Sweet Adelines International, founded in 1945, is a global organization of women who enjoy singing in the four-part barbershop style. Any group of women vocalists may apply to open a chapter and start a chorus, just like was done in 1970 by the Flower Valley Chorus in Lompoc, which has since expanded and is now known as the Tri City Sound Chorus, made up of women from Santa Maria, Lompoc, Vandenberg, and even a few from Nipomo and as far as Bakersfield.
The group has been preparing for its upcoming holiday concert, humbly named its “Family and Friends Christmas Night,” on Dec. 8. The evening will feature favorite carols sung in the four-part barbershop a cappella style. The chorus will perform under the direction of Barbara Nigh, who has been directing the chorus since 1988 and has been singing with the chorus since 1978.
“I love singing: It’s good for your health; it releases all those good endorphins,” she said. “Anybody is welcome to join us, as long as they love to sing.”
In the true community choir spirit, the group invited anyone interested in joining the chorus in singing the holiday carols to their weekly rehearsals that started in late October.
“The thing that we do that is special is we invite members of the community who would like to come and sing with us to the rehearsals,” Nigh said. “A lot of them don’t read music, but we help them to learn their parts.”
The Tri City Sound Chorus welcomes all local women to join the choir and contribute to the holiday performance, as well as the group’s Valentine’s Day “Singing Valentines.” As part of Sweet Adelines International, the group participates in several conferences a year, as well as a few competitions.
“Sweet Adelines is a very educational organization, which emphasizes learning how to sing well,” Nigh said. “We sing all kinds of songs ranging from pop to religious, to patriotic or whatever can be arranged in the four-part style.”
[image-2]
The chorus also performs by request throughout the year in nursing homes, at birthdays, at anniversary parties, or at other functions. Though originally founded in Lompoc, the group now meets for rehearsals in Santa Maria. The members enjoy the friendship and camaraderie that singing together brings, Nigh explained.
“We make wonderful friendships in the chorus,” she said. “I sing in a quartet as well, and two of us have been singing together for over 30 years now in one quartet or another.”
Though the chorus won’t be limiting its holiday performances to just one concert, this concert is, as the title implies, for family and friends as well as the community to enjoy the group in town. The event is free, but a free will donation will be accepted at the door and goes toward the group’s youth scholarship program, which awards scholarships to area high school seniors involved in music.
“We love singing for the public,” Nigh said. “It just makes you feel good and is a wonderful outlet.”
Music at the Maverick
The Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez presents the country music of Von Cotton Dec. 2 at 8:30 p.m., followed by DJPJ at 11:30 p.m. Concert on the Deck is on Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. Von Cotton performs country music Dec. 3 at 8:30 p.m., followed by DJPJ at 11:30 p.m. KRAZy Country 109.5 and Range Radio 1410AM present country star Jackson Taylor in concert Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m. More info: 686-4785.
Bring in the band
The Allan Hancock College Concert Band presents a free concert featuring holiday music from contemporary composers Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 2970 Santa Maria Way, Santa Maria. Cost is $10, $5 for students. More info: 922-6966, Ext. 3253, or hancockcollege.edu.
A holiday
extravaganza
The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society presents a holiday event featuring the Santa Maria Philharmonic Orchestra in concert with special guest choirs the Righetti High School Madrigals, Coastal Voices, and the Allan Hancock College Singers on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 311 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. Cost is $30, $25 for seniors, $12 for students. More info: 925-0412, george@santamariaphilharmonic.org, or santamariaphilharmonic.org.
Three is a treat
The Lompoc Concert Association presents a concert featuring the musical styling of the Poulene Trio on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 925 North F St., Lompoc. More info: 740-3006 or lompocconcert.org.
Creating cabaret
The New Life Christian Center presents “An Evening of Cabaret,” a dinner show fundraiser event featuring local singer Dennis Headrick singing from the “Great American Songbook” on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. at the New Life Christian Center, 816 North “C” St., Lompoc. Cost is $35.
Making music pop
The Lompoc Pops Orchestra presents “Gingerbread, Eggnog, and Chardonnay Dreams,” featuring holiday music and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus on Dec. 4 at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 925 North “F” St., Lompoc. Cost is $15, $5 for students. More info: 736-5663 or connieatthepops@aol.com.
Swinging in the season
The Central City Swing Big Band presents its annual “Christmas Holiday Concert” featuring big band jazz versions of holiday favorites on Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m., Unity Chapel of Light, 1165 Stubblefield Road, Orcutt. Info: 937-3025.
Masters of music
The Lompoc Valley Master Chorale presents a program of Christmas selections as part of the La Purisima Founder’s Day Event on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m., La Purisima Mission, 2295 La Purisima Road, Lompoc. Cost is $5. More info: 736-8005 or hickanell@aol.com.
Contact Calendar Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 1-8, 2011.
