ScotianAires Win First Place at Area Contest!
| Type of post: | Chorus news item |
| Sub-type: | No sub-type |
| Posted By: | Elizabeth Houghton |
| Status: | Current |
| Date Posted: | Tue, 27 Jun 2023 |
After four years of Zoom rehearsals, social distancing and masking, the ScotianAires, out of Dartmouth NS, under the direction of Sue Kember, were thrilled to be “Happy Together” back at Mount Allison University for the Harmony Incorporated’s Area 1 Convention and Contests for the Atlantic Region. Seven choruses competed on Friday, June 2nd at the Convocation Hall, in front of a delighted audience of family and friends. Fifty-two members of the ScotianAires chorus crossed the contest stage and their performance of Something Good and You Make Me Feel So Young earned them first place and the highest scores they’ve ever achieved at contest. They were awarded the Area 1 Memorial Trophy. Their Director, Sue, shared that “I am so proud that the chorus always strives to perform their best; and they exceeded their best at this contest.”Earlier in the day, nine quartets comprised of associate and chorus members of Harmony Inc., performed for a distinguished panel of judges, earning points in singing, music and performance categories. The quartet enJOY! earned first place honors and were presented with the Wona Wright Memorial Award awarded to the first place quartet, the Kathryn Ryan Memorial Trophy awarded to the most improved quartet based on score from the previous year (2019 due to the pandemic) and the Karen Gordon Memorial Award awarded to the quartet scoring the highest presentation score for a 2 song package. The ScotianAires were elated for their fellow chorus members on their achievements: Judy Robichaud – Tenor, Jennifer Cleveland – Lead, Jane Fritz – Bass, and Sue Kember – Baritone.
In addition, the ScotianAires had members competing in three other quartets: Tonic! who placed second with a wonderful performance, including members: Mickey Melanson – Tenor, Marion Fraser-Pritchard – Lead, Cathy Hunter – Baritone, and Adele Merritt – Bass and current Director of the Valley Voices chorus, Kentville NS.
Also competing was a brand-new quartet, Best Before Date, with members from ScotianAires and Seaside A Capella, Bridgewater NS, as well as Cooler on the Coast with members from ScotianAires and Valley Voices. The Humm Bugs, with members from the ScotianAires, were excited to complete the sound check early in the day, while Lady Lyrix, with members from ScotianAires and Valley Voices, warmed up the audience as mic testers for the quartet contest. All the performing quartets entertained the audiences with their beautiful barbershop harmonies.
The convention portion of the gathering included education classes, a marketplace, and social events, including “Fun Night” where choruses and quartets performed for the entertainment of all. A new quartet of ScotianAires members, Making Waves, made their debut and the chorus celebrated their 40th Anniversary with balloons and cake shared with all Area 1 members! The values of the Harmony Creed of "affection for each other" and "harmony from our hearts, as well as voices" could be heard ringing throughout the campus.
The ScotianAires, enJOY! and Tonic! have all qualified to compete at the Harmony Inc. International Convention and Contests being held in Grand Rapids, Michigan in November where the top choruses from the 6 areas in Canada and the United States, will perform for top placement.
The chorus will be busy fundraising over the coming months and rehearsing and performing in order to be ready to hit the stage with an exceptional performance in Grand Rapids!
The ScotianAires are proud to be performing at a special Immigration Ceremony on July 1st at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. You can also hear them sing at the 2023 Bridge Walk, on the Dartmouth stage, August 6th at 3:00 pm. or you can hire them to sing at your next big event. Contact info@scotianaires.ca for more information.
Find out more about the ScotianAires at www.scotianaires.ca. You will also find them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The chorus is a not for profit group and welcomes financial support through donations or corporate sponsorship.
You can also check out Harmony Inc. at harmonyinc.org.
