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CHORUS DIRECTORS
Karen Meade, 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. |
QUARTETS
 One Voice
One Voice
2010 Region 21 Quartet Champion and
2010 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;" quartet was formed about 5 years ago and is comprised of four women who have almost a hundred years of barbershop singing experience between them. Hard to believe since we all look so young! Molly Jean Gerbi, tenor, followed in her mom's vocal footsteps when she was just 16 years old and has only taken a couple of years off from singing to achieve her Masters Degree in teaching. She's a mom of 2 and loves being a 2nd grade teacher in Vail. Gail Trader, bass, is also a mother of 2 and an elementary school teacher as well who has been singing barbershop for more than 40 years. She has made a name for herself in a number of Summer Stock theaters across the country, known for her comedic timing and beautiful voice. Eileen Fernstrom, baritone, again a mother of 2, is the newest to barbershop having joined the local Sweet Adelines chorus about 8 years ago. She recently made a dramatic life change. After being a legal secretary for 20 years, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse and after 2 years of dedicated study, she accomplished her goal and now works at UMC. Elissa Fazio, lead, started her Sweet Adelines career in California 21 years ago. She has no human children but shares her home with 2 cats, a snake and a tortoise. She and her husband are local entrepeneurs. Her biggest passion besides singing, is hummingbirds. She volunteers as a hummingbird bander for a research project dedicated to the conservation of hummingbirds and their habitat.
With such disparate backgrounds, it's hard to believe that these 4 mesh so well when it comes to making music. They are all dedicated to the art of a cappella singing in the barbershop style and strive to become better singers and entertainers with each year they perform together. They love entertaining at community and private events and also look forward to competing each year against other women's quartets at the regional level. Competition allows them the opportunity to hone their skills and reach for higher accomplishments each year. They consistently place in the top 10 and have even come home with coveted 5th Place medals.
All styles of music can be arranged "in the barbershop style" but "Havin' a Blast" loves to put their stamp on many of the great swing classic from the 40s and 50s. They enjoy sharing their love of barbershop harmony with just about anyone who'll listen - sometimes breaking into song while in a restaurant or hanging out on the street corner - even at the risk of embarrassing accompanying family members! They can't help themselves. They consider themselves lucky to have found each other and hope to make beautiful music together for many years to come.
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 ยท Tucson, AZ 85717-0756
Phone: 520-790-1813
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