February 13, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Dana Dunlevy, Publicity and Marketing, Hickory Tree Chorus,
973-980-8466
Hickory Tree Chorus Offers $1000 Music Scholarship
Hickory Tree Chorus, a champion chapter of Sweet Adelines International, is accepting applications for its 2008, annual $1000 scholarship to a musically talented young woman interested in pursuing a career in music. Qualified high school senior girls with good academic records and exceptional talent in vocal music are encouraged to apply. Students should also have applied for acceptance into a music program at a college or university. Applicants must submit an audio-tape or CD of a short performance demonstrating their particular talent. Tapes may include accompaniment, as needed. Completed applications and audio-tapes or CDs must be received by April 14th, 2008.
High school guidance departments in more than 50 communities have information and applications. Applications may also be obtained by e-mailing info@hickorytreechorus.org, or printing directly from the chorus’s web site at hickorytreechorus.org.
Hickory Tree Chorus rehearses and welcomes guests Wednesdays, 7:30pm at the New Jersey Youth Symphony Music Center, 570 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ. This year marks its fortieth year as a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, 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 world-wide, Sweet Adelines International is one of the world’s largest women’s singing organizations.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Hickory Tree Chorus member in Westfield Leader, February 14, 2008
Fanwood Singer’s Donation Proves Love is ‘In Style’
As a member of the Escape quartet, Susan Schuman of Fanwood was required to pull her shoulder-length hair off her neck for Sweet Adelines International (SAI) competions. She twisted it high on her crown and wrapped it in a hairpiece for a polished look. But on February 4, she shed her long locks, and thus her need for the hairpiece, so that a child without any hair can crown his or her head with a much-needed wig.
While caroling with Escape quartet in Westfield this past holiday season, Mrs. Schuman saw a “Locks of Love” flyer posted at Panera Bread by a local Girl Scout. She had already been thinking about cutting her hair and wondered if she could wait until the February event date.
“I thought this would be good for Girls Scouts, for me, for others, and then I thought, here is my son, Jonathan, working on his mitzvah project for his upcoming bar mitzvah, and I figured I could do this as a mitzvah, in his honor,” said Mrs. Schuman.
Locks of Love is a public, non-profit organization that provides high-quality hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Most children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure.
“I was crying as I read the brochure. I knew I had to donate the full 10 inches –the length needed to make the actual hair prosthetics. You can donate a shorter amount, six inches or more, but they sell those donations to raise money to make the hair prosthetics,” explained Mrs. Schuman.
The hair prosthetics provided are custom-made from donated ponytails and retail for between $3,500 and $6,000. They are different from synthetic hairpieces because they form a vacuum seal and do not require the use of tape or glue. Only the wearer of the prosthetic ma remove it, by breaking the vacuum seal at the temples, dismissing any insecurities about classmates pulling off a hairpiece or losing it during sports. Each prosthetic requires between six and 10 ponytails and each strand of hair is hand-injected into the silicone base.
“My hair is shorter than it has ever been, but it will grow back. The children I am helping, they don’t have that luxury. I only hope I can fix my hair as nicely as the stylist [whose services were donated by Guillotine in Westfield]. I’ve been a wash-and-go girl for so long! Heck, I only used hairspray during contest season!” laughed Mrs. Schuman, who will compete again with Escape quartet on Friday, April 4 in Philadelphia.
Escape is the current Champion Quartet of the Greater New York Region of SAI. Mrs. Schuman also competes with Hickory Tree Chorus, the current regional chorus champion, this year –without a hairpiece.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Hickory Tree Chorus to Deliver Singing Valentines
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 22, 2008
CONTACT: Dana Dunlevy, Publicity and Marketing, Hickory Tree Chorus
973-980-8466 or dldunlevy@gmail.com
Sweet Adelines Deliver Songs to Sweethearts
Send your sweetheart a song this Valentine’s Day! For just $50 a quartet from Hickory Tree Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, will sing two songs, present a gift, and take a digital photo with your loved one to mark the occasion.
Singing Valentines can be delivered to a north/central New Jersey location of your choice. Repertoire is appropriate for spouses, friends, children, or parents. Surprise your loved one at work, school, home, or during a romantic dinner.
If your sweetheart is away on business, at college, or retired to someplace warm send a Telephone Valentine, one song, for just $20. Book your Singing Valentine early by calling 718-979-2349 or e-mail valentine@hickorytreechorus.org.
Hickory Tree Chorus is the 2007 champion of the Greater New York Region of Sweet Adelines International. Its 60 members rehearse and welcome guests Wednesdays, 7:30 pm, at 570 Central Avenue, New Providence. Visit on the web at 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.
