Sing in the New Year! Register for HTC's 'Sing Acappella Series '

Sweet Adelines International’s Hickory Tree Chorus invites women singers in the north/central New Jersey area who want to improve their vocal skills to register for the chorus’s Sing A Cappella Series, 7:15 pm January 6, 13, 19, and 27 at 570 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ. The Hickory Tree Chorus is one of the hundreds of Sweet Adelines International choruses that make up this worldwide organization of women who sing four-part barbershop harmony.

Any woman of average singing ability, with or without vocal training, will find a part that fits her voice range with the help of Hickory Tree Chorus’s Music and Performance (MAP) team. Sing A Cappella Series participants will have the opportunity to work with Renee Porzel, Sweet Adelines International Certified Faculty, who will coach the chorus in Performance and Expression January 19. The other evenings, guests will work exclusively with Hickory Tree Chorus’s MAP team, and participate in portions of the chorus’s weekly rehearsals.

The Hickory Tree Chorus performs regularly throughout the community, produces an annual show, and awards an annual $1,000 scholarship to an area high school girl continuing her vocal music education in college.

Singing, performing and music education are only some of the benefits that members of Sweet Adelines International enjoy. Members experience genuine friendships, increased self-confidence, renewed vitality, and the unwavering motivation and inspiration of others that becomes invaluable.

For Sing A Cappella Series registration and directions contact Membership Chair, Dolly Power, at 908-307-6367 or members@hickorytreechorus.org. Visit on the web at hickorytreechorus.org

Hickory Tree Chorus Returns to First Night Morris

The Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International returns to First Night Morris, December 31, 2009 with two performances, 9:45 and 10:45 pm, at Assumption Church in Morristown. Fireworks before and after! Discount buttons still available.

real women. real harmony. real fun.

Click here for complete artist schedule, map, and more information.

HTC Quartets Caroling this Season

Liked what you saw on Hickory Tree Chorus's annual show, "Museum Mayhem"? You can catch many of the featured quartets caroling in area shopping centers this holiday season.

Listen for 'Moonstruck' weekends in historic Chester, 'Three Quarter Time' December 20 at the Shoppes at Union Hill in Denville, 'True Blues' weekend afternoons in downtown Summit, and award-winning 'Escape' Thursday evenings in downtown Westfield.

The chorus will perform at the Berkeley Heights Tree Lighting, December 5; the Elizabeth Library, December 19; and as part of the First Night Morris festivities, December 31.

photo: Hickory Tree Chorus takes a bow at the conclusion of its 2009 annual show 'Museum Mayhem' November 21. (courtesy Bernadette Koch)

HTC Assistant Director Schools Students In Barbershop

A Cappella Rules with WMMHS Singers

The freckle-faced, red-headed West Morris Mendham High School vocal music teacher could pass for one of her students, but Patty Danner is the school’s inspiring pied piper of singing. From rock and roll to barbershop style singing, she encourages her students to try it all. On November 21, an octet of young women and the 24-member Women’s Ensemble will perform collegiate and barbershop style a cappella music at WMMHS on ‘Museum Mayhem’ as guests of the Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International.

Mrs. Danner, a graduate of West Morris Central High School and Westminster Choir College, disproves the disparaging cliché of, “those who can’t --teach.” In addition to teaching and directing at least three afterschool vocal ensembles, she performs with and is an assistant director of the Hickory Tree Chorus and sings baritone in the 2009 Greater New York Region of Sweet Adelines International’s 3^rd place quartet, “Drive!” She also manages the New Jersey All-State Mixed Choir and is the Road Manager for the independent Rock N Roll Chorus.

When asked what they like about Mrs. Danner, an enthusiastic group of senior girls from the octet shouted out, “Everything! She rocks! Love Mrs. Danner! Her hair, her energy!”

The octet will sing a mix of collegiate and barbershop a cappella in the lobby for guests arriving for the 3pm and 7:30pm performances of the show.

