Gateway Chorus, an all-women’s barbershop chapter of the Sweet Adelines, is feeling on top of the world after competing at the Maple Leaf Region 26’s annual convention and competition on Saturday, May 3.
Out of 18 choruses (about 500 women) from across the three western-most provinces, Gateway brought home second place in the mid-size division and third overall.
Despite the silver, the choir was far from disappointed.
“We were ecstatic,” said marketing co-ordinator Carla Ayles, a member singer and Paul Kane High alumna. Other ambassadors from the St. Albert area are Maxine Alguire and Sheri Wedman as well as Morinville singer Darlyn Hayduk.
“We were aiming for a 600 score. It gives our director a master of distinction achievement,” Ayles said.
The chorus sang two songs – the Irving Berlin ballad You Keep Coming Back Like a Song and the up-tempo How Could You Believe Me/It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie.
Judges awarded the two-song package an overall score of 601 points, which qualified director Lisa Greenough for status of Master Director within the international organization.
In reflecting on her new-found position, master director Lisa Greenough had the last word.
“Though I did receive my master director status as a result of a successful finish, it is the singers on the risers who are the real masters – they’re all now master singers.”
The top five ranked mid-size choruses are invited to the Harmony Classic, a mid-size competition held in Las Vegas in October 2015.
City of St. Albert council just announced the lucky recipients for the Lieutenant Governor Distinguished Youth Artists Awards for 2014.
Jillan Barker receives $300 to attend Red Deer College Summer Arts School and Mikaela Lukie is also the recipient of $300 to attend the New York City Dance Alliance Summer Intensive Program.
Kirsten Throndson gets a nod for $180 to enroll at a Citadel Theatre’s Foote Theatre School improv class while St. Albert Children’s Theatre cast are awarded $600 to present a workshop from the creators of A Christmas Story.
The interest earned from the Young Artists Legacy Fund Program is used to fund the awards. A total of $1,380 was awarded.