JANUARY 22, 2008
CONTACT: Dana Dunlevy, Publicity and Marketing, Hickory Tree Chorus
973-980-8466 or dldunlevy@gmail.com
Sweet Adelines Deliver Songs to Sweethearts
Send your sweetheart a song this Valentine’s Day! For just $50 a quartet from Hickory Tree Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, will sing two songs, present a gift, and take a digital photo with your loved one to mark the occasion.
Singing Valentines can be delivered to a north/central New Jersey location of your choice. Repertoire is appropriate for spouses, friends, children, or parents. Surprise your loved one at work, school, home, or during a romantic dinner.
If your sweetheart is away on business, at college, or retired to someplace warm send a Telephone Valentine, one song, for just $20. Book your Singing Valentine early by calling 718-979-2349 or e-mail valentine@hickorytreechorus.org.
Hickory Tree Chorus is the 2007 champion of the Greater New York Region of Sweet Adelines International. Its 60 members rehearse and welcome guests Wednesdays, 7:30 pm, at 570 Central Avenue, New Providence. Visit on the web at 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.
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.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Hickory Tree Chorus in Home News Tribune (11/28/07)
WOODBRIDGE - Mayor John E. McCormac, members of the Township Committee and the "We Feed Woodbridge" Committee, along with Paul Sansone of Sansone's Route 1 Auto Mall, opened the annual holiday food drive Monday.
Food can be dropped off at the annual Barron Arts Center Holiday Concert on Dec. 14 and at numerous municipal collection sites.
"The 2007 holiday food drive is an important part of this year's 'season of giving' and will benefit hundreds of families throughout the township put food on the table," said McCormac. "This year, we are hoping to collect more than 10,000 pounds of nonperishable food over the next 30 days -food that will be distributed by our local food pantries as they work to ensure that less fortunate township residents receive much needed food supplies to help get them through the holidays."
The various township-sponsored food drives held throughout the year --Cast A Can When You Cast Your Vote, the Summer Concert Series, the Valentine's Day "Have a Heart" campaign and the annual holiday "Season of Giving" drive -have netted more than 74,000 pounds of food so far this year.
"This year, we have a significant start toward our goal with the extraordinarily generous donatio of more than 75 cases of food courtesy of Paul Sansone and the staff of Sansone's Route 1 Auto Mall," McCormac said. "We are encouraging other Woodbridge businesses and companies to join the "Season of Giving" with donations to the We Feed Woodbridge Committee."
The annual Barron Arts Center Holiday Concert (free admission) has become the principal event for the food drive. This year, the concert -scheduled for Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. at St. Cecelia's Church, 45 Wilus Way, Iselin -will be presented by the Hickory Tree Chorus.
Additionally, food can ebe dropped off at any weekday at the Woodbridge Township Public Health Center, 2 George Frederick Plaza; Woodbridge Town Hall, 1 Main St.; the Woodbridge Library, 1 George Frederick Plaza; or at the Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main St., anytime between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711280443
Food can be dropped off at the annual Barron Arts Center Holiday Concert on Dec. 14 and at numerous municipal collection sites.
"The 2007 holiday food drive is an important part of this year's 'season of giving' and will benefit hundreds of families throughout the township put food on the table," said McCormac. "This year, we are hoping to collect more than 10,000 pounds of nonperishable food over the next 30 days -food that will be distributed by our local food pantries as they work to ensure that less fortunate township residents receive much needed food supplies to help get them through the holidays."
The various township-sponsored food drives held throughout the year --Cast A Can When You Cast Your Vote, the Summer Concert Series, the Valentine's Day "Have a Heart" campaign and the annual holiday "Season of Giving" drive -have netted more than 74,000 pounds of food so far this year.
"This year, we have a significant start toward our goal with the extraordinarily generous donatio of more than 75 cases of food courtesy of Paul Sansone and the staff of Sansone's Route 1 Auto Mall," McCormac said. "We are encouraging other Woodbridge businesses and companies to join the "Season of Giving" with donations to the We Feed Woodbridge Committee."
The annual Barron Arts Center Holiday Concert (free admission) has become the principal event for the food drive. This year, the concert -scheduled for Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. at St. Cecelia's Church, 45 Wilus Way, Iselin -will be presented by the Hickory Tree Chorus.
Additionally, food can ebe dropped off at any weekday at the Woodbridge Township Public Health Center, 2 George Frederick Plaza; Woodbridge Town Hall, 1 Main St.; the Woodbridge Library, 1 George Frederick Plaza; or at the Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main St., anytime between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711280443
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Escape in the Record Press
Read about the pride of Hickory Tree Chorus — Escape quartet, the Region 15 quartet champions — and their third trip to international competition in Calgary!
http://www.nj.com/news/recordpress/community/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1191615343244740.xml&coll=17
"Local Women's Quartet 'Escaping' To Calgary"
Record-Press — Friday, October 5, 2007
With a combined 12 children, four husbands, students, patients, clients, and PTA meetings - who wouldn't want to escape? Well four area women, performing as the Sweet Adelines quartet named Escape, will do just that when they fly on Oct. 8 to Calgary in Alberta, Canada for the 61st annual Sweet Adelines International Convention and Competition.
