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Date for 2010 Festival of Harmony
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Instruction by medalist female and male quartets | ||
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Attendees will polish two or more popular songs in four-part a capella harmony | ||
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Individuals, quartets, ensembles, mixed groups welcome | ||
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Register in advance to receive learning CDs and music | ||
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Dinner provided | ||
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Event
culminates in FREE-to-the-public ensemble performances, starting at 7:00 pm |
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About Our Director
Harriette Walters, Greater Nassau Chorus’ beloved and accomplished Master Director, has spent much of her life nurturing her passion for music and sharing it with others.
In her youth, Harriette took piano lessons for five years and sang in the concert choir at Oceanside High School, switching parts as needed. At that time, her father also sang—barbershop! By 1977 Harriette likewise began to pursue the craft by joining the risers of Greater Nassau Chorus of Sweet Adelines International as a baritone. She was appointed to the position of Assistant Director almost immediately.
Seven years later in 1984, Harriette made her directorial debut at Region 15’s annual competition. She led Greater Nassau to a fourth-place finish among Sweet Adelines choruses from the New York metropolitan area. The group was recognized as the top-scoring small chorus and the most improved chorus, and Harriette was honored with the Novice Director Award.
Since that event, Greater Nassau earned a medal each time they performed in a Regional contest. These achievements at the Regional level have earned Greater Nassau the privilege of competing at nine International-level competitions. Most recently, after achieving 1 st place in the Regional Chorus Competition in 2008, Greater Nassau Chorus became 4 th in the world at the Sweet Adelines International Chorus Competition in October 2009.
In addition to her impressive record as a director, Harriette is an accomplished quartet singer. She is currently singing baritone in the quartet, a.k.a, who won 1 st place Regional medals in 2008 and 2009. They competed at Sweet Adelines International Quartet Competitions in Honolulu, Hawaii in November, 2008 and in Nashville, Tennessee in October, 2009. In this most recent contest, a.k.a. finished 11th (Harriette’s best International quartet finish to date!) and had the opportunity to perform as mic testers in the Quartet Finals. She also competed on the International stage with two other quartets: Moondance in 2001 and 2003 and Promises, Promises in 1987, 1988, and 1989.
As a Certified Faculty Member of Sweet Adelines International, Harriette maintains a busy coaching schedule, assisting barbershop choruses and quartets in the United States and abroad. “Coaching is so rewarding, and you can touch so many people,” she says. “I love it when people tell you that they really got what you were saying.”
Harriette’s commitment to helping other singers and directors has prompted her to hold many offices within Sweet Adelines including Moderator, Director Education Coordinators and her current appointed position on the International Board of Directors.
Harriette’s accomplishments have also been recognized outside the world of barbershop. The town of Hempstead, New York honored her contributions to Long Island by giving her its 1996 Pathfinder Award for Woman of the Year in the Arts. In her work career, Harriette has held several management positions in the Insurance Industry, where she has worked for the past 37 years.
For Harriette, the best is yet to come. “This journey is a lifelong passion for me. I look forward to continuing to make beautiful music with my chorus, my quartet, and singers all over our Sweet Adeline World."
Teaching Quartets:
Escape
Currently the 2009 Greater NY Region Silver Medalists, Escape is a 3 time Champion quartet, having competed on the International stage in Las Vegas, Detroit, and Calgary. Escape has earned 9 regional medals! Founding members Susan and Georgette have been singing together since before Y2K, outlasting most marriages!
Lead Susan Schuman is a 13 year veteran of SAI. She sings with both the Harmony Celebration Chorus and the Hickory Tree Chorus; where she is an Assistant Director and Lead Section Leader. She runs the Sing a Cappella Series (free voice lesson membership program) for both Hickory Tree and Jersey Harmony Chorus. A member of the Director Certification Program and a newly appointed member of the Region 15 Faculty, Susan coaches quartets and gives private vocal instruction. With an extensive background in musical theatre, both as a Director/Musical Director and performer, she also directed her college a cappella group, where she dabbled in arranging!
Baritone Georgette Chrystal is a 13 year veteran of SAI. She is singing with the Harmony Celebration Chorus while on leave from the Hickory Tree Chorus, where she served as the Baritone Section Leader. Georgette runs the Sing a Cappella Series for both Hickory Tree and the Jersey Harmony Chorus. She coaches both quartets and individuals, and by day she is a substitute school nurse.
Bass Janel McNally just celebrated a decade in SAI. She is a former member of the Jersey Harmony Chorus, where she was also Bass Section Leader. She has run the Sing a Cappella program for the Jersey Harmony Chorus. Janel joined Escape in 2007, and 8 weeks later, earned her first medal with Escape – a GOLD one! As a business owner and operator of Mrs. Fix It, Janel keeps herself busy repairing the messes that normal people get themselves into!
Tenor Sara Meek, starting her 4 th year in SAI, is a former member of the Hickory Tree Chorus. Having competed in vocal competitions as a soprano, she has sung with both the Montclair Operetta Club and the Raritan Valley Choral Society. With a BA in Speech Communication, Sara has been combining her background of theatre, choral and solo work with the sound of barbershop. In 2008, Sara became the newest “Escapee” and went off to win a second place medal in her first Regional Contest! She has run the Sing a Cappella program for the Jersey Harmony Chorus. By day, Sara works as a Sr. Human Resources Coordinator.
Noted Music Educators:
Harriette Walters, Patty Danner, Don Pennell,
Mike D'Andrea and Allen Gramkow
Read about Harriette Walters
Marty Israel
516 Fox Hill Run Drive
Woodbridge NJ 07095-3878
(732) 241-8520
or email: firmbari@hotmail.com
