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NOVEMBER 3, 2024 - The San Diego Chorus returned from the 76th Annual Sweet Adelines Convention & Competition ranked 7th Internationally. Approximately 76 of San Diego's 80 members took the stage in the Semi-Finals, competing against 33 other a cappella choral organizations worldwide. Semi-Finals contest packages are timed and typically feature two songs - an uptune and a ballad. These pieces are arranged and performed in the classic, 4-part a cappella harmony that is a hallmark of the barbershop style. A panel of eight judges evaluates each performance intensely, focused on four key areas that uphold the core tenets of this American art form. San Diego Chorus's scores in the Semi-Finals phase placed them within the top ten, which secured their position in the International Finals. Finals packages showcase each chorus's musical excellence and personality, blending a barbershop number with several contemporary a cappella numbers that feature dynamic arrangements brought to life through creative themes, choreography, costumes, and scripting. The San Diego Chorus Semi-Finals package included the 1918 ballad Smilin' Through, with music and lyrics from Arthur A. Penn and Ed Waesche. This specific version featured a revitalized and never-before-performed a cappella arrangement by Joey Minshall. The chorus's uptune, A Wonderful Day Like Today, is from the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd, and was also arranged by Joey Minshall, The San Diego Chorus Finals package opened with the Jeremy Johnson arrangement of The Greatest Show from the 2017 film The Greatest Showman. The ballad, I Will Never Pass This Way Again (1972, Ronnie Gaylord) was originally arranged in the traditional barbershop style by Clay Hine, and later refreshed by his daughter, Melody Hine. Next up was the crowd favorite I Will Survive (1978, Dino Fekaris / Freddie Perren) a high-energy number most commonly associated with artist Gloria Gaynor, featuring a new arrangement from Rowena Harper. The set concluded with a jubilant rendition of OneRepublic's I Lived (Noel Zancanella / Ryan Tedder). This energetic and memorable finale was arranged by Jeremy Johnson and truly reflects the heart and spirit of this unique chorus. The San Diego Chorus was unique within the competition based on successful efforts to expand chorus membership in recent years, which resulted in nearly 30% of singers being first-timers to the International stage. Choral organizations like many sectors within the performing arts were deeply affected by the pandemic, experiencing impacts to both membership and funding. In recent years, the San Diego Chorus has opted to focus recruitment efforts on expanding diversity in a holistic sense - with a goal of membership that reflects population trends within the San Diego region. The result has breathed new life into the chorus, attracting singers of all ages, ethnic and racial backgrounds, differently-abled individuals, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Participation in an SAI Chorus competition entails approximately 18 - 24 months of focused preparation encompassing vocal and visual coaching, weekly rehearsals, sectionals, and personal practice. Throughout this competitive cycle, the San Diego Chorus has welcomed esteemed coaches from around the country, including:
Chorus members are required to qualify both vocally and visually in several phases to participate in regional and international competitions. Judges within Sweet Adelines International complete a rigorous, multi-year training and qualification track that includes experiential prerequisites, testing, training, and trial scoring in multiple environments. Upon completion and with appropriate recommendations, candidates are eligible for consideration as a Certified Judge. Once certified, Judges commit to ongoing musical education and training as well as regular involvement in regional and international competitions to keep their certification current. The 2024 Sweet Adelines International Chorus Judging Panel was as follows:
The week-long competition and convention also featured the 2024 Quartet Semi-Finals and Finals as well as the Harmony Classic, a competition for midsized choruses with membership ranging from 31 - 60 members. Attendees enjoyed a diverse offering of musical education sessions, with well-known vocal leaders, many of which include small group singing, coaching under glass, and more. Recent recaps and full performances for all divisions and phases of the competition are available for viewing on Sweet Adeline's YouTube channel. 
 The San Diego Chorus was founded in 1951 and is a two-time International Championship organization, earning the titles in 1975 and again in 2002, under the direction of Marvin Yerkey and Kim Vaughn respectively. Throughout the nearly 75-year lifespan of the organization, the organization has won multiple awards at varying levels including within Region 21 Golden West. Region 21 is recognized as one of the most competitive within SAI, encompassing approximately 16 choruses across southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Hawaii. The San Diego Chorus is currently under the direction of Kathleen Hansen.
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The San Diego Chorus is traveling to Kansas City, Missouri for the Sweet Adelines International (SAI) 2024 SemiFinals. Currently ranked 5th worldwide, the chorus will take the stage as competitor #1 on Thursday, October 31st at approximately 10 AM Central Time. Single and All Events Passes are available on site at Registration, and a LiveStream of the competition is also available for purchase. 
