ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512080102
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: OLIVIA SHORTER SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
"Sweet Adeline, my Adeline.
At night, dear heart, for you I pine.
In all my dreams, your fair face beams;
You're the flower of my heart, sweet Adeline."
With doo-wackas, Christmas carols and '40s music, the Wilderness Road Chorus of the Sweet Adelines entertains itd audience.
Tonight, the Adelines are bringing their performance to the Squires Student Center Recital Salon.
The only local all-female, barbershop-style chorus, the Sweet Adelines are part of an international singing organization with chapters throughout the world.
The chorus director, Peggy Moore, joined the Sweet Adelines 15 years ago in Saudi Arabia.
"It exists all around. As my husband gets transferred, in any city I can find a chorus and have 20 new friends, 50 new friends," Moore said. "There aren't a lot of groups that can do that."
Edna Mae Anderson created the original acappella singing group 50 years ago in Tulsa, Okla. The New River Valley created its branch 40 years later.
"We are very serious about our music," said charter member Mary Ann Johnson. "It's not just about getting together to have fun, although we do have a lot of fun. Learning about music is one of our main things,"
Singers attend classes on how to correctly use the diaphragm for singing. They learn about music theory and take workshops on choreography.
"We go at it as a craft to be perfected, like a serious professional would," Moore said.
But it's not just about music education. Members also find singing relaxing and therapeutic.
"Singing to me is probably one of the happiest hobbies," said Joyce Beliveau, the publicity director for the New River Valley chapter. "The reason I chose this group with four-part harmony is you truly have to rely on your own voice for sound."
"It's wonderful therapy," Moore said. "Our members are 90 to 95 percent working women. They have families. This allows them three hours a week to do their own hobby."
And they love to perform.
"Entertaining in the community is what makes it all come together. We truly love to have people listen to us and applaud," Johnson said.
"For most adults, there is no outlet to sing once you're out of school," said Moore. "This is a wonderful outlet to not only sing, but perform."
And if all goes according to plan, the audience will hear more than just the four singing parts.
"If the chord comes together really right, if it locks like it's supposed to, the audience will hear a fifth note. That's the physics of it. It's everything vibrating together that makes the fifth sound," said Johnson.
Although quartets and four-part harmony choruses bring back memories of yesteryear, members say the music is not outdated.
"I think a lot of the public thinks of barbershop as old-time music, but it's really open to any type of music. We sing 'Kokomo' and 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' and Christmas carols," Beliveau said. "We'll be doing a real funny skit with 'Kokomo'," Beliveau said.
The group always welcomes new members. There will be a major membership drive in January, but interested people can come to practices on Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Blacksburg Recreation Center.
Tickets for tonight's 8 p.m. performance are $5 and can be purchased at the door, through the Squires ticket office or from one of the Sweet Adelines' 22 members.
LENGTH: Medium: 71 linesby CNB