Region 5 International Medalists in Las Vegas 2016

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Spirit of the Midwest Region 5 Sweet Adelines International

region5convention.org http://region5musicschools.weebly.

ClassRing 5 th Place Medalists Mary Duncan, Heather Krones,

Michelle Hunget, Susan Ives, Donna Kready, Sandi Wright Watch

v=hr0vgex6spu&feature=youtu.be Watch HEAT at https://www.

be Sound Celebration Chorus 2017 Division A Harmony Classic, 3

1 Spirit of the Midwest Region 5 Sweet Adelines International December 2016 Newsletter Region 5 International Medalists in Las Vegas 2016 ClassRing 5 th Place Medalists Mary Duncan, Heather Krones, Hailey Myatt, Michaela Johnson HEAT 8 th Place Medalists Michelle Hunget, Susan Ives, Donna Kready, Sandi Wright Watch ClassRing at Watch HEAT at Sound Celebration Chorus 2017 Division A Harmony Classic, 3 rd Place Medalists from Springfield, Illinois - Terry Ludwig, Director Watch at

2 Take 5 Newsletter Page 2 December 2016 Calendar of Events Planning a Chorus Show? Submit a date clearance form at Feb St. Louis Harmony Chorus Show Mar City Voices Show No Bad News April Region 5 Convention & Competition Topeka Performing Arts Center, Topeka, KS June Specialty School/Directors Retreat with Betty Clipman, Columbia, MO Aug International Education Symposium (IES) University of Maryland, College Park, MD Sept Tribute to the Top Music School with Dale Syverson, Location TBD Sept Sound Celebration Chorus Annual Show, Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield IL Oct. 7 Harmony Central Chorus Show Hoyt Sherman Place Theater, Des Moines Oct SAI Convention/Competition, Las Vegas 2018 Feb Faculty Training with Nancy Field, Location TBD April Region 5 Convention & Competition Topeka Performing Arts Center, Topeka, KS June Battle of the Barbershop Stars with Kim Vaughn and Vickie Maybury, Cedar Rapids, IA Sept Tribute to the Top Music School with Peggy Gram, Location TBD Oct SAI Convention/Competition, St. Louis 2019 April Region 5 Convention & Competition Paramount Theatre, Cedar Rapids, IA June Directors Retreat/Tribute to the Top with Sharon Carlson, Location TBD Sept SAI Convention/Competition, New Orleans 2020 April Region 5 Convention & Competition Paramount Theatre, Cedar Rapids, IA June Battle of the Barbershop Stars with Diane Porsch and Dede Nibler, Location TBD Sept Tribute to the Top Music School with Scott Kvigne, Location TBD Oct SAI Convention/Competition, Louisville 2021 May Region 5 Convention & Competition Oct SAI Convention/Competition, St. Louis Calendar Region 5 Songs of Events Learning tracks are available on the website. Log in to Members Only section of the Region 5 website then click on Music for ordering information. Harmonize the World How We Sang Today Send Your Love Battle Hymn of the Republic We Are Family Happy Together Is Your Contact Info Correct? If you ve recently changed any of your personal contact information, be sure to update International s records. SAI uses addresses in our Personal Information Profiles to inform us of time-sensitive issues. 1. Go to the SAI website: 2. Click on Member Login at the top of the page. 3. Enter your username and password. 4. Click on More Member Options. 5. Click on Member Profile. 6. Enter your username and password again. 7. Your Personal Information Profile will appear. Verify your name, address, phone number, and ; then click through the instructions at the bottom to save. If you need help, contact your chorus treasurer or membership chair, or contact Donna Turk, R5 Membership Coordinator, at turkdmr5@gmail.com.

3 Take 5 Newsletter Page 3 December Region 5 Management Team May 1, 2016 April 30, 2017 Team Coordinator Judy Kaeser judy.kaeser@gmail.com Marketing Coordinator Linda Gross lindalgross@gmail.com Membership Coordinator Donna Turk turkdmr5@gmail.com Directors Coordinator Charyl Barr cjwtenor@gmail.com Co-Events Coordinators Bettye Hubbard btboops2@gmail.com Karen Matthews kmatthewsatwork@aol.com Communications Coordinator Janet Clark mclark@machlink.com Education Coordinator Annette Wallace cwallace4@cox.net Finance Coordinator Pat Kies pkies@swbell.net

