The Pitch Pipe April 2020 by thepitchpipemagazine

The

pitchpipemagazine.com | April 2o2o | Volume 73 — No.4

Pitch Pipe THE

VOICE

SWEET ADELINES INTERNATIONAL

COUNTDOWN TO LOUISVILLE

Sweet Adelines Birthday JULY 13

International Education Symposium JULY 22-26

Rising Star Quartet Contest JULY 24

G RISSTIAN R 2020 Quartet

Contest

G RISSTIAN R 2020 Quartet

Contest

THE POWER OF FOUR Sweet Adelines International welcomes members and non-members age 25 and younger to compete in the 2020 Rising Star Quartet Contest.

Coaching with the Stars Contest entry gives your quartet access to free coaching from past Rising Star and International Champion quartets.

July 24, 2020 • Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, USA For complete details, visit www.RisingStarQuartetContest.com.

The

Pitch Pipe April 2020 • Volume 73 — No.4

Features

10 11 16 20 24 35 36

Small but Mighty A Cappella Challenge for Youth Lifting Off Into the Land of Chords Q&A with Lisa Popeil Countdown to 75 Years: 1990s 9 Ways to Build Self-Confidence

What Does a Regional Competition Coordinator Do?

Identifying Your Audiences For Recruitment

In Every Issue

3 5 22 46

From Our President From Our CEO Harmony Roundup

Events

12 15 27

IES 2020: Find Your Voice Rising Star 2020 Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow: Louisville

Headquarters

4 8 9 39 40 48

"An Incredible Sense of Honor" Meet New IBOD Member Elaine Hamilton Meet New IBOD Member Vickie Maybury A Way to Say Thank You 2019 Donor List Regional Calendar

On The Cover Louisville, Kentucky, (USA), location of the 74th Annual Sweet Adelines International Convention and Competition.

Accolades/In Memory

April 2020 |

The

Pitch Pipe

April 2020 | Volume 73 — No.4 | www.pitchpipemagazine.com.

Sweet Adelines licensed event apparel is now available for pre-order from Gold Medal Ideas!

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www.goldmedalideas.com/louisville2020

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

_____________________________________ INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS Tammy Talbot Chief Executive Officer Marla Mayberry Chief Operating Officer Tamatha Goad Editor-in-Chief Kim Berrey Managing Editor Stacy Pratt Associate Editor/Staff Writer Ben Larscheid Graphic Designer Joey Bertsch Staff Photographer Kim Berrey Advertising 1.918.622.1444 • communications@sweetadelines.com

INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS May 1, 2019 – April 30, 2020 Patty Cobb Baker, International President Paula Davis, Immediate Past President Joan Boutilier, President-elect Thérèse Antonini, Secretary JD Crowe, Treasurer Sharon Cartwright Janice McKenna Leslie Galbreath Renée Porzel Jennifer Harris Mary Rhea Cammi MacKinlay

EDUCATION DIRECTION COMMITTEE Marcia Pinvidic, Chair Corinna Garriock Mary Rhea Peggy Gram Karen Breidert

GOING A LITTLE GREENER Beginning with the January 2020 issue of The Pitch Pipe, the magazine is now enclosed in a biodegradable bag. The bags keep the magazines safe on their journeys to mailboxes around the world, and now the bags are a little better for the Earth. Want to go a little greener? You can log in to the Sweet Adelines International website, click on “My Profile,” and check the box marked “Do NOT Send Printed Pitch Pipe.” You can still read The Pitch Pipe online at www.PitchPipeMagazine.com

EDITORIAL REVIEW BOARD Joan Boutilier Cammi MacKinlay Corinna Garriock Anna-Marie Shew Elaine Hamilton ______________________________________ Sweet Adelines International members receive The Pitch Pipe as a benefit of their membership. Additional annual subscriptions are available for $12 USD/year U.S.A. or $24 USD/year outside U.S.A. SUBSCRIPTION REQUESTS & ADDRESS CHANGES: The Pitch Pipe 9110 S. Toledo Ave., Tulsa, OK 74137 U.S.A. Telephone 1.918.622.1444 • Toll-free 1.800.992.7464 Fax 1.918.665.0894 • www.sweetadelines.com Office hours: M-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (CT) Direct all correspondence, editorial copy and photographs to communications@sweetadelines.com. Deadlines are 60 days prior to publication. Not all submissions will be published. ______________________________________ THE PITCH PIPE (ISSN 0882-214X) (USPS 603-060) is published quarterly: January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 by Sweet Adelines International Periodicals paid at Tulsa, OK U.S.A. and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE PITCH PIPE 9110 S. Toledo Ave., Tulsa, OK 74137 U.S.A. Canadian Post Agreement Number: 1453408 Send Canadian change of address information and blocks of undeliverable copies to: P.O. Box 1051, Fort Erie, ON L2A 6C7 Canada Copyright 2020 by Sweet Adelines International. All rights reserved. HARMONIZE THE CYBER WORLD @SweetAdelinesIntl

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Remember to use #LifeonaHighNote on social media. Headquarters uses this # to find your posts, photos and tweets to share across Sweet Adelines social media channels.

From Our President

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

hat a journey my 37 years of membership have been. What an incredible, life-changing journey! The last two years of that journey have undeniably been the MOST amazing of all. I am so thankful for having had the honor of serving as your president. It offered me the enormous privilege of chairing the talented and dedicated team that is our board of directors and collaborating closely with our equally talented, caring, and committed headquarters staff. I am so grateful for the beautiful partnership that came with the position — that of working side by side with our exceptional CEO, Tammy Talbot. Each team has gifted me with so much love and learning, and I stand in awe of their brilliance of spirit and service. I cannot thank them enough for walking hand-in-hand with me through this exceptional experience. These two years have flown by with the speed of a driving uptune! The overarching theme has been invigorating change. It began with modifications to our headquarters infrastructure — a new membership database and a redesigned website. We updated our double-treble clef logo for the first time in years and introduced our new Life on a High Note marketing campaign. We held our inspiring Visioning Retreat from which a new collaborative, grassroots energy emerged, fueling the creation of our new vision and mission statements and the new five-year strategic plan. The work of our task forces continues and includes the efforts to archive a large amount of Sweet Adelines history; investigate new membership options and introduce a new chorus growth campaign; develop greater on-line education offerings; and expand our diversity and inclusion (D&I) work to create a chorus D&I toolkit. Additionally, in the area of D&I, language in the Judging Category Description Book was updated to help build our awareness of and provide guidance on cultural sensitivities in the selection and performance of our music. The board created two new committees to enhance the performance of our fiduciary duties: a Finance Committee and a Board Resource Advisory Committee. We created our new Philanthropy Department and completed, thanks to your generosity, an extremely successful “Support Life on a High Note Campaign.” We provided training to our incredible judges and directors and held a partnered-IES in Region #31. We prepared for this, our 75th anniversary year, with celebrations planned throughout the year and culminating in a grand jamboree this October. As always, there is much more change to come!

In my first President’s message to you, I talked about the internal, or psychological, aspect of change. How it behooves us to take the time to process how we feel about our inevitable evolution so that we can continue to engage with and contribute to it. I have tried to process your feelings with mine these last two years and, in doing so, YOU have been my greatest blessing! You have taught me that being heard is incredibly important, so I have worked to listen better, to be more engaged and present. Doing so has taught me more about the power of “us,” that together we can create so much value in the world. You have taught me to believe even more in who we are and that it is worth fighting for. Thank you for sparking that light of change in me. It will be such a joy to see Joan Boutilier take the reins next month, knowing the splendid journey that lies ahead for her. She will shine in her new role because she has the heart of a fierce warrior — don’t let that angelic face fool you! The breath of change she will bring to us will be perfect for her time. And so it goes... With a grateful heart,

Patty

Life on a High Note. April 2020 |

“AN INCREDIBLE SENSE OF HONOR”

Introducing Sweet Adelines International President-Elect Joan Boutilier

weet Adelines International President-Elect Joan Boutilier discovered the organization in the 1980s when a fellow teacher showed her a photo of her chorus, Vienna Falls. In 1989, Joan’s family moved to Illinois. On a trip to the library, her husband took down the number of Country Chords Chorus from a flyer and encouraged her to visit. “I was mainly looking to fill my musical soul and make friends, but the BASS SOUND inspired me to sign up!” she said. Since then, this accomplished tenor has sung with Melodeers Chorus and directed Choral-Aires Chorus and River City Sound Chorus. She has sung tenor with quartets Time Was, Surround Sound, Spritzer, and 2008 International Champion Quartet, Four Bettys. Prior to joining Sweet Adelines, Joan earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of New Mexico. She is currently Master Director of River City Sound Chorus (#3), a chorus and quartet coach, Certified Sound Judge, Approved Candidate Judge in Expression, and International Faculty. She serves on the International Board of Directors (IBOD), where she is on the Editorial Review Board and the Finance Committee for 2019-2020. “My membership and participation in Sweet Adelines grew as my family did, and my time became filled with singing, directing, coaching, educating, judging and leading,” she said. “I’ve seen time and again how women need the experience of being a member of Sweet Adelines because they are bound to change and grow as a person, becoming empowered to do things they might otherwise never experience. The powerful and enduring friendships I’ve made and that I’ve seen formed through membership in this organization

| April 2020

are priceless. But what I also know, now more than ever, is that women absolutely love singing barbershop harmony. Like me, they may like singing a wide variety of a cappella songs, but barbershop is what makes it possible for ordinary voices to create extra-ordinary music. I feel privileged to get to preserve the craft while witnessing the spirit and power of Sweet Adelines in women’s lives.” As president, Joan will be committed to fostering that spirit and power. “The diverse representation of attendees at the Visioning Retreat in November of 2018 boldly presented thoughts and dreams of how to take us forward with energy and fresh ideas,” she said. “I look forward to bringing to fruition the strategic plan born out of that retreat. I want to support our new Arranger Certification Program whole-heartedly. I’d like us to grow in membership not for the sake of being ‘bigger’ but because women need what we bring to them — singing, education, friendship, leadership opportunities, and the stability and integrity of Sweet Adelines International.” Beginning her presidency in the organization’s 75th year, Joan is aware of her place in the legacy. “I suppose all presidents say the same thing, but it’s hard not to feel an incredible sense of honor stepping into this role,” she said. “For 75 years, presidents have done their very best to make my own chorus and quartet get-togethers the best times of my week. Getting to play a part in that for the people and organization I love will be a challenge and a gift.” Joan’s term as Sweet Adelines International president begins May 1, 2020.

From Our CEO

his month, I would like to introduce you to our Finance Team, Anthony, Deb, and Nancy and our IT manager, Joey. They do so much behind the scenes and are an integral part of our HQ team. Thank goodness for the individuals who love numbers and technical application. They help manage the organization’s finances, investments, and taxes and help us remain compliant with state and country laws. Joey supports our staff and members by keeping our IT and communications systems moving forward. We asked these team members to tell us a little about their musical background as well. Anthony Miller, CPA, Controller Anthony oversees operations within the accounting department, helps guide financial decisions, protects assets by establishing, monitoring, and enforcing internal controls, and monitors and confirms SA's financial condition by conducting audits and providing information to external auditors. Anthony says, “I was raised in a musical family. I play the guitar, piano, and harmonica, and I pretend to sing. I’ve played in various bands over the years but prefer to just serenade family/close friends on the acoustic guitar or piano. I listen to all genres of music and am a life-long devotee of Bruce Springsteen.” Deb DeBolt, Accounting Manager Deb maintains the general ledger, performs month-end reconciliations and closings, generates computerized statements, directs the cash receipts and accounts receivable system, and maintains the computerized asset management records. In other words, she sees to the money! Deb says she is not a musician herself, but she likes to listen to gospel and R&B music. She is also quite familiar with barbershop music, having worked at Sweet Adelines since 1982.

The Finance and IT Department at Sweet Adelines International Headquarters in Tulsa, Okla. (L-R) Anthony Miller, Deb Debolt, Nancy Groom, and Joey Bertsch

Nancy Groom, Accounting Coordinator Nancy manages a wide variety of bookkeeping, tax, finance, filing, and membership payment duties. She is also the person you will likely communicate with if you call or email headquarters with a finance question. Nancy likes to sing and played guitar when she was growing up. She says today her “only public singing is done at church with a group of loud singers!” She listens to Christian, jazz, and instrumental music (especially piano!). Joey Bertsch, Manager of Information Technology Joey oversees all IT projects and functions and assists with the membership database, website, multimedia projects, and graphic media. (I often say if I am having a computer issue, I can just call Joey and the minute he comes to my door, it will start working! ) He played the violin from elementary through high school. Joey listens to “old rock and punk.” Thank you to these team members who dedicate themselves every day to the support of SA members and headquarters staff. In appreciation,

Tammy Talbot, CEO

April 2020 |

Tenor& Lead& Baritone& Bass Find some friends and join the fun! Barbershop Quartet Day! April 11, 2020

ng Featuri

Karen Breidert

July 16 - 18, 2021

Renaissance Hotel • Dallas, Texas Details and early bird registration information coming soon at www.coronetclub.org

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Sing A New Song! Revive your repertoire with these song titles recently added to the Sweet Adelines International online store. (Nov. 1, 2019-Jan. 10, 2020.) All Through The Night* Carolyn Johnson Amazing Grace* Lynne Alice Peterson

Mister Sandman Karen McCarville

Away In A Manger* Carolyn Johnson

O Holy Night* Rebecca Wood and Avis Fellows (published)

Be A Santa Joey Minshall (published) Gentle Mary Laid Her Child* Carolyn Johnson I’d Rather Be Blue Lyndal Thorburn I Got The Sun In The Morning Joan D ‘Agostino (published) If You Could Read My Mind Judy Vidal (published) It’s Not For Me To Say Carolyn Healey (published) Manger Medley*: There’s A Song In The Air*/ Away In A Manger* Carolyn Johnson

Nobody’s Sweetheart Now* Bev Sellers

Sentimental Journey Karen McCarville Shalom Chaverim – Round* Carolyn Johnson Songbird Sharon Holmes (published) Surfer Girl Karen McCarville There’s A Song In The Air* Carolyn Johnson You’re Breaking In A New Heart (While You’re Breaking Mine) June Berg (published) You’re My World Carole Clemes

Songs arranged specifically for young voices:

YW – All Through The Night*, Carolyn Johnson YW – Away In A Manger*, Carolyn Johnson YW – Gentle Mary Laid Her Child*, Carolyn Johnson YW – Manger Medley*: There’s A Song In The Air*/ Away In A Manger*, Carolyn Johnson YW – Shalom Chaverim – Round*, Carolyn Johnson YW – Sugartime, Marsha Zwicker (published) YW – There’s A Song In The Air*, Carolyn Johnson *U.S. public domain

To order, contact Sweet Adelines International Sales Department at sales@sweetadelines.com, visit www.SweetAdelines.com/Shop, or call 1.918.622.1444 ext. 112 or toll free at 1.877.545.5441. Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CDT (2 p.m.-10:30 p.m. UTC)

April 2020 |

Leadership

MEET NEW IBOD MEMBER ELAINE HAMILTON “To serve the membership is an immense honour.”

hen Elaine Hamilton received the 2013 Ann Gooch Award, her nominator noted that, “She has reached out to all, and there are few choruses in the U.K. she hasn’t visited and encouraged.” The nominator wrote of Elaine, “Her unique gift is in really listening to what people are saying and designing clever, fun solutions to deliver what people want.” Elaine hopes to bring the same spirit of fun, inclusivity, and dedication to her role as newlyappointed member of the Sweet Adelines International Board of Directors (IBOD). She also hopes to contribute an international perspective and representation. “I think it’s safe to say that the international membership is very keen!” she wrote in an email interview. “However, we do have different cultures, and it’s important we recognise this and use it to our advantage. I love how we are all different, yet we share the same love of singing that brings us together! Having more international representation on the Board allows us to better understand and learn from each other’s cultures and thereby perhaps broaden our reach and appeal. I hope my contribution to that will be of benefit.” Elaine sings baritone with Forth Valley Chorus of Edinburgh, Scotland (UK), who in 2019 made history in New Orleans when

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they became the first chorus from Region #31 (Quartet of Nations) to place in the top ten at international competition. In addition to singing with Forth Valley, Elaine sang at a Region #31 convention one year with Hillfoot Harmony Chorus and at international competition with Region #1’s Coastline Show Chorus. She has sung in an octet and in three quartets, including her most recent one, Mac4. (Though Mac4 no longer competes, the members still sing together and remain friends.) She has served as assistant director for Forth Valley and for a local men’s barbershop chorus, and she is the former director of the Edinburgh Police Choir. She also coaches and teaches, and she served as cochair of the 2019 International Education Symposium with Alyson Chaney and Paula Davis. Elaine hopes Sweet Adelines will continue to develop as an educational organization. “I see Sweet Adelines being recognised as the ‘go to’ organisation for barbershop and a cappella singing,” she wrote. “Our education is first class and our high standards give us an advantage. Having said that, attracting new members is crucial to our longevity and, again, I feel an international perspective plays an important part, as our cultural differences mean that something that may work in one country may not hit the right note (pun intended — sorry!) in another.” She is excited to be part of the IBOD. “Although this may sound cheesy or corny, I love Sweet Adelines,” she wrote. “I’m dedicated to making the best contribution I can. I have made friends all over the world through Sweet Adelines, and I hope to meet more. To be given the opportunity to serve the membership is an immense honour, and I’m excited for the year ahead.”

