Your Letters

FOUR BETTYS Prepare for Big Performance
With only two months left, the FOUR BETTYS are anxious to take the stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. The 2008 Sweet Adelines International Champion Quartet will be performing along with MaxQ, the 2007 Barbershop Harmony Society Quartet Champion. The two gold-medal winning groups will perform from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sat., May 31, on the Millennium Stage.

The Kennedy Center is hosting the A Cappella Festival throughout the weekend, which will feature a variety of a cappella performances from across the globe. FOUR BETTYS and MaxQ will be there representing barbershop a cappella harmony.

The performance will be streamed live on the Web, and the recorded performance will be placed in an accessible online archive. For more information on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage follow this link:
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium.

Cori Albrecht, Bass
FOUR BETTYS Quartet
Region 3

A Cover Story For Her Community
During my 20 years in Sweet Adelines International I have made many friends who I think would love to hear about a magazine article I was fortunate to be a part of. I was asked to appear on the cover of a local magazine, the March issue of Carmel Magazine.

Currently I am keeping myself plenty busy as a section leader, member of the PVI team for my chorus and also as a member of Region 4's music faculty. Even as an active Sweet Adeline, I still find time to judge community theater and act as the Encore representative for Carmel Community Players (community theater group). Singing and entertaining within the community are both passions of mine that I would like to see stay alive. My hobbies are what landed me on the cover.

In promoting a local play for the Carmel Community Players a few of us were asked to model spring fashions. Coincidentally we were labeled "designer divas" which tied in very well with my diva status as a Sweet Adeline.

You can view the article by going to www.carmelmag.com. Click on local links and then Carmel Magazine (where it says you can download a current copy of the magazine in .pdf format). I am mentioned in the Editor's notes on page eight and I also appear on pages 54 and 58. Enjoy.

Janet Crenshaw
Capital City Chorus

The Grass Isn't Growing Under These Feet
Crosstown Harmony Chorus, Milwaukee Showcase Chorus and BLUE PLATE SPECIAL Quartet haven’t let the grass grow under their feet. The choruses and quartet were given considerable recognition last summer when they assisted the Waukesha county park and recreation department with their very first Waukesha Teen Idol contest.

Flyers were distributed to all music teachers and students at the local schools before the school year ended. New banners were hung every Tuesday and regular articles were submitted weekly in the Waukesha Freeman that highlighted supporters of the event, including the Sweet Adelines choruses and quartet. Cindy Zieroth, bass, and Doreen Giesfeldt, lead from BLUE PLATE SPECIAL, spent their Tuesday evenings last summer emceeing the event and encouraging teens along the way.

Becky Janz, Nancy Grintjes and Barb Hyder from Crosstown Harmony Chorus acted as judges. They had fun creating an aura of certain celebrities in their own way, yet giving some very good coaching tips. The public as well as committee members frequently commended their expertise, implying they were so happy that the support came from such a talented group of people. It was very exciting as they connected with some high-profile people in the community, including the mayor of the city of Waukesha, the executive director of the Waukesha Symphony Orchestra, White House of Music, the Waukesha police department, the Chamber of Commerce and the coordinator of the Jazz in the Park summer concert series for the city of Waukesha.

Brochures made available at the registration table highlighted information on IES, Rising Star Competition, Crosstown Harmony Chorus and BLUE PLATE SPECIAL Quartet. Even the parents have come to know the chorus and quartet members as intelligent vocalists and hopefully their interest will inspire them to visit a rehearsal sometime.

And the winner is… Ellen Jenders! To add to the sweetness, Ellen joined Crosstown Harmony Chorus as a featured guest on their Christmas show, one of the winner’s prizes. Once again families attended and learned more about barbershop harmony.

Talk about an opportunity to reach a number of ages and people, this was the way to go! Let the grass grow under our feet? Not a chance! A little effort from our members in this community event and the general public was educated on what we’re all about. It was an excellent way to expand membership and assist young adults in achieving their goals. We hope your chorus can do it too!

Cindy Zieroth, Bass
BLUE PLATE SPECIAL Quartet
Crosstown Harmony Chorus

Features

Regional Competitions Kick-Off
This year nearly 400 choruses and more than 500 quartets across the globe are anxiously preparing for the Sweet Adelines International regional competitions. Fourteen countries will be represented on the regional competition stages. Competitions commenced the last week in March and will continue through the middle of May.