The San Diego Chorus performing a number from their 2024 Entertainment Package. Choruses must rank within the top 10 worldwide to perform their entertainment set. Ranking is based on the results of the Region 21 Golden West 2023 Contest, where the singers placed 2nd with a score of 674. The region, which is largely recognized as one of the most competitive within SAI, encompasses approximately 16 choruses across southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Hawaii. Region 21's Harborlites Chorus under the direction of Pam Pieson will also compete in the Chorus SemiFinals and OC Sound Chorus will compete in the Harmony Classic category for Small to Mid-Sized Choruses under the direction of Bonnie McKibben. In August of 2023 Master Director Kathleen Hansen accepted a coveted Wild Card invitation on behalf of the San Diego Chorus for the October 2024 contest. Thirty-two choruses from around the world have qualified for international competition in 2024. Contests are adjudicated by a double panel of eight judges, each of whom intensively evaluate one of the four categories that comprise the overall score: Sound, Music, Expression and Visual Communication. Every competing organization has the potential to earn 100 points per category per song. The total possible points available for a performance is 800.  The San Diego Chorus was awarded a score of 674 in the Region 21 2023 Contest, which earned them a coveted Wild Card invitation to International Competition.
Choruses that rank within the top 10 earn a chance to present an entertainment package in the Finals for the championship title. The 15-minute Finals package showcases the musical excellence and personality of each chorus, blending a barbershop number with several contemporary a cappella numbers that feature dynamic arrangements complimented by exceptional staging, costumes and scripting. The finals will take place on Saturday, November 2nd from 11:30 AM until 5:30 PM Central time. At the conclusion the 2024 Chorus Champions will be announced. Participation in an SAI Chorus competition entails approximately 18 - 24 months of focused preparation encompassing vocal and visual coaching, weekly rehearsals, sectionals and personal practice. Throughout the course of this competitive cycle, the San Diego Chorus has welcomed esteemed coaches from around the country, including:
Chorus members are required to qualify vocally and visually in several phases to participate in regional and international competition. The San Diego Chorus was founded in 1951 and is a two-time International Championship organization, earning the titles in in 1975 and again in 2002, under the direction of Marvin Yerkey and Kim Vaughn respectively. The 2024 Sweet Adelines International Chorus Judging Panel is as follows:
The week long competition and convention also features the 2024 Quartet SemiFinals and Finals, when one quartet will be crowned Queen of Harmony. Attendees also have a broad range of options for musical education sessions, coaching-under-glass and more. The Coronet Club, an exclusive affiliated organization comprised of past Queens of Harmony recipients, presents the crowns, which are unveiled yearly. The nonprofit will also host the Coronet Club Show on Saturday evening following the Finals. The fun-filled evening welcomes the newly crowned Queens of Harmony to the stage via the CHAMPION STRUT. The show continues with performances from past championship quartets. The 2024 event welcomes special guests The Starlettes and 2023 Barbershop Harmony Society's International Champion Quartet, Midtown. Tickets to the Coronet Club Show require a separate, advance purchase. The event may be enjoyed anywhere via live stream.
San Diego, CA, October 27, 2024 – The San Diego Chorus of Sweet Adelines International Is delighted to present That Holiday Show on Sunday, December 15th. This year's seasonal performance is hosted at the Arbor Room of the La Mesa Community Center. Doors open at 5:30 PM for the Silent Auction and the curtain rises on the Holiday performance at 6:30 PM. Tickets are available for purchase online. 
Featuring Casual, Cabaret Style Performances, Holiday Sing-Alongs, a Silent Auction, Homemade Treats and More This year's seasonal celebration will mix things up with casual, cabaret-style a cappella performances from the San Diego Chorus and featured quartets and ensembles. Guests will enjoy holiday sing-a-longs, a silent auction, homemade treats and more! The San Diego Chorus is currently ranked 7th worldwide and returned from International Competition in early November. Ticket sales and proceeds from the silent auction help to offset musical education, coaching and travel costs for the chorus, which is a local, nonprofit 501(c)3 performing arts organization. 
 Silent Auction bidding opens at 5:30 PM, which features donated experiences and items from area merchants as well as collectible artwork, jewelry and more. Bidding closes during intermission and items are available for pickup at the conclusion of the event. The San Diego Chorus will continue it's long-standing partnership with the Marine Corps' Toys4Tots program this year. Audience members are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate. Toys will be collected at the performance and distributed through Toys4Tots to disadvantaged youth throughout San Diego County.
