Sweet Adelines chorus offers free concerts
Middletown The hills (the malls, the beaches) will be alive with the sound of music on Saturday, July 23, as members of 15 choruses in the Greater New York Region of Sweet Adelines International celebrate the day, 66 years ago, when Edna Mae Anderson invited women to raise their voices in four-part a cappella harmony, barbershop style. It was the beginning of Sweet Adelines International, the world’s largest a cappella singing organization for women, boasting almost 25,000 members world-wide. The Sweet Adelines motto is “Harmonize the World.” Song of the Valley Chorus, based in Middletown, will be joining in the celebration on July 23, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Galleria in Middletown. Between those hours, the chorus will be offering a series of free 15-20 minute concerts at Center Court, lower level. On display will be a proclamation, from the Orange County Legislature, declaring the week of July 17 through 24 as Barbershop Harmony Week, and Saturday, July 23 as Sweet Adelines International Day. Tables, with free information, will be available on both upper and lower levels. Women of all ages, from all walks of life, with musical experience ranging from singing in the shower to those with advanced music degrees, join Sweet Adelines choruses for the opportunity to sing and perform, to develop leadership skills and to participate in world-class vocal education. “When I first joined, I thought it would be another typical, choral singing experience, but what I quickly realized was this was a totally unique kind of a cappella music that I knew nothing about,” said Pat Collopy, one of the newer members of Song of the Valley Sweet Adelines. “From the beginning, I’ve been very eager to learn and to become the best singer I can. I love it!” All women who have a passion for singing are invited to visit Song of Valley at any weekly rehearsal, Tuesdays, at 7:15 p.m. Call Kathy at 778-3236 or Rosemary at 446-4345 for more information about the chorus and rehearsal venue. For more information visit www.SongoftheValleyChorus.com.