music to songs still under copyright won’t be viewable online. YouTube, with its wealth of historic performances, can be helpful in these instances.
The SAT gives extensive information on the submission process. Depending on the volume of submissions received, it may take
some time for a submission to be assigned to a Work Group Team, and two to four weeks after assignment to review and assess. For this reason, it’s important to allow a minimum of six weeks for the assessment process. Each assigned song is reviewed by all members of a Work Group Team. If consensus is not reached, or if the team recommends “NO” or “Qualified YES,” the team leads will discuss the submission. If further discussion is required, the decision is made by the SAT Subcommittee. Currently, admissibility is based solely on racially problematic lyrics, messages, or history.
It's important to note that the SAT process addresses admissibility for performance from a specific Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) perspective – does the song have racially unacceptable lyrics, messages, or history? It does not address the question of whether a song is contestable. A contestable song meets the musical criteria outlined in the Judging Category Description Book (JCDB) for an acceptable barbershop song. Song assessment and contestability are two entirely different things; the SAT process only addresses the issue of racially problematic lyrics and messages. A listing in the SED does not guarantee that the song is a strong contest vehicle. Members should consult an experienced arranger or music judge if they have questions about contestability.
All members are encouraged to be familiar with the song assessment resources found on the Sweet Adelines International website. Arrangers especially are encouraged to learn about the SAT and participate in the song assessment process by submitting arrangements for evaluation.
Carole Prietto (Chapter-at-Large #14) has been a barbershop singer since 1991 and an arranger since 1999. Her arrangements can be found at www.caroleprietto.com.
Celebrating Our Progress and Looking Ahead
A letter from the Mission: Retention Committee
Hello, Sweet Adelines!
We're thrilled to touch base with you all as we mark eight incredible months since the launch of Mission: Retention. What a journey it has been! Your enthusiasm and dedication have truly brought this initiative to life, and we couldn't be more excited about the positive changes we're seeing across our organization.
The heart of Mission: Retention is creating an environment where every member feels valued, included, and excited to be part of our harmonious community. And wow, have you all embraced this challenge with open arms and beautiful voices!
We've been absolutely blown away by the creative ways chapters have adapted the Mission: Retention Playbook to fit their unique cultures. From buddy systems pairing new and experienced members to skills workshops, online programs for remote members and so much more! We're hearing stories of deeper connections, renewed enthusiasm, and a stronger sense of belonging throughout our Sweet Adelines community, and your innovative approaches are making a real difference!
As we look to the future, we're filled with optimism and excitement! The diverse voices and experiences within our organization are our greatest strength, creating the rich harmony that defines us. Our goal is to continue nurturing an atmosphere where each voice is not just heard but celebrated.
We want to challenge each of you to keep this momentum going. What new ideas can you bring to your chapters? How can we make every Sweet Adeline feel like an irreplaceable part of our musical family? Let's set ambitious goals for the next phase of our retention journey and work together to achieve them.
Remember, every small action you take to make a fellow member feel valued and included contributes to the bigger picture. Whether it's a warm welcome, a helping hand with a tricky part, or simply sharing a laugh together, these moments build the strong, lasting community we all cherish.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to Sweet Adelines International. Your passion and dedication are the heartbeat of our organization. Here's to many more years of beautiful harmonies, lasting friendships, and the joy of singing together!
With heartfelt appreciation and excitement for the future.
Your Membership Retention Committee,
Mary Teed, Chair
Melynnie Williams
Molly Huffman
Annika Christensen
HarmonyRoundup Harmony Roundup is
Let us know what your chorus or quartet has been doing in your community. Email your submissions and photos to communications@sweetadelines.com.
Harmony Chorus (#35) Director Sarah Rae was listed on the 2025 New Years Honours List as a Member of The New Zealand Order of Merit. This honour acknowledges the rendering of "meritorious service to the Crown and nation" by those "who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits". Sarah was recognised for her comprehensive and longstanding contributions to the arts in
basketball game.
Sound Wave (#13) sang the U.S. national anthem at a College of Idaho men’s
Canadian Showtime Chorus (#16) sang the Canadian national anthem at the first session of Ottawa City Council for 2025.
Fandango Quartet (#26) met – and sang with! – singers Elvis Costello and Diana Krall, who stopped to listen to Fandango as they performed at a rainy Bright Nights event at Stanley Park in Vancouver, B.C. (CAN).
Foveaux
Murihiku.
Onondaga County Executive J. Ryan McMahon proclaimed December 15, 2024 Spirit of Syracuse Recognition Day in honor of Spirit of Syracuse Chorus (#15).