 The San Diego Chorus presents "ONE IN HARMONY,” on Saturday, September 28th at 7 PM. The show features performances from OC Sound and the San Diego Chorus in addition to featured quartets. The event will be hosted at the MiraCosta College Concert Hall in Oceanside, CA. Two-time International Champions the San Diego Chorus will present a dynamic program of 4-part a cappella harmony, including selections from their current competition and entertainment packages. The chorus, under the direction of Kathleen Hansen, is currently ranked 5th worldwide, and will compete in the Sweet Adelines International (SAI) Semi-Finals later this fall in Kansas City. OC Sound Chorus, under the direction of International Queen of Harmony Bonnie McKibben will also present selections from their competition and entertainment repertoire. The chorus will compete in the International Harmony Classic for small to mid-sized choruses this fall, and was selected as a 2025 Wild Card Competitor. The show, which also includes performances from select guest quartets, also features a silent auction benefitting the nonprofit performing arts organization. Doors open at 6 PM, and the curtain rises at 7 PM. TICKET INFORMATION
EVENT VENUE MiraCosta College Concert Hall 1 Barnard Dr Concert Hall Oceanside, CA 92056 SILENT AUCTION The event includes a Silent Auction, which serves as a fundraiser for the nonprofit, performing arts organization. Proceeds help offset the costs associated with competition coaching and preparation. The auction features a wide range of items including art, jewelry and collectibles as well as gift cards and experiences from area merchants and partners. Arrive at 6 PM shop the Auction early and get your bids in on items from these vendors and more:
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The San Diego Chorus is delighted to welcome back coach Ryan Heller to their Fall 2024 Recharge event September 6 - 8th. Ryan is the Director of Alamo Metro Chorus in San Antonio, Texas, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International. With his trademark exuberance, Ryan is as energy-driven as the sound and performances that he inspires from each musician! A "barbershop brat," Ryan joined the Barbershop Harmony Society as a high school freshman, singing with then Evergreen District champs, Vocal Gentry. Under Ryan's past leadership, the Pride of Portland Chorus won regional championships each cycle of competitions, making six appearances on the international stage with five top ten finishes. In April of 2013, Ryan received his Master Director 700 award when Pride of Portland Chorus took first place at our regional contest, with a record-breaking score of 701 points. Heller also holds the title of the Artistic Director and Conductor of Chorus Austin in Austin, TX. Chorus Austin has been honored with numerous awards, including the 2018 Austin Critic’s Table Award for Best Classical Performance, and the 2017 Dale Warland Singers Commission Award from Chorus America. Past positions include Music Director / Conductor of the Southwest Washington Symphony, and Co-founder / Conductor of Portland Vocal Consort and the Columbia Chorale of Oregon.  Ryan's vibrant career also includes frequent engagements as Musical Director / Chorusmaster of musical theater productions throughout the West Coast, including Sweeney Todd, Annie, Brigadoon, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, The Magic Flute and La Cenerentola. In 2016 Heller served as Conductor for the world premiere opera The Canticle of the Black Madonna; He has appeared or recorded with numerous groups, including the Austin Symphony, Portland Opera, Rose City Chamber Orchestra, William Hall Master Chorale, Capella Romana, Astoria Music Festival, and Broadway Rose Theater Company. He has had the pleasure of touring with several ensembles throughout the USA, Europe, New Zealand, and China.  Ryan was the Co-Founder, Conductor and Artistic Director of the Portland Vocal Consort, one of Portland, Oregon’s, premier professional choirs, and spent a decade as the Conductor / Artistic Director of the Southwest Washington Symphony; In 2001, he Co-Founded the Columbia Chorale of Oregon, a group he led until 2010. Heller has led ensembles across the United States with appearances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Chicago’s Symphony Hall. He has toured internationally in Italy, Germany, New Zealand, Finland, Estonia, Sweden and, China, where he led combined choirs from Texas at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing and at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.  Heller holds a Master of Music degree in Conducting from Portland State University and his Bachelor’s of Music degree in Conducting from Chapman University. The San Diego Chorus hosts Recharge weekends for Chorus Members bi-annually. The 3-day events are coaching intensives, featuring Guest coaches from across the U.S. and internationally. The San Diego Chorus is currently ranked 5th Internationally and recently accepted a Wild Card invitation from parent organization Sweet Adelines International. The Chorus will take the stage as contestant #1 in the Quartet and Chorus Semi Finals in Kansas City in October of 2024. The San Diego Chorus will be one of 32 competitors performing in the International Semi Finals, presenting a barbershop ballad and up tune. Contests are adjudicated by four judges, each of whom intensively evaluate one of the four categories that comprise the overall score: Sound, Music, Expression and Visual Communication. Every competing organization has the potential to earn 100 points per category per song. The total possible points available for a performance is 800. Choruses that rank within the top 10 earn a chance to present a second entertainment package in the finals for the championship title. The 15 minute finals package blends a barbershop number with contemporary a cappella numbers. Heller is one of several world-class coaches the San Diego Chorus will work over the next year as they prepare for competition.