4 Take 5 Newsletter Page 4 December 2016 New Chorus Directors Kansas City Chorus... Michelle Hunget Acappella Omaha... Annette Wallace (Interim) Heart of Missouri... Twilla Duvall RiverSong... Bettye Hubbard (Interim) International Board Elections THANK YOU!! Region 5 was one of only eight regions that achieved 100% chapter vote participation! Elections results can be found at oardofdirectorselection/. Chorus Director Wanted Show Me Sound, a small Sweet Adeline chorus of members eager to rededicate themselves to building a quality sound, is in looking for a director. Prior barbershop experience is helpful but not required; salary negotiable. Weekly rehearsals held in Sedalia, MO. To apply, send resume to Beverly Shoecraft, Highway V, Edwards, MO Acappella Omaha Chorus Omaha, NE Acappella Omaha was very busy over the summer working on songs for our fall program in celebration of our 60 th anniversary. Many changes are on the horizon with the retirement of Director Nancy Goldberg. Members of Acappella Omaha would like everyone to know how much we appreciate Nancy s dedication to the chorus and contribution to support new member (and seasoned!) learning. Annette Wallace has graciously agreed to step up as our interim director. We have enjoyed a number of new members who will make a great contribution to our sections. While we miss Nancy, we understand the seasons of chorus membership and that it s time for another chapter in her life. Summer activities included a well-attended Sweet Sign & Sweet Treats member drive in June. Performances at the Strawberry Tea for St. Wenceslaus, Sarpy County Fair, Sumter barbershop evening with men s groups, and services for Presbyterian Church of the Master (our gracious rehearsal host) were well attended and appreciated. Some of our members attended the Tribute to the Top music school in September thanks for this memorable learning experience. We also prepared for our anniversary fall show, held on November 12, entitled An Acappella Journey A Lifetime through Song. This year the chorus provided free tickets to all interested as a celebration of its 60 th year as a chorus. Activities began with a reunion dinner for current and former members and guests on November 10. The entertainment included music and a great journey through the years, raffles, and grand prize. Members worked hard to make it one of the most memorable concerts yet.

5 Take 5 Newsletter Page 5 December 2016 Flint Hills Harmony Chorus Topeka, KS Flint Hills Harmony hosted a fun and educational event for three Girl Scout troops on October 8. Troop 271 from Shawnee, KS (Leader Jennifer Cheffey), Troop 1007 from Peculiar, MO (Leader Nicole Sweet), and Troop 887 from Raymore, MO (Leader Melissa Gawf) joined FHH at Olathe s First Baptist Church. The four-hour workshop included sessions on Explore How Music is Made and Make Your Own Music. FHH members taught music basics in a fun, interactive format and assisted as the girls created instruments. After a snack and lunch provided by FHH, the girls performed newly-learned music and played their new instruments for their families and troop leaders. Nineteen scouts and 11 leaders and parents participated. A HUGE thank you goes to FHH members Susie Pruente and Paula Clayton for initiating, planning, and coordinating the event. FHH was involved in two other recent events, one at Kansas City s Hamburger Mary s on October 29 for an entertaining FHH fundraiser where friends, families, and the public played bingo, won great prizes, and ate delicious food. On November 4, FHH members distributed flyers at Topeka s First Friday event in the North Topeka Arts District to encourage women to discover the joy of barbershop. We handed out more than 60 flyers during this well-attended event on a beautiful autumn evening. Flint Hills Harmony congratulates Region 5 quartets and choruses and all who competed at the 2016 Las Vegas Convention. Special kudos to Region 5 s ClassRing, HEAT, and Sound Celebration for their top ten placements! Gateway Spotlight ChorUS St. Charles, MO The year is On the AM radio station, Neil Sedaka is crooning, I love, I love, I love my little calendar girl each and ev ry day of the year. Our annual show featured "Calendar Girl" as the theme song, followed by a song for each month of the year. On November 12, the stage was set at the comfortable Nazarene Community Theater in Roxana, IL. Chorus members, a newly formed quartet, and a new ensemble harmonized through the year of Calendar Girl A Love Story. Amateur actors pantomimed an original script as the narrator fondly reminisced about meeting and 'wooing' the sweet calendar girl until she finally agreed to become his wife. The calendar theme continued with the silent auction baskets representing each of the 12 months. The fun photo above shows a unique way for individuals to experience voice resonance as each of us calendar girls wore a colander to rehearse several songs. No, colanders were not worn during the show!! As an added special bonus, The Rivertown Sound, a group of five talented men from Spirit of St. Louis Barbershop, entertained the audience with their infamous 1950 s and doo-wop music.