The Women’s Ensemble, a non-audition chorus performing primarily barbershop style singing, will join the Hickory Tree Chorus on-stage. Danner uses materials provided by Sweet Adelines International’s Young Women In Harmony program to help teach the American musical art form although, as a child of a past member and Director of Hickory Tree Chorus, barbershop music is in her blood.

“I had the barbershop experience with my mom,” she says of why she introduced the style to her students. “I love barbershop music because it creates better musicians, they become better musicians and they are better in my chorus. You can do outside performances without bringing a piano or keyboard, which is HUGE! Plus, they were excited about it. I try to pick very current songs, Broadway tunes and songs like that, that keep it exciting for the girls.”

The Women’s Ensemble incorporates some aspects of a show choir which also appeals to the students.

Megan Holnes, senior, says, “I like barbershop, everyone in there [Women’s Ensemble] gets along, never any fighting, I like the whole dancing along. Barbershop? I just like the sound.”

Melissa Replogle, senior, says of the barbershop sound, “I really like the close harmonies. I like singing bari, it has the coolest harmonies.”

Hickory Tree Chorus Director, Carolyn Schmidt, is delighted that Danner has included barbershop singing in her curriculum.

“It’s a fun, yet challenging, form of a cappella singing. It’s fun for all ages. It incorporates good singing techniques and blends vocal, performance and characterization skills. Barbershop singing can be a lifelong passion. Not every singer can be a lead in a musical, but we can all be stars in a large vocal theatrical production like barbershop,” observes Schmidt.

Schmidt has two daughters, Andrea, a recent college graduate and trained classical pianist, and Lauren, a college student and trained opera singer. Yet both also love barbershop singing. Andrea sings with Hickory Tree Chorus and Lauren with Chicago-based Melodeers Chorus.

“Barbershop singing is something that women can do even after they’ve left the structured community of college life. The camaraderie is very much like a collegiate choral group. The friendships, the bonds that develop from a shared activity brings together women of all generations, careers, and backgrounds. We’re so much more alike because of the music and how it pulls us together,” says Schmidt.

Wrapped around a fun story-line, ‘Museum Mayhem’ will feature not only the WMMHS singers, but Danner’s quartet and guest men’s quartet ‘Round Midnight, a group of young music educators and the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Mid-Atlantic District current champions.

‘Museum Mayhem’ tickets are on sale now. All seating is reserved and tickets for both the 3pm and 7:30 pm performances at WMMHS, 65 Main Street Mendham range from $10-$20 in advance. Order by phone 908-790-0334 or e-mail: tickets@hickorytreechorus.org. More information at hickorytreechorus.org

Livingston Symphony Orchestra Features HTC Member

Livingston Symphony Orchestra to Feature Hickory Tree Chorus Member

The Livingston Symphony Orchestra (LSO) opens its season on Saturday, November 7, at 7:30 p.m., and makes its debut at the newly renovated Livingston High School auditorium. More than two years have passed since the orchestra last played in the town whose namesake it bears. Maestro Istvan Jaray, who will lead the orchestra throughout the season, states, “I hope our return to Livingston will garner recognition and appreciation from the town’s residents. This is a great orchestra that they have.”

Dubbed “Magnificent Masterworks,” the November 7 concert begins with Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture and concludes with Saint-Saens’ Symphony No. 3, popularly known as the “Organ Symphony,” featuring guest organist Marilyn Fiordaliso.

Mrs. Fiordaliso is the proprietor of Fiordaliso Music Studio, providing private piano and voice instruction for over 40 years to Livingston area musicians. She is a member of the Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International, MENC, The Voice Care Network, American Choral Directors Association and NJ Music Educators.

Livingston High School is located 30 Robert H. Harp Drive, Livingston, NJ, accessible from South Livingston Avenue to Civic Center Road.

photo: Hickory Tree Chorus Membership Chair, Dolly Power (left), welcomes Marilyn Fiordaliso following Fiordaliso's successful completion of the the chorus's 'Sing A Cappella' series July 2009.