Harmony Fusion Chorus (#12) members donated new pajamas and books for the Bay Area chapter of Pajama Program, a nonprofit organization that promotes equitable access to healthy sleep so all children can thrive. The program provides new pajamas and storybooks to children facing adversities including low family income, housing insecurity, and family instability.
Redland Rhapsody Chorus (#34) Director Louise Brannon received a 2025 Australia Day Cultural Award from the Redland City Council.
HarmonyRoundup
On November 11, 1974, twenty-two women who loved to sing chartered the Platinum Coast Chorus of Sweet Adelines International. The name “Platinum” was chosen to represent the silvery-white sands of the coastal beaches that border the city of Melbourne, Florida (USA) and its surrounding towns. This small but mighty chorus has stood the test of time for fifty years and continues to thrive today. In 2015 our name changed to Platinum Show Chorus (#9). We expanded our singing expertise and earned a few awards at regional competitions. Since 2015, we have won a total of four medals and have received “most improved chorus” twice. Director Elaine Haugen has been a member of Sweet Adelines since 1977 and a director for six years. This year, as we celebrate 50 years as a chapter, we prepared an anniversary performance that showcased songs through the decades. – Teresa Zimmerman, Platinum Show Chorus
Delmarva Chorus (#19) is the subject of a documentary, A Cappella Joy, by New York City filmmaker Candice Spielman. The film was featured at the Ocean City Film Festival in Ocean City, New Jersey in March. Spielman grew up with Sweet Adelines and Delmarva Chorus because her mother, Sandie Palmisano and her mother’s best friend, Janette Latzo, are members. Over the course of filming hundreds of hours of footage for the documentary, Candice was inspired to start singing barbershop as well. Now, she is a proud member of Delmarva Chorus!
The Pacific Empire Chorus (#12) turned our director's dream into a reality by purchasing a billboard to market our chorus! The eye-catching advertisement not only highlights the joy and artistry of our chorus but also spreads the word about our upcoming annual Crab Feed. The billboard will grace the community for a full month, and we're optimistic it will draw in new guests to experience the magic of Pacific Empire Chorus while boosting ticket sales for our popular event. Shown beneath the billboard are members of the Pacific Empire Chorus under the direction of Patty Pennycook. – Kathy Hebert, team coordinator, Pacific Empire Chorus
"This organization is going to keep thriving"
A
talk with donor Vickie Maybury
Vickie Maybury has been a Sweet Adeline since she was 16 years old. In that time, she’s become a quartet singer (regional champions Brilliante and Radiance), a chorus director (Master 700, Skyline Chorus), a judge and judge specialist (Expression Category), a member of the International Board of Directors (since 2020), and much more. What she’s given and continues to give to Sweet Adelines International is vast and invaluable – but after all this time, she still gets excited to list what she loves about the organization.
“I think number one, I love the challenge of singing the art form,” she says. “I've sung a variety of styles of music, and I love making harmony. I feel that it provides connection, and I think people need and thrive on connection. We've become very isolated since COVID, but Sweet Adelines provides an outlet, especially for women. I like that we empower women. I feel very strongly about that. I like seeing women being successful and trying new things. I like helping people find their voices and continue to learn and grow no matter what age. I like the sense of community. I like the fact that I'm always constantly learning. Sweet Adelines International is such a highly educated organization. And I love the judging program. I think it's one of the finest things that we offer. I'm very proud to be a member of this organization.”
petitor that comes on the stage because competing puts you in a vulnerable situation, and it creates confidence. I have great respect and admiration for our competitors.”
One of the ways donor contributions help is by funding educational events like the upcoming Judge Training in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“Since COVID, we've put out new judging criteria, but we haven't been able to have an educational session in person around it, and I think this training is going to be extremely helpful,” she says. “We’ve done a lot online, but there's a shared synergistic thing that happens when you're together in the same room, and I'm really looking forward to that.”
She hopes to see the judging program continue to grow.
“The judging program is really important, and it's important that we keep it vital and start bringing in younger people,” she says. “I'm incredibly proud that my daughter [Becky Maybury, Last Call Quartet] is now a judge and working her way to becoming certified. She's young, so that's encouraging. That tells me this organization is going to keep thriving, and I want it to thrive.”
Vickie wants to remind everyone that even a small donation can help keep Sweet Adelines International strong.
Vickie is glad to support an organization she believes in, whose positive effects she has experienced and witnessed over and over.
“Sweet Adelines International has done so much for me that I feel like it's important to give back,” she says. “I volunteer to do a lot of work in the organization, but I also feel it's important to help keep the organization going financially, since I can do that. I especially love that I can donate towards specific areas.”
One area Vickie donates to is the judging program.
“As a judge, it makes me smile every time I get to watch performances,” she says. “I have such an appreciation for every com-
“There are lots of ways you can give,” she says. “Sometimes it may feel like you’re not able to give much, but even if you invest a small amount, it's just fine. There are a lot of us. It all adds up.”
If you would like to make a gift to support one of Sweet Adelines priorities such as Judge Education, please contact Susan Smith, Chief Philanthropy and Administrative Officer at susan@sweetadelines.com
Third of a three-part series on singing non-barbershop a cappella music
A Cappella… Get Ready!
A cappella outside the box
In the last two articles of this series, we talked about some specific singing skills needed to sing pop or other styles of a cappella music as authentically as possible. To wrap up this series, we’ll talk about some other aspects of preparing non-barbershop a cappella performances.
Sing…Sing a Song
First, when selecting a song, be mindful of the strengths and gaps of your specific ensemble. As with your barbershop music, select the right a cappella song and arrangement to put your group into a sweet spot. Choosing something outside the ensemble’s current skill set can be a way to stretch and develop those skills, but it could also be so frustrating that it sets the ensemble back. Next, decide if you want to stay true to the original artist’s sound or if you want to reinterpret the song to make it your own. For a great example of the latter, listen to our 2025 International Champion Quartet, Clever Girl, singing In Your Eyes (arr. Larry Wright) as their contest ballad in the 2024 Quartet Semi-Finals in Kansas City. This song was originally made popular in the 1980’s by pop/R&B singer James Ingram. The way Clever Girl sings it is completely different. It is a beautiful reinterpretation of the song and its message.
Special note: Be careful not to mimic linguistic accents or dialects in a way that becomes cultural appropriation or mockery. An excellent example of sensitive interpretation can be heard in the 2023 International Champion Rich-Tone Chorus performance of Joy, a song written and performed by pop artist Andy Grammer. Their International Chorus Finals performance in Phoenix in 2022 was true to the original artist’s version, blending pop and gospel styles in an authentic and exciting performance.
If you choose to stay true to the original artist, it’s smart to spend some quality time studying the original recording in depth. Listen to the vocal style used, the tone, inflection, word delivery, use of consonants and vowels. Understand and learn the rhythmic patterns in the song, especially if the artist improvises away from the written music. Decide how much of that style you want to emulate, and develop an embellishments, techniques, and skills plan to apply to the song.
After devising the song’s plan, the ensemble’s director and musical leaders can teach the singers the specifics of the plan. You may find it beneficial to have custom learning tracks made to make it easier for your members to learn your ensemble’s specific plan. In a quartet, coaches and advisors can assist the quartet in exploring and discovering the song’s stylistic plan.
Don’t know much about history? Use the SAT!
An important key to an authentic performance is understanding the history of the song. Who wrote it, when, and why? What was the cultural environment at the time? What did the original artist intend to convey with the song? What is their background, style, personality, reputation? What are they known for? How would the answers to these questions help you perform the song in a more authentic way?
The Sweet Adelines International Song Assessment Tool (SAT) was designed to help answer these questions and more! You may be able to start by reading previous research on the song in the Song Assessment Database (SED). If the song is not in the SED, a thorough song review using the prompting questions in the SAT
will give you a lot of the information you need to understand the background and meaning of the song you’re performing. Be sure to convey the information you discover to all the members of the ensemble, to unify the connection to the song. (And, of course, post your findings for SAT review early so the song can be assessed in time for your performance!)
A Whole New World…
One Voice Indy chorus in Indianapolis, Indiana (USA), Region #4 regularly performs songs from other a cappella genres in their community, at Sweet Adelines regional conventions in the Open Division, and at private and corporate events in their area. Director Molly Huffman notes that singing songs from pop, rock, or musical theater styles requires a different kind of mindset.
When she rolls out a new song, she gives the chorus what she calls a “total immersion” into the style. They listen to the original artist, study the song’s history, and spend up to a year really digging into the elements of the style needed to perform the song authentically. Some of the songs One Voice Indy has performed include: Hamilton (from the hit Broadway show), Bohemian Rhapsody (by Queen), Uptown Funk (by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars), and Trashing the Camp (from Disney’s Tarzan movie). Each of these selections requires a different mindset, and a different level of physical, vocal, and emotional energy, resulting in a different approach for each.
More dedicated and boundless energy, more breath, and more physical involvement are needed to perform some pop songs well. Rehearsing them presents different challenges from the barbershop repertoire. For example, a particular pop song might benefit from “sliding into the notes” like a pop singer. The trick, then, is to be very precise to get everyone unified in singing those slides and scoops, but then make it sound natural and easy.
