By Justin Flynn
It’s a long way from Ocean Grove to Las Vegas, but two local women will be singing at the Sweet Adelines International convention on 20 October.
Ocean Grover Diane Gardner and Deb Elea from Barwon Heads head to Nevada as chorus singers at the internationally acclaimed event at the MGM Grand Casino.
The MGM’s stage has a capacity to seat 15,000 people, and it is expected to be full for the performances.
Both women sing for Geelong Harmony, which is Geelong’s only women’s barbershop chorus.
“They say if you belong to the organisation, you should experience the international side of it at least once in your lifetime,” Diane said.
The Sweet Adelines International attracts thousands of women from across the globe to sing. There are 44 choruses competing and 48 quartets with the smallest chorus at 30 women and the largest at around 150.
“Apparently, it’s 1.5km from where we are staying at the MGM Grand to the concert area which is in the same casino building,” Diane said.
Sweet Adelines International is a highly respected worldwide organisation of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education, competition and performance.
This independent, non-profit music education association is one of the world’s largest singing organisations for women, boasting 23,000 members. Members extend over five continents and belong to more than 500 choruses and 1200 quartets.
“Just standing on the competition stage is going to be awesome and out of this world,” Deb said.
“I didn’t sing for 20 years, but when I found Geelong Harmony I came for the first night and never left. My world is singing at the moment.”
