Thursday, January 24, 2008

Hickory Tree Chorus Celebrates 40 Years of Harmony


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 22, 2008
CONTACT: Dana Dunlevy, Publicity and Marketing, Hickory Tree Chorus
973-980-8466 or dldunlevy@gmail.com

Hickory Tree Chorus Celebrates 40 Years of Harmony

Hickory Tree Chorus celebrates 40 years as a chartered Sweet Adelines International chapter later this year. In July of 1968, 20 women, under Director Richard Florsheimer, officially began rehearsing four-part acappella harmony in the Hickory Tree section of Chatham Township, from which the chorus took its name. They have performed and competed locally, and internationally, ever since.

As the 2007 Greater New York Region champion of Sweet Adelines International, the chorus is preparing to compete in international competition in Honolulu, Hawaii in November. It will be Hickory Tree Chorus’ seventh trip to the international stage. The more than 60 women from over 40 communities in northern New Jersey and New York are led by Director Carolyn Schmidt of Gillette. Her daughter sang with the chorus until leaving for college this past fall. Her mother, Lilas Schmidt, has performed with the chorus, and as part of a quartet, for almost 40 years.

The chorus offers educational opportunities for members and awards an annual scholarship to an area high school senior pursuing music in college. The chorus performs pop, jazz, show tunes, and American standards all arranged in four-part harmony, many by Carolyn Schmidt, a certified arranger. The chorus does more than just sing the music, they perform it. In addition to placing first overall in the region in 2007, the chorus was awarded the first, annual Renee Craig Showmanship award for their exciting choreography and performance.

“This chorus, and this organization, offer so many opportunities for a woman to challenge herself to grow, not only as a singer and performer, but as a person,” says Dolly Power, Membership Chairperson.

Hickory Tree Chorus currently rehearses and welcomes guests Wednesdays, 7:30 pm, 570 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ. Visit on the web at hickorytreechorus.org or e-mail info@hickorytreechorus.org

Sweet Adelines International is a worldwide organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performance. With almost 27,000 members, Sweet Adelines International is one of the largest women’s singing organizations in the world.