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Welcome to the greatest show on earth (until next year's finals, of course).

Key: WC = wild card; ## = queen
SING competitors who have "outed" themselves to Lisa Hills (thanks,
Lisa!) are listed with each contestant. We know there are lots more
who just lurk who will cross the stage today. In the interest of
speed, my punctuation may suffer - please forgive me, English majors!

The trial scorers are the same as written on Wednesday except that
Vicki Uhr has judged the choruses as well.

Mike Maino introduces Swinglish Mix, who take the front row seats
reserved for the 2003 Queens of Harmony.

Emcee: Kathy Carmody (Carole was scheduled to emcee, but she is
otherwise occupied today and asked Kathy to fill in.) She introduces
the 2002 Rising Star champions:

Voice Activated
Alyssa Harris, Karen Maney, Kristi Conner, Lindsay Chartier
Turquoise and purple beaded top with a black chiffon skirt.
"Bust a Chord Tonight" IES was the tenor's first ever barbershop
contest, she is 20; the lead is 25, the bari is 25, the bass turned
26 on Monday. "Jazz Me Blues" "I'll Love You'til the Day I Die"
This is a strong quartet and they handle these difficult arrangements
with ease. After thanking everyone and making a pitch for the Young
Singers Foundation, they finish up with "Bye, Bye Blues" - yes,
*that* one with all the bell chords! Wow. A standing ovation is
their reward.

Counts are from the Thursday unofficial count. Directors included.
** marks the songs which were judged for points.

Goes without saying that the singing is marvelous!!!!!

Mic tester:
.....Harbor City Music Company, #19 - 78 on stage
.....Baltimore, Maryland, USA
.....Director: Michael Gellert & Eileen
SING competitor: Sharon Ehrisman
Stage Attire: The chorus creeps onto the stage - they are all cats
in black tuxedos with tailcoats, complete with ears, cat paws and
tails. With the cat makeup, we cannot recognize anyone! Hey, cool!
They didn't have to have their hair done this morning... after all,
they aren't nicely brushed house cats! There are trash cans and
barrels and other accoutrements of the alley. They are in character
as they await the announcement of their performance. What a tableau!
"Stray Cat Strut" complete with growls and purrs. A quartet comes
out to "howl at the moon" - four part meowing! Luigi makes the best
catnip linguini with clams... Tony chased us off.... they wish Fat
Cat was here - he'd know what to do. "That's Life" Cats on the
floor face down - this is a trend!! They'd "cough up a big furr ball
and die." What's wrong, Stinky? Thrown off the roof, upside down?
Glad Fat Cat's not around. We can take care of ourselves. Soloist
on the intro to "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning." One has
seen Fat Cat... Michael is Fat Cat with a big feathered cape. "I've
taken care of that Tony character - it's clams for everyone." "Zoot
Suit Riot." Pairs of cats are jitter-bugging in front. Michael just
stands at the back on the front and enjoys! A drumming starts on the
barrel and some boxes. Fat Cat starts some audience participation on
the scat part of the song. The finish is big, with the whole gang
seeming to do a jig! What a start! And this was "just" the
mic-tester!!!



.1...Sun Light, #32 - 84 on stage
.....Husby, Sweden
.....Director: Ase Hagerman
Stage Attire: Red velvet pants with a red sequin fabric two-piece
dress over them. The dress has foot-long (or more) fringe hanging
from the hips. Looks like the fringe was made by cutting the sequin
fabric into strips. There a gold insert at the neckline of the
dress, too. "**Sweet Georgia Brown" What a big sound. It belies
the number of members. They sure know how to move. Hot and sexy!
"**Lost in the Heart of My Own Home Town" The pacing and vocal
effects really enhance the story-telling in this performance. The
unit sound on the tenor hanger is astounding. Beautiful. Ase
walked off the stage. The members look disturbed... Anything can
happen on the contest stage. I am the president and I have decided
that we will continue and our assistant will take over (the assistant
panics and starts running around, rounding up all the singers) -
everything will work out just fine. "I'm So Excited!" They seem to
be doing just without Ase. I love the choreography these Swedish
gals design - it's so energetic and sexy. Ase returns in black
leather and takes the mic. "She Bangs" This one is naughty!
"Living La Vida Loca" "She's the Bomb" (I'm guessing here.) This
is a little more sexy than *I* am comfortable with, but the audience
loves it.



