An Upgrade For ClassRing

After two full days of competition, 2014 Rising Star Champion Quartet ClassRing upgraded to crowns fit for Queens by topping the field with a score of 2769, edging out 2nd place finisher, Viva by just two points. 3rd place finisher, Titanium, also received the audience award for Most Entertaining.

See the full scores for the top 10 quartets.

The day started off with an extended set from this year’s Rising Star Quartet Champions, Hot Pursuit, and it was a shining example of the future of women’s barbershop – great harmonies and even a little bit of humor, it was a great kick off to the Quartet Finals.

Milli Blank, from the Nordic Light Region, came out to test the mics with a great energy kicking off their set with a quick clip of Hip To Be Square, as a nod to the fact that group is as wide as they are tall, making them the “perfect square” and then followed up with “Razzamatazz” and a dance parody that included everything from “Can’t Stop the Feeling” to square dancing to traditional Swedish music. Spoiler Alert: Eventually Lead Annika Kruk DID get into the spirit and dance.

Representing Great Gulf Coast Region 10, 2016 Rising Star Champions The Ladies took to the big stage with an energized version of “Luck Be A Lady Tonight.” They dedicated their next song, Bing Crosby’s “Cuddle Up A Little Closer, Lovey Mine,” to the loves, or “The Ladies’ Men.” They slowed things down with the ballad “When Sunny Gets Blue,” presented with a great deal of emotion and dynamics before bringing the tempo back up with Gershwin’s “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”

In dazzling gold, ClassRing, representing Spirit of the Midwest Region 5, kicked off their winning set with a building arrangement of “Seize the Day” that even included a little audience participation. Their second tune, classic “Sweet Adeline,” showed off an amazing dynamic range, while they showed off some attitude with “Shamey, Shamey, Shame.” They closed out with a message of sisterhood and bringing the world together through song with “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

Last year’s Novice Champions and 6th Place International medalists, Titanium, started off their package with Peggy Lee’s “I Love Being Here With You,” representing Heart of America Region 25. Poking fun at their wide geographic roots, different accents, and vowel matching challenges, they sang a parody of “The Moment I Saw Your Eyes” as “The Moment I Heard Your ‘I’s”. The language puns continued with a little humor at the expense of the German language, which led into Sandi Patty’s “Love in Any Language” before closing with a joyful version of “Come On Get Happy.”

Back in the top ten after finishing 7th last year, Glamour started with humorous take on their album recording with an original song written by Larry Wright: “Glamour Girls,” followed by “I Love Jazz” by Louis Armstrong. After teasing with potential opera or rap, the representatives from Harmony Heartland Region 4, brought a little country flair with John Michael Montgomery’s “Be My Baby Tonight.” Gently easing from humor into their ballad, they finished with “Go The Distance.”

With a signature sparkle in their eyes, Northern Lights Region 6 representatives, Sparkle, started their package with the classic “Blue Skies.” Continuing the “blue” theme, they brought out the country tune “Painting This Whole Town Blue.” With three members in Minnesota and one ins Wisconsin, this quartet clearly was cherishing their time together on stage and off. The Beatles inspired their third tune, “Eight Days a Week,” and they ended their set with Connie Francis’ “Who’s Sorry Now.”

Back from intermission, Lake Ontario Region 16’s Spritzer looked fresh off a shopping spree as they started their set with Aaron Neville’s “Who Will Buy” before moving into a shopping-themed “Big Spender” parody. The shopping parodies continued with a group intervention and  Ella Fitzgerald’s “You Turned the Tables on Me.” Turns out the group’s lead, Susann McKinley, will only stop shopping “When Elephants Fly,” but honestly, who doesn’t need a boa and a larger-than-life wine glass with sweet barbershop harmonies?

Last year’s mic testers, Renegade kicked off with “It’s Too Darn Hot” which appropriately fit their youthful, yet polished sound – not to mention their stunning red gowns! They followed that up with “Stormy Weather.” Their third song was a gorgeous rendition of Sara Bareilles’ “Beautiful Girl,” which included a (gasp!) ukelele, before their closer “Let’s Live It Up.”

Also representing Harmony Heartland Region 4, Tenacious, turned the convention into a SA Anonymous meeting and a little bit of Dear Abbey in the form of “Dear Tenacious.” They sang full Beatles package that include “Help,” “Blackbird,” “We Can Work It Out,” and “I Will.” “Blackbird” included ukelele accompaniment.

Golden in spirit and dress, last year’s runner up, Windsor, brought us a humorous love themed set which included “Can’t Help Loving That Man of Mine.” After a great story from lead Mary Sarah Johnson, they sang Michael Buble’s “Just Haven’t Met You Yet,” before Jenny Allen started off their final tune with a great bass solo. The group represents both Region 5 and Region 9.

Coastal Harmony Region 10 was represented with final contestant, Viva!, who brought a USO themed package that started with “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” Complete with drum sticks, the group then sang “Billy-a-Dick” before doing a complete costume change for the second half of their set. Their song for the boys was Bette Midler’s “Stuff Like That There” followed by a song for the troops, Barbara Streisand’s “Not While I’m Around.”

