Female barbershop singers converge in Parsippany
PARSIPPANY — They took to the stage Sunday in the Parsippany Sheraton and belted out barbershop quartet-style singing. At times, they formed a kick line.
And not one of the performers was male.
These barbershoppers were members of area chapters of Sweet Adelines International, a worldwide organization of women singers dedicated to advancing the art of barbershop harmony singing.
Roughly 15 chorus chapters in the New York/New Jersey area, or Region 15, met at the hotel starting Friday for a weekend promoted with the slogan, "Real women. Real harmony. Real sound." About 200 people attended.
Women of all ages, many from Morris County, met to share stories, pass along tips and, most important, learn how to improve not just their singing, but performing chops.
"I love to sing. I sang all the way through school," Betty Clipman of Houston said before leading a workshop with the New Providence-based Hickory Tree Chorus.
She became a homemaker and "just missed the singing and the camaraderie of other women," she said. So she joined a local chapter of the Sweet Adelines and rose up the ranks to become an international board member. She flew in from Texas specifically to teach women how to improve their vocal and physical performances to better connect with audiences.
Lilas Schmidt and her daughter Carolyn Schmidt, both of Long Valley, and Carolyn's daughter Andrea Kahn, 23, of Brooklyn represented three generations of singing at Sunday's breakfast and workshop.
"I think it's really a great way for all of us to bond and a great creative outlet to relieve whatever stresses are going on in our lives," said Kahn, a Morris County native.
One of the Hickory Tree Chorus' newest members, Tina Petersen of Chatham Township, said joining has helped her battle against Lyme disease.
"I find the joy of singing with these women is wonderful medicine," she said. "It makes you feel good."
The local chapters compete against members within their region, and from there the winner goes on to an international competition. Scott Brannon, director of the Ridgewood-based Harmony Celebration Chorus, said his group won the regional contest and next year will compete in Seattle.
He said with the exception of the directors, all the singers are female.
Dana Dunlevy, a Hickory Tree Chorus member, said women who would like to join simply need to look up a chapter and attend a practice.
"They don't need formal musical training," said Dunlevy, of Florham Park. "If they can sing reasonably well, we can work with them."
Dunlevy said becoming proficient doesn't need to be an overnight process. She said sometimes it takes singers weeks to feel comfortable.
"We want them to be successful," Dunlevy said. "We want them to join."
Matt Manochio: 973-428-6627; mmanochi@gannett.com
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