When one thinks of barbershop harmony, a male quartet may come to mind, but there are many women performing four-part harmony thanks to the worldwide organization Sweet Adelines International.
Concert Association of Valparaiso presents Great Lake Sound Chorus, a chapter of the nearly 23,000-member Sweet Adelines International, Nov. 17 at Ivy Tech Community College auditorium in Valparaiso.
“So many people either sing in school or they sang in church and there’s no other outlets. What do you do after that?” said Patti Autenrieth, team coordinator and performance coordinator for Great Lake Sound Chorus (www.glschorus.org).
“There’s two things that we expect. No. 1 is that you can afford us because it’s not a free organization by any means since it’s all not-for-profit. We like to try and bring in as much as we can by performing but we have costumes. We have coaches. We go to regional events. They all cost.
“What we can’t bring in via performances or fundraisers, we have through our dues. It’s not free by any means, but it’s no more than any other hobby. Also, we expect a person to be able to sing.”
Great Lake Sound Chorus won most improved chorus, first-place small chorus and fifth place overall in 2016 at Midwest Harmony Region 3’s Sweet Adeline competition.
The nearly 30 members include Crown Point, Granger, Hobart, Knox, Portage, Valparaiso and Wanatah residents and range from approximately 18 years old to approximately age 68.
“It’s all a cappella so the vocal instrument is the entire instrument. That makes it pretty exciting,” said Autenrieth, who also became a member of the Sweet Adelines International’s Melodeers Chorus, of Chicago, at the suggestion of Great Lake Sound Chorus director Carol Thompson.
“It’s four-part so there’s generally a spot for every voice range. It’s a very unique style of singing. It actually is based on seven basic chords. The arranging is completely different than what you would see in regular choral singing.”
Great Lake Sound Chorus’ performance in Valparaiso includes “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “I’m Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover,” “Hooked on a Feeling,” “Lazy Day” and “L-O-V-E.”
“We’ve got a fairly large repertoire of songs that we’re singing. Then we’re doing a number of Christmas pieces also,” said Autenrieth, who noted that “Jingle Bells,” “Let It Snow,” “Little Saint Nick,” “Mary, Did You Know?” “Need a Little Christmas” and “Silent Night” are among the holiday selections.
“Most of our songs are a little shorter. They’re arranged internationally through barbershop arrangers so it’s a little different.”
It was actually Great Lake Sound Chorus’ youngest member, Hannah Baldwin, a senior at Washington Township High School in Valparaiso, who introduced her choral teacher Janet Wade to the group.
Wade, a Concert Association of Valparaiso board member, accompanied Baldwin to a Great Lake Sound Chorus rehearsal and ended up inviting the group to be part of the 2017-18 season.
“We’re really excited to be recognized in the area. It’s very difficult to get your name out there no matter how often you sing,” said Autenrieth, of Valparaiso, about Great Lake Sound Chorus, which has been active for 27 years.
“We’re always looking for new members so this is a great way to feature ourselves and we’re hitting an audience that loves music.”
Great Lake Sound Chorus rehearsals are from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Faith Memorial Lutheran Church, 753 N. Calumet Ave., Valparaiso.
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Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Great Lake Sound Chorus
When: 7 p.m. Nov. 17
Where: Ivy Tech Community College auditorium, 3100 Ivy Tech Drive, Valparaiso
Tickets: $15 adults; $10 students
Information: 219-462-5305; www.valpoconcerts.com