Paula’s advice is to have fun with it, play around, and discover new ways of singing. Don’t be afraid to experiment, and keep the joy in the process of learning and growing into these new styles of music, she says. Song of Seattle has had a lot of fun singing songs as diverse as Unwritten (by Natasha Bedingfield), and Rhythm of Life (by Sammy Davis, Jr. from the movie Sweet Charity).
Paula Davis, director of Song of Seattle Chorus in Seattle, Washington (USA), Region #13, agrees with that approach. To reach people who really know a particular pop or rock song, the ensemble has to perform it with much more intention to adhere to the song’s style, she says.
Branching out into other styles of a cappella music can be an exciting venture for your ensemble. When you add these genres to your repertoire, you’ll bring new skills to the ensemble and more variety to your performances. Have fun exploring the many possibilities in the world of a cappella music!
Jenny Harris sings bass with 2018 International Champion Quartet Lustre and directs The Annapolis Blend Chorus (#19). She is a member of Harbor City Music Company Chorus (#19) and serves on the Sweet Adelines International Board of Directors.
Get Ready to cheer, to learn, To Ring Chords
learn, to sing... Chords in ColumbuS!
Race to town early for
education & prizes!
Tabletops and Tag-Outs!
On Monday, Oct. 20, start your day with warm-ups: vocal with Anne Downton and physical with Renée Porzel!
After warm-ups, grab your “passport” and participate in two session of lively Tabletop Discussions. For each 20-minute table discussion you visit, you’ll receive a “stamp” that will enter you in drawings for prizes from Sweet Adelines International goodie bags to virtual coaching sessions, AEPs for next year’s convention, and more!
Stamps are your passport to entry for great prizes!
Eight Stamps • Grand Prize: One All Events Pass (AEP) & VIP seat to the 2026 International convention.
Seven Stamps • One of two VIP seats to the 2025 International Convention.
Six Stamp • One of three future virtual coaching sessions.
Five Stamp • One of four goodie bags from Sweet Adelines International Sales.
Monday • Tabletop Discussions
Breathing
• Bec Hewitt and Patty Cobb Baker
Vowels • Kim Vaughn and Karen Breidert
Vocal Characterization • Peggy Gram and Joan Boutilier
Visual Characterization • Di Porsch and Renée Porzel
Performance Anxiety and Prep • Debra Lynn and Ryan Heller
Being a Responsible Ensemble Member • Kim Wonders and Glenda Lloyd
Vocal Health • Caitlin Castelino and Jamy Claire Archer
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) • members of the DEI Council
In between Tabletop Discussion sessions, sing Sweet Adelines International organizational songs in “Tag-Out” sessions with 2024 International Champion Quartet Lady A Cappella and 2014 International Champion Quartet LoveNotes!
Learn Sweet Adelines International organizational songs so you’ll be ready to sing with Queens! Visit www.sweetadelines.com/organizational-songs to find sheet music and learning tracks.
Tuesday • Panel Discussions
Recruitment and Retention
Sharon Cartwright, Becki Hine, and a representative from the DEI Council
Chorus Culture
Anne Downton, Kim Wonders, and a representative from the DEI Council
DEI Topic
Representatives from the DEI Council
Columbus, Ohio
is a friendly, energetic city, a great place to welcome Sweet Adelines for two years of international competition! So let’s learn more about the fun we’re going to have in “The Biggest Small Town in America.”
Fun Facts About Ohio
Nickname: The Buckeye State
State bird: Cardinal
State animal: White-tailed deer
State frog: American bullfrog
State insect: Ladybug
State beverage: Tomato juice
State rock song: Hang On, Sloopy
What’s a buckeye?
The Ohio buckeye is a species of tree that produces a chestnut which is also called a “buckeye.” Technically, you can eat buckeyes, but they require so much preparation that most people don’t. However, Ohio has a popular candy made of chocolate and peanut butter formed to look like a buckeye, and you can definitely eat those!
Famous Musicians From Columbus
Dwight Yoakam, Country singer
Bizzy Bone of rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Howard Jones, vocalist of metalcore band Killswitch Engage
Bobby Hendricks of 1950s pop group The Drifters
Harry “Sweets” Edison, jazz trumpeter with Count Basie Orchestra
Brent Harding, bassist of punk band Social Distortion
To learn more about the local music scene, visit the Columbus Local podcast. For music, arts, and other events, visit the Columbus Underground online calendar.
Columbus is known as one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly cities in the United States. It was one of the first U.S. cities to pass a non-discrimination law protecting gay rights (in January 1974). Since 1982, the city has hosted the Midwest's largest Pride festival, and the Stonewall Columbus Community Center in the Short North Arts District offers a welcoming space, support, and community services for LGBTQ+ locals and visitors, along with a robust slate of activities and events.