Leadership

MEET NEW IBOD MEMBER VICKIE MAYBURY

“I’m all about empowering women.”

hen Vickie Maybury arrived in Larry Tripplet’s Sonora High School choir room, the director remembers, “She was a bubbling, 4’11” ball of energy!” Larry’s observation was made in a video Skyline Chorus created for Vickie’s 35th anniversary as director (Master Director 700 since 2011) of the powerhouse chorus, which grew from 2530 members when she joined to its current status of 135-140 members on the risers. Vickie joined Sweet Adelines with her high school quartet, Papa’s Girls. At 16, she was the eldest in her quartet, which joined Cities of Harmony Chorus (now Harborlites Chorus). “We had a curfew, and I was the driver, so the chorus said, ‘We get it. You have to leave by 9 every night.’ And we did,” she recalled. When the quartet moved away for college, they became charter members of River Oaks Chorus. Vickie later moved to Denver, Colorado, where two SA legends, Joni Bescos and Mavis Burtness, helped her find Skyline Chorus. She became Skyline’s director in 1984 when she was pregnant with her daughter, Becky, who now sings in the chorus and in Last Call quartet. “To the credit of the old guard veterans in the chorus, they recognized the young talent and wanted to give them wings,” said

1984 Skyline Chorus President Sharon Nantell. “They had seen Skyline in its glory, and they were determined to bring Skyline back. The old guard knew Vickie was our future.” Besides directing Skyline, Vickie has been part of regional champion quartets Brillante and Radiance (where she sang tenor and baritone, respectively), serves as Judge Specialist in the Expression Category, coaches quartets and choruses, and teaches classes around the world. This year, she is co-chair of the Sweet Adelines International Education Symposium with 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Cammi MacKinlay. She said watching women grow into confidence is what she loves most about being a Sweet Adeline. “I’m a very positive person, and I’m all about empowering women,” she said. “One woman joined my chorus at a time in her life when she was struggling in so many areas. She got involved in a quartet, and I worked with her and watched her sing on the regional stage. It was just monumental. To watch people do things that they never thought they could do, to see them conquer and grow and change, that's what I love.” In the 45th year of her Sweet Adelines career, Vickie has been elected to the International Board of Directors (IBOD) for a threeyear term. She hopes to bring her “historical perspective” and great energy, vitality, and creativity to her new role. “I have seen the organization go through changes since I joined, and we have to embrace change as society changes as well,” she said. “I represent a lot of people across the world. I have the opportunity to be at the table with some incredibly intelligent, skilled women and work together collaboratively to create this amazing organization and continue to see us grow and change and embrace music and harmony in the world.”

April 2020 |

Membership

SMALL BUT MIGHTY

Colorado Spirit Chorus revitalizes with new members

ttracting new members is a challenge for all choruses, regardless of size. With only nine members, Colorado Spirit Chorus knew they needed to create a game plan if they wanted to make it to their 70th anniversary in 2020. “Gaining new members is always a key part of our ability to continue as an active chorus,” wrote members of the chorus’ board of directors in an email interview. In 2019, Colorado Spirit enacted their game plan, successfully completing Revitalization, a program for choruses in need of resources to help them recharter. That year, nine new members joined, doubling chorus membership to 18 singers. Their two-pronged plan focused on community engagement and social media. Colorado Spirit’s social media plan emphasizes their visual branding and encourages interaction. They updated their chorus logo graphic and use the new logo consistently. “Visual imagery is significant,” wrote the board members. “When your audience is scrolling through their feed, they often don’t stop to read posts; however, they’ll notice pictures.” The chorus utilizes visually appealing, branded posts, including “Music Monday,” “Throwback Thursday,” and a “Meet our

| April 2020

Members” series. They also post consistently and remind chorus members to spread their social media presence by following and sharing posts. Colorado Spirit involves their community by participating in sing-outs, such as strolling at street fairs or holiday markets. They also participate in events such as World Singing Day, and they engage with other music groups. These activities promote interaction with their local community members, some of whom may eventually want to join the chorus. The chorus says word of mouth is also effective. Each member is encouraged to invite people to visit their open rehearsals or attend performances. While Colorado Spirit has evolved over their 70 years, the board wrote that members’ strong commitment to the chorus has been key to this longevity. They wrote, “While our chorus has definitely changed over the years, we try to remember and honor many of the values that have been with us under many directors, names, and members. These principles are key: Be nice to each other. Learn your music. Do your part.” Here’s to 70 years of Colorado Spirit. May they have many more to come!

NORTH METRO CHORUS’ A CAPPELLA CHALLENGE FOR YOUTH

YSF Grant helps bring barbershop to young singers

uring the autumn of 2015, North Metro Chorus Director Erin Howden presented her vision of a platform through which youth in Ontario could showcase their vocal talent and share their joy of performing a cappella music just as North Metro does every time it takes the stage. This project, which we named A Cappella Challenge, would also be an opportunity for community outreach and to introduce young singers to the barbershop art form. Of course, somewhere between the vision and reality lay plenty of hard work, sleepless nights, a steep learning curve, a sense of accomplishment, and a great deal of joy. Two long-time North Metro members, event co-chairs Colleen Drautz and Karen Armstrong, were up to the challenge! We are very excited to share that A Cappella Challenge has now concluded three successful runs. Through an online process, performers (age 25 and under) from universities, schools and community groups audition to take part in the Challenge. Once finalists are chosen, a formal show performance, to which tickets are sold, takes place to determine the winners. During the day, an education module is offered for singers to learn about barbershop music. They learn a song together, and the groups have an opportunity to network. North Metro performs during this time as well as at the evening show. This year, we were grateful to have the support of Sweet Adelines International through a grant from the Young Singers Foundation (YSF). We are also thankful for our other sponsors: Region #16 Young Women In Harmony, Sing Canada Harmony, Melody Hine, Michaela Johnston, and private/corporate sponsors. For many of the young singers, the event’s introduction to barbershop has been eye-opening. One participant said, “Wow, I had no idea how great barbershop music was…I always thought

it was more old-fashioned.” The chorus has gained new members through the Challenge, and many seeds have been planted that may yield future Sweet Adelines. Demonstrating that there are opportunities to continue a cappella singing as a lifelong pursuit is an important goal of the event. Based on the talent of the performers crossing the stage during the first three Challenges, the upcoming generation of singers has much to offer! The Challenge has also allowed North Metro Chorus to support their community through The Music Box Children’s Charity of Canada, which provides opportunities for disadvantaged youth to participate in a wide array of music programs. Just as the YSF receives generous support from SA membership, audiences at the Challenge have been generous in their support of this charitable endeavour. The A Cappella Challenge will continue to provide North Metro Chorus with the opportunity to share its art form and love of singing with the next generation and provide local youth the opportunity to share their talent with the community. It has been an exciting journey thus far and one that promises to inspire both competitors and audiences in years to come. The joy of lifelong singing is alive and well in Southern Ontario! Colleen Drautz, co-chair of A Cappella Challenge, is a proud member of North Metro Chorus. Grants like the one that helped fund A Cappella Challenge are made possible by gifts to Sweet Adelines International. The current grant cycle will remain open until June 1. For information, visit www.sweetadelines.com/education.

April 2020 |

oice. Find Your V

INVinEySouTrself OWER EMP others G SINas one

| April 2020

Sweet Adelines l Internationa Education Symposium

2020 July 22-26, TX o, ni o nt A San es at United St

Find Your Voice at IES 2020 July 22-26, 2020 Trinity University San Antonio, Texas (USA)

Your voice. It’s unique. It’s important.

Make it strong. Make it genuine. “Find Your Voice” at the 2020 Sweet Adelines International Education Symposium (IES) on the campus of Trinity University in artistic, historic San Antonio, Texas (USA) from July 22-26. Event co-chairs Cammi MacKinlay (2019 Sweet Adelines Lifetime Achievement Award) and Vickie Maybury (Master 700 Director of Skyline Chorus and Certified Judge in the Expression Category) will be joined by innovative, exciting faculty for classes designed to help you find your voice both on and off the risers. On Friday, hear voices from the next generation at the Rising Star Quartet Contest!

Classes Designed With You in Mind Start your day right with Music in the Morning, then choose from a wide range of classes designed to help you reach your potential. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from some of the best music educators in a cappella and barbershop singing, such as guest faculty Lisa Popeil, developer of the VoiceWorks® method, who recently completed a tour with popular parady singer “Weird Al” Yankovic, and Jan Carley, the “Inner Coach of Barbershop,” author of Harmony from the Inside Out and The Overtone Effect. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn from 2020 International Champion Quartet, Viva! All classes are open to general attendees, and each class is labeled with its area of focus to help you create an individualized class schedule based on your needs or choose a schedule designed

Photo courtesy of Trinity University

specifically for certain focus areas. This year, there are complete class schedules (tracks) for Aspiring Judges, Quartets, and Young Women in Harmony singers. For a full schedule, class descriptions, and faculty bios, visit www.sweetadelines.com/IES2020. For a list of focus areas, see the insert included with this issue of The Pitch Pipe.

Registration and Accommodations Registration:

To save $75 (USD) on registration, complete your registration by April 29. The last day for regular registration is June 19, 2020. Registration includes on-campus housing, three meals a day beginning with dinner on Wednesday, July 22 and ending with breakfast on Sunday, July 26, three days of classes, and access to the Closing Show featuring performances from 2020 International Champion Quartet, Viva!; the 2020 Rising Star Champion Quartet; Young Women in Harmony Chorus; Symposium choruses and more! Remember that IES registration includes audience admission to the Rising Star Quartet Contest on Friday, July 24. Rising Star welcomes women aged 25 and younger to compete in barbershop singing. At Rising Star, you’ll hear what happens when young singers embrace The Power of Four! Contest entry is open until June 1, 2020 (though spaces are limited and filling up fast!). For more information, visit www.RisingStarQuartetContest.com.

Accommodations:

On-campus accommodations will begin Wednesday, July 22, and will end the morning of Sunday, July 26 at noon. Housing and roommate request changes will be accepted until June 1. For information about amenities, accessibility, roommate assignments and more, visit www.sweetadelines.com/IES2020.

April 2020 |

Photos courtesy of Visit San Antonio

Find Your Fun in San Antonio!

San Antonio is home to a diverse population. That means you’ll find a wide variety of art, food, and culture to explore. If you don’t mind a little driving, you can explore the city’s famous River Walk, historic Mission Trail, or relaxing Japanese Tea Garden. But you don’t have to travel far from campus to enjoy eclectic arts and entertainment enclaves in this vibrant city!

exciting activities of the Blue Star Arts Complex. The Complex is home to several art galleries, shops, restaurants, and studios of working artists. The Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum is the longest-running venue for contemporary art in San Antonio. Local eateries range from reservation-required gourmet restaurants like Bliss to Tex-Mex comfort food like Rosario’s and Tito’s and the Alamo Street Eat Bar, a late-night food truck park.

St. Mary’s Strip

El Mercado/Market Square

Located near campus, St. Mary’s Strip is a neighborhood of restaurants, dance clubs, shops, and food trucks. The Strip is a great place to find live music in the evening, and food options range from casual, family-owned El Milagrito Café to Demo’s Greek Food Restaurant to the creative vegan restaurant La Botánica, with its dog-friendly patio, innovative drinks menu, and calendar of live music and events.

The Pearl District

Also near campus is the Pearl District, where you’ll find just about everything you could want to eat, do, or see! The District offers a wide variety of food choices, from the Peruvian-Asian Botika to San Antonio’s only 100% Kosher vegetarian restaurant, Green, and, on weekends, a farmer’s market selling local, seasonal produce and other edibles directly from the producers. You’ll also find The Twig Book Shop, art galleries, and a wide variety of boutiques selling curated treasures of all kinds.

Southtown

A short drive from campus, Southtown includes the stately architecture of the King William Historic District and the always

El Mercado/Market Square is a three-block outdoor plaza lined with restaurants, shops, and produce stands just a short drive from campus. It is the largest Mexican market in the U.S. Here, San Antonio’s working artists, musicians, and dancers create a festive atmosphere. In July, the Square hosts its weekend Fiesta, with art, food booths, and live music. Anchoring the Square is Mi Tierra, a Mexican restaurant by day, with a bar that features mariachi music in the evenings and – for your late-night cravings – a 24-hour bakery.

Staying Cool in San Antonio

Texas in July is hot, literally and figuratively. You know the advice about staying hydrated, wearing sunscreen, and not overdoing it in the heat. But the good thing about staying cool in south Texas is that you have an excuse to eat raspas! Also known as raspados, raspas are special shaved-ice treats that originated in Mexico. In San Antonio, you’ll find them sold from carts all over town, flavored with fresh juices as well as lechera (sweetened, condensed milk), cappuccino, and more. Some raspas are simply ice and juice, but look out for fancy raspas that include skewers of fresh fruit, among other delicious edible decorations!

For more information on IES, Rising Star, and San Antonio, visit www.sweetadelines.com/IES2020.

