International Quartet Competition
Phoenix, Arizona
September 17, 2003

Just heard about a replacement in the judging panel. Jan Meyer is
sitting in for Diana Franceschi, who was unable to attend at the last
minute. Jan's been here all day; we just found out about it. We'll try
to be more on top of things.

Emcee is Ase Hagerman (by the way, wearing a STUNNING off-the-shoulder
red velvet gown. Must have.)

26..Zing! (#7, RC-03)
....Michelle Duncan, Susan Ives, LaDonna Cheatham, Melynnie Williams
....Kansas City, Sunflower Harmony, Valley Center (#7) & Oklahoma Jubilee
(#25)
Stage Attire: sheer black sparkly jacket over black velvet pants and top
Song #1: Nobody Knows What a Redhead Mama Can Do
Song #2: I Never Meant to Fall in Love
Good, clean sound...powerful...lovely dynamics, especially softs.
They're really emoting on the ballad. Beautiful bari/lead duet toward
the end. Susan was the lead from Classic Edition (1997), in case you're
wondering why the name sounds familiar.

27..Diamond Jazz (#16, WC-01)
....Molly Rowland, Kristin Stevens, Paula Allen, Vanessa Patterson
....Buffalo-Gateway Chorus, Greater Kingston Chorus, Eastside Harmony
Stage Attire: black sheer duster over black sequined pantsuit
Song #1: I Didn't Want to Fall
Song #2: Tired of Me
This quartet has a really clean, clear sound. I recognize some veterans
up there from past internationals; you can tell...they're very
comfortable and having a fun time. Great audience rapport. Love this
lead's voice. Beautiful performance.

28..SALT (#32, RC-01)
....Anna Ohman, Annika Anderson, Anna-Stina Gerdin, Susanna Gran
....Ronninge Show, Stockholm City
Stage Attire: black sequined pants and tunic top with lime lining on
sleeves. Cool design
Song #1: When the Red-Red Robin
Song #2: Oh How I Miss You Tonight
Oh, what a fun performance! They take some liberties with the
lyrics..."I'm a singing machine again 'cause she wants to be a queen
again..." They're referring to Anna Ohman, who sang bari with Growing
Girls (1989). They have a very tight unit and an incredible blend. Love
the bass...can you say "resonant?" Really beautiful quartet. Tag on
ballad...new chording...way cool. They took off their shoes before they
walked offstage! Note to self: I'll have to try that one...

29..ReMix (#32, WC-00)
....Hillevi Billinger, Marie Flink, Camilla Ljung, Inger Bergqvist
....Stockholm City, CAL, Ronninge Show
Stage Attire: sheer purple duster over purple sequined pants and top
Song #1: If You Love Me, Really Love Me
Song #2: Hard-Hearted Hannah
I just found out from Maggie Ryan that Inger has a broken leg. She's
walking with a purple sequin-covered cane...nice touch. It appears the
injury hasn't negatively affected her sound. Beautiful, ringing sound.
Great tenor post on the ballad tag...ring it bay-bee! They've added some
very funny lines in uptune..."Walking with Hannah, although I'm cute, is
like walking through Sweden in your birthday suit..." Impressive showing!

30..Contagious (#22, RC-02)
....Donna Bates, Maureen Brzinski, DeAnne Haugen, Cathie Zimmerman
....Crosstown Harmony, River City Sound, Riverport
Stage Attire: black jacket with silver over black top and pants
Song #1: Little Man You've Had a Busy Day
Song #2: Piano Roll Blues
I love it...they've dusted off a beautiful old ballad and breathed new
life into it. Baritone, you rock on the "tonight" swipe. Resonant
throughout. Lovely tenor post, such control. Very polished
performance...smooth and powerful. Great spread chord on "jazz." And
impressive thingy (there's that word again) on "razzamatazz." Steady,
solid quartet oozing with tons of talent...tenor and lead won with
Melo-Edge (1983).

31..Reckson So (#23, RC-03)
....Sherry Lewis, Jennifer Cooke, Robin Williams, Marcy Cunningham
....TuneTown Show
Stage Attire: bright red long vest over red top and pants
Song #1: The Moment I Saw Your Eyes
Song #2: Kiss Me One More Time Before We Say Goodbye
Cute vocal gimmick on the repeat of the line "the moment I saw
your"..."I reckon I saw yer..." complete with fitting choreo. Nice
support on lead post at end of ballad.