Columbus = College Town
In the United States, Columbus, Ohio is currently in the spotlight as home of the reigning college (American) football champion, the Ohio State University Buckeyes – and their impressive marching band, “The Best Damn Band in the Land.” (Take a look at this clip to see how they got that nickname!)
Being a college town, Columbus is full of all the things that come with university students: bookstores, coffeeshops, bars, and an active nightlife.
Downtown Columbus: Indoors and Outdoor
Downtown Columbus offers restaurants, bars, the Columbus Museum of Art and the Columbus Cultural Center, which hosts exhibitions in its galleries. While we are in Columbus, the cultural center’s main gallery will feature Empowering the Presence of Kuumba, a group show of African American textile artists of Ohio. Along with many other restaurants, cafes, and bars, downtown also includes North Market, a food hall with a variety of options for every taste and a farmer’s market.
Fans of the outdoors: The Scioto Mile is for you! Located in the heart of downtown Columbus, the Scioto Mile is an interconnected system of parks, boulevards, bikeways, and pedestrian paths and parks stretching along the waterfront of the Scioto River.
ORDER OF APPEARANCE
2025 INTERNATIONAL HARMONY CLASSIC CHORUS COMPETITION
Division A
1. Wichita Chorus • Region #25
2. Milltown Sound Chorus • Region #31
3. Capital City Chorus• Region #4
4. Fox Valley Chorus • Region #6
5. Crescent City Sound Chorus • Region #10
1. Region #11
2. Wildcard 1
3. Wildcard 6
4. Region #4
5. Wildcard 3
6. Region #16
7. Wildcard 5
8. Region #10
9. Gusto!
10. Tenacious
11. Region #2
12. Skylark
Division AA
1. Greater Cleveland Chorus • Region #17
2. Redland Rhapsody Chorus •Region #34
3. Gateway Chorus • Region #26
4. Alaska Sound Celebration Chorus • Region #13
5. London Chorus • Region #2 (Withdrawn)
2025 INTERNATIONAL QUARTET COMPETITION
13. Lucille
14. Region #35
15. First Class
16. Wildcard 4
17. Region #21
18. Wildcard 10
19. Region #9
20. Region #6
21. PrimeTime
22. Region #31
23. Region #15
24. Region #32
25. Region #34
26. Region #26
27. Wildcard 9
28. Wildcard 2
29. Alchemy
30. Dynasty
31. Presto!
32. Wildcard 8
33. Region #9
34. Region #5
35. Region #12
36. Sirens
37. Region #3
38. Region #8
39. All Fired Up!
40. Region #25
41. Wildcard 7
42. Region #14
43. Region #13
44. Region #17
45. VOCE
46. Last Call
47. Region #1
48. Radiant
2025 INTERNATIONAL CHORUS COMPETITION
1. Choral-Aires Chorus • Region #3
2. Twin Cities Show Chorus • Region #6
3. Shoreline Sound Chorus • Region #2
4. Spirit of Spokane Chorus • Region #13
5. Harbor City Music Company Chorus • Region #19
6. Toast of Tampa Chorus • Region #9
7. Forth Valley Chorus • Region #31
8. Diablo Vista Chorus • Region #12
9. Buffalo Gateway Chorus • Region #17
10. Scottsdale Chorus • Region #21
11. Rich-Tone Chorus • Region #25
12. Pearls of the Sound Chorus • Region #32
13. Bella Voce Chorus • Region #8
14. OK City Chorus • Region #25
15. Jet Cities Chorus • Region #13
16. Harmony on the Sound Chorus • Region #1
17. Greater Kingston Chorus • Region #16
18. Greater Nassau Chorus • Region #15
19. Harmony Celebration Chorus • Region #15
20. Metro Mix Chorus • Region #5
21. Alamo Metro Chorus • Region #10
22. Circular Keys Chorus • Region #34
23. Verdugo Hills Chorus • Region #11
24. Queen Charlotte Chorus • Region #14
25. Houston Horizon Chorus • Region #10
26. OC Sound Chorus • Region #21
27. Circle of Harmony Chorus • Region #16 (Withdrawn)
28. Vocal Matrix Chorus • Region #14
29. Vocal Standard Chorus • Region #5
30. Great Lake Sound Chorus • Region #3
31. Cincinnati Sound Chorus • Region #4
32. Alberta Northern Lights Chorus • Region #26 (Withdrawn)
33. Millennium Magic Chorus • Region #1
Chapter Longevity Awards
Chapters listed in order of anniversary date.