.2...Scottsdale, #21 - 133 on stage
.....Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
.....Director: Lori Lyford
SING competitors: Lauren Altiere; Lynda Parish
Stage Attire: All are dressed in black white, forties style dresses.
The chorus comes on from both sides in bunches, greeting each other
and dancing around. Many have hats and hairdos that evoke the
forties. "Ballin' the Jack" - very energetic dancing by the whole
chorus, especially the front row. Neat wave move which starts at the
peak of the front row wedge and flows back and out through the whole
chorus... This time Lori holds her skirt (with a sheepish grin) when
she leaps! A gunshot is heard. Someone's been murdered. A dance
hall whodunit. **"What'll I Do" This chorus has such fine control
of the entire dynamic range and they show us every bit of it on this
ballad. Now the police show up and the chalk outline is on the
risers... it's Johnnie! Dick Tracy is on the case. Johnnie was no
saint, maybe he had it coming to him. He was some kind of an agent -
we were going to make it to the top, together! A crowd takes
Johnnie's girls and transforms her - bright pink halter dress - WOW!
"Big Time" Cute lyrics about what it takes to make it to the big
time! Dick thinks there was a green-eyed monster involved in this
crime. Women dancing with attached dummies are coming on ... boy,
those "men" are limber! Dick finds the culprit - she did it and
she's glad. He was make *her* the star. Mr. Big Time was Mr. Two
Time. You can make it on your own. Lori starts with a solo on "This
Time Around." Lots of standees on this one. Holy cow and this is
only #2! I'm so glad I'm not a judge. (I'm not sure which uptune
was judged - we saw the judges writing on the first and third
songs... the judged song will be listed on the web site when the
scores are posted.



.3
...Song of Atlanta, #23 - 139 on stage
.....Roswell, Georgia, USA
.....Director: Becki Hine
SING competitor: Tammy Stuck
Stage Attire: Black and light turquoise wrap dress. The black forms
a triangle from the neck to the waist and then back to the hip and is
sequin fabric. The turquoise part is satin. All have on black
boots. We also notice a lot of hair extensions sticking up from
various hairdos. **"Will It Be Me This Time?" We know they are
hungry and they're not hiding it. The phrase expanded sound may have
been invented to describe them (oh, sorry - it was Pride of Baltimore
who did it first.... tee hee) - they've got it. **"Runnin' Wild"
After the intro, all strip off dress to reveal black leather shirts
(some longer than others) and vests (several different styles (with
hot pink shirts. Some of the front row have hot pants. They're on
the floor again! Top ten, huh. We learned a lot from Joe Connelly
(shorts) and Cindy Hansen (queen of choreo) but got the costume idea
from Becky's closet,. Signs say "We love Becki," "what the hecki"
and "Save the whales". Becki, with gallon of water, walks forward
with Joe's face in front of hers. "I Saw her Face." They pass Becki
around. Now she's face down on the floor... Hmmmmmm. I love this
contest stuff... all those rehearsals and extra rehearsals and
costume fittings and costume fittings. It's just a hobby, isn't it?
I found a hobby I thought would be fun, but it's the toughest job of
all ... "Getting Ready for a Barbershop Contest." "Always" parody...
"vowels are a mess... always" ... a bit of "Runnin' Wild" ... a tag
"broke down and cried" - it goes on... sewing sequins where sequins
shouldn't be. I used to know the kids names... We can't wait to do
it all again!!! I'm sorry I couldn't keep up with it and get all the
jokes down - you've to buy the video (yep, here I go again)!



