Page 4 - Fall 2020 Tags and Swipes

Tags and Swipes, Fall 2020

From our Education Coordinator

Hellooooooooooooo Region 1!

Well this is one fine kettle of fish we have for a year, right? Pandemic and virtual everything.
Unbelievable. (Good thing I didn’t really pay attention to Heidi when she was putting up and dismantling
that huge fold-up screen, huh?) It’s made this year challenging and forced all of us to be creative and re-
invent what we can. And that includes the Education Department here, so let me tell you what’s going on.
When I became EC, I knew I was gonna need a team around me, so I want to introduce them to you.

CORINNA GARRIOCK: Corinna is a Certified Music Judge, A Queen of Harmony (Martini Quartet),
a Master Director, a member of the International Faculty, a member of the EDC (Education Direction
Committee) of SAI, and a former Education Coordinator. I got to know her when we judged together on a
panel and I can’t wait for you all to get to know her. She’s got incredible BBS experience and is a
wonderful human being no less! Her part of my EC Team will be to oversee Chorus Visits.

GAIL JENCIK: Gail is a member of the International Faculty and Master Director having directed her
chorus to the top 10 at International a few times(!), has experience in BHS and is our Regional Director
Coordinator. Gail comes with a myriad of barbershop experience and knowledge. Who better to represent
our most prominent Musical Educators, our Directors, on this team. She will be the keeping their interests
at heart to see how we can best serve them and their choruses.

MARION DEVOKAITIS: Marion is a multiple Regional Quartet Champion and a Master Director who
has directed both a large and small chorus to award winning performances – Sound of New England has
represented our Region very well on the International Stage. Marion was teacher in her real life and is a
student at heart. You will find her in the front row of every class she can attend. She understands
education and the building blocks of learning. Her input is very helpful in designing and developing our
educational plans.

JULIE JEFFREY: Julie is a multiple Regional Quartet Champion and a Queen of Harmony in
Harmony, Inc. with Boston Accent Quartet. She has extensive barbershop experience in Harmony Inc and
BHS – giving her a rounded view of BBS. She has served as Assistant Director in Coastline Show Chorus
and she contributes her Baritone voice to their risers. Julie is a School Psychologist and understands
education and learning as well. Julie’s input is also valuable in designing our Education in Region 1. She
keeps quartet education in the conversation and is working on building learning units for newbies.

AMANDA PITTS: Who better to represent our YWIH program than a Rising Star Champion! Amanda
has been a student of barbershop since she was 9, having started as a YWIH in Region 1 herself! She is
now a reporter for an ABC affiliate in Providence, so she knows her way around getting the word out –
she will be a wonderful voice for our YWIH program. She sings Lead in Coastline Show Chorus and in
her spare time sings in a Mixed Chorus. And let’s not take away the important fact that she is a vibrant
young woman who brings that view of the world to our team. Her goal is to build a YWIH program, not
just a day at a Regional Weekend.

I am so very lucky to have such a diverse and interesting team of women to help us create a program of
education and growth for Region 1. Our discussions have been exciting! It is a joy to conspire with them!

4

North Atlantic Region 1 Sweet Adelines