The Saint John Sea Belles are performing in an upcoming regional competition. (Submitted: Sea Belles)
An Atlantic Women’s chorus and barbershop quartet competition is taking place in Sackville, N.B. over the next two days.
Ten choruses and 11 quartets from across the Maritimes will confer at Mount Allison University for the Harmony Inc. Area 1 content.
Ann Connolly with the Saint John Sea Belles, who have been ranked second in the region for a number of years, says competing in regionals qualifies the teams for larger competitions down the road.
“There’s an international competition that happens each year that moves across Canada and the U.S. This year coming up in November it’s in Sandusky, Ohio, for any quartet or chorus that achieves a certain score, they qualify,” she said.
Connolly says there are ten choruses in the Atlantic region. Three choruses are from New Brunswick: the Saint John Sea Belles, the Codiac Chords in Moncton and the Elm City Echoes in Fredericton. One is from PEI, one is from Newfoundland, and the rest are all from Nova Scotia.
There are also 11 quartets competing. Ten are from the Maritimes, but one is from out West, and is competing to qualify for nationals after missing their own competition.
The Sea Belles hope to keep their top spot.
“We have been ranked first three times in the last seven years, so it’s always nervous anticipation. Everybody does a lot of practicing and preparation and workshopping to prepare themselves,” she said.
Connolly says competitions like this one are a time for choruses to showcase their talents.
“When we’re on stage, there’s no thinking required. We’re just in the moment and we’re expressing our feelings. There’s no longer work involved in the singing and the performing of the song if you know what I mean,” she said.
Harmony Incorporated is an international non-profit organization whose purpose is “to empower all women through education, friendship and a cappella singing in the barbershop style.”
It has hosted area and international conventions for more than 50 years. Participants are adjudicated by a panel of trained judges evaluating categories that encompass what songs the performers chose to sing, the skill with which they sing those songs, and how they present the songs, which can include emotionally connecting with the audience.
Friday, May 31 is competition day with quartets competing at Convocation Hall at 12:30 p.m. and the popular chorus competition taking place at Convocation Hall at 7:00 p.m.
The public is welcome to attend. Tickets are $12 at the door.
The singers also take part in educational classes and workshops over the three days and cap off their time together on Saturday, June 1.
