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CHORUS DIRECTORS
Dayle Ann Cook, Master Director
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Dayle Ann has been directing Tucson Desert Harmony
(TDH) since 2001. She brings a wealth of musical experience to the
chorus, as well as a strong desire to help us all become the best
singers we can be. Her enthusiasm and smiling face are contagious—working hard has never been so much fun! She is a Certified and now
Master Director through Sweet Adelines International, after leading
the chorus to scores over 600 in their past two regional competitions.
She loves to coach individual singers and quartets and shares her
knowledge with not only members of TDH, but others as well. As if
that's not enough, she sings lead in Region 21's 2003, 2004 (2005-2nd
place Wildcard) and 2006 first place championship quartet - SparX.
SparX is currently ranked 12th in the world and has appeared on the
International stage every year since their formation in 2002. In her
"real life" Dayle Ann serves as the Medical Staff Coordinator at St.
Joseph's Hospital in Tucson. |
Karen Meade, Associate Director
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Karen found Sweet Adelines 28
years ago right here in Tucson. She sang with the Tucson Horizon
Chorus for many years, then became a founding member of Tucson
Desert Harmony Chorus. She is a Certified Director and just
finished serving 3 years as the Director Coordinator for Region
#21. She's been the Associate Director for our chorus since 2001.
She sings bass with the current Region #21 quartet champions, ONE
VOICE, and has sung on the international stage many times. Karen
loves to share her quartet experience and coaching with the chorus
and strives to teach us better vocal production skills. Her warm
smile and fun-loving personality makes singing for her a joy!. She
also has the patience of a saint which she is called upon to
demonstrate when she is teaching us choreography. |
Elissa Fazio, Assistant Director
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Elissa found Sweet Adelines while working in California 20 years ago
where she sang with 3 different choruses - Channelaires, Diablo Vista
and Sacramento Valley. Upon returning to Tucson in 1988, she jumped
right into quarteting (with Crosstown Transfer for 12 years) and soon
became a Lead Section Leader. She's held many administrative
positions, including President and Treasurer, currently sings lead in
the quartet Havin' a Blast!, and directs extra rehearsals available to
members during the day - usually on the 1st and 3rd Fridays. Those
interested in attending those rehearsals can check our calendar on
call the chorus phone number.....520-790-1813. |
Gail Trader, Assistant Director
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Gail has been a Sweet Adeline for 44 years, starting her barbershop
career at Hi Jolly Chorus in Yuma where she grew up. She sang with Old
Pueblo Chorus, Tucson’s first Sweet Adeline Chorus, and briefly
directed Tucson Horizon Chorus before moving to Cold Water, MI where
she was a director and choreographer. Gail brought years of experience
in professional theater in Michigan, Tennessee, Colorado & Kansas back
to Tucson when she became Bass Section Leader for Tucson Desert
Harmony. She’s well known for her brand of comedic entertainment and
now sings bass in “Havin’ a Blast! quartet. |
QUARTETS
SparX
SparX
2006 - Region 21 Quartet Champion
2007 - 12th Place International Semi-Finalist
October 2008 - 10th Place International Competition
SparX took first place honors at their first regional competition in
2003, again in 2004, (2005 - 2nd place Wildcard) and in 2006. SparX
members are Dawn Anne Gladden (tenor - member of Harborlites Chorus,
2005 International Chorus Champions); Dayle Ann Cook (lead - Director,
Tucson Desert Harmony); Kathy Barnett (baritone - member of Scottsdale
Chorus, 2006 International Chorus Champions); and Andrea Rostel (bass
- also a member of the Scottsdale Chorus). As quartets often do, SparX
went through a transition period with a few personnel changes and
locked into this foursome in June of 2004. They represented Region 21
in the Sweet Adeline International Competition in Calgary, Alberta
Canada in October, 2007 and placed 12th. These busy ladies travel from
three states (Arizona, California and New Mexico) to rehearse and
perform. They are each actively involved in leadership roles in their
respective choruses and make themselves available to the region when
called upon to teach or share their expertise. They will "WOW" you
with their beautifully blended sound. Their dedication shines through
whether singing a jazzy tune or a tender ballad. When they perform,
you will definitely see SparX fly! And speaking of SparX
flying....they recently recorded their first CD, cleverly entitled -
SparX 'r Flyin'. For information on their performance availability or
to purchase a CD, contact Dayle Ann at (520) 331-9222 or drop an email
to sparxquartet@hotmail.com
One Voice
One Voice
2007 Region 21 Quartet Champion and
2007 International Semi-Finalist
ONE VOICE quartet must really love to travel. They are definitely
earning lots of airline miles !! Michele Baldwin, lead, is also the
asst. director of Enchanted Mesa Show Chorus and lives in Albuquerque,
New Mexico. Denise King, baritone, is the director of Enchanted Mesa
Show Chorus and also lives in Albuquerque. Wendi Young, tenor, is a
member of the Scottsdale Chorus, the 2006 International Chorus
Champions. She lives in Mesa, Arizona. These ladies were recently
joined by Karen Meade, bass, assistant director of Tucson Desert
Harmony Chorus from Tucson, Arizona.
Each of them brings many years of quarteting experience to this fun
loving foursome. They are having such a great time together, and
they'd love to share it with you. Contact Michele Baldwin at
singinovlead@comcast.net.
Havin' A Blast
Havin' A Blast
"Havin' a Blast" is celebrating it's two year anniversary in our
current configuration -- Gail Trader singing bass, Elissa Fazio singing
lead, Eileen Fernstrom on baritone and Molly Jean Gerbi as tenor. With
Eileen's new avocation as a nursing student taking precedence, we were
unable to compete on the Regional stage this past year, but we've been
kept busy with building our repertoire and doing lots of performances.
We look forward to getting better and better at our craft and
representing Tucson Desert Harmony and this wonderful art form in the
best possible light, every time we sing for an audience. Of course, we
still manage to have lots of laughs together and live up to our name
whether at rehearsal or in public! Contact Elissa at 326-1449 to
inquire about booking "Havin' a Blast's" style of a cappella
entertainment for any occasion.
AWARDS
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2009 2nd Place Region 21 Chorus Competition
2009 1st Place Division AA Region 21 Chorus Competition
2008 1st Place Region 21 Chorus Competition
Represented Region 21 in the 2009 at the
International Competition in Nashville, Tennessee.
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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Youth In Harmony
Festival
Flowing Wells High School
Saturday, September 11, 2010
8:00AM to 5:00PM
Includes a free public show late afternoon.
Who: High school & college music students:
pre-registered through each school.
Cost: $15.00 registration fee. Includes music, lunch/snacks,
t-shirt.
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All day workshop conducted by certified music
clinicians of the Barbershop Harmony and Sweet Adelines
International.
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Focus will be on performance techniques.
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Evening show will be music performed by the
attendees and the teaching quartets.
Stay tuned for further information.
Tucson Desert Harmony
PO Box 40756 · Tucson, AZ 85717-0756
Phone: 520-790-1813
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