August 31, 2024 - The San Diego Chorus was among 10 regional barbershop choruses and 20 quartets from across two states that performed at the 2024 Music on the Porch Day. The event took place on Saturday, August 31st, 2024 from 2 PM to 5 PM at 4th of July Park in Harmony Grove, Escondido. More information is available online. Music on the Porch Day, which is hosted by SoloVoce Quartet, is celebrating it's 5th year in 2024. The quartet is the 2024 Region 21 Golden West third place medalist quartet and was named quartet champions in 2023. Members hail from three regional choruses and include Tenor Kim Alley, Lead Tracey Sandberg, Baritone Jennifer French and Bass Marina Hayden. The original southern California Music on the Porch Day, Barbershop Edition, was launched in 2020 in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. With no shows or performance opportunities for choruses or groups, SoloVoce decided to create their own stage. The foursome delivered performances at two outdoor San Diego locations to small but enthusiastic crowds. From that point, the outdoor festival-style performance has gained momentum each year, with the 5th anniversary landing as the largest lineup to date. 
The 2024 schedule included the following musical organizations and groups: 2024 FEATURED CHORUSES
2024 FEATURED QUARTETS
The event is affiliated with International Play Music on the Porch Day, which connects musicians in 70+ countries and over 1,000 cities worldwide  The San Diego Chorus was among 10 regional a cappella choruses to take the stage at the 2024 Music on the Porch Day on August 31, 2024 in Harmony Grove, California.
 San Diego Chorus double Quartet the Splitsville Sirens was awarded the Golden Banana for their parody set at the 2024 Region 21 Summer Seminar.
 Vista Hills Chorus includes several singers from the San Diego Chorus and is directed by San Diego Chorus member Melanie Jewell.
 Harmony, Inc. Chorus the California NoteCatchers performed at the 2024 Music on the Porch Day. The group is directed by San Diego Chorus member Kayla Rodgers.
September 14, 2024 - The San Diego Chorus is delighted to welcome coach Dan Wessler to our upcoming rehearsal on August 14th. Dan is a barbershop arranger, singer, and chorus director who currently resides in Long Beach, California. Wessler has been arranging for barbershop quartets and choruses since 2011. Dan’s songs are frequently performed on the Barbershop Harmony Society contest stage at both the district and international level, to high acclaim. He writes contestable and performance arrangements for various groups around the world, a number of which have been published by Hal Leonard. Dan Wessler holds a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Conducting and Literature from University of Colorado Boulder (2023) and a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting from Western Illinois University (2012). He is currently the Musical and Artistic Director of the Los Angeles based Westminster Chorus, four-time International Barbershop Chorus Champion and 2009 Choir of the World Champion. Dan also sings with After Hours, the 2018 International Barbershop Quartet Champion, with whom he travels and sings frequently, inside and outside of the United States. He is a frequent clinician at barbershop chorus festivals, and teaches courses internationally at barbershop educational events. Dan also currently serves on the adjunct faculty of Concordia University Irvine, teaching undergraduate choral methods. Before moving to Southern California, he served as Director of Choral Activities at Freeport High School in Freeport, Illinois from 2012-2020.
 With an average score of 95.6%, Westminster Chorus was recently awarded the 2024 BHS International Chorus Champions The San Diego Chorus hosts member-only Coaching Events for singers multiple times a year, particularly when preparing for competition. The chorus is currently ranked 5th Internationally and has accepted a Wild Card invitation from parent organization Sweet Adelines International. The Chorus will take the stage as contestant #1 in the Chorus Semi Finals in Kansas City in October of 2024. The San Diego Chorus will be one of 32 competitors performing in the International Semi Finals, presenting a barbershop ballad and up tune. Contests are adjudicated by four judges, each of whom intensively evaluate one of the four categories that comprise the overall score: Sound, Music, Expression and Visual Communication. Every competing organization has the potential to earn 100 points per category per song. The total possible points available for a performance is 800. Choruses that rank within the top 10 earn a chance to present a second entertainment package in the finals for the championship title. The 15-minute finals package blends a barbershop number with contemporary a cappella numbers.