G N I S RI STAR st

te n o C t e t r a u Q 2020

July 24, 2020 Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas (USA)

Rising Star Champion Quartets, from the top: Duly Noted, 2019; Hot Pursuit, 2018; Adrenaline, 2017

Engage The Power of Four! Young Singers Find Their Voices at Rising Star

any great quartet singers got their competitive start at the Rising Star Quartet Contest. For example, Rising Star champion quartets LoveNotes (2005, as UnderAge) and ClassRing (2014) went on to become international champion quartets (2014 and 2019, respectively), and many other Rising Star singers have gone on to form successful quartets. But when it comes to Rising Star, winning, while great, isn’t everything. Caitlin Castelino of LoveNotes says Rising Star is a bonding adventure. “We loved meeting all of the other young women and forming friendships that last to this day,” she said. “We loved spending time together away from home. It was like a multiple-day sleepover with our best friends!” The Rising Star Quartet Contest will be held on July 24, 2020 on the campus of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas (USA) during the Sweet Adelines International Education Symposium (IES). Quartets are encouraged to register for IES to take advantage of the interactive classes and enjoy the artistic atmosphere surrounding the Trinity campus. This year’s IES features a track for quartets and focus areas for young singers. When at least two members of a Rising Star competing quartet register for IES, they will receive a discount on their Rising Star entry fee. Madison Slamka of 2019 Rising Star Champion Quartet, Duly Noted, agreed that friendship and support are key elements of the contest. “You meet amazing people who have traveled and competed all over the world, and everyone is sincerely excited for you,” she said. “You get to sing on a stage with your best friends, and you are in it together, the good and the bad. There are so many talented people along the way who are willing to share their expertise. Rising Star is a great place to get your feet wet. It’s an experience you will never forget.” This year, Rising Star competitors will have the opportunity to work with Rising Star and International Quartet champions who volunteer their time to provide guidance as part of the Coaching with the Stars program. Quartets who enter Rising Star automatically gain access to the free coaching program. The Rising Star Quartet Contest is open to women age 25 and younger. Singers don’t need to be members of Sweet Adelines International to compete. The last day to enter the contest is June 1. Remember that there are only 20 spots for competitors, so register now!

For complete details, visit www.RisingStarQuartetContest.com.

Education

LIFTING OFF INTO THE LAND OF CHORDS

Barbershop chords explained by a Sweet Adelines Music Judge

e Music Judges live in the land of chords, but sometimes singers may not understand why we are such sticklers for certain chords when it comes to the strength or weakness of competition music. Choosing competition music is always a challenge, because every song and arrangement has its strengths and weaknesses. However, the chords that singers are asked to sing have much to do with the success — or lack thereof — they will experience in competition. As judges, we are responsible for recognizing what chords are acceptable, in tune, balanced, aligned, and correct. Thus, knowing what makes chords strong is an important “instrument” in the musician’s tool belt that can go a long way in assisting chorus directors, quartets and coaches in making educated choices about what to sing in competition.

Before we proceed with this discussion of chords, let’s be clear about two things: 1. Chords are only a part of what makes music contestable — an important part, yes, but just one component of a much more complex set of criteria explained in the 16 pages of the Music Category description in the Judging Category Description Book (JCDB) which can be found online at www.sweetadelines.com/education/ JCDB. It’s a complex issue and is one reason that all Music Judges must pass an arranger test before entering the judging program. 2. Chord ring and overtone production are fully dependent upon the quality of vocal production of the sound; physics helps, but the overtone structures within each individual voice properly produced and resonated and then blended with those of others and singing a matched vowel are the final determiners of lock and ring. It isn’t easy, but it is fun!

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In barbershop arranging, eleven chords are available to us, but of these, only certain chords (the BIG THREE) are “sacred” — the major triad, the barbershop (flatted) 7th, and the barbershop 9th (a five-part chord that’s a barbershop 7th with the root [preferred] or the 5th omitted). These chords are particularly valuable in barbershop singing because of the relationships of the frequencies between their components and because when they are properly balanced, they produce overtones on their own. These acoustical overtones can then be reinforced by the overtones of the voices singing them. That combination then yields that unmistakable thrill of a ringing chord. For instance, the triad is so strong (and usually ends 99% of our arrangements) because when the low root and the high root are locked, the sound of the 5th becomes audible (even when no voice is singing that note). Then when the 5th becomes apparent, the 3rd can be audibly distinguished. The overtone series then continues ad infinitum. Thus, the physics of sound assists the singer in ringing this chord. This phenomenon also occurs with the other two strong chords (the Barbershop 7th and 9th) because of the frequency ratios and distances between the steps in each one, which also reinforces the strength of the overtone structure. The Barbershop 7th (with its 5th often voiced in the bass) is often the penultimate chord in an important progression because it “points” to the resolving chord and produces the musical tension that can then be released by the subsequent triad. It creates that wonderful feeling when a quartet or chorus holds that next-to-the-last chord and we just can’t wait to hear the ring of the final triad. The Barbershop 9th is often used at the highest vocal point of a ballad, when it lends its mysterious acoustical strength to the passion of the lyrics. Complicated, perhaps, but strong chords are simply “in tune” with the physics of sound discovered many years ago by ancients like Pythagoras. Often, the melody line and the voice leading (how a part goes from note to note) require arrangers to use a number

and a variety of the remaining eight chords for effect, for logical progression, for key changes, and for any number of other reasons. These chords are absolutely necessary to creating artistry in barbershop arrangements. However, tuning and accurate delivery of those chords require expert vocal skills and a high level of musicianship. When such secondary chords become too dominant in an arrangement, this difficulty in tuning and the overall barbershop tonality of the piece is weakened.

Now, certainly, the use of secondary chords is especially prominent and appropriate in show songs and modern music, and our performances for the public should include those kinds of songs to remain relevant and entertaining. But for their competition music choices, the average chorus or quartet needs to be singing stronger barbershop music with stronger chords. Those kinds of chords can help a chorus or quartet to be more successful. Barbershop arrangements which utilize strong chords are well-designed and positioned so that the average singer can conquer them and sing them well. That’s the beauty of barbershop!

Two other factors need to be considered in looking at chords. • One is the voicing of the chords (a “who’s-on-first” kind of thing): which part is singing which element of the chord and whether that note needs to be adjusted up or down a bit and whether the chord matches the manageable singing

range of the singer singing that part. That’s where a careful assessment of singing skill and an ear for good tuning are valuable assets.

• Another consideration is the choice of chords that harmonize correctly with the melody so that the melody is clear and unmistakable and the song is harmonically recognizable. Songs that fit into good barbershop arrangements have logical structure and melodies that partner well with harmonic chord progressions. Arrangers are the ones who search for songs that fit well into the barbershop chord structure, but that’s a subject for another day — and another writer!

Because music education has become less available in some of today’s schools, many of our members and some of our directors need extra help in understanding music theory and the logistics of choosing competition music. Music Judges and Arrangers are always willing to discuss musical choices, chord strength, and matching choices to skill level with contestants and directors. Just as we respect coaches and educators, so should we respect Music Judges and Arrangers for the time and talent they bring to their areas of expertise. They, too, love the music that we sing and are on a constant quest to make it accessible to everyone. That’s the true beauty of barbershop — it truly is music for us all.

Sharon Babb is a Certified Music Judge, Certified Sound Judge, Music Category Specialist, past Sound Category Specialist, past International Secretary and served on the International Board of Directors. She was the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner — and is always a baritone! She will be on the faculty of the 2020 International Education Symposium (IES).

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Curl Up With A Good Book… About Sweet Adelines! Just in time for the 75th anniversary of Sweet Adelines International — a new book about Sweet Adelines history! Inside, find… • • • • • •

Archival photographs and documents spanning 75 years A timeline of key events in Sweet Adelines history Insight and inspiration from current members who took the “Why I Sing” survey Profiles of key figures and events A look into day-to-day Sweet Adelines life through the decades Memories, reminiscences, and more!

Save on shipping when you pre-order now! Bulk ordering available. Prices as low as $17.95 USD! Watch for ordering information on www.sweetadelines.com/shop

Share the love in a big way at convention… with JumboTron and program ads! • • • • •

Thank a director. Celebrate your region’s competitors. Honor a mentor. Welcome your newbies. Promote your product or upcoming event. Use your imagination!

Space is limited, so reserve your ad today! Closing date for advertising reservations is Aug. 7.

For more information including rates, technical requirements and how to purchase, visit www.sweetadelines.com/louisville.

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Sing the World with Harmony Travel! London “Sing In Harmony” Festival • July 17-23, 2021

$2199 USD per person/Double Occupancy • Perform with fellow Sweet Adelines at historic venues in London and Oxford, UK! • See the sights with dedicated tour managers. • Enjoy organized social events. • Meals, cultural events, ground services, and transportation included.

Featured Guest…2018 International Champion Quartet, Lustre! Harmony Travel will donate $100 USD per participant to Sweet Adelines International via The Overtone Society. Add on Cruise!

Quartet photos courtesy of Sweet Adelines International.

Post-festival cruise ($1979 Main Deck, $2229 Upper Deck) on the Seine River with 2020 International Champion Quartet, Viva!

For more information, visit www.harmony-travel.net/London Festival/SeineRiverCruise.

Celebrate 75 Years of Ringing Chords Barbershop Music Appreciation Day July 13, 2020 On July 13, 1945, a group of women met for barbershop singing, which led to the founding of Sweet Adelines International. Our birthday, July 13, officially became Barbershop Music Appreciation Day in 2005. How will you celebrate our special day this year? Will you perform for your community? Bake a birthday cake and sing “Happy Birthday” to Sweet Adelines (in four-part harmony, naturally!)? Wear birthday hats to rehearsal? Whatever you do, tag #LifeOnAHighNote and #SweetAdelinesDay so we can share!

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Education Q & A WITH

IES GUEST FACULTY

Lisa Popeil

weet Adelines International Education Symposium (IES) guest faculty Lisa Popeil has made singing her life’s work, developing the VoiceWorks® Method, which she uses in her coaching and teaching of singers from beginners to professionals. We caught up with Lisa shortly after she finished a tour with popular parody singer “Weird Al” Yankovic to find out what Sweet Adelines can expect when they meet her in San Antonio!

What led you to make a career of singing? My mother had received no formal education, and she wanted to give me every educational opportunity. I started piano at 4, then went to a theatrical school at 6 for dance and singing. By the time I was 7, I was losing my voice, so my mother found a classical voice teacher for me. Even from that early age, I thought that learning how to sing was infinitely fascinating. I’m constantly learning, doing research, discovering new things, and learning how to share that information with any age, any level so that they can experience the joy of having a voice that works for them.

Have you ever sung barbershop harmony? When I was 20, I was asked to be the director of a small Sweet Adelines chorus in Santa Clarita, California. I loved the music, the sense of camaraderie, and how competition inspires people to continue to be better. So, yes, I actually have more than a passing acquaintance with barbershop and Sweet Adelines singing!

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What excites you about teaching our members? I often meet people who are passionate about the science behind singing and how it's taught but who don't actually sing and rarely, if ever, perform. So, being able to share my life's work with people who are not only fascinated by singing but are actually doing it on a regular basis is a great gift for me. When I teach, I like to create an atmosphere of performance, where it’s fun. One of the things I love about Sweet Adelines is this overriding sense of joy and also this focus on education, so it's really a perfect fit for me. I never want to lose the magic of singing and what it's really there for, which is to inspire and heal people, not only the audience but ourselves. It’s what I live for.

What will our members take home with them after your classes? I develop techniques that lead to what I call the three C's: Control, Consistency, and Confidence. When you know how to Control your voice, it is consistent for you. Consistency is important because naturally talented singers often are inconsistent. They don’t know why they have a good day or a bad day, and this leads to the third C, which is Confidence. It’s hard to feel confident in your voice when you feel like it can fail you one day or be amazing another day, all without knowing why. I try to present this material in easy-to-understand terms so you can get results right away without having to do a lot of vocal exercising. My methods are based on knowledge of what to do to make a change or improvement, or to solve a vocal problem.

How did you maintain vocal health while on tour with “Weird Al” Yankovic? We were using our voices to talk all day, and the show is only an hour and a half long, so even though we were singing in all different styles, there were no problems whatsoever. The hard part about touring is the sleeping issue. You're sleeping on a tour bus, and then you may have to get up at 3 in the morning to bundle up into your hotel room. And meeting so many people and shaking so many hands, it's hard to not get ill. It's really more about maintaining physical health. But all in all, I was much healthier than I thought I'd be. It was just a magical experience of camaraderie and making great music every night to thousands and thousands of people, with a full orchestra too. But having alone time, quiet time, was also important. Balancing physical and mental health was one of the keys, I think.

What is the one skill that has the most impact on the voice? Support. I’ve found that when you do this precise support method I’ve developed involving the chest, the ribs, the upper belly and the lower belly, you can do almost anything. I can wake up in the middle of the night and sing a high C with no trouble. It allows me to take chest voice up high comfortably, easily. It helps pitch. It increases the ability to hold things out a long time. It’s sort of a one stop shop for vocal problems.

How long does it take to warm up a voice so that it's ready to sing freely? Not as long as one might think. My approach is that stretching the body is a very important warmup, so I teach a whole stretching series just for singers. I like to establish posture and warm up my support muscles. That takes 30 seconds. Then I'll do a few simple exercises to see how my voice is feeling, a diagnostic rather than a

precise list of exercises. I make sure my register transition is smooth going up and down. If it isn't, I'll warm up with some hums or light lip trills and check my vibrato. If it's too slow, that tells me I need to warm up more, and I'll use some short phrases. Then I have a little exercise to diagnose my belting sound. If it's easy to do, I'm good to go. I'm from the “save it for the stage” school of thought when it comes to vocal warmup. I think that healthy speaking, adequate vocal rest, and knowing your voice and how to diagnose your voice are key skills for warmup.

What techniques do you use for performance anxiety? Personally, I don’t have performance anxiety, but for my students who do, I have used a method for 30 years which is nothing short of miraculous. It’s a tapping method using acupressure called Thought Field Therapy (TFT). I also use some elements of an offshoot of TFT called Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and another approach called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). It works in as little as 30 seconds and as much as eight minutes. It works on most people, and it allows people who love to perform to do it without all those nervous feelings. In one of my workshops I'll demonstrate it. It’s just stunning how it works.

How does singing change lives? Singing has the potential to aid in people’s confidence, to enhance their charisma. It allows people to unload their emotions. Many singers who I work with, young singers in particular, just must sing. They need to sing to self-soothe and to feel loved and to love themselves. Singing has a very ancient and deep root in community. There’s a divine element to it, a connection to the universe feeling, a kind of ecstasy, that is important to all of us so we don’t feel alone and so we don’t succumb to sadness. I think singing brings joy, and that’s a good thing.

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Harmony up Round

Harmony Roundup is a place to share your adventures and achievements! Let us know what your chorus or quartet has been doing in your community. Email your submissions and photos to communications@sweetadelines.com.

