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2008 Summer Music Camp
June 19-21, 2008
Texas Woman's University; Denton, TX
Vickie Dennis, Guest Faculty
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Region 25 honors Peggy Gram
By Sharon Hightower
 Charlie Daniels, Arkansas Secretary of State declares
Peggy Gram Day
The rains came, but nothing could wash away the high spirits and fun when Top of the Rock Chorus honored our new International President with a bodacious reception! Held on the second floor landing of Arkansas Historical Museum, friends, family and singers from every state in our region gathered to congratulate Peggy on her new position. Even her boss, the Secretary of State of Arkansas was there! He read a proclamation from the great state of Arkansas declaring the reception date, May 24, 2008, PEGGY GRAM DAY!! WooHoo! Ann Berg and Peggy's cousin, Janet Lammers, coordinated the invitations and hors d’oeuvres and a good time was had by all. Region 25 is SO proud of Peggy Gram, and we know she will impact our organization like no other! |
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Nancy Nortz
2008 Ark Angel Award Recipient
by Marva Hughes
Nancy Nortz was speechless—well, almost, anyway—when she was presented the 2008 Ark Angel Award by Joni Bescos at Region 25’s competition in April. That’s something that, according to her, doesn’t happen very often!
As we know from Joni’s presentation speech:
Nancy is a third-generation “barbershopper,” Her Granddad started the tradition, her Uncle and parents sang in choruses and quartets, and all the kids were taught tags, attended shows, and sang their way through all their growing up years. One brother became an International Quartet champion and another became an International Chorus champion. The family love of barbershop singing continued to grow when Nancy and her husband discovered they had caught the family disease. She joined SAI, he joined the BHS and, lo and behold, their daughters and son could also sing, and wanted to sing –Barbershop! Four generations have now been infected!
Two children chose other musical paths, but one had it bad and needed her Mom to encourage, believe in, and coach her quartet to become Rising Star Champions. Nancy was the steadfast coach, Mom and nurturer to the four young girls who became the young women Region 25 claims as its own Tone Appetit.
In 1994, 6 weeks before International in Reno, Nancy didn’t just join a chorus. She immediately catapulted to the top rung of service, quickly becoming an integral part of OK City Chorus, chorus choreography team, quartet singer, Public Relations Chair, and Management Team Member, among many volunteer jobs. In Region 25 she has worked as manager for Kismet Quartet, Choreographer to other choruses, serves on the RMT as Marketing Coordinator, and is our immediate past Competition Coordinator. She is also a continuing force in the promotion of Young Women In Harmony.
Is it any wonder she was honored as this year’s Ark Angel Award recipient? Congratulations, Nancy! |
  by Nancy Nortz
How many regions have had the pleasure of having a quartet like Rumors? Darn near all of them! Yes, they belong to Region 25, but Charla, Judy, Dale and Peggy have a passion for barbershop harmony that they have shared with virtually the whole world. This November, in Honolulu, the quartet that the Sweet Adelines world has come to love will do its bow out. We can moan and cry (and we probably will) but mainly, we should celebrate. Let’s celebrate the amazing impact that four women can have on the world and the number of lives they can touch. As you know, it takes a lot to become a queen in this organization and all of our quartet champions have touched lives through the sheer majesty of their music. But with Rumors, it’s more than that.
If you are reading this, you are a part of the Heart of America Region, which means that you‘re already familiar with Rumors. But, if you’re a newer member, you may not know that Rumors never won a gold medal at the regional level. Their first year of competition, they were edged out by Crystal Collection, but earned a wild card berth. They did so well in their first outing that they never returned to regional competition. You may not be aware that Charla Esser is a barbershop brat who originally sang in a quartet with her mother, or that Judy Baxter played clarinet, alto clarinet and bassoon, and was a ballroom dance instructor. You may not realize that Dale Syverson won her first crown with the Tiffanys in 1973 or that Peggy Gram sang baritone & bass with the Ark Angels, another beloved institution of Region 25. But even if you weren’t around, you probably have heard the story about how Rumors, the 1999 Queens of Harmony, were almost the 1998 Queens of Harmony, except for the matter of a time penalty. It was a priceless moment indeed when, in a subsequent performance, Dale walked to the mic to talk, looked at her watch, shook her head, and went back to start the next song.
That famous brand of humor. Now, that’s what really sets them apart. That and the amazing musical skill. The humor and the musical skill. And the tireless efforts to help others learn. The humor, the musical skill, and the tireless teaching. And their passion for the Young Women in Harmony movement. The humor, the musical skill, the tireless teaching and their work with YWIH. Okay, I quit. After all, this has to fit into the Heartbeat publication.