6 Take 5 Newsletter Page 6 December 2016 Harmony Central Chorus Des Moines, IA Harmony Central was delighted to celebrate our 60 th Anniversary on October 1 with a fabulous show at Hoyt Sherman Theater in Des Moines. Over all these years we ve had quite a line-up of Directors and 10 of them were able to join us for the event! Jim Frazee, who took the chorus to competition in 1972, was in attendance, as was Eric Erikson, who directed from 1973 to Sally Eggleston, who took us to competition in 1979, planned to join us, but had an unexpected visit from her Texas daughter. We missed her, but understood. Steve West made the trip back to Iowa from Kosovo (where his wife Sharon is President of a university) a trip of over 5000 miles!! And he stopped in Florida and brought his lovely mother, Phyllis, with him. Steve directed the chorus from 1984 to 1988, taking us to International twice and helping earn another Regional championship right before he left. Both Bev Hamilton and Jerilee Inghram joined us. Bev directed from 1991 to 1993, and Jerilee directed us through a show and one competition in Randy Weir was a welcome sight! He has the most years (10) in front of the chorus, but did them in two stints. And then there were several of us who are still with the chorus who have directed. Sharon Dady co-directed the 2002 competition. Cheryl Doser and Diana Latch co-directed together for eight or nine years, the longest single stint. And of course, directing the chorus for the last year was our wonderful and talented current director, Nathan Green! It s been a long run over the last 60 years and it s taken quite a few directors to get us through them (24)! We re more than pleased to have arrived at this moment with Nate at the helm!

We hope for the return of kindness, gratitude and respect. We want to find this in ourselves and share it with others. We need a little Christmas right this very minute!

7 Take 5 Newsletter Page 7 December 2016 Metro Mix Chorus Cedar Sounds Chorus Iowa, City, IA Cedar Rapids, IA Where are you, Christmas? After the long and contentious election season, we find ourselves desperately longing for the feeling of peace on earth and goodwill toward all. We hope for the return of kindness, gratitude and respect. We want to find this in ourselves and share it with others. We need a little Christmas right this very minute! Can we please bring some Joy to the World? Where are you, Christmas? Hearing or singing such songs may be just what can lead us out of the angst and into feelings of gratitude and hope. There are four outstanding barbershop choruses in the Eastern Iowa corridor that know each other well and love singing and uplifting others. Two choruses are based in Iowa City: Metro Mix Chorus (women) and Old Capitol Chorus (men). In Cedar Rapids you ll find Cedar Sounds (women) and Harmony Hawks (men). The choruses have so much in common but seldom do all four have a chance to sing together. So, right now seemed like a perfect time to share our music and make it a free Christmas concert! No, wait TWO free concerts! The four choruses presented the concert twice on December 3. Each chorus prepared a set of their favorite music as well as some special songs we will all sing together. The event, Holiday Harmonies, was presented in both Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. The best part was a love offering that was collected and donated to an organization that provides help with food and nutrition, veteran support, energy conservation, children, and the homeless. If you haven't heard, the Kansas City Chorus has a new artistic director! And we found her on our own risers - our own Michelle Hunget! We are thrilled and excited to have her as our new director. She is energetic, positive and talented, and has charted the course for the Kansas City Chorus to move forward. It's all about ME - that is, Musical Excellence - and we are looking forward to our new direction and journey. Kansas City worked seven weekends and two Mondays for the Renaissance Festival, our major fundraiser for the year. We had a lot of fun working as "green faeries" handling vendors' money, and each member racked up thousands of steps while fighting off those itchy oak mites. We are learning new music, being coached, welcoming new members and preparing for International contest next October. We're excited to return to Las Vegas. (continued, next page) Kansas City Chorus Kansas City, MO

8 Take 5 Newsletter Page 8 December 2016 (Kansas City Chorus, continued) Speaking of Vegas, we couldn't be prouder of our own Mary Duncan, baritone of ClassRing; Michelle, tenor of HEAT, and Sheila Martinez, who sang with Harborlites Chorus. Congratulations also to River Blenders Chorus, along with Sound Celebration Chorus in the Harmony Classic. Region 5 was well represented. On December 3, the Kansas City Chorus and the Heart of America (men's chapter) presented our annual Holiday Harmony Spectacular. Our special guest quartet, ClassRing, appeared, along with chapter quartets from each chorus. The Kansas City Chorus wishes each of you Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! RiverSong Chorus St. Joseph, MO Congratulations to all International Competitors on your outstanding performances. A special shout-out to our own Region 5 competitors ClassRing, HEAT, Legacy, River Blenders, and Sound Celebration. You made us all so proud! WELL DONE!!! ClassRing and Sensation, your performances on our show, RiverSong A Cappella Live, added so much to a very special night. Thank you for sharing your talent with us!! And a special thank you to all Region 5 members who were able to spend the evening with RiverSong and our special guests. RiverSong announces that our director, Dr. Leslie Galbreath, has left us to begin a new and exciting adventure in Colorado. She has been a member of RiverSong for 24 years, and in that time has served in practically every chorus leadership position, as well as positions on the Regional and International level. We send her our love, our thanks and our best wishes as she begins this next chapter of her life. Bettye Hubbard is currently serving as RiverSong interim director and is also a long-term member of RiverSong, dating back to Bettye holds both bachelor s and master s degrees in vocal music education, and she has served as RiverSong s assistant director since She sings with the Kansas City Symphony Chorus serving as section leader, is a church musician, and is active in a musical theater group. RiverSong is currently searching for a full-time, front line director contact or RiverSongchorus@gmail.com.