San Diego Chorus Among Performers to Take the Stage in HARMONY ROAD on Sunday, September 8th8/12/2024 
Monday, August 12, 2024 – San Diego Chorus is among a cappella performance groups invited to take the stage on Sunday, September 8th at 3PM in Sun Harbor’s “HARMONY ROAD.” Hosted at Balboa Park’s historic Casa del Prado Theater in San Diego, California, the exclusive afternoon performance features three award-winning barbershop choruses and two quartets in one exclusive show that you won’t want to miss! Nine-time international Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) Chorus Champions Masters of Harmony will present musical selections from their recent performances with the Normandy Freedom Chorus at the 80th Anniversary of D-Day in France. Two-time Sweet Adelines International Chorus Champions the San Diego Chorus is currently ranked 5th worldwide. The singers will present selections from their upcoming competition and entertainment packages, which will debut on the international stage in Kansas City later this fall. Special guest quartet performances include Region 21 Golden West's 2023 Quartet Champion and current third-place medalist SoloVoce, and 2023 Southeast Division Quartet Champions Motley Q. Seating is limited, reserve your tickets online today! Ticket Information:
 Hosts San Diego Sun Harbor Chorus
MARCH 2024 - The San Diego Chorus is thrilled to welcome coach Cy Wood. Cy is a judge in the Performance Category for the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS). Currently, he sings baritone in MixTape, a BHS quartet based in Ohio that is the current champion for the Johnny Appleseed district. He also serves as Executive Director for the Young Professionals Choral Collective (YPCC) as well as a creative artist and coach. He moved to Ohio to teach music and theatre at Butler Tech School of the Arts, which he lovingly did so for 7 wonderful years. Before that, Cy worked in New York City for nearly a decade as a professional actor, producer, special events coordinator, and creative director. Some shows that he has been involved with include current and past Broadway, Off-Broadway, Special Events and National Tours. Cy is a third-generation barbershopper. He joined the Idaho Gateway Chorus when he was just 15 years old. While studying in college, Cy joined High Flight singing baritone, a competitive collegiate quartet. Though they were together only a few months, they won the Rocky Mountain District collegiate contest, and later went on to place 12th at the 2006 International Competition. Wood joined NYC's acclaimed chorus Voices of Gotham in 2012 and quickly became the baritone section leader as well as a board member at large. In 2013, Cy was asked to be VoG's Choreographer and Presentation Leader. He has had his work performed on the international stage as well as many stages in North America including Carnegie Hall. Since moving to Ohio, Cy has performed with a BHS Top Ten Chorus, Southern Gateway Chorus where he also served on the music team and was the Performance Director.
In addition to his active coaching and chorus lifestyle, Cy was the baritone of On Tap. This quartet won the Mid-Atlantic District Northern Division Contest in 2014 and 7th place at the MAD District competition. On Tap entertained their audiences until their disbandment in 2015 due to two of the members moving away from NYC. The San Diego Chorus hosts member-only Coaching Events for Chorus Members multiple times a year, particularly during competition preparation cycles. The chorus is currently ranked 5th Internationally and has accepted a Wild Card invitation from parent organization Sweet Adelines International. The Chorus will take the stage as contestant #1 in the Quartet and Chorus Semi Finals in Kansas City in October of 2024. The San Diego Chorus will be one of 32 competitors performing in the International Semi Finals, presenting a barbershop ballad and up tune. Contests are adjudicated by four judges, each of whom intensively evaluate one of the four categories that comprise the overall score: Sound, Music, Expression and Visual Communication. Every competing organization has the potential to earn 100 points per category per song. The total possible points available for a performance is 800. Choruses that rank within the top 10 earn a chance to present a second entertainment package in the finals for the championship title. The 15 minute finals package blends a barbershop number with contemporary a cappella numbers. Wood is one of several world-class coaches the San Diego Chorus will work over the next year as they prepare for competition. Master Director Kathleen Hansen notes that the organization is preparing to perform on the Region 21 Golden West Stage for evaluation in April. "There are so many facets of musicality and performance that we fine-tune concurrently in preparation for competition," Hansen says. "Multi-dimensional coaches like Cy bring valuable insight and guidance to our singers as we refine our contest and entertainment packages for the International stage."
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CONTACT
619-796-5162 MAILING PO Box 33365 San Diego, CA 92163 NONPROFIT EIN 501c3 95-6095457 AFFILIATIONS Region 21 Golden West Sweet Adelines International COPYRIGHT San Diego Chorus © 2023 All Rights Reserved TERMS & CONDITIONS |
OPEN REHEARSALS
Weekly on Wednesdays 6:45 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. Plan a Visit REHEARSAL LOCATION Casa Del Prado, Room 207 Balboa Park San Diego, CA 92101 Detailed Location Information 45 |
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