User submitted content courtesy Jean Roberts

Competing against 14 choruses from four states, the Greater Richmond Chorus (GRC) has won the 2007 Blue Ridge Region Chorus Competition of Sweet Adelines International (SAI).  Having won the 2005 competition, the GRC competed with regional chorus champions from around the world at the 2006 Sweet Adelines International Competition in Las Vegas.  With this new victory comes the opportunity to represent Richmond in another International Competition – this one taking place in Hawaii in 2008. 

In addition to their first-place medals and a trophy, each chorus member was presented with a lei, which they proudly wore during the evening’s Show of Champions following the contest in Winston-Salem N.C.

But that’s not all!  There was another thrilling victory at the competition – GRC’s director Roger Tarpy has earned the title SAI Master Director.

Already a certified director in the men’s barbershop society, he earned his certification in SAI last month by passing a series of 10 tests in areas such as conducting skills and vocal production, and submitting a video recording of his directing to be judged.  The final requirement for earning the title of Master Director was a chorus score of at least 600 points in a contest.  Chorus members cheered so loudly and joyfully when the winning chorus was announced to have earned 605 points, that no one from the GRC actually heard the name of the winning chorus.  Said one new chorus member, “I wasn’t sure it was really us till folks started to come over and congratulate us!” 

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Greater Richmond Chorus is a women’s performance and service organization, singing a variety of styles of music a cappella, in four-part harmony.  In addition to various performances in the area, including their 30th Anniversary Show in the fall, they will spend the next 18 months preparing for the international competition in October 2008.  The SAI Competition will feature over 30 award-winning choruses from the United States, Europe, Canada, Sweden and Australia – all competing for top honors performing the uniquely American form of musical expression known as barbershop harmony.  GRC members come from all over the central Virginia region in addition to Richmond, from Reedville to Virginia Beach to Montpelier to Williamsburg, and all points in between.  New singers are welcome to audition as part of GRC’s ongoing membership drive in preparation for Hawaii.  For more information about membership or upcoming performances visit online at http://www.midlothianexchange.com or call (804) 282-SING.