.4...Skyline, #8 - 145 on stage
.....Littleton, Colorado, USA
.....Director: Vickie Maybury
SING competitors: Sally Davidson; Marie Reynolds
Stage Attire: "Men" and women from the thirties or forties? and even
little boys and girls who play games while the audience is watching
and waiting. One even fishes from the edge of the stage. "The One
and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band" - the choreography is like
a play - so much going on! At one point some boys form a line that
winds down and has to be cranked up again, complete with sound
effects. The fisher boy is at it again. A girl says, this is MY
fishing hole... he says, tain't if you ain't fishing in it. The
fisher boy play the bugle and will play a song which will get you
**"Ten Feet Off the Ground." The pass through front row move is done
well. All of this choreography is so energized! Next they form that
painting of the farmer and his wife with the pitchfork (I can't
remember the name of it) and "Homer" says, "It's our 50th
anniversary, let's butcher a pig." "The pig shouldn't have to suffer
for something that happened 50 years ago." **"For the Sake of Auld
Lang Syne" They really know how to deliver a ballad. Our band just
got itself a brass section. The bugler gives a half-hearted try. A
coach tells him to let it fly. A pin-striped vest, boater hatted
barbershop quartet gives advice, too. "The Saints Go Marching In" -
washboard players come out in the middle. What a great closer for
this fun package! I'm already exhausted, just watching!



.5...Houston Horizon, #10 - 98 on stage
.....Houston, Texas, USA
.....Director: Vickie Dennis
SING competitor: Kathy Parker
Stage Attire: Thursday's costume with a silver sequin fabric shell
and bowtie at the neckline. Vickie's jacket is all silver. ...This
is exciting - did everyone get the schedule. The baris were ready
at 6 am, the Wild Horse saloon isn't open, so the basses are here.
Harmony Bazaar is closed so the leads are here, and we got the
University of Tennessee football team to escort the tenors, so
they're here, too, with big smiles on their faces! Okay, let's go
then. The directors runs out, carrying one shoe - finished dressing
and begins. **"How Many Hearts Have Your Broken" - Front row on the
floor AGAIN! Vickie doesn't have to direct much. Nice job. **"It's
Only a Shanty in Old Shanty Town" Pretty bell chords on the tag.
April makes us create a a rainstorm while the chorus sings, "Rain."
You had to be there. (I hope you heard it on the webcast.) Isn't it
great to be cool to be patriotic again. "America" Vickie starts
them and they sing this new (to me) and thrilling number. A quartet
(section leaders, I happen to know) takes part in the middle and
Kathy (our SINGer) does a solo - way to go, Kathy!!!




.6...Gem City, #4 - 122 on stage
.....Dayton, Ohio, USA
.....Director: Jean Barford##
SING competitors: Donna Gewertz; Phyllis "phyl" Quast
Stage Attire: White fringed, floor length slim gown with gold and
turquoise sequins across the shoulders. "Fly Me to the Moon" The
100th anniversary of powered flight, which began in Dayton, Ohio -
their hometown. **"If You Love Me, Really Love Me" The fringe helps
to emphasize their body English as they tell this story. Jean wishes
she was younger. This year Gem City is 32 - even better, she's been
directing for 32 years. Jean loves Dixie songs and they've done a
lot of them.... a member comes up to tell her that the chorus hates
Dixie songs. Jean says, too bad - there's only one vote. "We're
Tired of Singing Dixie Songs" - a combination parody of several
songs...at one point the front row takes over and Jean jumps up and
down, trying to be seen. and now they have people lying on the
floor!!!!!!!! **"Changes Medley" parody. I'm sorry - I had too much
fun watching this one. There isn't an arrangement that Joni hasn't
changed. They even threw away their hairpieces! They were going to
throw Jean over the back of the risers, a la Melodeers, but thought
better of it. Reprise of "Fly Me."


