Women’s Acappella Chorus’ Open Rehearsal Night Sept 26

Women’s Acappella Chorus’ Open Rehearsal Night Sept 26
Harmony Fusion Looking to Grow its Award-Winning Chorus

HAYWARD, CA – Harmony Fusion Chorus, an award-winning women’s acappella barbershop show chorus, will host a special open rehearsal night to welcome new singers of all ages and backgrounds. Details are as follows:

Open Rehearsal Night

Monday, September 26, 2016; 7-10 pm
Hill and Valley Women’s Club
1808 B Street, Hayward
(Just off 580 in Castro Valley/Hayward region)

“We are looking to add to our chorus of women who love to sing and are enthusiastic about performing, competing and improving their vocal skills,” says Joanne Morrison, Membership Chair. “If you have a good ear for music, we want you! Sight-reading music is not required. We have many methods for learning our songs.”

Harmony Fusion Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International (SAI), is open to singers ages 14 and above. The chorus meets every Monday (except most holidays) from 7pm – 10pm in Hayward. Rehearsals are always open to visitors but September 26 is set aside as a special open rehearsal.

“We welcome visitors to every rehearsal but September is a good time to start with us as we begin preparing our holiday music and working on our contest song package for our annual regional competition in Reno next May,” adds Morrison.

The special rehearsal evening will begin with a “meet and greet” followed by vocal warm-ups when visitors are invited up on the risers amongst chorus members. Visitors will learn to sing a “tag” – the last two phrases of a song in true barbershop style – and one of the holiday songs. Visitors who learn the holiday song are invited to perform with the chorus in its holiday concert on December 4 in Livermore. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information about the open rehearsal night, contact Joanne Morrison at (925) 373-0210. General information about the Harmony Fusion Chorus is available on its Facebook page @harmonyfusionchorus or the chorus website at www.harmonyfusion.org.

About Harmony Fusion Chorus
Harmony Fusion Chorus is committed to musical excellence and education, enthusiastically sharing the joy of singing four-part, a cappella harmony in the barbershop style. Members pride themselves in community involvement and strive for innovative entertainment and diversity in their membership.
Harmony Fusion Chorus is proud to be a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, a worldwide organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education, performances and competitions. Sweet Adelines International boasts an international membership of nearly 27,000 women, including more than 1,200 registered quartets and 600 choruses. The organization’s motto is “Harmonize the world.”
A fusion of harmony, the ensemble was formed by the consolidation of two smaller choruses, both chapters of Sweet Adelines International. Harmony Bay Chorus, chartered in 1973, was based in Oakland at the Lake Merritt United Methodist Church. Harmony Crossroads, chartered in 1993, was based at the Pleasanton Community Church in Pleasanton. The two groups once had occasion to sing together which convinced them they had a sound to hold on to, and so Harmony Fusion Chorus was formed.
About the Director Barbara Vander Putten
Barbara Vander Putten, a Bay Area native, began her vocal music career in 1977 joining the West Valley Masterworks, with whom she sang diverse repertoire including Mozart & Verdi’s Requiem (with a performance at Carnegie Hall), Bach B minor Mass, Rutter’s Gloria, etc, as well as a variety of folk music, madrigals, show tunes and spirituals. She was the Assistant Director of the award-winning Mission Valley Chorus (Sweet Adelines International (SAI)) for 12 years, serving as Interim Director in 2005. Barbara was named Director of the Harmony Fusion Chorus (formerly Harmony Crossroads Chorus) in March of 2006, proudly leading them to a fourth place medal in their SAI regional contest a year later. Thereafter, the chorus has won awards including first place in their division in 2010.
Ms. Vander Putten is a Certified Director, a member of the SAI Region 12 coaching faculty, participated on the judging panel for the West Coast Regional Harmony Sweeps Semi-Finals in 2006 and is perhaps best known as The Duchess in the off-the-wall comedy quartet, The Aquanettas (1999-2006). She currently sings bass in her quartet “With a Twist.” In addition to singing, Barbara uses her speaking voice as one of the four enthusiastic hosts of The Human Voice Show, featuring a cappella harmony, on People’s Radio KKUP – Cupertino 91.5fm.