Sweet Adelines Show Loaded with Locals

WAITSBURG - An impressively large number of local singers, actors and musicians will share their talents in this year's Blue Mountain Chorus of Sweet Adelines concert titled "SWEET! It's a Mystery!" The performance will be Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Cordiner Hall in Walla Walla.

Internationally acclaimed barbershop quartet viaVoice headlines the event that includes the Sweet Adelines chorus, Blueprint, the Sweet Adeline's quartet, and a host of local talent who round out the storyline of the show. Though they were careful not to give away the plot, several local participants met with The Times to talk about the show.

Waitsburg's Barb Knopp, the self-appointed local recruiter for the group, has been singing with the Blue Mountain Chorus of Sweet Adelines for 23 years. She is joined by fellow baritones Jan Nealey of Dayton, who has been with the chorus for 15 years, and Margaret Terry of Waitsburg. Terry joined just three years ago, but jumped in with both feet and is currently team leader (similar to President) of the group.

Other local members include bass Marilyn Johnson, who is this year's show coordinator, and her daughter Vanessa Leamy, who sings tenor. Both are from Waitsburg.

In addition to the singers, five local actors and musicians star in this year's production. Waitsburg pastor Mike Ferrians will provide piano accompaniment, a familiar role for him. Waitsburg's Dr. Kyle Terry has the lead role as the manager in a large, upscale hotel in the scripted "whodunit" mystery.

Pastor Jim Edwards plays the doorman, with Cougar Henderson as the detective and Marne Henderson as LuLu. All three are current or former Daytonites.

Dr. Terry and Jim Edwards are new to the Sweet Adelines stage, though both have acted in Touchet Valley Arts Council's live productions at Dayton's Liberty Theater. Cougar Henderson and Ferrians are seasoned Sweet Adelines performers (as well as Liberty Theater favorites). This will be Marne Henderson's first time in front of the curtain, though she's kept busy behind the scenes for years.

The chorus is excited to have viaVoice, sponsored by Columbia REA, headline this year's production. The barbershop quartet is ranked among the top ten quartets in the world, placing ninth at the 75th Barbershop Harmony Society convention in Toronto this year. Two of the quartet members, brothers Mark and Tom Metzger live in Vancouver, B.C., while Doug Broersma and Joseph Livesey live in Lynden, Wash. The musicians travel across the border to rehearse.

As a special treat, the quartet will offer a free a capella clinic for college and high school students in the Cordiner Hall foyer from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

"This is a really amazing opportunity to sing with and learn from such accomplished performers," said Knopp. "My dream would be that kids really take the opportunity to go to that. It's not just teaching barbershop. They teach fundamentals that work with anything and most of the schools don't have choirs now."

There is no limit to the number of people who can attend the clinic. Knopp said that while the workshop is intended for young people, interested adults would not be turned away.

Nealey said the Sweet Adelines are also pleased to be performing back in their favorite venue, Cordiner Hall, after being away for over ten years. In recent years the Sweet Adelines have given two performances at the Walla Walla Community College Performing Arts Center. This year, the choir has simply outgrown that space and will enjoy the additional performance and backstage space Cordiner Hall has to offer. The additional seating will allow them to reach the same number of people with only one performance.

Throughout the interview Nealey, Knopp, Ferrians and the Terrys, laughed, joked and ribbed one another endlessly. Therefore, it was no surprise to hear that friendship and camaraderie are what keeps them involved in the chorus. The affection expressed between group members, both past and present, was palpable.

"I was diagnosed with breast cancer long ago and had to drop out for awhile," said Nealey. "The support from I had from these ladies was just incredible. They're my very best friends," she added, her eyes tearing up at the memory. The tears quickly turned to laughter as the group began reminiscing about other members of the choir.

"We have seven nurses, so if you have a problem, you're covered. They're all over you!" said Knopp. "And if we need to 'go higher' we've got Dr. Terry this year," she added.

"And if you need the spiritual, we've got two pastors!" said Margaret, laughing.

Nealey reminisced about former Waitsburg resident Jane Butler who no longer sings with the group but joined at age 77 and retired at age 84. "She was the first one who gathered me in her arms and loved on me when I was diagnosed," said Nealey.

Knopp said Butler had sung bass and that "no one could go lower". She also recalled that, in her first year with the group, Butler was given a list of four Dayton businesses to approach about sponsoring the Sweet Adelines performance. "She came back with a page and a half!"

The singers shared that the chorus celebrated its 40th birthday this year and that Director Darlene Filla, who co-founded the chorus in 1974, still serves as Director. Betty Walker, who sings lead, is also a charter member of the group.

The chorus loves to recruit and welcome new members, young and less-young. The group will break for December, but return to practices at WWCC's Peforming Arts Center at 6:30 p.m. on Monday nights in January. Interested singers are invited to visit January rehearsals to get a feel for the group, either by watching or joining in.

Tickets to "SWEET! It's a Mystery" may be purchased online at www.sweetadelinesww.com, at the door, from any Sweet Adeline member or at Book & Game in Walla Walla or the Whitman college bookstore. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. Though not well advertised, it was confirmed that students may attend free by showing a valid ASB card.