Where We Sang Endeavor Harmony Chorus (#34) was part of the mass choir that sang Christine Anu’s song “Kulba Yaday” on the fourth annual ABC “Sing Out Sydney” program in honor of the United Nations Year of Indigenous Languages. The song is in the Kalaw Kawaw Ya language from the North Western Island of the Torres Strait. Gateway Chorus (#26) sang at the 2019 Edmonton Woman’s Show in Edmonton, Alberta (CAN) in October, and California HEAT Chorus (#12) provided entertainment for the California State Garden Clubs’ three-day convention. Greater Harrisburg Chorus (#19) sang at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the United States, and Hobart Harmony Chorus (#34) sang at Taste of Tasmania, Australia’s longest-running food and wine festival. Lustre (#19) headlined and hosted its annual Backyard Barbershop Bash featuring fellow Region #19 quartets Group Therapy, Cheers, Karma, Unaccompanied Women, and Next In Line. Harmony Fusion Chorus (#12) performed before The Nutcracker ballet at Bankhead Theater in Livermore, California (USA) and also sang the “Waltz of the Snowflakes” during the ballet. How We Sang Harmony in Community, a film about Capital Accord Chorus (#19) won the DC Filmmaker’s “Make a Movie in a Month” 2019 Spring Grand Prize and aired at the Wheaton Film Festival (where it won three awards) and Community Stories Film Festival in November. The film was made by Berlin Waechter, son of “Accordian” Peggy Turney. When the film completes its festival circuit, the chorus looks forward to sharing it on their website. In October,

Mo Barrett of Vienna-Falls Chorus/Twist of Fate Quartet (#14) gave a talk titled “The Power of Pulling Your Head Out” at TEDx Youngstown. Song of Sonoma Chorus (#12) performed at TEDx Sonoma County on Jan. 11. The TEDx program is part of the popular TEDTalks series of speakers. Bathurst Panorama Chorus (#34) won the community choir category and $700 bonus prize of the Everywhere Venues Australian Christmas Song Competition with their rendition of “Christmas Bells Ringing” by Hazel Hughes. Why We Sang Members of Scenic City Chorus (#4) taught a barbershop singing workshop during Hamilton Sings, a one-day event at which fifth-graders from each school in the Hamilton County School District (Tennessee, USA) attend workshops during the day and perform in the evening. Dundalk Chorus (#19) sang at a Goucher College Student Support Network fundraiser. The organization assists students experiencing homelessness or other difficulties. California HEAT Chorus (#12) collected women’s undergarments for Free the Girls, a nonprofit that supports women rescued from sex trafficking. Throughout 2019, members of Mayflower A Cappella Chorus (#31) collected funds for Elder Tree Befriending Service, an organization that helps elders maintain independence. At the end of the year, the chorus performed for the group and presented their donation. A quartet of singers from Greater Nassau Chorus (#15) performed at the 4th Annual Drumming for Our Veterans fundraiser in Huntington, New York (USA).

An ensemble from Talk of Tulsa Show Chorus (#25) was honored to sing at the February Naturalization Ceremony at the Tulsa office of Federal District Court, welcoming new citizens of the United States. Court Administrative Specialist Liz Wilson commented, “I think you all made the ceremony really special, and I just can’t thank you enough. There is so much talent in your group. It’s really impressive. I hope you all will come back!”

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Grand Rapids Chorus (#17) ran a barbershop seminar for singers from the Grand Rapids Community College Madrigals choral ensemble. The seminar included lessons on the history of barbershop, tag singing, choreography, opportunities for competitions, and how to become part of Grand Rapids Chorus. Grand Rapids Chorus performed for and with the Madrigals at their choral concert in October.

One hundred years ago, Indiana ratified the 19th Amendment, which continued the national trajectory of women winning the right to vote in the United States. On January 16, 2020, an ensemble of 24 singers, led by director Kim Newcomb, from Capital City Chorus (#4) in Indianapolis, traveled to the Indiana Statehouse to perform for the Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial Celebration. Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch greeted the assembled guests, several of whom were dressed all in white, some in historical “suffragette” style. Capital City’s three celebratory songs were well received, and there was “much clapping and snapping along with us.” Following the 50-minute program, guests walked to the House Gallery to celebrate the passing of a resolution honoring the centennial. “It was a fabulous experience, and we were honored to have been involved and very proud to lend our voices to this momentous event,” said Newcomb.

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Countdown to 75 years

1990-1999: COME AS YOU ARE One of our most important tasks in the present is to envision, focus on, and secure the future. International President Karen Koch (The Pitch Pipe, July 1993) E S T. 1 9 4 5

The stories in this article are gleaned from past issues of The Pitch Pipe magazine. All issues can be found in the archives at Sweet Adelines International Headquarters in Tulsa, Okla.

For the Youth: The Young Women in Harmony (YWIH) program, approved in 1989, took effect in 1990, and choruses immediately began programs for young singers. Throughout the 1990s, young choruses and quartets flourished, and in 1999, the first Rising Star Quartet Contest was held at the first International Education Symposium at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas (USA). Thirteen quartets competed, and Dazzling Diamonds of Michigan won the contest. The Pitch Pipe reported that, “The Rising Star Quartet Contest left attendees feeling that the future of barbershop is bright.”

1996 Olympic soccer matches. Cypress Sounds Chorus performed at a regional meeting of the International Model “A” Restorers Club. Denver Denver quartet performed as the “harmony hazard” during an indoor miniature golf game that was part of the National Conference of Financiers. There, they met former U.S. President Gerald Ford. In 1997, Pearls of the Sound Chorus sang for Prince Sigvard Bernadotte, a world-famous industrial designer, at his 90th birthday in Helsingborg, Sweden.

The Barbershop Singers of the Indiana School for the Blind (USA) were among many Young Women in Harmony choruses that sang in the 90s. The Barbershop Singers were affiliated with Capital City Chorus.

A Name Change: In the October 1989 issue of The Pitch Pipe, it was announced that Sweet Adelines, Inc. would change its name to Harmony International, effective May 1, 1990. The controversial name change lasted until May 1, 1991, when the International Board of Directors (IBOD) changed the organization’s name to Sweet Adelines International and initiated a series of surveys to determine the needs and wishes of members. Unusual performances: The Heart of Essex Chorus performed at the International Plowing Match, the largest farm exhibition in Canada. Golden Belle Chorus performed at the Great Montana Centennial Cattle Drive. Mission Belles Chorus sang for Queen Elizabeth II when she visited San Antonio, Texas (USA) in 1991. Classified Chords quartet performed at the 1992 World Gymnastics Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana (USA). Sound of Sunshine Chorus sang for the opening of the

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Genesis quartet performed three times at the Pan-American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba (CAN).

Film/Television/Recording: 1994 Queens of Harmony, Showtime, performed between segments on the QVC Shopping Channel, a television channel that features items for sale. Director Jo Kraut of Kansas City Chorus threw out the first pitch when the chorus performed at a Kansas City Royals baseball game. Their rendition of the U.S. national anthem at that game became the one used for signing on and off local television station KZKC. Sheri Izzard, who got her start singing with Kansas City Chorus, played a nun in the 1992 movie Sister Act (and its 1993 sequel). Purbrook

Harmony Chorus was one of the first acts accepted for London Weekend Television’s variety show series, Barrymore, which aired from 1991-2000. Touch of Texas Chorus appeared in the 1992 movie Leap of Faith starring Steve Martin and Debra Winger. The Sound of Sunshine Chorus contributed a Christmas medley to the Share the Wonder Christmas album, which also included songs by Paul McCartney, Willie Nelson, Neil Sedaka, Belinda Carlisle, and Spinal Tap, among others.

Members of Mexico City Chorus sang background for U.S. pop singer Michael Bolton at two sold-out performances.

Celebrities wearing Sweet Adelines shirts given to them by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Carol Connor, an honorary member of Sound of Sunshine Chorus. Left to right are actors Beverly Sassoon, Barbara Luna, Ruth Buzzi, Barbi Benton, women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred, songwriter Carol Connors, and actor Tippie Hedren.

1990 International Champion Quartet, Panache, sang for former U.S. President Ronald Reagan at his surprise 80th birthday party in 1991.

Desert Shield. When the Persian Gulf Conflict ended in 1991, several choruses took part in “Welcome Home” ceremonies, including Farmington Valley, Mountain Laurel, Heart of the Valley, San Diego, Great Lakes, Lehigh Valley, Heart of the Valley, Golden Valley, and Spirit of Detroit. Members of Buffalo Gateway Chorus sang at a ceremony for Terry Anderson, an American journalist who had been held hostage in Lebanon from 1985-1991.

Farmington Valley Chorus performing at a welcome home ceremony at Westover Air Force Base.

Hurricane Andrew: In August 1992, Hurricane Andrew struck the Bahamas and the southern coast of the United States. Region #9 set up a fund to benefit barbershoppers affected by the storm, and later that year, Stars of Harmony Chorus organized a benefit concert, “Hurricane Harmony.” Sweet Adelines who performed included quartets Showtime (1994 International Champion Quartet) and choruses Royal Palm, Miami Magic, Suncoast Sound, and, of course Stars of Harmony. In a 1993 letter, The Suncoast Sound Chorus wrote, “In the wake of Andrew, fourteen members of Suncoast Chorus lost their homes, our rehearsal hall was devastated, and many members have had to relocate. But because of your generous gifts of supplies, clothing, and money, the difficulties of many have been lessened…The true meaning of harmony lives in our minds and sings in our hearts.” Oklahoma City Bombing: On April 19, 1995, the U.S. was shocked by the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Tragically, OK City Chorus member Jamie Genzer, who worked in the federal building, was among those killed. Shortly after the bombing, SA Corporate Secretary Mary Lou Hatley passed away unexpectedly. Staff members planted trees in memory of Genzer and Hatley at the headquarters building — a redbud tree (Oklahoma’s state tree) for Genzer and a dogwood tree for Hatley. Many individual Sweet Adelines and 125 choruses contributed to a trust fund set up for Genzer’s children.

Harmonize the World: In the late 90s, what had been known as “World Wide Areas” became official Sweet Adelines regions: Nordic Light (#32) in 1997, New Zealand (#35) in 1998, and Quartet of Nations (#31) and Southern Cross (#34) in 1999. Welcome Home: Many Sweet Adelines and their families were affected by military conflicts in the Middle East in the early 1990s. In 1990, Just Friends quartet sang on the Purple Heart Cruise, a cruise on Lake Michigan for 500 veterans from area hospitals. Lt. Col. Sue McConaughy of Tonal A-Chord quartet and Big Sky Chapter accompanied her battalion (370th Quartermaster Battalion of Great Falls, Montana) to Saudi Arabia to serve during

Regional leaders and International Board members sing at a ceremony remembering victims and honoring heroes of the Oklahoma City bombing.

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Harmonizing the World Wide Web: In 1995, the IBOD voted to put Sweet Adelines International online. Our first presence on what was then called the World Wide Web was the order of appearance for the 1995 international quartet contest, which was posted on America Online’s Barbershop Digest site. On Feb. 16, 1996, we launched our first home page. That same year, Harmony Heights Chorus of Uppsala, Sweden became the first Sweet Adelines chorus to be heard on the internet when they posted song recordings on their newly-established chorus home page. In 1997, Sue Beck, then a member of the Technology Committee, wrote, “Can you visualize browsing an online department, ordering your music, and perhaps even attending education sessions without leaving the comfort of your own keyboard? How about ‘chat rooms,’ where lively discussions on topics of your choice can be conducted? These are some of the possible uses for technology in the Sweet Adelines International world. But never fear; we’ll always have that personal touch — after all, it takes at least four live, warm bodies to ring a chord!” The Year With No Champions: At the July 23, 1993 IBOD meeting, the board, along with the Coronet Club, decided that champions would be designated by the year of their reign rather than the year of their win. The 1992 International Champion Quartet was City Lights, and when Showtime won in 1993, they became the 1994 International Champion Quartet because of the change. The 1992 International Champion Chorus was Rich-Tone Chorus, and Toast of Tampa was named the 1994 International Champion Chorus. That is why, technically, there are no champions for 1993!

1990 Salt Lake City, Utah (USA) 1991 San Antonio, Texas (USA) 1992 Baltimore, Maryland (USA) 1993 Indianapolis, Indiana (USA) 1994 Reno, Nevada (USA) 1995 New Orleans, Louisiana (USA) 1996 Fort Lauderdale, Florida (USA) 1997 Salt Lake City, Utah (USA) 1998 Nashville, Tennessee (USA) 1999 Atlanta, Georgia (USA)

1989-1991 • Marsha Fulton 1991-1993 • Betty Clipman 1993-1995 • Karen Koch 1995-1996 • Marge Bailey 1996-1997 • Julie Kendrick 1997-1998 • Kathy Carmody 1998-1999 • Karen Breidert 1999-2000 • Kathy Carmody

1990 • Panache 1991 • Swing Street 1992 • City Lights 1994 • Showtime* 1995 • Chicago Fire 1996 • Weekend Edition 1997 • 4-Star Collection 1998 • Classic Edition 1999 • Rumors

1990 • Ramapo Valley Chorus 1991 • Gem City Chorus 1992 • Rich-Tone Chorus 1994 • Toast of Tampa Show Chorus* 1995 • Melodeers Chorus 1996 • Rich-Tone Chorus 1997 • North Metro Chorus 1998 • Melodeers Chorus 1999 • Rich-Tone Chorus

The October 1999 issue of The Pitch Pipe celebrated the winners of our first Rising Star Quartet Contest.

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* See "The Year With No Champions"

YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW… 75th Diamond Jubilee

74th Annual Convention & Competition Oct. 12-17, 2020 • Louisville, Ky., USA E S T. 1 9 4 5

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“Soon I’ll be in Louisville. I’m so happy I could cry. Here I come, Louisville… Louisville, KY.” — Ella Fitzgerald, “Louisville KY”

“I knew that I’d come back some day. I knew it from the start. Eight more miles to Louisville, the hometown of my heart.” — Grandpa Jones, “Eight More Miles to Louisville”

Photos courtesy of Louisville Conventions and Visitors Bureau | April 2020

Be Part of the Diamond Jubilee Fun! This year marks the 75th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary of Sweet Adelines International. It’s a great reason to make our 74th Annual Convention & Competition extra fun! In addition to the singing, camaraderie, education, and world-class barbershop competition you’ve come to expect at Convention, here are just a few of the special anniversary activities included with your registration this year:

STAY.

Book your room in Sweet Adelines’ official hotel block! All hotels in the official Sweet Adelines hotel block are located either across the street or just a few blocks from the Convention Center. The hotels are surrounded by restaurants, shops, and entertainment, so you won’t have to go far to find food and fun in between competitions and classes. Reservation information for all convention hotels can be found at www.sweetadelines.com/louisville/hotels.

Stay in the Legendary Galt House Hotel The newly-renovated, historic Galt House Hotel and Suites will be the Sweet Adelines International headquarters hotel. The hotel, which began as a private residence in the 1800s, is Louisville’s only waterfront hotel, with sweeping views of the Ohio River. We will be among the first guests to stay in the

PLAY.

Lots to love in Louisville! Louisville, Kentucky (USA), the city on the banks of the Ohio River, will be “the hometown of our hearts” as we gather there to celebrate our 74th Annual Convention & Competition and the 75th Diamond Anniversary of our organization! Members of Louisville’s Pride of Kentucky Chorus, affectionately nicknamed “PoKy,” look forward to welcoming Sweet Adelines to their beautiful city. “Louisville is a big town but with a small-town

• In the grand tradition of Louisville’s Derby hat milliners, representatives will show off their finest creations at the Regional Roll Call and Hat Parade. • See our history unfold in a series of historical displays showcasing 75 years of ringing chords together. • Sparkle from within and dance the night away at the Diamond Afterglow, with a dessert bar and music provided by DJ Jaybird, one of Kentucky’s most popular dance DJs.