This is the time of year where our members' dedication and hard work are put to the test. Costumes, choreography, makeup, the audience and every detail that brings competitors into the spotlight make regional competition a thrilling event for all who attend. For many members who desire to compete on the international stage, the intensity of competing regionally is immeasurable.

All competition sessions are open to the public. More information on competition locations and ticket prices can be found through the regional Web sites. Find each region’s Web site going to http://www.sweetadelineintl.org/reg-links.cfm. For detailed questions please contact Membership Coordinator Ann-Marie Dowling at 800/992-7464, 918/622-1444 or by e-mail at
ann-marie@sweetadelineintl.org.

Regional Competition Reminders
The July issue of The Pitch Pipe is dedicated to the winners of the regional competitions. Photos, songs, arrangers and other information are included for each first-place quartet, chorus, Division A chorus and Division AA chorus. If your chorus or quartet is one of the first-place winners in your region, please remember to send in song and arranger information immediately after winning. If your chorus or quartet becomes a wildcard, please forward your information as soon as possible. For your convenience information forms are available on the regional competition section of our Web site at http://www.sweetadelineintl.org/competition-main.cfm. Send information to Joey Mechelle Stenner, The Pitch Pipe Editor, P.O. Box 470168, Tulsa, OK 74147-0168 or fax information to 918.665.0894 or e-mail saijoey@yahoo.com.

Young Singers Foundation

Bev Sellers Memorial Scholarship Recipient Janae Frank Thrills Young Audiences
Through my studies at Loyola Marymount University, I have been lucky enough to give back to the younger members of society. With annual children's music concerts and competitions, Loyola Marymount musicians and faculty encourage the youth of Los Angeles to participate in anything musical. We offer a music competition where children are invited to perform for our faculty and write wonderful statements about why they perform. A few are chosen to perform in our annual children's concert.

I am also a member of the Sinatra Opera Workshop at Loyola Marymount. This year we are reaching out to children through our production of Mozart's The Magic Flute. We shortened the opera and added child-friendly dialogue so that youngsters can enjoy this wonderful classical art form in a fun way. The lively music, costumes, and scenery add to the excitement of our show. As our performance is quickly approaching, we performed selected scenes at the Children's Concert in January. It was so exciting to see them sitting there, wide-eyed with smiles from ear to ear. Their laughter and obvious enjoyment of the music were extremely heartwarming and encouraging, especially for me as I would like to teach music in the future.  Thank you Young Singers Foundation, for helping me to experience such opportunities.

Janae Frank
Bev Sellers Memorial Scholarship Recipient

You can help talented young people obtain a quality music education. Please visit http://www.youngsingersfoundation.org.

International Sales

Annual Inventory
The International Sales Department will be conducting its annual physical inventory beginning May 1, 2008.  We will be taking orders; however, the merchandise will not ship until the completion of inventory.

Revised 2008 Judging Category Description Book is now available.
Revisions include:

• The music category is reorganized with updated language and informative details.
• The showmanship category is rearranged to match the newly designed scoresheets.
• The showmanship scoresheet has the same information, but is designed to emphasize the importance of vocal skills.
• Descriptive language clearly defines new rules regarding the use of props.
• Current (updated) scoresheets are included.

$25 (USD) plus shipping and handling.  Order before April 30, 2008, and receive $5 (USD) off. Order online at www.sweetadelineintl.org or by calling sales toll-free direct at 877.545.5441

International Competition Performances Now Available
Don't miss your chance to view the top ten chorus and quartet performances from the 2007 Calgary convention. Order your copies now from International Sales.
DVDs: $35 USD
CDs: $15 USD
(plus shipping and handling)

Queens' College 2008

Registration is Now Open
Queens’ College is a weekend packed with classes, performances, quartet coaching, laughter, examining crowns and meeting new friends – all wrapped up with a song selected especially for participants of the schools. Attendees learn skills from International Champions in classes designed and taught by members of the Coronet Club. Faculty members share tips on music selection and part-smart singing using the song selected for the schools. Click here for more information and to register online.

Song of Welcome

We wish to welcome two new choruses:

Dres Kernow
Region 31
Carnon Downs, Truro, Cornwall, UK
Charter Date: March 6, 2008

Heartbeat UK
Region 31
Stockport, Cheshire, UK
Charter Date: March 12, 2008