Page 18 - PowerPoint Presentation

Tags and Swipes, Contest 2018

Profile Chorus

Hello, everybody! Contest 2018 is officially over, but the memories are still fresh in our minds and
hearts, and the Facebook posts are still showing up in our newsfeeds. How can it still be only April
and competition is already in our rear-view mirrors?

I have to admit that I have never written a Tags article after the excitement of the weekend is behind
us, so this is feels a bit unusual to me. At this point of the year I am usually putting together my
thoughts several weeks before we actually set foot on stage. Because of being so out of sorts, I
reached out to the chorus for some ideas on what to write about, and I received from our two amazing
newbie members their personal experiences of their very first Region 1 competition. The following is
some of what they shared with me.

These musings are from one newbie:

I officially joined the Profile Chorus in November 2017 after attending several weeks as a visitor.
From that moment on I have been fully accepted as a chorus member by all the wonderful and talented
ladies of Profile. Everyone is quick to help me out when they notice I'm struggling, perplexed, or
confused. I quickly learned that our "package" refers to the two songs, one an uptune and one a ballad,
that we are planning to perform at a competition sometime in 2018. I also learned about some other
strange terms like "chewing," "guzinta," "P" notes, and "stomp." You might not think any of this
strangeness is unusual to a newbie, but I find it all very fascinating as I am a board certified music
therapist, meaning my profession is music based. Yet other than some of my classical vocal training
and education and decades of singing in church choirs, I felt ill-prepared to participate in this Sweet
Adeline culture of women's a capella singing and performance. I am so grateful for all the support,
help, and assistance from our director and the chorus. If not for all of them, I would not have gone to
contest.

Here is the other newbie's take:

I have always loved things relating to a stage. Plays, concerts, performances, stand-up comedy ...
whether I'm sitting in the audience in awe or being involved with the production, it is exciting and I
feel the most alive being part of that thrilling energy.

This weekend I realized that being a Sweet Adelines member opens up opportunities for me to take
part in those very things that have always been a huge part of my heart. I see now that this isn't just
about my love for singing but also about finally living out more of what makes me feel wonderfully
alive.

I have had themes come to mind the past two years: "Look for joy" and "Lighten up." Little did I know
when they came to me that they weren't just helping me along in life, but they were also preparing me
for this chorus. WOW! This weekend opened my eyes to a whole new world that was meant for me.

I am encouraged and inspired to break down the walls that have hindered me from being my very best
and happiest in life. I may have shy tendencies and anxieties that beg to paralyze me at times, but I am
a vibrant soul with a heart full of love who wants to give joy and help to others. (continued on next
page)

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North Atlantic Region 1 Sweet Adelines