Save up to $50 USD if you register by May 27! For details on how to register, visit www.sweetadelines.com/ louisville/registration.

Galt after its $100 million (USD) renovation! You can visit with friends in the conservatory, catch surprise performances, and attend several special events planned to make your stay extra enjoyable.

Getting Around Louisville Because hotels within Sweet Adelines' hotel block are so close to the convention center, busing will only be available for competitors entering the traffic pattern, but you can easily get around Louisville on the zero-emissions vehicles of LouLift. The LouLift transports travel between Museum Row, the Downtown Business District, Historic Whiskey Row, NuLu (New Louisville), Old Louisville and Churchill Downs, all for free! For those in need of scooter rental, local business Discount Medical Supplies is offering a special weekly rate for convention attendees. For information on all things transportation in Louisville, visit www.sweetadelines.com/louisville/ transportation.

vibe, which I love,” said PoKy member Mary Ann Gomes. “It’s got something for everyone...eclectic and diverse from traditional to non-traditional. We want to show Sweet Adelines what southern hospitality is all about!” PoKy Chorus President Peggy Sutton agreed. “As a transplant to Louisville from the west coast, I was glad to find the diversity I was used to,” she said. “It’s all here, from neighborhood to neighborhood, just in a smaller footprint, all in harmony together. It’s wonderful! PoKy members sent us an exuberant list of recommendations for Sweet Adelines who want to experience Louisville.

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Louisville is Happening! See the sights of Louisville and surrounding areas with tours designed for Sweet Adelines! Visit www.sweetadelines.com/louisville for updates and information! Outdoors in October “This is a wonderful time of year to visit Louisville,” said PoKy member Donna Ebelhar. In the U.S., October is Halloween month, and Sweet Adelines arrive in Louisville just in time for The Jack O’Lantern Spectacular, a display of thousands of professionally carved, lit pumpkins along a walkway through the wooded setting of Iroquois Park. Speaking of walks, PoKy member Susan Taylor said, “I would love for our Sweet Adeline visitors to walk the Big Four Bridge across the Ohio River at night. So beautiful, and offers a great night skyline of our city.” Both the Jack O’Lantern Spectacular and the Big Four Bridge are wheelchair-accessible. Live Music and Other Fun PoKy members also recommend 4th Street Live! a covered entertainment area right next to the convention center with a food court, restaurants, clubs, and lots of live music and dancing! To find out about live music and other arts events, PoKy members recommend checking the LEO Weekly, a local publication which can be found online at www.leoweekly.com. Art and History on Museum Row For art and history enthusiasts, Louisville’s Museum Row includes a variety of offerings. You’ll find immersive displays at the Frazier Kentucky History Museum. The Speed Art Museum boasts an extensive collection spanning 6,000 years of art, and the freeadmission KMAC (Kentucky Museum of Arts and Crafts) hosts a robust calendar of exhibitions and events.

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Classic Louisville Kentucky Derby PoKy members are proud to recommend classic Louisville destinations, beginning with a tour of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum, where you can buy a fancy hat and a mint julep. (We hope that will inspire you to pick up a 75th Jubilee commemorative julep cup from SA International Sales!) Louisville’s milliners are known for meticulous work and elegant style. The Formé Millinery Hat Shop is the official milliner of the Derby, and owner Jenny Pfanenstiel’s hand-crafted creations can be admired (and bought) at her shop or at the Derby Museum. Louisville Baseball PoKy also recommend a visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum to “see how we contribute to the best of baseball and take your picture with the largest bat/glove in the world!” Louisville Slugger has provided bats for players from World Series champions to youth baseball leagues for more than 135 years. Distilleries Of course, Kentucky is known for the Bourbon Trail of distilleries, and Louisville has several. PoKy members especially recommend the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, one of several distilleries near the Convention Center. It was the first distillery on “Whiskey Row,” where Louisville’s bourbon industry began in the mid-1800s. Muhammad Ali Cultural Center For an inspiring experience, members recommend a visit to the Muhammad Ali Cultural Center, which presents interactive exhibits on the life of this world-changing Olympic boxing champion and humanitarian. Ali was born in Louisville (a historical marker notes the location of his childhood home), and he is buried in Louisville’s Cave Hill Cemetery.

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Eat Well in Louisville Kentucky Hot Brown “Louisville is a total foodie town,” says PoKy. They recommend a visit to the iconic Brown Hotel for a Kentucky “Hot Brown,” Louisville’s most famous dish. The Hot Brown, an open-faced, broiled sandwich covered in a rich cheese sauce, is a relative of the Welsh rarebit. Vegan in Louisville Louisville’s vegan options include V-Grits (“our own vegan in the chorus gives this her star of approval”), Heart and Soy/Naïve and Shahar Café. PoKy members said most Louisville restaurants offer a variety of options for people who need dietary accommodations of all kinds. Near Hotels and Convention Center PoKy says there are “great restaurants in all food types and ranges” near the Sweet Adelines hotels and Convention Center. They especially recommend Doc Crows (barbecue), Patrick O’Shea’s Irish and bar food, Impellizeri’s pizza and Italian, Bearno’s pizza, Side Bar sandwiches/burgers, the Bristol (“very reasonably priced, and the Green Chili Wontons are the bomb!”), Mussel and Burger bar (“exactly what the name implies”) and for more upscale dining, Proof on Main (“very upscale and unique cuisine”). Celebrity Chefs in Louisville If you’ve ever watched a cooking show on television and wished you could try what you’re seeing, Louisville has some options for you! Edward Lee from television’s Top Chef has three restaurants in Louisville: Whiskey Dry, MilkWood and 610 Magnolia (reservations only), a prix fixe restaurant with “unbelievable courses,” said PoKy. They also proudly note that Louisville is the hometown of Damaris Phillips, winner of Food Network Star and current co-host of The Bobby and Damaris Show with Bobby Flay. Louisville also boasts Jason Smith, winner of Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship and judge on Best Baker in America and Worst Bakers in America.

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Shop and Dine in NuLu

Visit Beautiful Old Louisville

For those willing to venture a short way from the Convention Center, PoKy members recommend Louisville’s newest shopping and dining area, lovingly called “NuLu” for “New Louisville.” They say it is “a treasure trove of shops and restaurants in all price ranges and food styles, from awesome burgers at Grind, barbecue at Feast, and the most delicious Mayan food on the planet (try the lima beans!) at The Mayan Café.” They also recommend “the breakfast specialties at Toast and Harvest and the really special artisan food and drink menus at Decca and Rye.” They said “the best cookies are at Please & Thank You, the best macarons are at the Macaron Bar, and our iconic Modjeskas are at Muth’s Candies, which has been in business for 93 years!” The area also includes a variety of locally-owned boutique and craft shops. “Strolling up and down these blocks is a great way to spend an afternoon,” said PoKy members.

A short ride from the Convention Center, Old Louisville is home to the largest collection of Victorian mansions in the United States. Among the mansions is The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, designed by famed local architect Arthur Loomis. The mansion is ornate, featuring gargoyles and other stone carving on the outside and intricate woodwork on the inside. The neighborhood is situated around the urban oasis of Central Park, which was designed by Frederik Law Olmstead, who also designed New York City’s park of the same name. The tree-filled park includes wide paths so you can enjoy the fall foliage of October.

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2020 LOUISVILLE ORDER OF APPEARANCE There’s so much to be learned from live international competition sessions. Enjoy and support all competitors on the international stage!

2020 INTERNATIONAL HARMONY CLASSIC CHORUS COMPETITION

E S T. 1 9 4 5

Division A

1. Grand Traverse Show • Region #2 2. Spirit of Harmony • Region #6 3. Milltown Sound • Region #31 4. Carolina Harmony • Region #14 5. Valley Forge • Region #19

Division AA

1. Alamo Metro • Region #10 2. No Borders Show • Region #31 3. Brindabella • Region #34 4. York Harmony • Region #16 5. OK City • Region #25

2020 INTERNATIONAL QUARTET COMPETITION 1. VOCE 2. Wildcard #3 3. Region #12 4. Tenacious 5. Region #14 6. Lucille 7. All Fired Up 8. Region #10 9. Region #16 10. Region #34 11. Ambush 12. Region #1

13. RetroActive 14. Region #15 15. Region #32 16. Region #6 17. Region #4 18. GQ 19. Region #35 20. Region #25 21. Region #13 22. Glamour 23. Region #21 24. Region #8

25. Fortuity 26. TITANIUM 27. Region #9 28. Region #5 29. Region #17 30. Region #31 31. Renegade 32. Sparkle! 33. Wildcard #6 34. Wildcard #8 35. Milli Blink 36. Wildcard #5

37. Region #2 38. Wildcard #2 39. Region #19 40. Wildcard #7 41. Wildcard #4 42. Wildcard #9 43. Region #11 44. Region #3 45. Wildcard #1 46. Wildcard #10 47. Region #26 48. The Ladies

2020 INTERNATIONAL CHORUS COMPETITION 1. Metro Nashville • Region #4 2. River City Sound • Region #3 3. Pacific Empire • Region #12 4. Song of Atlanta • Region #14 5. The Woodlands Show • Region #10 6. Harmony Celebration • Region #15 7. Heartbeat UK • Region #31 8. Coastline Show • Region #1 9. Waikato Rivertones • Region #35 10. Pearls of the Sound • Region #32 11. Buffalo Gateway • Region #17 12. Motor City Blend • Region #2 13. Farmington Valley • Region #1 14. Skyline • Region #8 15. Gateway • Region #26 16. O-Town Sound • Region #9 • WITHDRAWN 17. London • Region #2

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18. Pride of Kentucky • Region #4 19. Santa Monica • Region #11 20. Aberdeen • Region #31 21. Pride of Portland • Region #13 22. Spirit of the Gulf • Region #9 23. Westcoast Harmony • Region #26 24. Greater Harmony • Region #17 25. Greater Harrisburg • Region #19 26. Harborlites • Region #21 27. River Blenders • Region #5 28. Rich-Tone • Region #25 29. North Metro • Region #16 30. City of Lakes • Region #6 31. Liberty Oak • Region #15 32. Midwest Crossroad • Region #3 33. Velvet Hills • Region #8

Education 9 WAYS TO BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE Advice from the Inner Coach of Barbershop, Jan Carley

ack of self-confidence can get in the way of us moving forward or perhaps even taking action at all. The good news? Selfconfidence isn’t something you were born with. It is something that you can develop! All it takes is focus and intention. Here are nine of my favourite ways to build or restore your self-confidence.

6. Let Go of Perfect Perfectionism is a confidence killer and a major holdback. Go for Imperfect Action instead of Perfect Inaction. What counts is quality of effort, not perfect results. Celebrate the journey and each incremental step of progress you make.

1. Psych Yourself Up, Not Out Self-talk can propel you forward or take you down. Negative self-talk becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Instead of saying to yourself, “I’m not good at that, I don’t think I can do that” etc., develop a short positive, empowering mental mantra that excites and inspires you. Perhaps something as simple as, “I’ve got this!” or “This is an exciting opportunity.” or “I belong here.” or “I rock!” etc. Positive thoughts lead to positive action. What you say to yourself is what you become.

7. Set Yourself Up for Success The very best way to ensure self-confidence is to be prepared. Set yourself up for success by taking care of the things you are in control of. Prepare until your skills are in a state of “unconscious competence.” Preparation is a gift you can give yourself. (Note: As you prepare, keep in mind #6.)

2. Flip Your Focus If you focus your thoughts on your lack of self-confidence it only makes things worse. Instead, you want to flip your focus to how you want to feel. For example, “I want to feel at ease, relaxed, and in charge” instead of what you “don’t” want to feel (terrified, nervous, tense). Visualize your desired state and act AS IF. Focusing on what you want will get your brain naturally firing on a forward-moving state — a desired state — and that releases all kinds of good brain chemicals to boost your selfconfidence.

8. Put Things Into Perspective In my early 20s, when hit with the inevitable pre-job interview erosion of self-confidence, I would remind myself that no matter WHAT happened in the interview, my family would still love me. I would still have friends. Remembering the big picture will give you perspective when your self-confidence is ebbing. 9. Develop Resiliency Developing the skill of resiliency will help you recalibrate and restore your self-confidence quickly when things go off track. We all make mistakes; we all have disappointments. Our ability to quickly let it go, and get back to the present will allow us to continue to grow.

3. Adopt a Growth Mindset A growth mindset believes that wherever you are right now is simply where you are and that you have the capacity to grow your skills from that point. With a growth mindset, there is no confidence-sapping judgment. Your focus instead is on development and improving. Show up as a Learner and feel the burden of having to be perfect fall away. Focus on Improving instead of Proving. 4. Remember and Transfer Your Past Successes Remember the situations when your self-confidence was high. Focus on how you felt in that moment. If you felt confidence once, you can recall it and feel it again — and simply transfer that feeling to any new situation. 5. Recognize and Celebrate Your Strengths There is only one “you,” and you have a unique blend of personal qualities, strengths, and skills. Acknowledge and build on your strengths to buoy your self-confidence. Success is the art of being who you already are.

Jan Carley, the Inner Coach of Barbershop, is the author of Harmony from the Inside Out and The Overtone Effect. She sings lead in Lions Gate Chorus and Fandango Quartet (Region #26) and will be guest faculty at Sweet Adelines International Education Symposium (IES) July 22-26, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas (USA). Both her books are available for purchase through Sweet Adelines International Sales, www.sweetadelines.com/shop.

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WHAT DOES A REGIONAL COMPETITION COORDINATOR DO? Q&A with Seven Regional Competition Coordinators

ith regional competitions in full swing, you may notice a team of dedicated leaders and volunteers working to make regional competition weekends as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. The Regional Competition Coordinator (CC) plays a key role on that team. Though the specifics of the role vary by region, all CCs are in charge of keeping track of many details, communicating with many people, and making many decisions. It’s a big job, but because so much of it happens behind the scenes, not everyone knows what it entails. We spoke with seven former and current CCs from six regions to learn more about this important position and what you need to know if you want to take it on yourself someday: Val Clark, #25; Kathy Dow, #8; Judy Galloway, #13; Alice Mills, #31; Emma Riley, #31; Claire Takacs, #35; and Kellie Welsh, #10.

What are the main responsibilities of the Regional Competition Coordinator (CC)? The CC responsibilities are outlined in SA’s guidelines for regional convention, but they vary depending on the needs of the region. Most echoed the description of the role given by Region #25’s Val Clark: “We plan and supervise the execution of all competition-related activities in cooperation with the Chair of the Regional Convention (CRC) and committee members for the regional competition and convention. That includes scheduling the competition pattern, briefings, performance facilities, stage, sound and lighting setup, supervision of transportation, audiovisuals (including the webcast for regions that have one), tech and backstage crew, and working with the Official Panel Liaison (OPL) to take care of all arrangements for the Official Judging Panel and Trial Scorers.” Dow (#8) and Galloway (#13) noted that in some regions, the CC focuses more on the competition while the CRC focuses on the convention details, but there is usually some

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overlap in the roles, and, of course, communication between all committees is imperative. Mills (#31) said quality control is also part of the job: “It’s my role to ensure that if you step out on the Region #31 stage, you get the same smooth experience on the day — and the same high quality of audio and visual recording — as you would at any other regional convention throughout the world.”

