Sing In Spring With Hickory Tree Chorus

The Basking Ridge-based Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International is buzzing with activity this spring, with two scheduled area performances and an invitation for women to join the chorus, join the fun! About 20 members of the 50-voice chorus will perform 1:40 p.m., May 19 at Bernards Township’s annual Charter Day Street Fair and Festival. This will be the award-winning chorus’s first performance in Bernards Township, since the chorus moved to Basking Ridge in September 2011.

“We’re really looking forward to performing for the community and meeting women who might enjoy singing chord-ringing, fun-filled, popular music with us,” says Master Director, Carolyn Schmidt.

Another small ensemble from the chorus will perform 1:15 p.m., May 25, at the Student Center at the County College of Morris. The performance is open to the public. 

More than 23,000 women world-wide share harmony and friendship through Sweet Adelines International. It is one of the largest independent music education organizations in the world.

During the month of May, Hickory Tree Chorus’s trained music staff offers a free vocal lesson to any woman who visits a 7:30 p.m., Wednesday rehearsal at St. Mark’s Church, 140 S. Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge. Ready to really live your life? E-mail: info@hickorytreechorus.org. More at hickorytreechorus.org and on facebook.

Hickory Tree Chorus Awarded Regional Medal

The Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International was awarded 3rd Place medals in the 2012 Greater New York Region annual competition, March 24 in Philadelphia, PA. It is the 27th regional medal awarded the Basking Ridge-based women’s chorus and the 14th under Master Director Carolyn Schmidt of Long Hill Township.

Individual members of the chorus also competed in the March 23 quartet competition, including Patricia Danner of Long Valley, who was awarded a 2nd Place medal with Drive! quartet. Members Rosemarie Gerber of Randolph, Lori Servidio of West Caldwell, Rita Peyton and Shayna Atkinson, both of Berkeley Heights, singing as Three Quarter Time quartet, were awarded the Novice Quartet Award.

Jeannie Allen of Florham Park, Eleanor Borris of Rockaway, and Lilas Schmidt of Long Hill Township were each awarded certificates recognizing their 40 years of continuous membership with the world-wide organization, singing exclusively with The Hickory Tree Chorus.

Sweet Adelines International is a worldwide organization of women singers dedicated to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education, competition, and performance.

The chorus competes and performs regularly and, through April 21, is accepting applications for its annual $1,000 scholarship, to be awarded to a graduating high school senior young woman. For membership, performance, and scholarship information e-mail info@hickorytreechorus.org or visit hickorytreechorus.org.

Hickory Tree Chorus Welcomes New Members

The Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International welcomed two new members following a month-long January Open House. Phyllis Prestamo of Succasunna (top, center) and Tina Levine of Basking Ridge (bottom, center) were welcomed by Membership Chair Dolly Power (l) and Master Director Carolyn Schmidt (r) after successful auditions. The chorus auditions new members year 'round at rehearsals, Wednesday evenings at St. Mark's Church, 140 S. Finley Ave., Basking Ridge. For more information visit: hickorytreechorus.org

2012 Scholarship Applications Accepted Through April 21

The Basking Ridge, NJ-based Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International is pleased to offer its annual $1,000 Scholarship to an area high school senior who intends to pursue a career in music. This scholarship will be given to a young woman selected on the basis of her application and her vocal musical talent. Presentation of the check to the recipient is usually in June, after her acceptance to the college or university of her choice.

Each student should complete the application and submit a CD which should include at least two vocal performances, demonstrating her particular talent. Both the application and CD should be received by April 21, 2012. Please no DVD’s.

Request an application through your high school guidance office or by e-mailing: lynnmacbeth@comcast.net

The Hickory Tree Chorus is an award-winning women’s chorus performing popular music in four-part, acappella harmony, barbershop style. The chorus performs regularly at community and civic events and welcomes new members. More scholarship, membership and performance information can be found at hickorytreechorus.org.

January 2012 Open House

Resolve to bring joy into your life this year! Visit a January 2012 Open House of the Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International and you could be singing fun-filled, chord-ringing music in four-part a cappella harmony! The fun starts each 7:30 pm, each Wednesday with lots of singing focused on different vocal or performance-skill theme each week! Join this amazing group of real women for real harmony and real fun!
Register at: info@hickorytreechorus.org so you can be notified of weather-related cancellations.

The Hickory Tree Chorus presents "Holiday Style" its annual show, December 10, 3pm at the Dolan Performance Hall, located on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road, Convent Station, NJ.

Celebrate the season with holiday favorites, and more, performed in four-part, a cappella harmony, barbershop style. Special guests Drive! (2011 Greater New York Region, 2nd place quartet), singer/songwriter/humorist Carla Ulbrich, Frosty the Snowman and Santa!

Reserved seat tickets are available now by e-mailing: tickets@hickorytreechorus.org or calling 908-790-0334. Advance prices are $20 adults; $18 seniors (62+); $10 youth (12 and under). All tickets are +$2 at the door.

More at hickorytreechorus.org

Women's A Cappella Barbershop Chorus Wins 2nd Place in International Competition

Hickory Tree Chorus of Basking Ridge, NJ was awarded second place medals October 18th at the 65th Annual Sweet Adelines International Convention and Competition in Houston, TX. Hickory Tree Chorus’s invitation to the Harmony Classic placed them in direct competition with the world’s five, top-scoring, mid-size Sweet Adelines International choruses. Hickory Tree Chorus members, numbering 47 on the International contest stage, sang under the direction of Master Director, Carolyn Schmidt. Under Schmidt’s direction, Hickory Tree Chorus has won three regional championships and competed in four Sweet Adelines International competitions. The Houston performance was seen by thousands at the Toyota Center and throughout the world via Sweet Adelines International’s live webcast.

Sweet Adelines International is a worldwide organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performances. This independent, nonprofit music education association is one of the world's largest singing organizations for women. "Harmonize the World" is the organization's motto.

The international membership of nearly 25,000 women, all singing in English, includes choruses in most of the fifty United States as well as in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, Wales and the Netherlands. The organization encompasses more than 1,200 registered quartets and 600 choruses.

Hickory Tree Chorus rehearses Wednesdays, 7:30 pm, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 140 South Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge. All are welcome.

For information about Hickory Tree Chorus, call (908)307-6367, e-mail info@hickorytreechorus.org or visit www.hickorytreechorus.org.