Sweet Adelines Chorus Welcomes Youth Infusion as 50th Anniversary Nears
In 1983, Nancy Henderson’s husband wanted to relocate from New England to Florida. Nancy had only one stipulation.
“He had to make sure there was a Sweet Adelines chapter where we moved,” she said.
Upon moving to Melbourne, she promptly joined the Platinum Show Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International, a global community of singers who join voices in the close harmony of barbershop — or beauty shop — since all members are female.
Four decades later, Henderson still rehearses with the singing group that long ago became a mainstay in her life.
“Almost all my friends are Sweet Adelines,” Henderson said.
With more than 16,000 members in 10 countries, Sweet Adelines — founded in 1945 in Tulsa, Oklahoma — is one of the world’s largest singing organizations for women. The Space Coast chapter celebrates its 50th anniversary next year.
Henderson’s fellow Adeline Teresa Zimmerman lives in Titusville and works in Melbourne. Her long commutes home after weekly Thursday evening rehearsals are worth it for her just for the camaraderie.
“It’s a stress-reliever for most members,” she said.
Like Henderson, Zimmerman belonged to a Sweet Adelines chapter before moving to Brevard, and the organization has always provided them with the perfect outlet for their love of singing.
The Platinum Show Chorus meets from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays, except during the summer doldrums, at their clubhouse at 2727 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Visitors are always welcome to drop by, and sitting at one of the rehearsals provides a great way to discover the charms of membership.
Although the pandemic wreaked havoc with concerts and membership, the group kept singing even during the era of COVID, albeit with a reduced attendance.
“We just wore our masks and stood far apart,” Henderson said.
The ladies are getting back into the swing of performing for groups. Last winter, they joined their male counterparts, the Harbor City Harmonizers, in a performance at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy’s Scott Center for the Performing Arts. They also visit senior communities like The Fountains, host concerts at libraries and at special events and sing at monthly Honor Flight reunion picnics.
Although the chapter is small by comparison to others in larger metropolitan areas, it is mighty when it comes to the competitions that are part of the Sweet Adelines formula. In the past, they have earned top-10 placement against much larger competing chapters throughout Florida.
Twenty-three members range in age from 20- to 80-somethings, but the group is eager to embrace the future with younger members who will take up the songs as older members age out or move away. To entice younger voices, the Platinum Show Chorus slashes the monthly membership fees in half for anyone under 25. No singing experience is needed, but a willingness to learn and grow is.
Stephanie Bruns joined the group in 2018 while still a teen. An aunt who is a lifelong Adeline introduced Bruns to her Minnesota chapter. She was hooked.
“I love music,” the Melbourne resident said. “It’s part of my soul.”
Being an Adeline means worldwide connections.
“I have friends wherever I go,” Bruns said. “When I visited Alaska, I connected with the Fairbanks chapter and they made me feel right at home. If you need anything, the Sweet Adelines will take care of you.”
According to Nancy Henderson, singing in the show chorus is even good for your health.
“I think the reason my lungs are in such great shape is all the singing,” she said.
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What is barbershop?
Barbershop harmony is a style of unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a predominantly homophonic texture. The melody is consistently sung by the lead, with the tenor harmonizing above the melody, the bass singing the lowest harmonizing notes, and the baritone completing the chord.
The components:
- Tenors, at the top, soar above all others with a light touch and bell-like precision. They are the cherry on top of the sundae.
- Leads, below the tenors, sing with more volume and authority. Generally, leads sing the melody of the songs.
- Baritones, with a range similar to the leads, are all guts, no glory. They fill in the missing note of the chord, either above or below the lead line.
- Basses fill out the bottom. They are the foundation of the song.
Woven together and sung with accuracy and artistry, the four vocal parts generate the signature overtones intrinsic to barbershop music.
Source: Platinum Show Chorus
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