How do CCs interact with the panel chair, Regional Management Team (RMT), etc.? Regional CCs usually meet with their team at least once, often to tour the venue and hotel where the competition/convention will be held. All CCs said that timely, accurate communication with the panel chair, Regional Management Team (RMT), Event Coordinator (EVC), Convention Assistance Chapter (the chapter that helps out with convention) and, of course, choruses and quartets is important both while preparing for competition and on the day of competition itself. Welsh (#10) said, “I hold a joint briefing for the choruses and quartets on Friday morning at 9. The panel chair comes down about half an hour early, and she and I begin to test the sound together before the briefing starts. I also make sure I have a way to communicate with the panel chair while she is in the pit so if I need to deal with something, I can get her attention without having to walk out there and be an interruption.”

What is your CC work calendar like leading up to competition? “Believe it or not, work for the following year begins as soon as the previous convention ends!” said Mills (#31). “The convention team gets together on Sunday of convention to discuss what went

well and what could be improved for next year.” Most report that evaluation and planning begins almost immediately, followed by more conference calls and activity as paperwork is due and plans become solidified. All agree that the busiest time of year is the competition itself, when the CC seemingly needs to be everywhere at once. All CCs arrive early for setup and sound, but some have an extra layer of responsibility. “We hold our competition in Houston, Texas (USA), but there are no theater venues we can afford, so we have to hold it in a ballroom and build it from the stage up,” said Welsh (#10). “We hire a professional staging company, and they come in first, then the lighting and sound people, and then the risers…so I’ve got people coming and going all day in preparation.”

What is competition day like for the CC? “There are a lot of moving parts, and they can change at the weirdest times,” said Galloway (#13). For a CC, competition day means being the point person for a multitude of details — often while being a competitor yourself. “When I first started being CC, I would wear the headset backstage,” said Welsh (#10). “I stayed back there 100% of the time, and I would have my costume and makeup on and my hair done. When it was time for my quartet to go on, I would take the headset off, walk onstage, perform, then come straight back and put the headset back on. People would say, ‘You’re going to go onstage with a headset on one of these days!’” From making sure the traffic pattern is flowing smoothly to keeping track of the webcast and recording to answering questions, the CC must be the calm point person for just about everything and everybody. “I’ve been a convention assistant at International too so have seen the backstage process there,” said Riley (#31). “It’s the same, just a different scale: Organise, communicate, stay calm and patient!” All the CCs value interacting with competitors. Mills (#31) said, “I aim to make eye contact with every competitor as they wait in the wings, wish them good luck and give them that final confidence boost before they step onstage. We’ve all experienced pounding hearts, jelly legs, and a dry mouth just before we step onstage, so hopefully a friendly face and some words of support in that moment help.” When competition is over, the CC supervises clean-up and makes sure scoresheets are copied and distributed, among other things. Then they begin thinking about next year’s competition.

All of the CCs said when shadowing is not possible, relying on mentorship from more experienced leaders is key.

What are some of the biggest challenges and rewards of being CC? All said the many challenges of running a regional competition can also be the biggest rewards. “I really love the challenge of trying to make the contest run more smoothly each year,” said Takacs (#35). Clark (#25) said, “I love the challenge of putting on a high level competition, and I have a high-functioning team who knows the high standards we expect and an incredibly supportive RMT.” Mills (#31) said what she learns as CC helps her in other areas as well: “As CC, there are times when you need to take charge and make executive decisions, sometimes under time pressure. To quote the CC Handbook, ‘You are expected to be knowledgeable, decisive, unflappable, calm, steady, and pleasant at all times.’ If you can nail that for convention, it really does give you confidence and assertiveness in your everyday life!”

What skills are needed to be a successful CC? All agree that a CC needs to be detail-oriented, organized, patient, decisive, skilled with computers, and good at communicating with a wide variety of people. Galloway (#13) points out that a CC also needs to be willing and able to mentor those who may one day become her successor. “They have to be a good team player, a good leader, and a good motivator,” she said. “They need to not just tell people what to do but illustrate it and explain it so they want to do it themselves.” They also need to be compassionate, said Dow (#8). “It can get frustrating to motivate people to get their paperwork in on time and things like that,” she said. “But you have to remember that they don’t know all the ups and downs of competition. Sometimes you end up holding hands, but that’s not a bad thing. Maybe they’ve never done this before. They need to be brought along. We’ve all been there.” Clark (#25) adds, “It’s an incredibly rewarding job, but it needs someone who can multitask and has solid time management along with strong project management skills. It requires innovation and constant process improvement. Plus, you just have to LOVE the job.”

How are new CCs mentored or prepared for the role?

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a CC?

Most CCs volunteer before becoming CC. All agree that good mentorship makes transitioning to the role much less daunting. “If there is a possibility of shadowing the outgoing CC, you will learn all you need to know!” said Takacs (#35). Most had shadowed the outgoing CC for at least a year. Dow (#8) said when she expressed interest, “the outgoing CC said, ‘I'm going to continue to be CC for a year, and you can be my shadow. I will keep you involved in every decision I make, every email that I get, every correspondence that I have with the judging panel.’ I was involved in all of those things for a year, but it wasn't my responsibility yet. The second year, I became the CC, and she shadowed me, and if I had questions, I could go to her for help (and I can still go to her, fortunately). By the third year, I was ready to go on my own.”

“It’s a big job,” said Welsh (#10). “If somebody wants to be CC, they have to know what they’re stepping into.” All agree that volunteering to help with regional competition is a good way to do that. They recommend taking on increasingly complex roles to find out how all aspects of competition function. Some regions have more formal succession plans, but in general, CCs recommend asking to shadow the CC, “even if it can only be for half a day at contest or for the month of February,” said Galloway (#13). Dow agrees. “Participate in the process,” she said. “The more competitions you go to, the more you observe how they are run. It’s great that our organization can give these roles to women who want to become leaders. We learn by doing, and boy, there's a lot to be done!”

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Membership

IDENTIFYING YOUR TARGET AUDIENCES FOR RECRUITMENT Get to know your potential new members

e know there are singers who would love being Sweet Adelines if only we could convince them to give it a try! Recruitment in general can be a challenge, but a key part of recruitment is determining who you want to recruit. The more you know about your target audience, the better you can design a marketing plan to motivate these potential new members to join your chorus or quartet and fulfill Sweet Adelines’ vision statement of “inspiring and empowering voices to joyfully harmonize the world.” The first step is to define the target audience to provide useful information. Target audiences can be narrow or broad segments of the population. You might target all capable singers, young singers, singers with low-pitched voices, busy singers who want to devote time for themselves, singers who live within 40 minutes of your rehearsal site, etc. It’s fine to have more than one target audience, but remember that the more audiences you try to reach, the more fragmented marketing efforts can become. Because each target audience has different needs to take into consideration, a clear and accurate understanding of prospective members fosters better marketing strategies and better communications. For example, singers who have been off the stage for several years may need reassurance that education will be

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provided. Busy singers will want you to be upfront about time commitments. Once you’ve identified your target audience, consider what advertising technique would be most effective to reach these members. For example, find out what type of media potential members use. Where do members of your target audience get their news and information? How do they choose their activities? Get to know your target audience like you would a new friend — especially since that’s what you hope they will eventually become! Make sure your marketing aligns with your chorus or quartet’s mission and vision statements, as well as Sweet Adelines International’s statements. You want potential members to understand that Sweet Adelines offers not only music and performance but education, leadership opportunities, and friendship for all singers. Identifying target audiences can help your chorus be more efficient and effective in your marketing strategies. Effective recruitment marketing will help your chorus or quartet fulfill Sweet Adelines’ mission statement of “elevating women singers worldwide through education, performance, and competition in barbershop harmony and a cappella music.”

Philanthropy

A WAY TO SAY THANK YOU

The story behind Paula and Robert Davis’ gift to Sweet Adelines International

or almost 35 years, Paula Davis has been a very active Sweet Adeline. Currently, she directs Song of Seattle Chorus, sings bass with Touchstone quartet and serves as a Certified Expression Judge and as Moderator on the Judge Specialist Committee. She has held many leadership roles at both regional and international levels, including serving on the board and being a past international president (2016-2018). When asked why she and her husband, Robert, decided to make Sweet Adelines International part of their estate planning, Paula said, “It allows me to say thank you, even after I’m gone.” Paula joined Rich-Tone Chorus in the 1980s and sang with them for ten years. Eventually, she sang with Houston Horizon Chorus and Velvet Hills Chorus and helped charter Spindletop Chorus and Song of Seattle Chorus. Wherever life took her, Sweet Adelines were there. “I joined at a particularly difficult time in my life when I didn’t feel capable or valued,” she recalled. “Sweet Adelines members welcomed me, accepted me, and invited me to share my skills. It helped me see myself differently and positively. It is a gift I will never forget and one for which I will always be indebted.” Paula said making an estate gift to SA was simple. She and Robert used an online program to update their will, and the program included the estate gift option. They had the document notarized, then Sweet Adelines International Director of Philanthropy Susan Smith provided them with documents to sign. The program the Davises used included a legal advisory team, and members are encouraged to obtain appropriate legal advice during estate planning.

Anyone making a donation to SA can choose to support a specific area of need (such as education, judging, etc.), but Paula and Robert made an “unrestricted” gift. That means the funds can be used anywhere they are needed. “As a member of the International Board of Directors, I know there are many different ways that funds are needed, and they’re all important,” said Paula. “Besides, I have so many loves in this organization: teaching, judging, working with young women…I just want the organization to use the funds in the way that is most productive when they need it.” Paula said she and Robert chose to give to Sweet Adelines International to help ensure its future. “I have a granddaughter who is almost 3,” Paula said. “I want Sweet Adelines to be around if she wants to sing. I want her to know that her Nana was a Sweet Adeline, and maybe it will mean something to her. I don't know what she'll grow up to want to do or be, but it's important, I think, for it to still be here for her and for all women for generations to come. We need a place to sing and a place to be ourselves. We need a place that's safe and available to all of us. It's important that it's here.” To find out how to make Sweet Adelines International part of your estate planning, consult with your financial planner and/or solicitor (lawyer) and contact Sweet Adelines International Director of Philanthropy Susan Smith at philanthropy@sweetadelines.com or 1.918.388.8040.

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2019 DONORS Sweet Adelines International impacts thousands of lives every year thanks to Members’ generous donations to scholarships, grants and music education. We are grateful for the generosity of so many and extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who made a donation last year and who are planning to do so again this year.

ANN GOOCH FUND Ann Gooch CONNIE NOBLE FUND Nancy Anderson Arnn Family Trust Sharon Babb Bridget Barnett Julie Berryman Lisa Bolender Linda Brandt City of Lakes Chapter The Coronet Club Nilene Finn Gold Medal Ideas Julie Harrelson Jennifer Higgins Karen Holdridge Clare Holland Sandra Hymes Caressa Jackson Ann Kemper Patricia Luebbers Mt. Helix Toastmasters #126 Melinda Nyikos JoAnne O'Donnell Queens College School of Music Kathleen Scharr Sandy Shelver Spirit of the Midwest Region #5 Beverly Todd Tucson Desert Harmony Chapter Kim Vaughn LIFE ON A HIGH NOTE Janelle Aberle Heidi Adam Margaret Adams Sherry Adams McKenzie Adamson Susan Adolfsson Nancy Akron Jan Albrecht Kathleen Albrecht

| April 2020

Gwen Alexander Linda Allan Gabriele Allen Catherine Allsup Michelle Andersen Maureen Anderson Karen Andrews Ruth Andrews James Angell Missy Anthony Thérèse Antonini Carolyn Appleton Gail Arbetter Wendy Arcand Sunny Arford Virginia Armetta Susan Arntzen Jonathan Aronie Tina Aseltine Shayna Atkinson Pamela Atwood Marilyn Averill Karen Babb Judith Bach Kathy Bachand Linda Bagdasarian Carol Ann Bagley Joanne Bailey Teresa Baird Cagan Balakbabalar Lynda Banfer TeeJay Bannister Hannah Barber Robb Barnard Brian Barnhart Barbara Barrett Marcia Barrett Carolyn Barron Anita Barry Kimberly Barth Ann Bartlett Hannah Barton Elizabeth Battocletti Sandra Bazzani Adrienne Bean Holly Beck Linda Beiser Helenanne Bendik

Barbara Bengtson Denise Benshish Susanne Bensing Alexander Benzies Beverly Berardinelli Glenna Berdahl Suzanne Berresford Juliet Besly Mary Bethune Rod Bettcher Cheryl Bettenhausen Diane Bingenheimer Jacqui Binnie Carina Bjelkeflo Ruth Blackburn Annette Bliss Marilyn Block Ellen Blumling Johanna Boberg Lou Ann Bobrovetski Caroline Bond Karen Bonin Nancy Book Marlene Boothe Flora Boren Janet Boschmann Marcia Bosma W.L. Boucher Pati Bouman Joan Boutilier Patricia Bowen Gina Bowerman Louise Bowman Susan Bowman Sharon Boyer Nancy Boyes Elaine Braack Charlene Bradley Dawn Bradshaw Susan Brainard Debbie Brand Joyce Brandt Lovisa Brännland Louise Brannon Nancy and Jeff Brant Helen Bravi Royce and Linda Brazeal Karen Brazell

Anna Brazzel Patricia Breeze Karen and Robert Breidert Janet Bresler Donna Brewer Jen Cooke Nancy Brian Edith Bridge Linda Bridge David Briner Jo Broadway Kay Bromert Bobbie Brown Caitlin Brown Kris Brown Laura Brown Linda Brown Marilyn Brown Ray Brown Shirley Brown Beth Bruce Elizabeth Buchholz Carol Buckalew Kathleen Buehner Patty Buethe Buffalo Gateway Chorus Lucy Bull Sarah Burg Janet Burgess V. Nicole Burkhardt Wanda Burquest Susan Burton Maureen Bushard Thomas Butch Margaret Butt Bytown Beat Chapter Kristine Calkin Lisa Call Julie Cameron Mary Campbell Vicki Campion Holly Cannon Margaret Cannon Carol Sutton Kathy Carmel Vivien Carmichael Amy Carr Karen Carter

Kayla Carter Sharon Cartwright Michelle Casey Suzanne Casterline Ros Cathro Elizabeth Caye Ruth Chance Sandra Chance Sandra Chapman Sandy Cheeseman Chinook Winds Show Chorus Laura Chittenden Laurie Christie Katherine Churchill Floriana Cid Carol Clark Rach Clark Linda Clements Clayton Cleverly Hilary Clifton Pippa Clinch Liz Clunie Joan Cobb Patty Cobb Baker Lorraine Coe Beverly Coe-Cotton Estella Cole Patti Cole & Anne Norman Carol Colgrove Cris Conerty Cathy Conley Jennifer Conover Carol Cooper Bruce Copeland, MD Nancy Cordner Laurie Costello Sheila Cote' Paula Cotter Alice Cottrell Sydney & Diane Couturier & Catellane Laura Covell Crystal Cox Justine Cox Marilyn Cox Jacqueline Craddock Susan Craig