The Starlettes Chorus, made up of all women who have won the Rising Star Quartet Contest, and Outgoing Queens, Lustre, entertained the audience while the final scores were tallied.

See all of today’s performances on the Sweet Adelines’ YouTube Channel and tune into the webcast tomorrow to see the Chorus Finals!

 

#SASTL Names Top Ten Quartets and Choruses

After a spectacular day of semifinals with 48 top quartets taking the stage, the top 10 groups that will compete in Friday’s final were named Wednesday night. We saw many previous Queens sing in their current ensembles, 2014 Rising Star Champions ClassRing rise to the occasion, and previous mic tester, Renegade break into the top 10, and several previous top ten finishers back for another shot at the crown.

See the scores for 11th through 48th place.

Here’s the draw for finals, which starts at 11:45 am CDT on today.

11th place finishers, Milli Blink, will be the mic tester.

1 The Ladies 
2 ClassRing 
3 Titanium 
4 Glamour 
5 Sparkle
6 Spritzer 
7 Renegade 
8 Tenacious
9 Windsor
10 Viva

Following the competition, the audience will be treated to a special presentation by Starlettes Chorus and 2018 International Champion Quartet, Lustre, before hearing the results.

Hot Pursuit, the 2018 Rising Star Champion Quartet will kick off the finals.

In a day full of harmony, class, and excellence, the choruses took center stage yesterday. The top ten will return to close out the Convention on Saturday, starting at 11:45 am CDT.

See the scores for 11th through 34th place.

11th place finisher, Motor City Blend, will start the show as the mic tester.

1 Harborlites
2 Pride of Portland
3 City of Lakes
4 Song of Atlanta
5 Metro Nashville
6 Scottsdale
7 Skyline
8 Pearls of the Sound
9 Rich-Tone
10 Buffalo Gateway

During the Chorus Finals, viewers will also see the bestowing of the Lifetime Achievement Award and 50- and 60-Year Member Awards. Following the competition itself, the Mixed Harmony Family Chorus will perform, as will both the Quartet and Chorus Champions.

Watch the Sweet Adelines International Convention and Competition live! 

Sirens Shine at Sweet Adelines International St. Louis

The festivities of the Sweet Adelines International Convention and Competition are well underway, with the Harmony Classic kicking off nearly a week of barbershop harmonies in St. Louis last night. It was truly an international affair with groups from across the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Harmony Classic features the top 10 small and mid-sized choruses in a 12-15 minute performance package.

See the full lineup of this year’s Harmony Classic competitors.

Sirens of Gotham topped the field in Division A, as well as the overall Harmony Classic Title, with a colorful presentation and a score of 1232. The group is directed by Mira Taferner and Kari Francis.

It was a great night overall – here are the other Division A scores:

2nd Place: Carolina Harmony Chorus, Score 1202
3rd Place: Circular Keys Chorus, Score 1187
4th Place: Vocal Motion Chorus, Score 1171
5th Place: Bella A Cappella NZ, Score 1081

In Division AA, it was Wellington City Chorus of New Zealand who took home First Place with a score of 1229. The group is directed by David Brooks and Henrietta Hunkin.

Here are the other great scores from Division AA:

2nd Place: Mission Valley Chorus, Score 1177
3rd Place: Greater Cleveland Chorus, Score 1176
4th Place: No Borders Show Chorus, Score 1172
5th Place: Women of Note Chorus, Score 1136

All Harmony Classic performances are now available for viewing on the Sweet Adelines YouTube Channel.

Tune in for the rest of the competitions this week via the Sweet Adelines website. The webcast is free, but donations are welcomed and encouraged!

Big District Weekends for SLD & Dixie

Choruses and Quartets from both Dixie and Seneca Land District came together for their Fall District Conventions and have emerged with new District Champions and 2019 Midwinter and International Qualifiers. Here are the results:

Dixie District

2018 International 5th place medalist chorus Music City Chorus brought back their Star Wars Parody Medley and topped the field with an outstanding score of 90.5, qualifying to compete at International in 2019.

Across the three quartet contests,  Mac-n-Cheese qualified for the Senior International Quartet Contest in Nashville with a top score of 73.3 and Sentimental Gentlemen finished first in the Novice Quartet Contest with a score of 64.7. With a Final score of 79.0, Entourage was named District Quartet Champion.

See the Full Results.

Seneca Land District

The Liverpool, NY-based youth chorus turned full chorus, Harmonic Collective, scored an average of 77.8 to win the chorus contest and qualify for a spot at 2019 International in Salt Lake City.

The Harbor House 4 of Erie, PA won the Quartet Contest with a score of 71.9 and Group Therapy of Binghamton, NY earned a score of 64.0 to become the the Mixed Harmony Quartet Champion. Upgrayed, who finished second overall, finished with the top Senior score and qualified for Senior International in Nashville. Old Spice is the District Senior Quartet Champions, as Upgrayed is a previous champion.

See the Full Results.