Sweet Adelines International 75th Jubilee Commemorative Album

Why I Sing

Ms. Management An advice column, penned by anonymous members ran in The

I joined Forth Valley Chorus (Scotland) because I had seen another Sweet Adelines chorus from the UK, Surrey Harmony, perform on TV. I thought that looks like more fun than wearing a long black skirt and white blouse and singing choral music. My standout moment was when Forth Valley reached the Top 10 at international this year (2019), and became the first chorus from Region #31 Quartet of Nations to sing in the finals — 25 years after our first international when we came in last! Along with the other non-USA choruses, we put the “International” into Sweet Adelines every single week. —Florence Kennedy, Region #31, member since 1992 My mother was a founding member of the Kingston, Ontario chapter back in the early 1960s. I did my high school homework with the sounds of my mother’s quartet practicing in the background. My father sang with a local barbershop chorus, so I was definitely a barbershop brat. I married a Navy guy and we moved around quite often. Everywhere we were posted, I joined a chorus if there was one. We were sent to England for two years, and of course, I joined the chorus in Portsmouth. I’m grateful for all the years I’ve enjoyed as a member of Sweet Adelines.” —Ellie Campion, Region #16, member since 1966

Pitch Pipe for several years… Dear Ms. Management,

This probably will seem petty but, well, I’m jealous. So much attention is given to new members joining our chorus — they’re snapped up for committees, praised for their work in learning music quickly, even congratulated on their good attendance. I’ve had good attendance too — for 11 years. I serve on the board, learn my music quickly, and yet I feel slighted, not only for myself, but also for all of us “old-timers” who seem to be the forgotten women of our chorus. Gentle Singer: What a delightful “crop” of new members your chorus must have! And what a talented, warm and forward-looking group of “oldsters” must have attracted them to your chorus in the first place! Often, in our desire to make a newcomer feel welcome, we may slight the contributions of our more experienced singers. This is not done from any malice, but from thoughtlessness. May I suggest an ever-so-slight dash of assertiveness: a formal ceremony recognizing years of membership, special name tags, or perhaps an “Old Timers Club” skit to dramatize incidents from the chorus’ history (or hysteria). And please know that you, and all of you loyal Sweet Adelines out there, are MOST appreciated!

1995 Quarterly newsletter mailed directly to members instead of bulk mail to chapters.

1995 Education Direction Committee (EDC) continues study of cultural appropriateness of various songs.

1995 Agoura Hills Harmony Chorus (California, USA) provides background music for a documentary about the restoration of the Constellation, a 1950s-era Lockheed aircraft.

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