TUNETOWN SHOW CHORUS TAKES 13TH PLACE AT THE 2007 INTERNATIONAL CHORUS COMPETITION IN CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA!

On October 11, 2007, Nashville’s own TuneTown Show Chorus, representing the southeast region of the United States competed at the International Chorus Competition held this year in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Thirty-four choruses and fifty-two quartets competed during the week of October 9-13. On stage with ninety-two singers (thirty of whom had been in the chorus for less than one year), TuneTown’s Master Director, Sherry Lewis, led the chorus to a 13th place finish, just one point out of 12th place. Competing internationally for the first time against choruses from New Zealand, England, Canada, and Sweden, as well as 30 other choruses from the United States, TuneTown was thrilled to finish in the top 13 worldwide. Each of the competing choruses had been selected as the best in their respective regions from over 700 choruses around the world.

TuneTown Show Chorus will once again compete regionally in March 2008 for the privilege of performing on stage during the next International Competition (which will be held in Nashville in November 2009).

The chorus would like to thank Governor Phil Bredesen for declaring October 11th (our competition day) as TuneTown Show Chorus Day in the State of Tennessee.

It's an exciting time to be a part of TuneTown Show Chorus! We are currently seeking 20 additional ladies who love to sing to become part of our award-winning chorus. We invite all women singers to visit any Monday night rehearsal, from 6:45 - 9:45 p.m., currently at the Bellevue Center Mall (upper level), Hwy. 70 South, Nashville. Watch this website for updates concerning the new rehearsal location coming in January. Auditions are held weekly. For membership information, call (615) 360-6375. We have a spot waiting just for you!

Help TuneTown with a Free and Easy Fundraiser!

TuneTown will receive a donation every time one of our supporters uses GoodSearch to search the Internet (instead of using Google or others)!

This is an amazing new opportunity for TuneTown to raise money every day at no cost to our supporters. GoodSearch (which is powered by Yahoo! so you get the same great results) has been promoted in OPRAH Magazine, ABC News, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Fortune.

It's easy to use!

Go to www.GoodSearch.com

Put in the word or phrase you're searching for - but DON’T click on Search yet.

On the next line where it says, "Who do you GoodSearch for? enter “TuneTown” and it should pop up "Sweet Adelines International - TuneTown Show Chorus (Nashville, TN)."

Now click on the Search button above to start the engine. We earn $.01 for each search.

TuneTown thanks you for your support!

TuneTown Chorus takes its show on the road

NEWS ARTICLE REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY THE TENNESSEAN, DAVIDSON A.M. BELLEVUE EDITION

Team prepares for international competition
by Leah M. Caudle

"Give me a break, give me a break, break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar!" sings a group of women inside Bellevue Center on Monday. A piano plays a note an octave higher. "Give me a break, give me a break, break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar!" belts the group at a higher pitch.

Passers-by peer inside what used to be an Eddie Bauer department store, perhaps wondering why racks of clothes are now replaced with folding chairs and a microphone. A commercial advertisement, maybe? No, it's the TuneTown Show Chorus, an a cappella, barbershop-style chorus up for an international singing competition.

The TuneTown Show Chorus is composed of a group of women from "shower singers to professionals" said Jennifer Cooke of Nashville, one of the chorus section leaders. The 80-member group is a nonprofit chapter of the world-wise chorus, the Sweet Adelines, which compete nationally and internationally. The singers range in age from 18 to 80, Cooke said.

Singing four-part harmony, the chorus blends a diverse song list from old-time gospel songs to Elvis favorites. "But we're not your mother's typical barbershop chorus," said Joyce Peck of Nashville, a bass singer. After being declared the southern regional champions in March, the chorus members are ready to pack up their sheet music and matching costumes and travel to Calgary, Alberta, in Canada in October 2007 for the chance to represent Nashville and capture the international title, or at least, place in the Top 10 category.

The TuneTownsters make performing look easy, but the three-hour Monday night practices make perfect. And the group makes the practice look like fun. In preparation for competitions, the women stretch their vocal chords for singing as well as their hamstrings for the choreography. "It's so great to hang out with the girls and make great music," Cooke said.

Back and forth, women of all ages sway together, the erected rafters creaking slightly under moving feet and animated expressions. On competition days, the women use a visualization technique by imaginging the step-by-step process of performing in front of thousands to curb some of the nervousness. "Sometimes the crowd really helps you because the audience pumps you up," Peck said.

But audience members aren't the only spectators; the chorus has to worry about impressing the eight-judge panel at the international competition. Bonnie Morgan of Nashville, vice president of the chorus, said judges look for perfectly executed makeup, expressions, timing, pitch, choice of music, showmanship, and sound. But if the chorus doesn't win the international title, it won't dampen the singers' spirits of their love for music.

"What brings us together is our love for music," Peck said. "What keeps up together is our sisterhood."

TuneTown Qualifies for Calgary

Heart of Dixie Region #23, March 23-26, 2006

GREAT sound, energy and entertainment is what TuneTown Show Chorus took to the regional contest stage! As a result, they will be representing Region 23 and especially Nashville, Tennessee at an INTERNATIONAL Competition in Calgary, Canada in October, 2007.

Middle Tennessee Festival of Harmony

January 12–13, 2007
(Friday – Saturday)
Wilson Central High School Auditorium
Lebanon, Tennessee

The Middle Tennessee Festival of Harmony (MTFH) brings area-wide young women and men together for a fun-filled weekend of singing and laughter. Focusing on the unique American art form of barbershop singing, this year’s Festival will include vocal training, quartet and chorus singing, a segment on vocal health by the Vanderbilt Voice Center, and sessions specifically designed for music educators. The culmination of the weekend will be a free performance Saturday night at 7PM displaying the incredible talents of these young people.

For more information or to register for this Festival or future festivals, please call 360-6375 or e-mail info@tunetownshowchorus.org.

Hosted by
The Music Department of Wilson Central High School

The Middle Tennessee Festival is a joint venture of The TuneTown Show Chorus of Sweet Adelines International (SAI) and the Music City Chorus of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS)