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Carolina Chronicle (2/8/04)
Columbia County News Times (2/22/04)
Columbia County News Times (2/22/04)
Sweet Adelines Have More Voices
By Lynn Davidson
The Harmony River Chorus of Sweet Adelines will be competing at a higher level
this year.
Las year, in Chattanooga, Tenn., the Sweet Adelines placed fourth in a competition for midsize choruses, which can have up to 39 members (actually the competition was for small, midsize and large choruses in our region. We won 4th overall and 2nd place for small choruses, as well as Most Improved Chorus for the 2nd year in a row). The chorus now has 47 members, said spokeswoman Mary Norman, and will be in competitions for larger groups.
The region the group belongs to includes Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and (the panhandle of) Florida.
“We have all ages from all walks of life from all over the CSRA,” Ms. Norman said. “The youngest is 18, the oldest is 85. We have teachers, computer programmers, stay-at-home-moms – we have all kinds.”
Stacy Branch, a chorus teacher at Lakeside High School, became the director of the chorus in 1998. She said the Sweet Adelines sing gospel, traditional, patriotic, barbershop-style and popular tunes – all a cappella.
“It really is fun,” said Joy Moyer, who was a member when the group formed in 1968 under the name Augusta Winds Sweet Adelines Chorus. “It’s therapeutic because we do a lot of deep breathing. A director like Stacy makes it more fun. She brought a lot of energy to us.”
Mrs. Moyer said she has seen many changes in the Sweet Adelines through the years.
“It just keeps Improving all the time,” she said.
In 1976, the Augusta Winds changed its name to the Peach State Chorus and the 16 members entered their first regional competition – taking first place in the small-chorus category.
In 2003 the group changed its name to the Harmony River Chorus because half the members lived in South Carolina.
“People have the misconception that Sweet Adelines is a bunch of old ladies singing screechy stuff,” said Cindy Cawthon, who recently joined the chorus. “But we’re not that way. We have all ages here and we have energy.
“It’s like being in high school all over again.”
The group’s youngest member, Lindsey Lott, 18, said she has been singing with the chorus for 1 1/2 years.
“Sometimes it seems weird that I am here hanging out with some people the same age as my parents and grandparents, but it’s really not that way,” she said. “It’s more like being with a lot of sisters.”
“I can’t imagine why anybody who loves to sing would not be singing with us.”
A day-long workshop to prepare for the March regional competition in Chattanooga was held Saturday at North Augusta Church of Christ on Martintown Road.
The chorus practiced choreography and learned about stage make-up and costumes. The 47 women came alive as they sang Dixieland (Original One-Step Dixieland), followed by the Bandstand (A Bandstand in Central Park).
“That’s the way the big girls do it!” said Denise Radford, who has been with the Sweet Adelines for 10 years.
Ms. Radford said each year at the regional she’s wanted them to have the large-chorus sound.
“We’ve been a small chorus for so long and this year the competition will be harder, but we will also have more fun,” she said.
Membership in the Sweet Adelines is open to women age 18 and older. Membership fees are $20 per month. Practice is held at 7 p.m. Thursdays at the North Augusta Church of Christ, 600 Martintown Road.
The chorus performs at civic and group activities. To book a performance, call (706) 860-8037 in Georgia or (803) 649-0075 in South Carolina. For more information about the chorus, call (803) 279-6499 or visit www.adelines.org.
Las year, in Chattanooga, Tenn., the Sweet Adelines placed fourth in a competition for midsize choruses, which can have up to 39 members (actually the competition was for small, midsize and large choruses in our region. We won 4th overall and 2nd place for small choruses, as well as Most Improved Chorus for the 2nd year in a row). The chorus now has 47 members, said spokeswoman Mary Norman, and will be in competitions for larger groups.
The region the group belongs to includes Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and (the panhandle of) Florida.
“We have all ages from all walks of life from all over the CSRA,” Ms. Norman said. “The youngest is 18, the oldest is 85. We have teachers, computer programmers, stay-at-home-moms – we have all kinds.”
Stacy Branch, a chorus teacher at Lakeside High School, became the director of the chorus in 1998. She said the Sweet Adelines sing gospel, traditional, patriotic, barbershop-style and popular tunes – all a cappella.
“It really is fun,” said Joy Moyer, who was a member when the group formed in 1968 under the name Augusta Winds Sweet Adelines Chorus. “It’s therapeutic because we do a lot of deep breathing. A director like Stacy makes it more fun. She brought a lot of energy to us.”
Mrs. Moyer said she has seen many changes in the Sweet Adelines through the years.
“It just keeps Improving all the time,” she said.
In 1976, the Augusta Winds changed its name to the Peach State Chorus and the 16 members entered their first regional competition – taking first place in the small-chorus category.
In 2003 the group changed its name to the Harmony River Chorus because half the members lived in South Carolina.
“People have the misconception that Sweet Adelines is a bunch of old ladies singing screechy stuff,” said Cindy Cawthon, who recently joined the chorus. “But we’re not that way. We have all ages here and we have energy.
“It’s like being in high school all over again.”
The group’s youngest member, Lindsey Lott, 18, said she has been singing with the chorus for 1 1/2 years.
“Sometimes it seems weird that I am here hanging out with some people the same age as my parents and grandparents, but it’s really not that way,” she said. “It’s more like being with a lot of sisters.”
“I can’t imagine why anybody who loves to sing would not be singing with us.”
A day-long workshop to prepare for the March regional competition in Chattanooga was held Saturday at North Augusta Church of Christ on Martintown Road.
The chorus practiced choreography and learned about stage make-up and costumes. The 47 women came alive as they sang Dixieland (Original One-Step Dixieland), followed by the Bandstand (A Bandstand in Central Park).
“That’s the way the big girls do it!” said Denise Radford, who has been with the Sweet Adelines for 10 years.
Ms. Radford said each year at the regional she’s wanted them to have the large-chorus sound.
“We’ve been a small chorus for so long and this year the competition will be harder, but we will also have more fun,” she said.
Membership in the Sweet Adelines is open to women age 18 and older. Membership fees are $20 per month. Practice is held at 7 p.m. Thursdays at the North Augusta Church of Christ, 600 Martintown Road.
The chorus performs at civic and group activities. To book a performance, call (706) 860-8037 in Georgia or (803) 649-0075 in South Carolina. For more information about the chorus, call (803) 279-6499 or visit www.adelines.org.