The list is a correction of the longevity list in the January 2025 issue. We apologize for the error.
75 Years
Santa Monica Chapter
El Segundo, California, USA, #11
A Cappella Bay Show Chapter
Bradenton, Florida, USA, #9
70 Years
Altoona Chapter
Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, USA, #19
Verdugo Hills Chapter
Glendale, California, USA, #11
Lions Gate Chapter
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, #26
Grand Traverse Show Chapter
Traverse City, Michigan, USA, #2
London Chapter London, Ontario, Canada, #2
Inland Empire Chapter Riverside, California, USA, #21
65 Years
Long Island Sound Chapter
Hampton Bays, New York, USA, #15
RiverSong Chapter
Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA, #5
Battle Creek Chapter
Battle Creek, Michigan, USA, #17
Motor City Blend Chapter
Plymouth, Michigan, USA, #2
60 Years
Harmony Celebration Chapter
Ramsey, New Jersey, USA, #15
Buffalo Gateway Chapter
Bowmansville, New York, USA, #17
Riverport Chapter
Wilmot, Wisconsin, USA, #3
Island Hills Chapter
Hauppauge, New York, USA, #15
City of Flags Chapter
Canton, Ohio, USA, #17
55 Years
Harbor City Music Company Chapter
Severna Park, Maryland, USA, #19
Song of the Lakes Chapter
Davison, Michigan, USA, #2
Golden Apple Chapter
Ossining, New York, USA, #15
Inland Harmony Chapter
Moscow, Idaho, USA, #13
OC Sound Chapter
Laguna Woods, California, USA, #21
Triad A Cappella Connection Chapter
Kernersville, North Carolina, USA, #14
Pride of West Texas Show Chapter
Lubbock, Texas, USA, #25
Berkshire Hills Chapter
Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA, #1
50 Years
Harmony Fusion Chapter
Hayward, California, USA, #12
Gainesville Harmony Show Chapter
Gainesville, Florida, USA, #9
Sounds of The Valley Chapter
Chico, California, USA, #12
Indi-Anna Chapter
Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA, #17
Helena Xpress Singers Chapter
Helena, Montana, USA, #13
Sounds of Superior Chapter
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, #6
Platinum Show Chapter
Melbourne, Florida, USA, #9
Song O'Sky Chapter
Fletcher, North Carolina, USA, #14
Sounds of Pittsburgh Chapter
Moon Township, Pennsylvania, USA, #17
45 Years
RiverOaks Chapter
Santa Clarita, California, USA, #11
The Blend Chapter
Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, #8
Enchanted Mesa Show Chapter
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, #21
Stockholm City Voices Chapter
Sollentuna, Sweden, #32
Harmony Northwest Chapter
Mount Vernon, Washington, USA, #13
Desert Sounds A Cappella + Chapter
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, #26
Sacramento Valley Chapter
Sacramento, California, USA, #12
Tokyo Chapter,
Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, Japan, #30
Harmony Connection Chapter Columbia, Missouri, USA, #5
40 Years
Canadian Showtime Chapter
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, #16
Barrie Soundwaves Chapter
Barrie, Ontario, Canada, #16
Pride of Kentucky Chapter
Jeffersonville, Indiana, USA, #4
Harmony Rising Chapter
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, #26
Valley Echoes Chapter
Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, #26
Yahara River Chapter
Mc Farland, Wisconsin, USA, #3
Venetian Harmony Chapter
Englewood, Florida, USA, #9
Perth Harmony Chapter
Nollamara, Western Australia, Australia, #34
35 Years
Spirit of Spokane Chapter Spokane, Washington, USA, #13
Cape Shore Chapter
Tuckahoe, New Jersey, USA, #19
Lady Shave Porvoo Chapter Porvoo, Uusimaa, Finland, #32
Copper Town Harmony Chapter Falun, Dalarnas län, Sweden, #32
30 Years
Geelong Harmony Chapter
Herne Hill, Victoria, Australia, #34
Show Me Sound Chapter
Lees Summit, Missouri, USA, #5
Piney Hills Harmony Chapter
Ruston, Louisiana, USA, #10
Durham Shores Chapter
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, #16
Hot Ginger Chapter
Nirimba, Queensland, Australia, #34
Heart of New Jersey Chapter
Millstone Township, New Jersey, USA, #15
25 Years
Harmony North Chapter
Meaford, Ontario, Canada, #16
Wellington City Chapter
Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand, #35
20 Years
Alberta Northern Lights Chapter Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, #26
Crescent City Sound Chapter
Metairie, Louisiana, USA, #10
High Desert Harmony Chapter Reno, Nevada, USA, #12
California HEAT Chapter
Red Bluff, California, USA, #12
15 Years
Westwind Harmony Chapter Buckeye, Arizona, USA, #21
10 Years
Bella A Cappella Chapter
Kerikeri, Northland, New Zealand, #35
Sound Harmony Chapter
Seattle, Washington, USA, #13
Dazzling Diamonds Chapter
Springdale, Arkansas, USA, #25
Coastal Charisma Chapter
Queensland, Australia, #34
Carpe Diem Chapter
Carpinteria, California, USA, #11
5 Years
Rio A Cappella Chapter
Corrales, New Mexico, USA, #21
A Cappella Bella Chapter
Grand Haven, Michigan, USA, #2
Katy Vocal Express Chapter
Katy, Texas, USA, #10
Fostering a Culture of Belonging: Understanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Examining important terms
It is often said that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
A part of learning involves acknowledging, processing, and remembering. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in Sweet Adelines International were founded on acknowledgment of our organization’s history of banning Black women from membership. Our history of racism served to catapult our intentional journey toward DEI, and the remembrance of our past exclusionary practices remains a primary motivation behind the steadfast commitment of our International Board of Directors (IBOD) to diversity, equity, and inclusion and their overall integration throughout the organization.
