Page 23 - Winter 2023 Tags and Swipes Newsletter

Tags and Swipes, Winter 2023

Sound of New England Chorus

Hello, Region One! It's difficult to believe we have said goodbye to 2022 and are ringing in 2023. We look
forward to the new year being quite a bit more "normal" with live spring competitions. Last year SONE
opted to present a video for contest. This year we are looking with anticipation to an "in person" live
performance experience at Springfield Symphony Hall. Think about it! We haven't performed at
Symphony Hall since 2019!

We returned to our home base at St. Mary Home in early September. It felt good to be back in familiar
space and to have risers again. Three guests joined us to get a taste of barbershop singing and became
hooked. We were glad to see our honorary member, Hilary, who was visiting here from England, where
she is a member of Lace City. It's always a joy to see her in person - she is so dedicated that she joined us
via our ZOOM rehearsals during COVID even though for her it was about one o'clock in the morning!

Our rehearsal format consists of vocal and physical warm - ups to get the blood flowing. We also share any
good news that has happened since we last met, and we each choose a personal "word for the week" that
will propel us into the week ahead. Rehearsals have focused on re-working the interpretation of our ballad
and getting a new up-tune in shape. Old rep has been inserted into rehearsals since muscle memory for
many of us is not what it once was! We've also brought out the Christmas music because it's so much fun.

Three new folks passed their auditions! We are delighted to welcome Chris Chew, Dawn Fisher and
Maureen O'Connell to SONE. We are looking forward to sharing our barbershop adventures with
them. Currently we have another prospective person in the pipeline and are optimistic that she, too, will
soon become a SONE sister.

Our Christmas party was loads of fun with games, laughter, singing and lots of food! The Yankee Swap, as
always, was typically hysterical - a must for any party! Our next rehearsal won't be until after the holidays
are over. We will then have two weeks to prepare for our coaching session with Karen Sweeters - we don't
want to disappoint her! Our retreat is scheduled for March and a few short months later it will be "show
time" at Regional Competition!

We want to again congratulate all the Region One ladies who competed in Phoenix: Farmington Valley
Chorus, Illuminate, Saffron and VOCE. You did us proud! Our SONE member, Val Reynolds who is also
the baritone in Saffron, has written an essay about her experience at International, and been kind enough to
share her thoughts with her Region One sisters in harmony.

Phoenix 2022 - Val Reynolds

I don't care what the numbers say...
I've had a great day. I've dreamed and seen and yearned and asked myself for years and years
Why Not Me?
I could do that. Be up there on that stage. A good savvy singer. A solid interpretive musician - A Good Ear
I just need the chance.
So... I put myself out there despite all odds and practiced and listened and learned.

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North Atlantic Region 1 Sweet Adelines