HTC Members Help Set Guiness World Record

Seven members of the Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International, attending the Sweet Adelines International convention in Nashville, TN participated in setting a Guinness World Record for the Largest Singing Lesson October 24. Read more from Reuters:

Sweet Adelines International Sets Guinness World Record for Largest Singing
Lesson

TULSA, Okla., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweet Adelines International set the
Guinness World Record for Largest Singing Lesson on Oct. 24, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
The record-setting event coincided with the 63rd annual International
Convention and Competition held at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn. Sweet
Adelines members are women who excel in singing the unique musical art form of
barbershop harmony.

Music professional and past Sweet Adelines International Quartet Champion
Peggy Gram led the lesson by demonstrating inspiring techniques for
integrating the voice into the art form. The venue was filled with immense
sound as 6,651 singers practiced the demonstrated techniques and sang
simultaneously for the duration of the 10-minute lesson.

Guinness World Records official adjudicator Danny Girton, Jr., presided over
the certificate ceremony to validate the record and confirm that the
achievement met the criteria set forth by the organization. "We welcome Sweet
Adelines International into the Guinness World Records family for its
inspirational and fun achievement," said Girton, Jr. while presenting the
award.

Gram called the experience of teaching the Largest Singing lesson
exhilarating.

"It was inspiring to demonstrate our unique style of music to thousands of
singers from around the globe. While obtaining the world record is terrific,
what's even more important is that it allowed us the opportunity to show how
rewarding it is to sing barbershop harmony," said Gram after accepting the
certificate for World's Largest Singing lesson.

Eager for the opportunity to make history, Sweet Adelines members lined up to
participate.

"The enthusiasm of Sweet Adelines International members and fans was
instrumental in achieving this record," said Kelly Kirchhoff, Director of
Communications for Sweet Adelines International. "Instructing thousands of
participants simultaneously is an extremely impressive accomplishment."

About Sweet Adelines International

Sweet Adelines International is a musical force in the United States and
throughout the world. This nonprofit music education association is
headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., where it was founded in 1945. It is one of the
world's largest singing organizations for women, committed to advancing the
musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performance. The
membership encompasses nearly 25,000 singers, 1,200 registered quartets and
600 choruses in most of the fifty United States, Australia, Canada, England,
Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, The
Netherlands and Wales.

About Guinness World Records

Guinness World Records is the universally recognized authority on
record-breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness
World Records book is published in more than 100 countries and 25 languages
and is one of the highest-selling books under copyright of all time with more
than 3 million copies sold annually across the globe. Guinness World Records
celebrated its 50th anniversary edition in 2004, a year after the sale of its
100 millionth copy. Guinness World Records also annually publishes the Gamer's
Edition; a records book devoted solely to the world of computer gaming and
high score record achievements. The Guinness World Records website
(http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com) receives more than 11 million visitors a
year. Guinness World Records is part of the Jim Pattison Group, one of
Canada's largest privately owned companies which are a conglomerate of
interests, including advertising, broadcasting, grocery stores and automotive
retailing.

Museum Mayhem Show Tickets On Sale

The Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International presents its original 2009 annual show, Museum Mayhem, 3 and 7:30 pm, November 21, West Morris Mendham High School, 65 Main Street, Mendham, NJ.

The madness begins when the museum shuts down for the night and the chorus is locked inside! Spine-tingling harmonies by the award-winning Hickory Tree Chorus, WMMHS student singers, and guest men's quartet, 'Round Midnight, the Barbershop Harmony Society 2009 Mid-Atlantic District Champion.

Tickets $20 adults; $18 seniors 62+; $10 youth 12 and under. All +$2 at the door.

E-mail: tickets@hickorytreechorus.org or phone 908-790-0334. More at hickorytreechorus.org

Meet and Greet at New Providence Farmer's Market

Members of the Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International perform and speak to women interested in membership 1:30-2:30 pm, October 7 and 14 at the New Providence Farmer's Market.

On those same evenings, as well as October 21, at 7:30 pm the chorus hosts "seat-to-stage!" free classes for women interested in learning a fun-filled song to perform on-stage with the chorus on its annual November 21 show.