Examining DEI
Sweet Adelines International also recognizes that race is a single dimension of diversity within the whole of DEI. Our organization’s DEI Guiding Principle includes all dimensions of diversity in our definition and scope of efforts. A quick look at the three terms that make up DEI will help ensure we are all on the same page in our understanding of it within Sweet Adelines.
Diversity
Diversity is relational and speaks to the variety of characteristics found within a group. While it includes primary dimensions like race, age, gender identity, and mental/physical abilities, for Sweet Adelines, we also include secondary dimensions like religion, education, and geographic location, organizational dimensions like time in the organization and chorus/quartet experiences, and cultural dimensions like traditions and acceptable personal space practices. It is well documented that people from diverse backgrounds can contribute new ways of thinking, new knowledge, and different experiences to Sweet Adelines International. Our focus is to ensure that we are intentional in reaching out to, welcoming, and treating people with authentic respect.
Equity
Equity has to do with fairness and justice. In practice, equity calls for recognizing that everyone has unique needs, experiences, and opportunities. We seek creative ways to address those needs, with particular attention to removal of organizational barriers and equitable access to organizational benefits and opportunities.
Inclusion
Inclusion, the act of involving or admitting another, is also relational. Inclusion has to do with the quality of the human experience. For Sweet Adelines, that means seeking ways to ensure all voices are heard and have a say in the sustenance and growth of the organization.
Examining Our Guiding Principles
With the DEI terms in mind, we move forward to be more intentional and purposeful in 2025 to ensure that what we do aligns with our organization's guiding principles of Musical Excellence, Culture of Belonging, Diversity & Inclusion, Personal Empowerment & Leadership, and Outreach. While all guiding principles are important, let us focus on Culture of Belonging and Diversity & Inclusion as their impact has far-reaching implications across all principles.
A Culture of Belonging challenges us to create and foster a culture whereby people feel safe to be themselves and feel they belong within our community in song. Diversity & Inclusion calls us to celebrate our differences, acknowledge and learn from the past, and aim for greater awareness. In the words of U.S. poet Maya Angelou, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
“Let us be intentional…”
In planning our chorus and quartet rehearsals, let us be as intentional about the human element as we are about the musical elements. Let us be strategic and schedule temperature/health checks with our members, let us include opportunities for chorus/ quartet building (e.g., team building), let us make time to truly get to know our new members, seek opportunities to share authentic encouraging words with other members, and refrain from participating in and discouraging derogatory conversations. Let us communicate in ways that support giving and receiving feedback in healthy and productive ways.
In setting up systems and programs within our choruses/quartets, let us ask ourselves the following questions:
Is what we have put in place equitable?
If not, what modifications are needed to ensure equitable access?
Are our current practices perceived as inclusive?
If not, what changes do we need to make to achieve this?
When our members feel safe, valued, heard, validated, and included, it has a positive impact on musical excellence and the retention and growth of membership, which ensures the longevity of the organization.
There is still work to do, especially with efforts to work toward full integration of our DEI principals across the organization. As we move forward in 2025 and beyond, you can be confident in knowing that our International Board of Directors remains committed to DEI and its continued integration!
Donnetta Hawkins (Song of Atlanta Chorus, #14) is Chair of the Sweet Adelines International DEI Council.
Song Evaluation Updates
These songs’ ratings have changed since October 2024 to the rating listed below. For details on the new rating, visit the Song Assessment Tool (SAT) page on the Sweet Adelines website to log into the Song Evaluation Database (SED).