 By the way, when I was trying to decide what to entitle this tribute, I thought that it would be fitting to work in that famous overtime incident. The first thing that came to mind was “It’s About Time”, but when we’re talking about their retirement, that seemed wrong on so many levels.
So call it what you want, but on Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, when Rumors sings their swan song on the Coronet Club show, there won’t be a dry eye in the place. And that’s how it should be. After all, there is rarely a dry eye in the place when Charla sings “Lady Down the Hall” or when they are deep into “Dolly”. So the tears of sorrow will only be a drop in the bucket (sorry about that) to the tears of laughter and joy we’ve already shed. The important thing is to revel in what Rumors has brought to the world. Not to just the Sweet Adeline world, not to just the barbershop world, but the world as a whole is a better place because of this one quartet. So we will “Let Rumors Rest”, but I for one am already looking forward to their first reunion concert.
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| Ruth Ann Parker was advanced to Certified Judge in the music category in January, 2008. This is the highest level of achievement in the International Judging Program. She received the Certified Sound Judge pin and will be recognized for her accomplishment at IES in San Antonio in July. |
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 Prairie Winds Chorus to Honor Marilyn Dickey
By Marva Hughes
Mark September 6 on your calendar, and plan to join the Prairie Winds Chorus at a retirement party celebrating Marilyn Dickey’s directing career! Watch for details to come! Marilyn, a 35-year Sweet Adeline, has directed Prairie Winds since 1994. During that time, Prairie Winds has consistently placed in the top 5 in regional competition, performed in the Austrian Alps Performing Arts Festival (Austria, 1997), placed second in the Buckeye Invitational (Columbus, OH, 2003), and placed third in the Division AA Harmony Classic, (Greenville, S.C., 2005), a performance that earned Marilyn the title of Master Director.
She has graced the contest stage as a doctor, a little ol’ lady, a bride, a two-year old, a patient in a hospital gown, and yes, even a frog! Holy Cow! Oh, yes, if you happened to be at Quartet Retreat a few years ago, you may remember her as the bass in a quartet of cows singing, “Got the moos when my baby left me standin’ by a bale of hay…!” She is game for just about anything, and whenever her “friends” come up with a new starring role for her, she just rolls her eyes and says, “Okay, if you say so.” She is loved by the Prairie Winds Chorus, Region 25, and by Sweet Adelines around the world! Even though Marilyn is retiring as Director, she continues singing and performing with the chorus and will be on the risers next February as they perform in Carnegie Hall!
Marilyn has been a member of the Prairie Winds Chorus since 1973. Prior to becoming Director, she served as President, Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Director and has chaired many committees. At the regional level, she has served as Regent, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-Regent, and Presidents’ Liaison. She also served a two-year International appointment as Director of Musical Activities and three two-year terms on the Regional Management Team as Directors’ Coordinator. She is currently a member of the Region 25 Education Faculty and the Education Steering Committee and will continue to serve in those roles. We hope to see you in to Lubbock on September 6! |
 GOOD-BYE TO A GREAT LADY - JAN ABBOTT
Through the years, we have all known someone who has touched our lives in such a way that we will never forget them. Janet Abbott was such a person and a true Sweet Adeline.
Jan first sang with the Heart of Iowa Chorus in Marshalltown, Iowa. When the Abbott family moved to Dallas, she then joined the Rich-tones. By this time, the love of singing and performing was a definite part of her life. That love never diminished, even when she and husband, Bob, retired and moved "to the country" in Gordonville, Texas.
It was too far to commute to Dallas and remain with the Rich-tones, so Jan dreamed of starting a chorus in the Texoma area. In 9 months, her dream came true. She found a director and women singers, completed the Sweet Adeline requirements and chartered the Red River Valley Chorus in May of 1996.
On November 5, 2007, after a long illness, Jan was chosen to sing in His Greatest Chorus of All. The Red River Valley Chorus was honored to express our love, gratitude and respect by singing at her memorial service at the Sherwood Shores Church. Several former chorus members joined us in singing our memorial to Jan Abbott.
In Jan's honor and memory, the RRVC has presented each year the Jan Abbott Award to the outstanding chorus member who works the hardest for the betterment of the Red River Valley Chorus. We will continue this tradition in the hopes that Jan will be long remembered as our founder and sister in harmony.
Rebecca Clark, Red River Valley Chorus, Sherman, Texas |
 In memory:
Shirley Jackson, Sooner Sensations Chorus - March 10, 2008
Theresa Ann Hammer, Rich-Tone Chorus
December 11, 2007
Jan Abbott, Red River Valley Chorus
November 5, 2007 |
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eHeartbeat is published by
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Region 25 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Contact the webmaster.
