SEQUIM — The Grand Olympics Chorus, the local chapter of the international women’s barbershop organization Sweet Adelines International, won Most Improved Chorus at the region 13 annual competition in Spokane.
“Winning this was a really big deal,” said Connie Alward, musical director, who joined the group with her mother when she was 14 when it began in 1979.
The chorus that wins Most Improved has the largest increase in points compared to their score at the previous year’s competition.
Grand Olympics sings four-part a cappella barbershop harmony: tenor, lead, baritone and bass.
During the competition, each chorus sings two songs, “a ballad and an uptune,” member Joyce DeVries said.
The chorus sang “I Love You For Sentimental Reasons” and “The Moment I Saw Your Eyes,” with 16 singers on stage last month. Alward said there are currently 19 members.
The mission of Sweet Adelines International is “to elevate women singers worldwide through education, performance, and competition in barbershop harmony and a cappella music,” according to region 13’s website, sairegion13.org.
Region 13 is made up of 25 chapters in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
Alward said that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Grand Olympics Chorus had a lot of turnover. Therefore, the recognition of their progress means a lot to them.
Chorus members said they worked hard all year to improve, referencing their 2024 performance and taking last year’s judges’ comments, criticism and advice to heart.
“We’re hoping to do it again (next year),” said Jennifer Calhoun, acting director while Alward is on a brief leave of absence, preparing for an international competition.
Members of the group said they are blessed to have Alward as a director, with her 43 years of experience and high-caliber vocal skills. They said she shares techniques and educational opportunities as she learns of them.
They also described her as fun and caring.
“It makes it so you want to do your best for her and your group,” Nancy McLaughlin said. “It makes it so you do not want to miss a week.”
Grand Olympics Chorus
The Grand Olympic Chorus was chartered in 1981 and originally met in Port Angeles. These days, it meets in Sequim from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays at 990 E. Washington St., Suite E102, near QFC.
Alward has been the director of the Grand Olympics Chorus since 2016. Some of the events where they sing regularly are at the Coast Guard Station on Veterans Day, Christmas concerts and Port Angeles Lefties’ baseball games, where they sing both the American and Canadian national anthems.
Alward said meetings include a physical and vocal warmup, working on specific songs and vocal skills to continually improve, a break and a short business meeting.
At the end, everyone joins hands and sings the organization’s theme song, “How we sang today.”
The chorus is very welcoming, extending an invitation to singers and would-be singers who want to improve their vocal abilities while having a joyful time, members said.
Those curious about the group are encouraged to go as a visitor to their brightly painted rehearsal room and either join in the singing or observe.
“There is always room for more,” Alward said. “All voices will find a place. Come to any rehearsals on Monday nights to check it out.”
She noted that teenagers are welcome as well as adults.
“You don’t have to know how to read music” to join, many members said.
The audition is low-pressure and private, with an emphasis on voice placement within the choir.
“We are looking for your ability to carry a tune, and even better, to carry your part with the other parts singing around you,” Alward said.
Alward believes — and others in the chorus reiterated — that almost everyone can learn how to sing and can improve.
“Some of the best singers in the music industry were told that they weren’t good singers” in childhood, she said, adding that it is unfortunate when a person is told such a thing.
Sweet Adelines “is an educational organization,” Alward said. “We’re always teaching, learning and improving.”
Improvement opportunities beyond the Monday night rehearsals include online and in-person classes and lessons, both as a group or privately and during competitions.
Earlier this month, Alward and five members went to the Harmony College at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma for classes.
“There’s a real physical benefit to singing,” Alward said. “It releases endorphins. It’s good for your cardiovascular system. It helps physically and mentally.”
Quite often people will drag themselves to a practice after a long, exhausting day and “by the time you leave the rehearsal, you feel so much better,” she said.
“We make it as fun as possible, loving and inclusive,” she said. “Many friendships are started.”
For more information, visit: https://grandolympicschorus.org or email info@grandolympicschorus.org.
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Emily Matthiessen is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. She can be reached by email at emily.matthiessen@sequimgazette.com.