YES: NOTE
(song is admissible, but there is notable information regarding its history)
Along the Road to Gundagai
Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better [from Annie Get Your Gun]
Dancing in the Street (reevaluation)
I Got the Sun in the Morning (reevaluation) [from Annie Get Your Gun]
There's No Business Like Show Business (reevaluation) [from Annie Get Your Gun]
They Say It's Wonderful (reevaluation) [from Annie Get Your Gun]
Until the Real Thing Comes Along Welcome Christmas [from How the Grinch Stole Christmas]
You Can't Stop the Beat (reevaluation) [from Hairspray]
You're Welcome [from Moana]
YES: NOTE & YES: CAUTION
I Know Where I've Been [from Hairspray]
YES: CAUTION (song is admissible only with required action)
Brand New Day, A (Everybody Rejoice) [from The Wiz]
Ease on Down the Road (reevaluation) [from The Wiz]
YES: LYRICS
Billy-a-Dick (reevaluation)
YES: LYRICS & YES: CAUTION
Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News [from The Wiz]
Contest Scores & the SAT
Did you know?
1. The non-race “DEI Categories” listed in the Song Evaluation Database and the related notes in the “Additional Questions to Consider” section of song Research Documents and Arrangement Notes do not in any way affect admissibility and do not impact contest scores.
2. YES: Note does not in any way impact contest scores.
3. YES: Lyrics & YES: Caution may impact contest scores (and/or result in disqualification) only if the noted required actions are not followed.
Virtual 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 Becky Duncan, Assistant Director of Philanthropy at becky@sweetadelines.com.
In Memory • January-March 2025
Peg Towns Mission Valley, #12
Marcia Steele Kawartha Music Co., #16
Sarah Ingstad Capital City Sound, #13
Kathy Henderson Grand Olympics, #13
Marge Bailey Chapter-at-Large, #8
Sharon Hines High Country, #8
Glenny Law Chapter-at-Large, #13
Mary Schmalz River Blenders, #5
Dorothy Shaul
Vermillion Valley Show, #3
Sylvia Morris Jersey Sound, #9
Virginia Mensing Mission Valley, #12
Lee O'Hare Heart of Columbia, #14
Gloria Gordon Heart of Columbia, #14
Sara Falk Harborlites, #21
Memorial Gifts
Hilda Crescitelli Merrimack Valley
Frost Krist Chapter-at-Large
Ruth Streb
Elfi Schreyer Evergreen, #15
Patricia Jo Renne Heart of Michigan, #2
Gail Gibson
The Woodlands Show, #25
Mary Lasich
Capital City, #4
Joan Hassell
A Cappella Bella, #2
Louise Sullivan
Song of Sonoma, #12
Nancy Curl Jersey Sound, #19
Carol Rhine Chapter-at-Large, #1
Carolyn McNish Nebraska Pride, #8
Jeanette Hines RiverSong, #5
Amanda Johnson Greater Richmond, #14
Iris Cokeroft Goldcoast, #9
Sweet Adelines honored with a Memorial
Meg Poché
Harmony Connection
Patti Brown
Harmony Connection
Susan Salvini Chapter-at-Large
Mary Lou Fisk Pensacola Sound
Lois Whitney Desert Cities
Patti Brown Heart of Missouri
Gift
Carol Hanford Berkshire Hills
Accolades
Accolades as of March 2025
ARRANGER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Advanced to Beginner Arranger
Becky Cartine, Heart of New Jersey Chapter, #15
Advanced to Approved Arranger
Becky Cartine, Heart of New Jersey Chapter, #15
Elizabeth Or, Voices United Chapter, #11
Jenny Liu, Endeavour Harmony Chapter, #34
Denise Taylor, Oregon Spirit Chapter, #12
Christine Jacobs, Mission Valley Chapter, #12
Advanced to Certified Arranger
Glenda Lloyd, Brindabella Chapter, #34
DIRECTOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Advanced to Approved Director
Candace Dickens, Sound of Sunshine Chapter, #9
Pattee Bender, Grand Rapids Chapter, #17
Advanced to Certified Director
Renée Porzel, Melodeers Chapter, #3
Samantha White,Wollongong Harmony Chapter, #34
Karen Kool, Singing Unlimited Chapter, #31
Frances Lunder, Sound Harmony Chapter, #13
Donna Bull, Sound Celebration Chapter, #5
Carol Kurtz, River Rhapsody Chapter, #6
Ashley Hazen, Valley Forge Chapter, #19
Elizabeth Sinclair, Aberdeen Chapter, #31
Alexandra Charlton, Nelson Bay Harmony Chapter, #35