This will be the third consecutive year of international competition for Michelle Metallo (tenor), Susan Schuman (lead), and Georgette Chrystal (baritone) who are also members of the Sweet Adelines 2007 Greater New York Region (#15) chorus champion, Hickory Tree Chorus, of New Providence.
Janel McNally (bass), a member of Jersey Harmony Chorus, of Princeton, will be performing in her first international competition. She replaced Escape's previous bass just eight weeks before the quartet won the Region #15 quartet competition in April, qualifying them to compete against 51 other quartets on the international stage in Calgary.
Metallo and McNally are residents of Hillsborough. Metallo is a math professor at Raritan Valley College and McNally owns her own business, "Mrs. Fix-It LLC." Chrystal, of Scotch Plains, is a Registered Nurse in the Neuro-Intensive Care unit of a major hospital. Schuman, of Fanwood, is an Assistant Director of Hickory Tree Chorus and a member of the Sweet Adelines Director Certification Program.
"Sweet Adelines does an amazing job of educating and encouraging women to achieve and succeed," Schuman said. "There is no other business out there where competitors coach each other, teach, and share like Sweet Adelines."
In addition to competing, Escape performed last year for many organizations like the Women's Club of Morristown and the Sage Seniors in Berkeley Heights and even caroled in downtown Westfield during the holidays. They performed at the annual Hickory Tree Chorus show and will be guest performers at the Jersey Harmony Chorus show on Nov. 4.
The women performed a farewell show for Hickory Tree members during the chorus's Sept. 26 rehearsal at the Suburban Music Center, located at 570 Central Avenue in New Providence. They finished with a parody of "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," expressing gratitude for the child-free rehearsals that the start of the school year would bring. And while the commitment is great, so is the personal satisfaction.
"Sweet Adelines has helped me grow as a singer and musical leader," Chrystal said. "I am blessed to be singing with such talented ladies, they make my 'escaping' worthwhile."
Sweet Adelines International is committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performances. It is one of the largest singing organizations for women, with almost 30,000 members worldwide. To learn more visit www.sweetadelineintl.org. For more about Escape, visit www.harmonize.com/escape.
http://www.nj.com/news/recordpress/community/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1191615343244740.xml&coll=17
"Local Women's Quartet 'Escaping' To Calgary"
Record-Press — Friday, October 5, 2007
With a combined 12 children, four husbands, students, patients, clients, and PTA meetings - who wouldn't want to escape? Well four area women, performing as the Sweet Adelines quartet named Escape, will do just that when they fly on Oct. 8 to Calgary in Alberta, Canada for the 61st annual Sweet Adelines International Convention and Competition.
This will be the third consecutive year of international competition for Michelle Metallo (tenor), Susan Schuman (lead), and Georgette Chrystal (baritone) who are also members of the Sweet Adelines 2007 Greater New York Region (#15) chorus champion, Hickory Tree Chorus, of New Providence.
Janel McNally (bass), a member of Jersey Harmony Chorus, of Princeton, will be performing in her first international competition. She replaced Escape's previous bass just eight weeks before the quartet won the Region #15 quartet competition in April, qualifying them to compete against 51 other quartets on the international stage in Calgary.
Metallo and McNally are residents of Hillsborough. Metallo is a math professor at Raritan Valley College and McNally owns her own business, "Mrs. Fix-It LLC." Chrystal, of Scotch Plains, is a Registered Nurse in the Neuro-Intensive Care unit of a major hospital. Schuman, of Fanwood, is an Assistant Director of Hickory Tree Chorus and a member of the Sweet Adelines Director Certification Program.
"Sweet Adelines does an amazing job of educating and encouraging women to achieve and succeed," Schuman said. "There is no other business out there where competitors coach each other, teach, and share like Sweet Adelines."
In addition to competing, Escape performed last year for many organizations like the Women's Club of Morristown and the Sage Seniors in Berkeley Heights and even caroled in downtown Westfield during the holidays. They performed at the annual Hickory Tree Chorus show and will be guest performers at the Jersey Harmony Chorus show on Nov. 4.
The women performed a farewell show for Hickory Tree members during the chorus's Sept. 26 rehearsal at the Suburban Music Center, located at 570 Central Avenue in New Providence. They finished with a parody of "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," expressing gratitude for the child-free rehearsals that the start of the school year would bring. And while the commitment is great, so is the personal satisfaction.
"Sweet Adelines has helped me grow as a singer and musical leader," Chrystal said. "I am blessed to be singing with such talented ladies, they make my 'escaping' worthwhile."