Gwen Cretsinger Jean Croak Joyce Cross Jeanne d'Arc (JD) Crowe Lesley Cruden Wendy Cudmore Annette Culberson Deborah Culp Peg Cummings Michelle Cunningham Susan Cunningham Donna Cupp Isobel Currie Christine Curtis Barbara Cushman Ken Custer Eloise Cutler Colleen Dahlen Dixie Dahlke Merrie Daitch Bobbie Daniels Liz Danielski Shoshana Davidowitz Nancy Davidson Elizabeth Davies Coral Davis Gail Davis Nancy Davis Paula Davis Sara Davis Elaine Daw Patty Daw Kevran Day Wordene Day Sue de Bit Dorothy Dedrick Diane Dee BA deFerrari Kathy Dembek Dyanna Denari Debbie Dennis Helen Derman Sylvia Detty Elaine Deutsch Alice DeVine Jennifer Dietrich Mary DiLeo Ellen DiMarzio Cynthia Diniaco Peggy DiSunno Kathy Domkoski John Donehower Darlain Dovey Evelyn Doyle Lori Dreyer Adelina Dudda Margaret Dudrow Kathleen Duffy Sonne Durphy Anne Dusenbury Twilla Duvall Jo Dye Diane Dyke Laura Dylla Meaghan Easthope Virginia Easton Heather Ebert Donna Eden Anne Edwards Kim Elger-Griffin Amanda Elkins

Carla Elkins Chelsea Ellmers Jeanne Elmuccio Gail Eltgroth Anna Emtfors Nilsson Glenda Endicott Jacque Erdrich Lyn Ertle Gail Essner Jennifer Evans Linda Evans Kari Evens Barbara Ewalt Marilyn Fairchild Jane Falk Land Family Patricia Fanelli Mary Farmer Bonnie Fedyski Meredith Feinman Donna Felthaus Deborah Ferenc Christine Ferguson Judy Ferrier Marjorie Ferrini Pat Feverston Debra Fieber Nancy Field Felicity Fields Darlene Filla Norman Finn Barbara Fitzgerald Lauren Fladland Jo Ann Flanagan Mary Flavell Kari Flint Frances Floen Heather Flowers Cathy Flynn Cheryl Foley Carol Fontes Jo Forbus Margaret Fordyce Linn Forrest Kathy and Steve Foster Melinda Fox Wendy Franklin Audra Freeman Rosanne French Cathy Frey Susanne Friedel Marjorie Friedmeyer Donza Friende Mary Ann Fryer Margaret Frymoyer Felicia Fuller Beth Fulton Pamela Furiati Fran Furtner Cathy Gabrielli Celeste Gagnon Leslie Galbreath Fulvia Galli Sally Galloway Patricia Galvin Malinee Ganahl Bobbette Gantz Iris Gantz Barbara Gardiner Sharon Gardner Fran Garland

Derek Gasper Jenna Gasser Kathy Gati Mary Gauche Christine Gellert Valerie Giarratano Bunny Gibson Martina Gierse Paula Giffey Rebecca Gilbert Rita Gildea-Bryant Lisa Gilkey Jill Gillespie Paul Girard Laura Gliedman Vonnie Glynn Stephanie Goddard Anya Godigamuwe Ruth Anne Goerge Jodi Goldman Stephen Goldman Carla Gomes Lisa Goodanew Laurie Goose Judy Gordon/Gordon Generation Foundation Debi Gordon Nancy Gordon Matthew Gorman Nichole Gorman Kathryn (Kathie) Goulah Ruth Gove Jean Graham Mark Graham Suzanne Graham Katrina Grange Cathie Grant Mary Grasso Greater Kingston Chapter Victoria Green Luanne Greenburg Diana Gregg Catherine Griffith Carol Griffiths Beverly Griggs Gail Grossman Rosemary Grulke Irene Guest Susan Gunnels Arlene Gunther Elaine Guzik Ruth Gwin Shannon Haddox Elizabeth Hager Ase Hagerman Armoret (AME) Hale Annika Hallengren Colleen Hall-Patton Mary Beth Halsing Joan Halstead Judith Hargrove Rowena Harper Cody Harrell Jennifer Harris Lustre Quartet Stephanie Harris Jill Harsch James Hart Debby Hartke Michelle Hartman Corky Harvey

Marlene Harwood Andrea Hass Anne Hayes Annie (Setsuko) Hayes Kathleen Hayes Marilyn Hayes Deanna Hazard Carolyn Healey Tim Hebert B. Gay Hedges Jennifer Heffern Mary Heil Susan Heimburger Lucy Heinkel Patricia Heinsman Liz Hellens Janet Heller Catharina Hellhoff Shirley Hendrix Allison Hengelsberg Janet Heppenheimer Karen Herman Kay Hernandez Gabrielle Heroux Teresa Heuser Dawn Hewitt Gail Higaki Lisa Hills Lynn Hineman Judy Hoewischer Susan Hollar Roxanne Holmsen Jooske Hommes Jennifer Hone Marion Honemann Bobbie Hoover Beverley Horlin Patti Hornacek Sharon Householder Karen Hudson Molly Huffman Carolyn Hughes Shelly Hughes & Mike Gehrke Patricia Hummel Michelle Hunget Linda Hunt Pat Hunter Carol Huntoon Gloria Hurdle Darren L. Hurst Barbara Hyder Leah Ilten Ceci Imamura David Irwin Carol Iverson Cheryl Ives Marion Ivey Kathy Jackson Marcia Jacob Christine Jacobs Carol Jamieson Lindsay Jang Gloria Jarvis Kendall Jennings Liana Jennings Steven Jewusiak Laurel Johannson Maria Johansson Susan Johnsen Cynthia Johnson

Denise Johnson Joanne Johnson Peggy Johnson Sharon Johnson Connie Johnston Diana Jones Keith Jones Ginny Jorgenson Marianna Joslyn Karin Julenius Terry Jurrens Carol Kalbac Doreen Kall Sonya Kama Marcus Kang An-Chian Kao Emily Kaplan Judy Kaplowitz Susan Kapur Sylvia Karpinsky Marcia and Bob Katin Judy Katz Sheryl Katz Ardeth Keck Margaret Keenan Sheila Kegg Jenny Keightley Nancy Keith Tina Keith Carran Kelley Barbara Kelly Melody Kelly Sylvia Kelty Eileen Kemp Elaine Kenison Debra Kennedy Anthony Kent Bobbie Kern Dallace Kern Bonnie Kerr Kelsey Kessler Mary Kesvormas Bobbi Killinger Michael Kinder Rebecca King Laura Kirkpatrick Nicola Kirkup John Kirton Sharon Kittle Sharron Klein Jennifer Klettke Gloria Knapp Alice Knepp Paulette Koble Marion Koch Lynn Kohoutek Matt Konicki Lenore Konkel Karen Kool Katherine "Kathie" Koop Gloria Kozlosky Agatha Kraft Phillip Kraft JoAnn Kramer Carol Krenek Emily Krich Angie Kunasek Barbara Kunath Pamela Kurburski Nancy Kurth Jewel LaComb

April 2020 |

Michelle Lafrance LeAnn Lake Laura Lambert Paula Land Dawn Langdon Michael Laporte Sally Larimer Judy Larsen Claudia Lasiter Diana Latch Lynne Lautzenhiser Kim Lawrence Sandy Leach Elizabeth LeClair Heather Lee Ruth Lefebvre Kathy Lehmann Anne Leitch Jane Leonard Gretchen Leppla Pat LeVezu Marjorie Lewin Laura Lewis Marilyn Lewis Karen Lewison Rhiannon Light Janell Lind Olle Lindgren Cynthia Linton Elizabeth Lisk Beverly Lloyd Shelley Lockhart Jolene & Randy Loos Deborah Lopez Debby Loundagin Evelyn Lowry Diane Lucas Catherine Luckstone Pamela Ludke Lori Ludlum Barbro Lundin Erin Lunn Sandra Lust Christine Lyon Melinda Lyon Chris & Jane Lythgo Karen Maass Nancy Maass Jan MacCaskill Richard Macchiaroli Katie MacDonald Sandra MacDonald Carole Macintyre Angie Mack Diane Mack Charlotte Mackay Cammi MacKinlay Elaine Macrillo Jennifer Madama Eva Magnfalt Lorraine Magnuson Pierrette Maillet Anita Main Christine Malinowski John Manchip Hilda Mancillas Paula Mandell Patricia Mandiak Michelle Manton Juanita Marhefke Lorraine Markosky

| April 2020

Gwen Marks Lorraine Marley Colleen Marron Genevieve Marshall Judith Marshall Linda Marshall Anne Martin Connie Martin Karen Martin Kristin Martin Sheila Martinez Melody Martz Linda Marzocco Ozzi Mask Terri Maubach Maria Maxwell Teresa May Becky Maybury Vickie Maybury Katie McClellan Susie McCoy Lillian McDaniel Marian McDermott Sandi McDonald Diane McGrath Diane McGuire Harvey McIntyre Ellen McKenna Janice McKenna Carol McKenzie Susann McKinley Mary McLaughlin Susan McMurray Keera McNeill Cathy McQueen Marilyn McRitchie Marie McRorie Jenny Meadows Mickey Mears Rusty Meike Linda Melcher Carole Melle Sue Melvin Carole Mensing Shaura Meservy Audrey Metro Jan Meyer Yvonne Meyer Linda Michaels Sue Middleton Jenny Miles Marsha Millard Alison Miller Anna Miller Gayle Miller Patricia Miller Geri Miller-Riedel Rod Mills Sheree Mills Trevor Mills Susan Mimnaugh Riann Minnich Todd Minske Michelle Mitchell Priscilla Mitchell Anette Modee Phyllis Modisett Sandra Moise Susan Molleson Nancy Molnar Midge Monroe

Sarah Montgomery Diane Montondo Catherine Moore Judy Moore Debbie Mora Laura Morgan Nancy Morr Emily Mosley Carol Mouché Kristina Mraz Bonnie Mucha Kristine Mueller Linda Muise Norma Mundstock David Murphree Judy Murphy Janet Murrell Donna Myers Janice Myers Richard Naas Jackie Narduzzo Therese Nash Mary Neff Laura Nelson Teri Nelson Audra Nemeth Jennifer Newman Patricia Newman Pat Nichelson Pamela Nichols Elizabeth Nickerson Paula Nickodemus Amy Nienhusser Charmaine Nissanka Nancy Noel-Pearce Liz Nolan Nancy Nortz Sheila Nugent Sasha Nunnally Brian Nusser Carina Nyman Susan Oaks Toula Oberlies Gayle OConnor Frances Ogasawara Kiersten Ogles Moira O'Hearn Mary O'Loughlin Debra O'Rourke Julia Olsen Suzanne Olsen Judy Olson Nancy Olson Ruth Olson Akira Onishi Kathleen Padilla Karen Pallot Jennifer Palus Phyllis Parkell Joy Parker Kathie Parker Tina Parkhurst Frances Parrish Mary Parrott Cheryl Partington Judy Paterson Marion Patton John Payne Janelle Peck June Pellarin Donnita Pelser

Sharon Pelton Brittany Pennewell Louise Percy Michael Peretti Mary Peters Sandy Peters Christina Petersen Laurel Peterson Nancy Peterson Patricia Pflughoft Sue Phillips Vonnie Phillips Laura Pienkowski Susan Pingel Francine Pinto Nancy Plaat Carolyn Plank Amanda Pokorney Monique Polderdijk Carol Poole Diane Porsch Laurie Ports Renee Porzel Donna Potts Elizabeth Pratley Kay Preller Deborah Price Patricia Price Debbie Priem Ellen Pugh Beckie Puncher Ann Pyeatt Nancy Rabel Donna Ragalie Rohan Rebello Sonia Rebello Lu Rector Goran Redmo Teresa Reed Christine Rees Kim Reese Julie Reeve Donna Reeves Alana Regular Patricia Reigel Pamela Reilly Peggy Reno Valerie Renz Joan Rettig Sharon Reyes Valeri Reynolds Mary Rhea Jacqueline Rice Matthew Rice Clara Richardson Megan Richardson Karen and Philip Ridout Susan Rifenbark Marcel Riffaud Diana Riley Christopher Rimple Helen Ring Pamela Rissmiller Lynlee Ritchie Marcel Rivard Stefanie Rixecker Von Roberts Shirley Robertson Ronya Robinson Sarah Robinson Christine Rodriguez

Liz Rogers Judith Roman Lorene Romero Cathy Rooney-Schieser Elaine Rosenberg Dorcas Ross Joan Ross Marsha Ross Andrea Rostel Cathy Rothey George Rothrock Robbie Roudenbush Irene Rounds Carolyn Roxburgh Alex Rubin Marilyn Rumsey Donna Ruokonen Bonita Rust Maggie Ryan Sandra Sabbagh Linda Samuelsson Judy Sargent Karen Savrin Dina Scharnhorst Noel Schaub Judy Scherschel Margaret Schloemer Linda Schlueter Dorothy Schneider Priscilla Schoelzel Renate Schulze Linda Schumacher Robyn Schweizer Suzann Schwenk Marcy Scofield Michelle Scott Susie Scott Marcella Seager Dawn Seigneur Connie Selmi Wendy Senter Kimberley Shanker Patricia Shaw Cindy Sheffler Pat Shein Mary Sheldorfer Jim Sheldrake Karrie Shively Lyndel Short Alice Shouse Cynthia Sieloff Jane Silver Charlotte Simer Charlotte Simonson Jan Simpson Kendra Simpson Sharleen Simpson Cil Sindoni Laura Singer Linda Sjoblom Diane Skokan Jan Smallwood Beth Smith Carol Smith Donna Smith Emma Smith Judi Smith Laurie Smith Lynne Smith Machell Smith Marsha Smith

Mary Beth Smith Mary Smith Patricia Smith Paule Smith Sandra Smith Susan and Gary Smith Alison Snowden Cherry Snyder Patricia Snyders Bonnie Solomon Linda Somdal Jette Sorensen Alison Soutar Bette Speer De Spidle Cheryl Springer Russ Squires Judith Stallknecht Ann Standerfer Deborah Stanuch Julie Starr Jackie Stayton Stefanie Stefanka Jane Steinback Nina Steinberg Judith Stephens Lorna Stephens Inger Steven Patty Stevens Gene St. Germain Debbie Stieffel Nicole Stopoulos Debra Straight Lenore Strakowsky Rebecca & Marvin Strenge Eva Strombom Janeen Summey Arthur Swanson Sweet Adelines International Staff Dale Syverson Nick Taber Tammy Talbot Susan Talbott Adelinde Tauchener Arthur Taylor Sheila Taylor Sue Taylor Christina Temperante Gailyn Terkelsen Carol Teufel John Thomas Lloyd-Ellen Thomas Susan Thomas Julie Thomason Amanda Thompson Linda Thompson Pamela Thompson Susan Thompson Sydney Thompson Denise Thomson Donald Thorn Andrea Thorne-Percy Olga Thuman Jan Tietsort TITANIUM Quartet Marinette Tran Mark Travis Julie Trujillo Jerry Tullos