.7...Pacific Sound, #13 - 130 on stage
.....Mercer Island, Washington, USA
.....Director: Carole Kirkpatrick
SING competitors: Anna Chamberlain; Teresa McCafferty; Laurie
O'Brien; Beth Smith
Stage Attire: Royal blue beaded top with circle skirt; each member
has a beauty queen banner with Miss-something on it, like Miss Deeds,
Miss L Toe, Miss Interpreted, Miss Fired, Miss Haps, Miss Da Boat,
etc., etc. Carole is Miss Directed. A host and hostess are dressed
in black velvet.
Welcome to the Miss Sweet Adeline contest. Each contestant has a
banner representing her.... state of mind. **"They Never Told Me" A
wonderful original song by Mary Ann Wydra about being a Sweet
Adeline. I love it. Next up - the barbershop compulsories. "The
Perfect Barbershop Song" They're passing wiglets down the front row
from head to head... doing multiple waves ... with the endless tag.
"Baritones Rule!" Get the video - I know I forgot way too much
because it moved so quickly. Now for the swimsuit contest ....
naaaaah. **"It's Time to Sing Sweet Adeline Again" - another of Mary
Ann's. A sentimental tune about our hobby which I really enjoy. The
finalists are announced... Missed Da Boat hopes to become a brain
sturgeon. Miss Cast has sequins older than we are but her pitch pipe
just went south. Miss Led was dragged to a rehearsal and now she
has no choice - she HAS to sing... she's addicted to overtones. The
winner is: Miss Judged! She came out of nowhere. We'd like to
thank Miss Judged for her generous donation to the Young Singers
Foundation (gee, they get it!). I'm Leslie, and I am a recovering
Adeline. Do you lie about where you've been on chorus nights? Do
you lie about who you were singing with the night before... ? Or how
MANY you sang with???? "A Cappella Addict" to the tune of "I Will
Survive" - get the video!! I'm really sorry but I was just watching
with my mouth open! Better still.... here it comes.... come to
international yourself next time!



.8...O. K. City, #25 - O.K. City
.....Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
.....Director: Jim Massey
SING competitors: Betty Coleman; Jo Coleman; Shirley Fine; Emmy
Lessley; Katarina Nortz; Nancy Bagby Nortz; Sephra Osburn; Sharon
Rankin; LisaMaria Lopez
Stage Attire: Black pants and top with red duster vest and silver necklace
**"You've Gotta Have Heart" with an intro about making the finals. I
always love O. K. City's staging and choreography - so creative!
**"I Never Meant to Fall in Love" They have a way with a ballad -
great story-tellers. It's so great to see those youngs faces (Tone
Appetit) up there as well. The chorus gave Jim lots of ideas. What
says Okklahoma better than rap music?? You know that pbllfffft
thing? We can't get the baritones to tune it. How about country
music? Yo-de-Lay-di-hoo..."I Want to Be a Cowboy Sweetheart" Jim
does the yodeling solo. The chorus shakes their heads. Boy, Jim,
that was really something. Why did he do the solo. Yodeling takes
an expert singer - if he has trouble. No, really???? Take it Jane -
now there's a yodeler!! Now we have four-part yodeling! And a
mandolin final chord... cute! Here comes Tone Appetit... to bring a
little youth to our chorus. You don't like the old songs... no...
you have a better idea - duh! They are replaced by some more
"mature" women for "Older Women Make Beautiful Lovers" and even more
mature ones, and finally some lovely "classic" members, who sing "eat
your heart out!" This makes the audience stand up, for sure. The
classics pretend to have some trouble finding their way back to the
risers and they keep taking bows. They stay on the front row for the
photo.


.9...Harborlites, #21 WC - 100 on stage
.....Anaheim, California, USA
.....Director: Pam Pieson##
SING competitors: Judy Parks; Marsha Ross
Stage Attire: Lime green pantsuits - all are slightly different as
to length of top, sleeve design and they look like they are glitter
painted with star burst patterns and they have big sequins hanging
from the hem of each top.
"Ain't Misbehavin'/Lookin' Good But Feelin' Bad" Splits on the
floor! Ouch! This one is a visual delight - so much to watch and
you can tell how much fun they are having. **"Roses of Yesterday - I
really like their interpretation of this song, loving and tender,
with lots of passion. It's way more fun to misbehave. No more dead
roses - let's party. Pam takes the mic for a solo on "It's Time" ...
time to let it fly, to risk it all, baby, for you and me, it's time.
Beautiful song and Pam's voice is beautifully suited to it. **"This
Joint is Jumpin'" They're on the floor again. Remind me to never
try out for a front row again... ;) What a nice big sound at the end
of such a vigorous song!! A lot of audience members are on their
feet for this one.



