By Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines
greer@wktv.org
Grand Rapids Chorus of Sweet Adelines (GRSA) took home two medals at the Sweet Adelines Great Lakes Harmony Region 17 contest in Cleveland this past weekend. GRSA won third place Division AA (mid-size choruses) and fourth place overall.
This was Interim Director Judy Westers first time on the contest stage as Music Director.
“Our dream came true on that stage because we worked so hard to be prepared and that gave our singers so much confidence on the contest stage,” Westers said. “I couldn’t be more proud of this chorus for what we accomplished. The bonus was that our audience loved the performance.”
Westers also performed as a baritone with an all-GRSA Quartet, “Chime In,” at the Sweet Adelines contest in Cleveland.
The chorus sang two Disney songs: “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “Almost There.” The Chorus is fortunate to have an “in-house” music arranger, Penny Hock, who adapted both songs for GRSA.
“It is a privilege to be the in-house arranger and be able to adapt an arrangement to fit us perfectively,” said Hock, who’s also the assistant director and a lead for the Chorus.. “It’s the chorus singers who adapt and evolve constantly, until they create the pulse and breathe life into it.”
“GRSA is an energetic A Cappella chorus of nearly 60 women who perform 4-part harmony in the barbershop style of music.” The Chorus has entertained countless audiences across West Michigan and overseas in the Netherlands, Italy and France. GRSA will perform in Ireland and Northern Ireland this Fall.
If you are interested in joining the Chorus, click HERE.