32..Portfolio (#21, WC-03)
....Wendi Young, Christina Robertson, Claudia Thornhill, Donna Graham
....CAL, Harborlites, Enchanted Mesa - all #21, and OK City (#25)
Stage Attire: bright red long tops over red pants, pretty satin trim
Song #1: Lulu's Back in Town
Song #2: My Mother's Eyes
Donna sang bass with the Shondells (1977) and 26 years later, she's
still putting out a top-notch bass. They're having fun and it shows.
Lots of good things going on up there. Beautiful, expressive faces.

33..Surprise! (#1, RC-03)
....Joan Moore, Carol Caloro, Linda Delmolino, Judy Huff
....Berkshire Hills (#1)
Stage Attire: white jacket with white lace long sleeves over white pants
Song #1: Dixieland One Step
Song #2: Here Am I, Brokenhearted
Nice performance. I don't think I've heard this arrangement of
Brokenhearted before. Lots of energy, sometimes unfettered. They looked
like they were having the time of their lives up there...I love to see
that kind of enjoyment in a quartet.

34..Crystal Collection (#25, WC-03)
....LaRee Eckman, Connie Light, Tina Scarborough, Becky Wilkins
....Prairie Winds, Palo Duro Metro
Stage Attire: orange off-the-shoulder long gown
Song #1: Love-Eyes Medley
Song #2: What'll I Do
Hey, there's SING-er Becky up there...go Becky! These gals are
performers...they're having a blast and singing well too. Nice bass
post on the tag...wheeee! Lovely dynamics in the ballad and very
expressive interpretation. Spectacular tag on ballad...such control and
emotion all in one.

35..T.N.T (#19, RC-03)
....Debbie Sanders, Linda Beaver, Tancey Bosna, Marlene Brauchle
....Ringing Hills, CAL, Spirit of Liberty, Valley Forge
Stage Attire: orange and red flowered jacket over orange tops and pants
Song #1: Redhead Mama Medley
Song #2: Just a Song at Twilight
Another SING-er, go Marlene! The others are veterans, but this is
Marlene's first appearance on the International stage and she's rockin'
and rollin'! Screaming overtone on that uptune tag. Solid tenor and
spectacular tenor...crystalline, clear and pure. These gals have a
great blend. Did I mention I like that tenor?! What a voice. Beautiful
rendition of an old ballad...haven't heard that one in ages. Love those
old ones. Great performance.

36..Brava! (#26, RC-00)
....Sandy Robinson, Lynn Gerard, Elaine Cotton, Shannon Harris
....Lions Gate (#26), Green Heart (#26), Chapter-at-Large (#26)
Stage Attire: black dusters over short black dress
Song #1: Toot-Toot-Tootsie
Song #2: Tree in the Meadow
They enter with total command of the stage and some serious audience
rapport! They're pumping out some chords that lock and ring so
stunningly that the audience is hooting! Omigosh, they're really on
tonight. One of my all-time favorite ballads. Such expressive faces and
voices. Lead has marvelous control on those octave jumps. A totally
fantastic performance.

37..Outrageous (#22, RC-03)
....Cricky Dietrich, Karen Streit, Heather Johnston,
....Brenda Follensbee
Crosstown Harmony, CAL (#22)
Stage Attire: black and green swirly sparkly print dusters over black pants
Song #1: I Got Rhythm Medley
Song #2: If I Give My Heart to You
They're having a great time up there...cute choreo on the uptune
tag..."can't stop dancin'" Good voices. Nice ring in ballad on "light
that shines above."

38..4th Avenue (#35, RC-03)
....Fiona Bevege, Jill Rodgers, Helen Symonds, Roey Wyeth
....Chapter-at-Large
Stage Attire: red sparkly sleeveless long dresses
Song #1: Bandstand in Central Park
Song #2: The Moment I Saw Your Eyes.
It's so refreshing to see beautiful dresses like this, and they fit
well. Pretty sounding quartet. Emotion is palpable at climax of song
on "stole my heart." Very clever dialect/accent thingy on "down and under."

--
Written by Ruthanne Bell
Posted by
Marti Lovejoy
Proud "Owner" of SING: sponsor of 2 YSF Scholarships in 2003
Score Collector for SING (and the site below)
Life Member, Reg 10, TX, USA - 31 years so far
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SweetAdelinesScores/messages
LovejoyMar @ att.net <--remove spaces