10...North Metro, #16 - 175 on stage
.....Toronto, Ontario, Canada
.....Director: June Dale
SING competitors: Linda Keyes; Kelly Pappel
Stage Attire: Miners with big hats, big boots, chambray shirts, tan
or khaki pants with rope belts AND suspenders and red kerchiefs at
the neck.
That mother lode is just waiting 'round the corner... you'll hear me
holler "GOLD!" **"We Are the Gold Mining Gang" has excerpts of other
songs with parody words to fit the theme. How they do such athletic
choreography packed onto those risers, I'll never know... maybe they
have no choice but to move! You cannot find a member who isn't into
the character. **"All the World and It's Gold" with new intro and
tag written for their package story. This huge "gang" can sing very
softly, as well. The emotion rolls off the stage. Gold can't buy
happiness but where they're headed, it'll come in handy... the
wickedest town around. "Here It Is" At least two dozen lie on the
floor - this is definitely the trend of the week! It's too hard to
describe the rest of this choreography except that it's totally
appropriate to the miner persona. "Paint Your Wagon/The Best Things
in Life are Dirty" They are the masters of living the character.
You just don't want their package to end.

Before the announcement of the results, we will have TWO treats this
year. The family chorus and the new queens.

The family chorus is Sweet Adelines and their mothers, daughters,
sisters, etc. - they got music in advance and had two rehearsals this
week. I understand that they had to close the chorus at about 250
women and they had 100 more on a waiting list in case anyone couldn't
come. Natural High is all there, with the twins grandmother and the
tenor's mother. I'm sorry I don't know more family members to
mention. They seem all be wearing red and black and some white.
Britt-Helene Bonnedahl and her daughter, Anna Ohman, are the
directors. They sing "Miss Celie's Blues" and "We Are Family" -
*with* choreography! This is a weeper for sure. How cool to see
this - women from small (the youngest is 9) to great-grandma (the
most classic is 90), all singing together. Looks like there are lots
of three-generation groups up there. Sure wish my Mom was still
alive to sing with me in this chorus. The family chorus is going to
become an annual event, and that makes me so happy! They get a
standing "o" and give themselves a hand as well. And just think -
this chorus is bigger than North Metro!

Swinglish Mix - 2003 Queens of Harmony
"Sing, Sing" parody... now we're singing with a twang. How did we
meet? They met in Louisville when the two Growing Girls married two
Thoroughbreds. Since then they have moved all over. When ever they
have a show, they have Swinglish Mix boot camp. Their living
arrangements are like a David Wright arrangement, challenging and
complicated, spread all over the place and well worth effort. "Down
Among the Sugar Cane" Laurie says she loves Naima's bass voice (so do
I). The blend between her and Suzanne is the finest in the business,
IMHO. Of course, they have singing together since they were eleven
years old. "The Moment I Saw Your Eyes" parody about the frequency
with which this song appears in contest. Naima is excited about the
new shiny hat and they've had no sleep. They did a request for their
Swedish country song, so we get another dose of "Don't Worry, Be
Happy" - yes, it really *is* a country song. This time the hats
don't fit so well over the crowns. Suzanne is so cute on this
number! Thanks are given to families and coaches and their four
choruses. Close with a song arranged by Margret Fenske (I know her!)
- "It Was Your Song."

The directors and presidents of all of the competing choruses are
introduced. 3141 members have crossed the stage. North Metro has
175. The smallest chorus had 47.

Results:

PL Score Chorus

10. 2551 Houston Horizon
.9. 2563 O.K. City
.8. 2615 Song of Atlanta
.7. 2661 Sunlight
.6. 2715 Skyline
.5. 2743 Pacific Sound
.4. 2751 Harborlites
.3. 2817 Scottsdale
.2. 2827 Gem City

and the new champions:

.1. 2983 North Metro

The audience sings "Send Your Love" as North Metro takes the stage...
and then June thanks everybody and says she's getting tired of
thinking up something new. Jim Henry, Joe Connelly are thanked. Her
daughter, Erin Howden, the visual leader of the chorus, is
acknowledge with applause from chorus and audience. They sing "Paint
Your Wagon" again for us.

This show never disappoints - come! See it! See you next year in person!

Official Panel:
Sound: Jackie Hall, Ozzi Mask
Music: Marge Bailey, Carolyn Healey
Expression: Maureen Holcombe, Marcia Pinvidic
Showmanship: Carolyn Davis, Barbara Nielsen

The photo link for this year is:

http://www.sweetadelines.net/files/nashvillesing

--
Laurie O'Brien (and Marti) for the SING Reporting Team
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SweetAdelinesScores/messages
LovejoyMar @ att.net <--remove spaces