Sweet Adelines International 75th Jubilee Commemorative Album

First International Chorus Contest

Regional chorus contests thrived, with 33-1/3 LP record albums of regional champion performances produced by the headquarters staff. Members listened to the records over and over, trying to decide which chorus would have won if there were an international chorus contest. Adding a chorus contest to the international convention was studied by the International Board of Directors for several years. Logistics such as staging, transporting, and setting up choral risers, and housing additional members, were all taken into consideration. Would there need to be a separate judging panel? What about the acoustics? Would hotel ballrooms be adequate? Most of all, would chorus members be able to afford the time and the cost of traveling from homes and families to sing only two songs? In 1973, we found out!

With 64 members on stage and resplendent in purple dresses, Racine Chorus of Wisconsin (USA) sang two numbers arranged by their Director, Jarmela Speta: Heart Of My Heart/That Old Gang Of Mine Medley and There’s A New Gang On The Corner. Racine Chorus won the first Sweet Adelines, Inc. International Chorus Contest in Washington, D.C. (USA) in 1973.

How do you take a 40-pound trophy home with you? Hazel Tabar, Racine Chorus member explained: “Members of the chorus wrapped it in a blanket and placed it behind the airplane pilot’s seat. He made sure it was safe with his own seat belt.”

Fred King, director of the 2nd place medalists, Dundalk Chorus (Baltimore, Maryland, USA), admires the brand-new trophy as International President Zoe Thompson presents him with his chorus’s certificate of achievement.

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