What THE? NO WAY!

So last night we had an "Urgent Chorus Meeting".

I knew exactly why, yet didn't exactly know why or how.

The suspense was killing me.

Is it killing you?

Prolly not, eh?

Well here's the deal...

We received a letter from Sweet Adelines International letting us know that Region 13 (our region's) 1st place chorus, Pacific Sound, was "disqualified from the competition and not eligible for any awards".

It so happened that one of their people onstage was ineligible to compete. So therefore they had to be disqualified.

Kudos to PSC for bringing the matter to SAI, knowing full well what the consequences would be. What an unfortunate and disappointing thing to happen to them. Apparently this has never happened in SA history and it is integrous of PSC to admit their mistake. I commend and respect them 100%.

However....(and I quote the letter)

"As a result, all placements in the competition will be adjusted. a cappella joy Chorus is named Region 13’s 2011 first place chorus and will be eligible to represent Region 13 at the international competitions held in Denver, Colorado in 2012."

 I was amazed

I was stunned

I shouted joy

I cried

I rejoiced with friends

I am humbled

Cue Freddy Mercury:

Click on Freddy for the full effect

Holy freakin' crazy!

We get to go to International competition in 18 months!!!

Revised Order of Placement as of April 21, 2011
North Pacific Region #13 2011 Chorus Contest
                        
First Place:  a cappella joy Chorus (591)
Second Place:  Spirit of Spokane Chorus (586)
Third Place:  Voices Northwest Chorus (576)
Fourth Place:   Jet Cities Chorus (558)
Fifth Place:   Olympia Chorus (537)
                        
Division A
First Place:  Rolling Hills Chorus (535)
Second Place:  RiversEdge Chorus (511)
Third Place:  Coeur d’Alene Chorus (493)
                        
Division AA
First Place:  a cappella joy Chorus (591)
Second Place:  Spirit of Spokane (586)
Third Place:  Voices Northwest Chorus (576)
                        
Most Improved
a cappella joy Chorus (591)

2nd Place?........ Feels Like 1st!

This last weekend I went to Spokane with my fellow AJoy'ers to compete in our region. There were chorus's from all over Washington, Alaska, as well as northern Idaho. It was an absolute blast & I gained a lot of valuble knowledge as well.


This is the mass sing we did before the Quartet Competitions on Friday night.
Competition isn't easy for me though, cause I get very intimidated when I know people are judging me.

These were all of the new members competing this year, including ME!

So I was a bunch of nerves despite the calming herbs I took, the days previous.

Here's us about to take the stage

At the end of our performance I set myself up for severe disappointment on how we did. Not only did I feel I let my chorus down, with my personal performance, but I also felt a complete let down, cause I KNOW we've sounded better in past performances.

As I sat down in the audience after we got off stage, I had a discussion with a fellow AJoy'er and she and I both felt the same. So when it came time to announce the awards, believe me I was surprised when they announced the winner of the most improved (since last year) chorus, was none other than, US!



Woo hoo! I was more than overjoyed! I was so proud of us. We improved by 44 points from last year, which is a huge jump. Last year the chorus got most improved as well and it's seriously unheard of in Sweet Adelines for a chorus to improve as quickly as we have. So that was a HUGE accomplishment.

Then in our division (Division AA or mid-sized chorus) we took 2nd place! (last year they were 1st in Division A or small chorus) And then as a final medal we took 2nd place overall (last year they took 4th place overall). Can we say AWESOME!!!



I was jumping for joy! I tell ya, that even though we took 2nd, it totally feels like 1st to me!

Here's us wearing our medals and preparing to sing at the Show Of Champions, Saturday night.

Congratulations to my fellow chorus members. Thank you so much for treating me like your own from day one and for allowing me to have an absolute blast everytime we get together. I'm so happy I found a group of ladies I'm proud to call my sisters. I love you all!!!

AJoy Friends & Family

Before we head off to Spokane for our regional competition, we hold a sorta "dress rehearsal" show, for our friends and our family. Last night our friends and family got a look at our contest package as well as the quartets that are representing our chorus (Champagne, Frenzy & Sunbreak).