Lorraine Turner Katherine Tutrone Dawn Tvrdy Doris Twardosky Mehala Vaidhyanathan Kristina Valentino Dara Van Geesje Van de Linde Annelies van den Meerschaut Sandra Van Fossen Sally Van Horn Petra Van Klaveren-Chini Sandra B Van Mell Chantal Van Schooten Barbara Vander Putten Cynthia A Vanderford Kathleen VanMaren Kimberly VanOrman Jane Vaucher Sharon Vaux Elizabeth Vigil Pat Vipond Rita Virga Ricki Vogel Helen Vulu Kira Wagner Lydia Wagner Niki Wakefield Norma Wallace Pamela Warkentin Diane Warner Deborah Warwick Carol Waterhouse Beth Watkins Lorisa Watkins Rita Watkins Michele Weaver Kelly Webb Jan Weber Jan Weiland Judy Weipert Evelyn Weiss Susan Weldon Eileen Welsh Isobel West Margret West Linda Wetterlin Barbara Wetzel Gayle Wheeler Leanne Wheeler Patricia White Randolph White Stephen White Laura Whitehead Jacqueline Whitehurst Diane Whitford Sally Whitledge Katie Whitmer Karen Wildman Patricia Wile Becky Wilkins Lou Williams Marsha Williams Scott Williams Susan Williams Phil Willke Angela Wilson Gail Wilson JoAnn Wilson Delores Wishart

Anita Wolfe Bonnie Wolfe Jeff Wolff Lucille Wood Rebecca Wood Sherry Wood Anita Woodard Frances Worthington Polly Worthington Melodee Wright Patti Wright Toni Wright Pat Wylie Jo Yetter Laurie Yoh Carolyn Yoshida Margretta Young Sandy Young Cynthia Yust Julie Zalewski Betty Zattiero Julie Zehnder Pamela Zeyher Christine Zimmerman Jennifer Zucker Theresa Zurzolo THE OVERTONE SOCIETY A Cappella Bella Chapter Mary Allen The Andersen Family Trust Benevity Community Impact Fund Bruce Copeland MD CBRE Foundation, Inc. City of Fountains Chapter Michele Garside Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation Michelle Gentile Shelly Hughes Joan Jones Gee and Fred Katen Karla Kurzweil Alice Mallrie Marcia Massey Ann McAlexander Samuel McFarland Catharina Neidenmark Barbara Nielsen Emily O'Brien OK City Chapter Platinum Show Chapter Pride of Portland Chapter Elizabeth Renz River City Harmony Chapter Beverly Staats Sharon Tice Sally Wallace Walt Disney Entertainment Weekes Forest Products, Inc White River Sound Chapter YourCause, LLC Trustee Susan Zura WEBCAST Lyndall Bradfield

Joyce Cable Canadian Showtime Chapter Center Point Chapter Cranberry Shores Chapter London Chapter Marshfield High School YOUNG SINGERS FOUNDATION Acapella Soundsations Chapter Alaska Sound Celebration Chapter Almost Heaven Chapter Rosalie Anderson Pattie Bauer Eileen Behnke Black Hills Showcase Chapter Border Lakes Region #2 Tara Borwick Kim Brown Beverly Bruening Cathy Bucholtz Gail Burke By Request Quartet Capital City Chapter Cascade Harmony Chapter Vickie Catlett Chordially Yours Coeur d'Alene Chapter Columbia River Chapter Columbus Chapter Mary Connelly Cindy Courtier Crosstown Harmony Chapter Five Valley Chapter Friendship VII Chapter Patricia Gasper Sonya Gatrell Martha Gilliam Great Gulf Coast Region #10 Harmony Heartland Region #4 Harmony of the Gorge Chapter Heart of America Region #25 Helena Xpress Singers Chapter Beth Henn High Desert Harmony Chapter Inland Harmony Chapter Robin Iwai Jet Cities Chapter Patsy Nash Jones Margaret Kiser Sally Lampe Joan Levitin Nancy Lietzke Marti Lovejoy Pat Lucas Mission Valley Chapter Northwest Harmony Chapter Olympia Chapter One Voice Chapter Pacific Sound Chapter Pride of Kentucky Chapter Donna Prochazka

Quartet of Nations Region #31 Vicki Raichl Riverlights Harmony Chapter Paula Roberts Rocky Mountain Region #8 Rolling Hills Chapter Sacramento Valley Chapter Scioto Valley Chapter Kathy Sellstrom Seven Hills Chapter Barbara M McCormick & Sandra J Shaw Show-Me Harmony Chapter Song of Seattle Chapter Spirit of Spokane Chapter Suncoast Harmony Chapter Sunday Punch Quartet Trudie Thompson Leigh Anne Vitarelli Vocal Matrix Chapter Voices Northwest Chapter Carol Walsh Jan Welsh Randa Zaitz YOUNG WOMEN IN HARMONY B M Good Recording Elizabeth Binner Elizabeth Brannon Mary Ann Bratcher Capital City Sound Chapter Cedar Harmony Chapter Cedar Sounds Chapter Choral-Aires Chapter Carolyn Cleveland Delmarva Chapter Geelong Harmony Chapter Grand Rapids Chapter Roberta Jewell Pamela Lee Liberty Oak Chapter Charity Monroe Kristin Oliver One Voice Ovation Champion Club Region #13 Racine Sweet Adelines Chapter Allen Sussman Georgia Sutherland Twin County Chapter Velvet Hills Chapter Whatever 4 Quartet YSF SILENT AUCTION Betty Gibbons Susan Howell Phyllis Quast YSF SING Group Carolyn Benkowitz Diane Clark Karla Fenton Sing Group Members & Marti Lovejoy Vienna-Falls Chapter

April 2020 |

YWIH

VIDEO CHORUS

CONTEST ‘20

Sing, Record, Submit, Win! 1. Sing Two songs or medleys in four-part a cappella music, arranged in the barbershop style. 2. Record Performance must take place between July 1, 2019, and May 31, 2020. 3. Submit Completed entry form, $25 USD entry fee and video recording must be received by the

Competition Department at Sweet Adelines International Headquarters by June 1, 2020.

Learn, perform and receive international recognition by participating in this educational performance opportunity for young barbershop singers. • Chorus singers must all be 25 years of age or younger. • Choruses must have a minimum of 12 singing members on stage with all four voice parts represented.

Sweet Adelines International Attn: Competition Department 9110 S. Toledo Ave. Tulsa, OK 74137 USA Fax: 1.918.388.8083 Upload an mp4 ﬁle to Dropbox, create a download link, and send to competition@sweetadelines.com.

4. Win!

$1,000USD FIRST PLACE

$750USD SECOND PLACE

$500USD THIRD PLACE

www.sweetadelines.com/YWIHVideoChorusContest April 2020 |

Accolades

As of November 16 , 2019– January 21, 2020

DIRECTOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Advanced to Approved Director Jennifer Waldorf Harbor City Music Company, #19 Advanced to Certified Director Nancy Farrar Pride of Baltimore, #19 Mary O'Loughlin Island Grove, #1

IN MEMORY

— November 1, 2019 through January 31, 2020

Tina Ackerman, Twin County Chapter, #15 Vanda Kilpen, Harmony North Chapter, #16 Pauline Gobbitt, Chapter-At-Large, #31 Kathleen Nici, Boston Skyline Chapter, #1 Carol Wolff, Diamond State Chapter, #19 Patricia Townley, Northern Beaches Chapter, #34 Jenny Mercing, Top of the Rock Chapter, #25 Arlene Bixby, Sacramento Valley Chapter, #12

Nanette Wardin Heart of Michigan, #2

Mavis Burtness, Skyline Chapter, #8

Sally Jeffery Merrimack Valley, #1

JoAnne Buiteweg, Motor City Blend Chapter, #2

Advanced to Harmony 500 Director Robyn Abernethy Dunedin Harmony, #35 Elizabeth Davies Sound Harmony, #13 Jason Scriver Sounds of Superior, #6

ARRANGERS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Beginner Arranger Level Achieved

Patricia Recht, OC Sound Chapter, #21 Doris Tayer, Five Valley Chapter, #13 Kaitlyn Phillips, Sacramento Valley Chapter, #12 Marge Hammond, Inland Empire Chapter, #21 Denise Larsen, Idaho Falls A Cappella Chapter, #8 Shirley Siwek, River Blenders Chapter, #5 Kathleen Heron, Orangeville Show Chapter, #16 Estella Cole, Skyline Chapter, #8 Patsy Case, Spirit of the Gulf Chapter, #9 (Jan. 26, 2019) Marcie Roahrig, Scioto Valley Chapter, #4

Jeanne Elmuccio Liberty Oak & Heart of New Jersey, #15 Wendy Hofmann Heart of Missouri, #5 Chris Jacobs Mission Valley, #12 Jan Meyer Spirit of the Gulf, #9 Sheryl Neal Harmony Central, #5 Linda Olding Pride of Baltimore, #19

INTERNATIONAL JUDGING PROGRAM Advanced to Certified Judge Anna Rosenberg Pearls of the Sound, #32

| April 2020

CLASSIFIEDS DIRECTOR SEARCH Song of the Coast, a Sweet Adelines chorus in Ormond Beach, FL, is looking for our next director. We meet Mondays at 6:30 pm. If interested send cover letter, resume and three references to drval@bellsouth.net.

CORRECTIONS In the January 2020 issue of The Pitch Pipe, in the "Countdown to 75 Years" article, Canada was inadvertently left off the list of countries where there were Sweet Adelines chapters in the 1980s. In the same article, the a cappella group, The Nylons, were incorrectly identified as a U.S. group. The Nylons are from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Sweet Adelines Music Education Grant Cycle 2 Recipients Announced Other grant and scholarship cycles still open!

Sweet Adelines International helps support its educational mission through grants and scholarships through the Young Singers Foundation (YSF). Grants are awarded in two cycles. This year’s Cycle 2 ended Nov. 1, and the following projects were awarded monetary grants:

Metro Nashville Chorus Young Women in Harmony (YWIH) Festival

At this day-long event, attendees are taught the fundamentals of barbershop singing. In the evening, they are special guest performers at Metro Nashville Chorus’ (#4) annual show.

The Boise Chordsmen Idaho Youth Barbershop Festival

Now in its 12th year, this three-day festival offers barbershop education, coaching, quartet experience, and more, with participant performances each evening.

Lakeside A Cappella Camp

This weekend camp for young singers began as a joint venture between Spirit of Syracuse Chorus (#15) and Northern Blend Chorus (Harmony, Inc.).

New Mexico Youth Harmony Camp (NMYHC)

The Albuquerque Barbershop Community Collaborative (ABCC) is a consortium of barbershop chapters that sponsors this three and a half day-long camp each year. Sweet Adelines choruses are Region #21's Route 66 Sound, Enchanted Mesa, and Rio A Cappella. The other chapters are Barbershop Harmony Society’s The New MexiChords and Duke City Sound and On Q from Harmony, Inc.

Harmony Stars YWIH Festival

The 13th “Harmony Stars” Young Women in Harmony Festival, hosted by Inland Empire Chorus (#21), is a day-long education and performance event for high school girls.

A Cappella U Workshop

This year, approximately 33 young women will participate in this day-long educational workshop, mentored by LoveNotes Quartet and by 10-12 members of Bay Area Showcase Chorus (#12) and Mission Valley Chorus (#12). Grants are available to individuals, groups or organizations sponsoring or hosting barbershop education and performance opportunities for young women. Opportunities might include music festivals, education workshops or seminars, and/or other music education events. Grant Cycle 1 is open March 1-June 1.

Help Support Sweet Adelines Music Education Grants and Scholarships. For more information on grants and scholarships, visit www.sweetadelines.com or contact philanthropy@sweetadelines.com. April 2020 |

Regional Calendar

Dates may be subject to change. To verify, visit regional competition pages at www.sweetadelines.com.

REGION NORTH #1 ATLANTIC

April 23-26, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Springfield, Mass.

March 19-22, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Houston, TX (ACJ Workshop)

REGION BORDER # LAKES

April 30-May 3, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Dearborn, Mich.

March 26-29, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Bakersfield, Calif.

REGION MIDWEST # HARMONY

April 2-5, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Appleton, Wis.

April 30-May 3, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Sparks, Nev.

REGION

HARMONY HEARTLAND

REGION

GREAT GULF COAST

SEQUOIA PACIFICA

PACIFIC SHORES

NORTH BY NORTHWEST

April 23-26, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Cedar Rapids, Iowa

March 26-29, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Concord, N.C.

REGION NORTHERN # LIGHTS

May 7-10, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Rochester, Minn.

May 7-10, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Albany, N.Y.

REGION

ROCKY MOUNTAIN

April 2-5, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Rapid City, SD

REGION

COASTAL HARMONY

April 30-May 3, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Daytona Beach, Fla.

REGION

GOLDEN WEST

REGION

HEART OF AMERICA

March 26-29, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Wichita, KS REGION CANADIAN # MAPLE LEAF

REGION SPIRIT OF #5 THE MIDWEST

REGION

April 2-5, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Phoenix, Ariz.

April 23-26, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Spokane, Wash.

April 30-May 3, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Lancaster, PA

April 2-5, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Covington, Ky.

REGION

REGION ATLANTIC #19 BAY-MOUNTAIN

HEART OF THE BLUE RIDGE

GREATER NY/NJ

April 30-May 3, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Calgary, AB, Canada REGION QUARTET # OF NATIONS

May 14-17, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Cardiff, Wales, UK

LAKE ONTARIO

REGION

NORDIC LIGHT

May 7-10, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Helsingborg, Sweden

REGION

SOUTHERN CROSS

April 2-5, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

May 14-17, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia

REGION GREAT LAKES #17 HARMONY

May 7-10, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Cleveland, Ohio

May 7-10, 2020 Regional Convention & Competition Wellington, New Zealand

REGION

NEW ZEALAND

DON’T MISS THESE UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

JULY 22-26, 2020

2020 International Education Symposium Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, USA

JULY 24, 2020

Rising Star Quartet Contest Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, USA

OCT. 12-17, 2020

75th Diamond Anniversary & 74th Annual International Convention and Competition Louisville, Ky., USA

| April 2020

JULY 16-18, 2021

Queen's College and Rising Star Quartet Contest Dallas, Texas, USA

OCT. 11-16, 2021

75th Annual International Convention and Competition St. Louis, Mo., USA

SEPT. 26-OCT. 1, 2022

76th Annual International Convention and Competition Phoenix, Az., USA

titles

April 2020 |

SA w V h E

en $ by yo 50 M u re U ay g SD 27 ist ! er

Oct. 12-17, 2020 E S T. 1 9 4 5

75th Diamond Anniversary & 74th Annual International Convention and Competition Louisville, Ky. USA

SWEET ADELINES INTERNATIONAL 75TH JUBILEE CELEBRATION!

Register and Enjoy... All contest events • Educational classes – including new offerings! World Harmony Chorus Performance Mass Sing • Harmony Bazaar

! PLUS

75th Diamond Anniversary Events! • Regional Roll Call with hat parade! • 75th Anniversary Historical Displays • Diamond Afterglow Party!

• Available for purchase: history book, engraved mint julep cup, sparkling charm, and custom-designed jewelry!

The Pitch Pipe April 2020

Articles inside

2019 Donor List

What Does a Regional Competition Coordinator Do?

Identifying Your Audiences For Recruitment

A Way to Say Thank You

9 Ways to Build Self-Confidence

Countdown to 75 Years: 1990s

Harmony Roundup

Q&A with Lisa Popeil

IES 2020: Find Your Voice

Small but Mighty

A Cappella Challenge for Youth

Lifting Off Into the Land of Chords

Meet New IBOD Member Vickie Maybury

Meet New IBOD Member Elaine Hamilton

From Our President

"An Incredible Sense of Honor"