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2008
Competition Results
1st Place Chorus - Rich-Tone Chorus
2nd Place Chorus -
Top of the Rock Chorus
3rd Place Chorus - Oklahoma Jubilee Chorus
4th Place Chorus - Prairie Winds Chorus
5th Place Chorus - Ozark Showcase Chorus
1st Place Quartet - Rendition
2nd Place Quartet -
Flirt!
3rd Place Quartet - Astound Sound
4th Place Quartet - Special FX
5th Place Quartet - Star Struck
Novice Quartet Award - Natural Selection
Division AA Choruses
1st Place Chorus -
Top of the Rock
2nd Place Chorus - Oklahoma Jubilee
3rd Place Chorus - Prairie Winds
Division A Choruses
1st Place Chorus - Twin City Sensations
2nd Place Chorus - Queen City Sound
3rd Place Chorus - Talk of Tulsa |
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Sharon Hightower
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 We all know that if we don't keep our cars serviced we can be in for a lot of trouble down the road. The same is true for our chorus engine -- the STANDING RULES! Be sure your chorus takes a look at this integral part of chorus functioning and keep them up to date. If you haven't sent your standing rules to Judy Dixon for a tune-up, do it today. And please, if she asks you to make corrections, do it! She is only looking after your best interests! |
 Annette Gary, Education Coordinator
Copyright infringement is a huge issue in today’s world! Copyright laws are designed to protect the works of song writers and arrangers by preventing unauthorized use of their musical works.
Every year, the region purchases enough copies of an arrangement of a song specifically for participants at Quartet Retreat and Summer Music Camp to use while they are at these events (approximately 300 or so copies).
Choruses or quartets who wish to learn and sing this song must contact the song’s arranger to pay the arranger fee and the per copy fee. Regional songs are selected by the Education Steering Committee. Various factors are considered when selecting a song including the difficulty and strength of the arrangement, lyrics (easy to learn, fun?), embellishments (swipes and other “bells and whistles”)…and, let’s face it…will it be fun to sing? We keep trying to find great songs for us to sing!
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| Quartets: Please help us keep our quartet page updated on the regional web site. Contact us at MLHughes@nts-online.net if a new quartet is formed and/or if your quartet personnel or contact information changes during the year. To keep your information current on the Sweet Adelines International web site, contact Commdept@sweetadelineintl.org. |
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 News from the Membership Coordinator:
What a great RAM Meeting we had. We were able to honor 7 members with a pin for 25 years of membership. They are Shirley Christian (Ozark Showcase), Barbara Harter (CAL), Sandy Koch (Show Me Harmony), Ruth Koetter (Lawton Harmony), Karen Martin & Jackie Stayton (both from Oklahoma Jubilee), and Jan Witten (OK City).
We were fortunate to have two 50 year Sweet Adelines – Joni Bescos (Richtone) and Shirley Fine (OK City). They received clocks.
We honored our new chapter, Arkappella Show Chorus from NW Arkansas with a shower to help them get started.
I want to thank those who have been on the membership staff the past year: Angie Mack (Lawton Harmony), Jenifer Albaugh (Rich-Tone) and Linda Hammett (OK City). Angie now has director duties, so joining us for this next year will be Karen Phillips (Oklahoma Jubilee).
The Growth Awards have been computed for the past year. This is for April 30, 2007 to April 30, 2008. The following choruses will receive notification.
Small Chorus (15 to 30): First Place: Heart of the Hills – 23%
Second Place: Abilene Star - 21%
Third Place: Queen City Sound – 14%
Mid-size Chorus (31 to 60): First Place: Piney Hills Harmony – 20%
Second Place: Sooner Sensations – 15%
Over half of our choruses experienced growth, so congratulations to everyone.
Remember that your chorus can receive an administrative visit for topics such as goal setting and membership issues.
SMC is just around the corner. If you are membership chairman for your chorus, don’t forget our lunch meeting on Friday. We will have a chance to network and share. If your membership chairman isn’t able to be there, you may send a representative from your chorus.
SAI is coming out with a new Member Recruitment Campaign. Keep your eyes on the SAI website for more information. |
Regional Roster
The 2008-09 regional roster, containing information about chorus rehearsals and contact information for chapter leaders, will be distributed to presidents, team leaders and directors at SMC at no charge. Extra copies will be available to anyone else for $5 each “while supply lasts!”