Sweet Adelines International is committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performances. It is one of the largest singing organizations for women, with almost 30,000 members worldwide. To learn more visit www.sweetadelineintl.org. For more about Escape, visit www.harmonize.com/escape.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
HTC's 2007 Scholarship Winners in The Star Ledger
Hickory Tree's 2007 Scholarship winners were featured in The Star-Ledger.
http://www.nj.com/starledger/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1190262346276800.xml&coll=1
"Two Local Singers Win Music Scholarships"
College Corner
The Star-Ledger — Thursday, September 20, 2007
A local scholarship committee didn't have to search very far for its annual candidate. In fact, there were two deserving students within its own group.
Carianne Bennett of Millington and Lauren Kahn of Gillette were named recipients of the 2007 Hick ory Tree Chorus Music Scholarship.
The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a musically talented young woman interested in pursuing a career in music. For the first time in its 20-year history the scholarship was awarded to two young women, both members of Hickory Tree Chorus.
"We were fortunate to have two very talented, very deserving candi dates within our own chorus this year," said Lynn Macbeth, Hickory Tree Chorus scholarship chair. Both young women are 2007 graduates of Watchung Hills Regional High School.
Carianne Bennett will major in vocal studies at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio. Her extensive musical background includes participation in the New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition, placing as high as second; participation in the Spoleto Arts Symposium in Italy, performing the role of Mother in "Hansel and Gretel" and acceptance to the All-State Opera Festival.
Lauren Kahn will major in physics and minor in music at Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill. She is a member of the National Honor Society, a Bloustein Distinguished Scholar and recognized by Watchung Hills Regional High School for Outstanding Achievement in calculus and in French. She has studied voice, piano, music theory and arranging, and has participated in the New Jersey Youth Chorus, Central New Jersey Region Chorus and the New Jersey All-State Chorus.
With Bennett, Kahn conducted independent research, in conjunc tion with her Advanced Placement Physics class, regarding the ties between physics and vocal pedagogy.
Both young women have competed and performed with Hickory Tree Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, and with Capriccio, a registered Sweet Ade lines International quartet. With the chorus, they have been named Regional Champions, and with Capriccio they have participated in, and placed as high as third, in the Sweet Adelines International Education Symposium Quartet Competition.
Hickory Tree Chorus members from more than 40 communities rehearse weekly in New Providence. As the 2007 Greater New York Region Champions of Sweet Adelines International, they will compete in Honolulu, Hawaii, with choruses from around the world in November 2008. For scholarship, membership, booking, or performance information, visit hickorytreechorus.org.
http://www.nj.com/starledger/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1190262346276800.xml&coll=1
"Two Local Singers Win Music Scholarships"
College Corner
The Star-Ledger — Thursday, September 20, 2007
A local scholarship committee didn't have to search very far for its annual candidate. In fact, there were two deserving students within its own group.
Carianne Bennett of Millington and Lauren Kahn of Gillette were named recipients of the 2007 Hick ory Tree Chorus Music Scholarship.
The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a musically talented young woman interested in pursuing a career in music. For the first time in its 20-year history the scholarship was awarded to two young women, both members of Hickory Tree Chorus.
"We were fortunate to have two very talented, very deserving candi dates within our own chorus this year," said Lynn Macbeth, Hickory Tree Chorus scholarship chair. Both young women are 2007 graduates of Watchung Hills Regional High School.
Carianne Bennett will major in vocal studies at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio. Her extensive musical background includes participation in the New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition, placing as high as second; participation in the Spoleto Arts Symposium in Italy, performing the role of Mother in "Hansel and Gretel" and acceptance to the All-State Opera Festival.
Lauren Kahn will major in physics and minor in music at Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill. She is a member of the National Honor Society, a Bloustein Distinguished Scholar and recognized by Watchung Hills Regional High School for Outstanding Achievement in calculus and in French. She has studied voice, piano, music theory and arranging, and has participated in the New Jersey Youth Chorus, Central New Jersey Region Chorus and the New Jersey All-State Chorus.
With Bennett, Kahn conducted independent research, in conjunc tion with her Advanced Placement Physics class, regarding the ties between physics and vocal pedagogy.
Both young women have competed and performed with Hickory Tree Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, and with Capriccio, a registered Sweet Ade lines International quartet. With the chorus, they have been named Regional Champions, and with Capriccio they have participated in, and placed as high as third, in the Sweet Adelines International Education Symposium Quartet Competition.
Hickory Tree Chorus members from more than 40 communities rehearse weekly in New Providence. As the 2007 Greater New York Region Champions of Sweet Adelines International, they will compete in Honolulu, Hawaii, with choruses from around the world in November 2008. For scholarship, membership, booking, or performance information, visit hickorytreechorus.org.
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