Every year about this time, Gainesville Harmony joins in a regional competition. In fact, Sweet Adelines International (of which Gainesville is a member) holds contests in every state and all over the world to choose the best small, medium and large choruses in the organization. In this year's regional meeting, Gainesville took a second place medal in the small group! Florida has seven small choruses (thirty and under), so number two was a great showing. Gainesville works diligently on and off all year to prepare their performance package. On competition weekend, however, the readiness is all - encompassing. There are warm-ups and rehearsals, makeup time (getting those false lashes to stick), more rehearsal, costume checks, more rehearsal, leave for the theatre (and you guessed it, more rehearsal). Then the announcement is made, we're on stage, the judges begin writing, and it's all over in six minutes. It's exhilarating though, as soon as we're off the stage we want to go right back out and do it again! Five of our chorus members are new and first - time competitors this year. What do they think of all the preparation, coaching and nervous stomachs they put up with to make it to regional "crowning" day?
Carolyn Hanson said, "It was much more informal than I expected, yet the singers were of the highest level". She noticed that to some of the women it was truly a career; and seeing all this dedication really stirred her "singing juices". She couldn't wait for the next weekly rehearsal.
One of our newest members, Stella Kim noted that she never imagined more than one hundred women singing and dancing on stage. It seemed to her like a version of a Greek myth. Now she loves her own chorus more and more and appreciates the time and work.
Friday of competition weekend is the quartets' time to shine. They work as long and as hard at their craft as working on a job from 9-5. There are many award - winning quartets in this region, and the two quartets from The Gainesville Harmony Chorus, "Snap Shot 2.0 ", and "The Clique" are among the top competitors.
Sharleen Simpson is a long time member of the chorus – 26 years. Her quartet, "The Clique" is relatively new and was happy to do so well in a field of very masterful groups. She was also pleased the Chorus took second place with five new members. She said," without them we may not have scored so high. What an honor to have them on board.”
The Gainesville Chorus has been harmonizing in this community for nearly 36 years. Competition is always a highlight. Not only do we have a chance to win a medal, but we hear some darn good music, and meet great people. You can just look for three other parts, a bass, bari, tenor or lead and start a "pickup quartet" and hang out with some amazing women who just love to sing.
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