If you have changes in your chapter’s information throughout the year, please send those to Judy Hargrove at jmagoo0190@att.net, and cc Marva Hughes at MLHughes@nts-online.net. Updates will be sent monthly via e-mail.
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RMT Applications Due June 30
Applications for the Regional Management Team will be accepted until June 30, so there is still time to apply! Positions for the 2009-2011 term are:
- Communications Coordinator
- Directors’ Coordinator
- Finance Coordinator
- Team Coordinator
Visit the Region 25 web site (http://www.sairegion25.org) to find the application and job descriptions, or email Marva Hughes at MLHughes@nts-online.net. |
REGION 25 CELEBRATES ITS DIRECTORS
Region 25 has two new Master Directors! Kelly Causey (Top of the Rock) and Annette Gary (Prairies Winds) have both advanced to the level of Master Director due to the outstanding performances by their choruses at our regional competition. Kelly served as TOTR’s director when Peggy Gram was on sabbatical, and the two of them now co-direct the chorus. This was Annette’s second year to direct Prairie Winds in competition, this year as Co-Director with Marilyn Dickey.
It is not an easy task to become a Master Director. One must first complete the Director’s Certification Program, and then must serve as a frontline director to become a certified director. In order to advance to Master Director, the chorus must score over 600 at contest. Congratulations, Annette and Kelly on your accomplishment!
 This year, Region 25 also had some first time directors initiated on the regional contest stage. First time directors included: Ken Baxter (Santa Rosa Belles), Donna Ulrich (Abilene Star), Dianne Bernstein (Lake Country Harmony), and Vyneta Ryan (Note-Ably North Texas). Alice Linksey (Heart o’ the Hills) and Ruth Ann Parker (Rich-Tone), while experienced directors, are new to our stage. Congratulations on a job well done!
DIRECTOR-FACULTY RETREAT
Save the date!! This year’s annual Director Faculty Retreat will be held in the Dallas area on September 12-13. Guest Faculty will be Bev Miller and Molly Huffman. Bev and Molly are co-directors of the Capital City Chorus in Indianapolis. You can read a bit about them on their chorus website: http://www.capitalcitychorus.net/Leaders/ourLeaders.html
You won’t want to miss all that Bev and Molly have to offer us! |
to Region 25!
ArkAppella Show Chorus
Springdale, Arkansas - Charter Date: April 17, 2008
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Queen City Sound Prepares for Harmony Classic
Donna Henderson, Queen City Sound Chorus
Queen City Sound has been extremely busy this past year on a quest to raise funds for going to IES next month in San Antonio. We sing for everyone in our community including Churches, organizations, Assisted Living facilities and because of our close proximity in Springfield, Mo., we have had the opportunity to sing on several Shows in Branson, Mo. We were on the Baldknobbers, The DIVA'S Show and were on stage with the Gatlin Brothers and Lennon Sisters for their Christmas Show. What an exciting time for our little Chorus as we prepare to go to IES. We have heard from so many of you sending us your love and support. We are working hard so we will be able to represent Region 25 to the best of our abilities.
 Queen City Sound Performs With Lennon Sisters and Gatlin Brothers in Branson, MO |
Oklahoma Jubilee was honored to sing on the Gatlin Brothers/Lennon Sisters’ Christmas Show in Branson at the Welk Theatre on November 16, 2007, to a packed theatre! They sent us their finale music to learn and after doing a 30 minute show in the lobby prior to the show, we joined them in the finale to a standing ovation. People went out of their way to compliment us after the performance, and even the next day in restaurants, etc around Branson, people came up and said, “We saw you last night on the Gatlin show. You were awesome!” They also were invited to sing at the start of the SIX (formerly the Knutson Brothers) performance the following afternoon! WHAT A HOOT
--Barbara Moore, Oklahoma Jubilee Chorus, Tulsa OK |
Congratulations to all the participants at this year’s competition. Wasn't in great? The show of Champions was the best ever. Our chorus held our annual "Tea With the Queen" May 17. We had a good turn out and several ladies stayed after and rehearsed with us as part of our "Sing for the Summer" program. Later that day we held our installation banquet for the team. The theme was in a 60's coffee house. We all dressed the part wearing quite a few outlandish hippie outfits. June 8 we performed at the MWC Elks lodge at their annual "Retire the Flag" ceremony. We have done this for them for at least 16 years. We plan on having a concert September 6th and our "Sing for the Summer" ladies will be on the program with us.
--Carolyn Goldbeck, Sooner Sensations Chorus, Moore, OK |
Don't Miss out on Regional Events!
Check the Region 25 Calendar on the Heart of America website - www.sairegion25.org! |
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