About Us
Carolina Harmony Chorus is a division of Sweet Adelines International. We sing womens' 4-part acapella harmony. Our repertoire consists of a wide variety of musical styles, including 1920's ballads and uptunes, jazz, patriotic music, and even rock and roll. We have 40+ members from all over the Triangle area. Our ages range from mid 20's to mid 70's. We are teachers, homemakers, nurses, accountants, doctors, attorneys, administrative assistants ... you name it! We have varied musical backgrounds ranging from "I sing in the car and I can't read music" to accomplished musicians. We share in a common love of music and the desire to learn and grow both as individual singers and as an ensemble. We welcome visitors at our rehearsals, and we accept new members year-round. Come and visit a rehearsal and see what we are all about!
 
History
Carolina Harmony Chorus, competition 2003
The Sweet Adelines International organization was introduced to the Raleigh area in 1968 when the Raleigh Chapter was chartered. The "Sound of Carolina" chapter was formed in Cary in 1975. These two chapters merged in the fall of 1978 and became the "Carolina Harmony" chapter with 60 members, directed by Jan Mott. Cathy Rothey served as director for a year. Then Barbara Dixon was the director for 8 years. Barbara directed us in our first award-winning competition. Susie Smith is now our director.
 
Performances
Born To Be Wild!
The chorus puts on an entertaining annual show each fall. In addition, we perform at various diverse events throughout the year. One of our favorites is when we perform for the runners each year at the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure. We have also performed at the Raleigh Christmas Tree Lighting, on the television show "PM Magazine", at Raleigh's "Artsplosure" jazz and arts festival, the "Cary Lazy-Daze" arts and crafts festival, the Southern Women's Show, Camp Lejeune Marine Base, the USS North Carolina Battleship, the Historic Oakwood Oakwood Christmas Tour, and at many convention banquets, luncheons, and benefits in the Triangle area. When invited, the Chorus and our quartets sing at the airport, in parks, malls, hospitals, nursing homes, and life care centers, and at churches.
 
Education
Music Camp 2004Sweet Adelines International is an organization that not only promotes women's barbershop singing, but we also educate our members! This independent, nonprofit music education association is one of the world's largest singing organizations for women. "Harmonize the World" is the organization's motto.
 

There are educational opportunities inside the Chorus - for example, our Chorus invites award-winning Directors from other Sweet Adelines' choruses to come inspire us and teach us the finer points of performance on the Competition stage. These coaching sessions include training on vocal production, facial and body expression, and choreography.

The Young Women in Harmony Program focuses on acquainting young female singers with the barbershop style, primarily in school-based choruses and quartets. Complimentary teaching materials and sheet music are available to music educators, who may also receive volunteer support from local Sweet Adeline choruses, quartets and individual members. Our chorus, in cooperation with the local men's barbershop chorus, hosts an annual High School Barbershop quartet contest in order to introduce young people to our art form,

Outside the Chorus itself, our Region hosts a "Music Camp" every Summer. This Camp takes place over several days, and offers a wide variety of instruction in barbershop vocal performing. Music Camp is usually held at a college in North Carolina or Virginia. Attendees stay in dorm rooms and attend classes and workshops in the college's many facilities. Non-members are welcome to attend.

Our Region also hosts an annual FallFest, Arrangers' Workshop, or Music Leaders' Workshop, usually in the summer or fall, in a randomly drawn city in the region. Non-members are welcome to attend. For more information on regional events, visit the Sweet Adelines Blue Ridge Region 14 website.

Sweet Adelines International also offers "IES", which is the International Education Symposium, usually held in Greenville, SC or San Antonio, TX. IES is a 4-day immersion in classes dedicated to the barbershop style for women. Non-members are welcome to attend.

Competition

We compete with other Sweet Adelines choruses at our regional competition each spring. Through competition, we learn how to present our very best performance on two songs, and we receive feedback from our judges on what we can do to improve.

In 2005, Carolina Harmony placed first in our division! We are also proud to have received the 3rd highest score of all choruses in our division worldwide! This qualified us to compete at an international competition in San Antonio, Texas in the summer of 2006, where we were proud to place as the 5th best Small Chorus internationally!

Sweet Adelines International holds its International Competition each year in the fall. It is held in a different city each year. Many of our chorus members attend this competition, to be entertained by the very best choruses and quartets in the world! (Non members are welcome to attend as well.)