We are very pleased and proud to place third in our Class A category. The entire set can be viewed at www.soundcelebrationchorus.org. We want to congratulate all our Region 5 competitors.

9 Take 5 Newsletter Page 9 December 2016 Sound Celebration Chorus Springfield, IL Our October 1 show was a great event featuring three groups, two shows, four make-up and costume changes, and the local debut of our "bee" set as the finale to both shows. It was extremely well received. Our trip to the MGM Grand Arena stage was amazing and a memory we will all cherish. We are very pleased and proud to place third in our Class A category. The entire set can be viewed at We want to congratulate all our Region 5 competitors. At our Halloween Monday rehearsal, we met to prepare for an upcoming performance at the Historic Marbold Farmstead Association and welcomed guests for a guest night as we began work on music for Christmas and our new ballad. We look forward to kicking off the holidays with our annual performance at the Festival of Trees and finish the evening with our holiday party. The Sound Celebration Chorus wishes you all a fun and festive holiday season. Whew!! We've come through our very hectic fall and had a wonderful time and learned so much. Tribute to the Top was an exciting kick-off for us to debut our set for Harmony Classic. We loved performing for our Region 5 friends and seeing the other competitors headed to Vegas. Many heartfelt thanks to the Region and its members for all your support and generosity to us. Take 4 Quartet Exciting news! Melissa, Chacey, Kristin, and Wendy made a CD! Order yours by ing Take4Sings@gmail.com.

10 Take 5 Newsletter Page 10 December 2016 HEAT Quartet (from their Facebook page, November 23, 2016) When four busy people decide to form a long-distance quartet, there are enormous commitments of time, travel, and finances involved. HEAT has had an amazing four years together. We have laughed, hugged, and sung through a regional competition and four international competitions. We placed sixth, fourth, seventh, and eighth in the world, and we could not be prouder of our accomplishments. In those four years, we recorded a CD which was named Barbershop Album of the Year by the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA), and David Wright gave us some of his very best arrangements including CASA s Barbershop Song of the Year, It Don t Mean a Thing if It Ain t Got That Swing. We are proud of the impact we made on Sweet Adelines International and barbershop in general. But as we took a close look at the year ahead, we just couldn t justify the time and money we would need to continue at this level. So it is with a heavy heart, enormous love, and respect for each other that we announce that we will not be continuing as a quartet. We will miss all those good times with our coaches Jean Barford, Sharon Babb, Cindy Hansen Ellis, Liz Hardcastle, Betty Clipman, Darlene Rogers, Rick Knight, and of course, David Wright. Our husbands are going to miss hanging out with each other. Our choruses (Topeka Acappella Unlimited, St. Louis Harmony, and Kansas City) have been our biggest fans. Our Region 5 has supported us financially and spiritually. We can never properly thank you all!! One thing we know there will never be another HEAT! And if you ever see all four of us in the same room, you d better ask us to bust a chord together because that has been the glue that has bound us as friends and as singing mates. We thank you for all of your love! Donna, Sandi, Susan, and Michelle Take Five Deadlines January 15, 2017 April 16, 2017 July 15, 2017 October 15, articles (limit of 250 words) and a picture (limit 1) to Editor Marilyn Fairchild at: mfairchild@southslope.net. PLEASE send the text in the body of the , not as an attachment. It is easier and less time consuming to format. Thanks. Read the latest Newsletter online at:

Don t miss the next Region 5 music school!!

Spirit of the Midwest Region 5 Sweet Adelines International August 2016 Newsletter www.sairegion5.org www.region5convention.org http://region5musicschools.weebly.com/ Don t miss the next Region 5 music