Hickory Tree Chorus performs popular music in four-part, a cappella harmony, barbershop style. Its 55 members hail from 40 area communities and rehearse 7:30 pm, Wednesdays, at 570 Central Avenue, New Providence.

The chorus also awards an annual $1,000 scholarship to an area high school senior girl pursuing vocal music studies in college. The chorus will be selling cookbooks at the Farmer's Market to help fund the scholarship.

The New Providence Farmer's Market is located in the Municipal Building parking lot on the corner of Elkwood Avenue and Academy Street.

For membership, performance and scholarship information about Hickory Tree Chorus visit hickorytreechorus.org or e-mail: info@hickorytreechorus.org

seat-to-stage! An Opportunity to Perform with Hickory Tree Chorus

seat-to-stage! is an opportunity for women to get out of the audience and onto the stage as a performer with the award-winning Hickory Tree Chorus on their November 21 original show, Museum Mayhem. After completing a series of three, free classes participants may experience the joy of singing a chord-ringing, fun-filled popular uptune in front of an audience of friends and family.
Georgette Chrystal, baritone of three-time Sweet Adelines International Regional Champion Quartet Escape, will host a series of three, free classes teaching women singers one of four a cappella voice parts. The ability to read music is helpful but not required. Like Hickory Tree Chorus members, participants will be aided by learning CD’s and sheet music, as well as patient, personal guidance.
seat-to-stage! free classes will be held three nights only — October 7, 14, and 21, 7:30 pm, 570 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ. Register with Membership Chair Dolly Power at 908-307-6367 or: members@hickorytreechorus.org. More information at www.hickorytreechorus.org

HickoryTree Chorus Members Honored

The Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International honored member Jeanette “Jeannie” Allen with its annual ‘Woman of Note’ award at ceremonies held September 12 at the Sheraton Parsippany during the annual education weekend of the Greater New York Region of Sweet Adelines International. Each of the fifteen regional chapters honored a member who has inspired others by their contributions to the organization. Kat Britt, a member of both Hickory Tree Chorus and Jersey Harmony Chorus received the award from the latter.

Allen, of Florham Park, has been a member of the New Providence-based Hickory Tree Chorus chapter since 1971. She has held the offices of Chapter President, Treasurer (for several terms) and Secretary and has also served on most chapter committees at one time or another, most notably as Business Manager for the Show Committee and currently as Chair of the Costume Committee. She is a former bass Section Leader and a current member of the Music Team.

Allen also serves the fifteen chapters of the Greater New York Region as Regional Management Team Finance Coordinator. She served three terms as the Regional Convention Committee’s Assistant Competition Coordinator and the last three years as Competition Coordinator, a position appointed annually by the Sweet Adelines International Board of Directors. In that capacity she coordinates the Region’s annual chorus and quartet competition and convention.

In her hometown of Florham Park, Jeannie is both Cantor and Lector at Holy Family Parish where she also sings soprano in the parish choir. She was a Girl Scout leader, softball coach and has worked on the Election Board. She and her husband, Ken, are cancer survivors and annually participate in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life programs.

She works as an Office Manager, a job she accepted when her employer agreed to allow her time for her Sweet Adelines commitments.

Kat Britt, of Warren, serves both Hickory Tree Chorus and Princeton-based Jersey Harmony Chorus as an Assistant Director, baritone Section Leader, and Music Team member. She is also the Quartet Coordinator for the Greater New York Region.

For more about joining the real women, singing real harmony, and having real fun with Hickory Tree Chorus call Dolly at 908-307-6367 or visit hickorytreechorus.org

Open House Rehearsal of Hickory Tree Chorus

Love to sing? The Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International invites interested women singers to visit an Open House Rehearsal, 7:30 pm, Wednesdays, 570 Central Ave., New Providence. With the guidance of our trained Music Staff, you'll enjoy performing popular music in four-part a cappella harmony, barbershop style, with real women like you! Join the chorus, join the fun!
Contact Dolly, Membership Chair, 908-307-6367 or e-mail members@hickorytreechorus.org