San Diego Chorus Welcomes Coach Anne Downton

Westcoast Harmony Chorus was named the best mid-sized chorus in the world in 2013. In September 2022, they placed 6th in the International Championship.

The San Diego Chorus is delighted to welcome coach Anne Downton to their Winter 2024 Recharge event. Anne serves as Director of Westcoast Harmony Chorus in Vancouver, Canada, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International.  With her unique blend of enthusiasm, expertise and attention to detail, Anne's guidance is both actionable and effective for singers.

Anne's barbershop career began in 2000, when she found her way to Westcoast Harmony Chorus.  She was instantly hooked and hasn't looked back since.  

Anne became a co-director of Westcoast in 2005, and stepped into the role of Director in 2011. She earned the title Master Director at the age of 24, making her the youngest person to attain this designation. Under Anne's direction, Westcoast has won the Region 26 Chorus Competition multiple times, and also earned the title of 2013 International Harmony Classic Champions.

Anne is a member of the Sweet Adelines International Faculty, having established herself as a trusted vocal coach for individuals, quartets and choruses around the world. She is also the chair of the Director Resource Toolkit Task Force. In the past, she has served as the Region 26 Education Coordinator, on the Region 26 Regional Education Faculty, and the International Music Sales & Marketability Committee. 

Anne Downton is the Baritone of the 2017 Quartet Champions, Frenzy. The quartet also received the 2017 Most Entertaining Award.

Anne sings baritone with the 2017 International Quartet Champions, Frenzy. She also sang baritone with the Young Women in Harmony quartet, Stir It Up, winning a 2nd place medal at the International Rising Star Contest.  

Anne lives in the Greater Vancouver area, and in her “other life”, works at a law firm as a senior corporate legal assistant. In 2010, Anne completed her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Criminology from Simon Fraser University. 

Anne's teaching specialties include vocal production, left-brain techniques to achieve artistry, practical applications to achieve unity, identifying ensemble strengths/needs and building plans and teams to support growth and success.

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.

Downton 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 expects big things from the Chorus, and is looking forward to competing.

"The singers of the San Diego Chorus bring a high level of musical excellence to our organization," Hansen says. "Working with individuals with our unique blend of talent and dedication is a rare opportunity. Our singers have chosen to have a championship mindset, which sets the tone for all that we do as an organization."

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicole Knox sings with Nick of Time A Cappella Quartet and is a member of the San Diego Chorus, where she was named the 2023 Sweet Adeline of the Year. A fractional Chief Marketing Officer by trade, she encourages organizations and singers by sharing her time and expertise in support of best-in-class brand, marketing and communications.

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ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO CHORUS
Founded in 1951, the San Diego Chorus of Sweet Adelines International performs award-winning, four-part harmony in the barbershop style. Twice named International Chorus Champion of Women’s Barbershop Harmony, the nonprofit performing arts organization entertains in many musical genres along with its signature vibrant choreography. Led by Master Director and Sweet Adelines International Faculty, Kathleen Hansen, the San Diego Chorus is dedicated to local education, entertainment and competition. The Chorus welcomes women and non-binary treble singers who share a love of music and dedication to personal and musical growth regardless of age, race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender expression. Rehearsals are held weekly on Wednesday evenings in Room 207 of the Casa del Prado building in Balboa Park. Additional information can be found on their website at SanDiegoChorus.org.  ​

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ABOUT SWEET ADELINES INTERNATIONAL
Sweet Adelines International is a musical force in the United States and around the world. The organization is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma where it was founded in 1945. This nonprofit music education organization is one of the world's largest singing organizations for women, encompassing more than 25,000 members, 1,200 registered quartets, and 600 choruses in the United States, Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, The Netherlands, and Wales. More information is available on the International Web site by visiting, http://www.sweetadelineintl.org. ​