Thanks to the Thurgood's & the Thatcher's for coming to support me!

Here's video from last night's performance. (I'm the 2nd one on the left in the front row)

3rd Place A Cappella Festival 2011

We won!
Can you believe that we won something we didn't even know we were competing for?

That's just how awesome A Joy is! Are you jealous yet?

Anyways yesterday's festival was a total blast! I wish I had been there the whole day to see the rest of the acts I missed in the morning.

After having an unofficial warm-up/run through at one of our chorus member's house, we got to the festival in time to see The Baudboys perform. Man are they an awesome group of guys. They were the favs of the day. They have this bass, (Paul Eng), that has one of the yummiest voices and his range is absolutely amazing! He was my favorite. I didn't take any video, but click here for a different video of my favorite song that they did yesterday, with Paul soloing.

At the end of the festival we had the honor of listening to a cappella legends, The Coats. Now I must admitt I've never heard them before, but after yesterday I was glad to be in their presence. Even with the crappy sound system 3rd Place Commons had and with the horrible sound that resonated through the back of the food court where I was sitting with ma peeps, they still stole the stage with their awesomeness, (their tenor is AMA-ZA-ZING!). I've decided I want to be just like them when I grow up. Again I don't have any video of my own, but here's one I found on YouTube.

After a day of a cappella singing what better thing to do after, than sing sum'more! I can officially say that I've had a night of "Tag Singing"......and it's TOTALLY ADDICTING! It's like a drug!

Anyways I have 25 more days till I head off to our Regional Competition. I can't wait! It's going to be blast!

Good Old A Cappella!

In case you haven't been on planet earth lately, my chorus is singing at an A Cappella festival this Saturday, March 5th. (click the flyer above for location details)
It's a casual event and if they stick to the schedule, we'll be on the stage at 3:30pm.
Hope I'll see you there!

The Most Wonderful Time~The Show!

Yesterday was our holiday show and it was absolutely awesome! The night before I couldn't sleep cause I was so excited! (well that and I forgot to take my meds for my RLS, so I really couldn't sleep!). It was a lot of hard work and preparation for all involved, but it totally paid off. We had a sold out matinee (which is highly unusual) and an almost sold out show in the evening. The show was filled with many acts which were all sung a'cappella. Our chorus, A Cappella Joy sang two sets and I sung a solo in the second set, as well as a part of a VLQ (very large quartet, which consisted of 8 males and 8 females......and yes we know a quartet consists of 4 people).

Thanks to Northwest Sound for sharing the stage with us, you all are slammin'! Thanks to all my fellow AJoy'ers for an awesome show and for being the best sisters a girl could have! Thanks to Nikki Blackmer who rocks our world! She's seriously oozes awesomeness!

Thanks to all of those who supported me and came to the show! For all those who missed it, maybe next year? In the meantime here's a peek of the most wonderful time had by all. (Thanks to Dan who took photos and video)

AJOYous Time At The Mall

In case you can't figure it out, I'm the one in the back row on the left.

Caroling! Caroling!

If anyone is out shopping at the outlet mall in Marysville WA, this Saturday, Dec 4th, between 2-4pm, don't be shocked if you see somone, that looks just like me, walking around the mall singing Christmas carols with a bunch of women.

It really is me!

Sit back and enjoy the awesomeness that is AJoy!

The Most Wonderful Time

This will be the most wonderful time you'll have this season! Come see me sing on Dec. 11th! Tickets are still available online (but let me know that you'll be there!) or you can purchase them through me.

Don't miss this spectacular holiday event!

A Joy's Newest Addition!

I'm officially the newest member of A Cappella Joy (aka: A Joy)! I couldn't be more pleased.

I had my audition last night and passed with flying colors.

It feels so good to be singing again and especially with this group of AWESOME women.

By the way I sing Baritone. It's SO different than what I'm used to, (cause I'm used to singing the melody or the Soprano line) but it truly is the best part of the chorus and also the most challenging (I think).

Anyways I just had to spread the news, cause I simply can't contain my excitement. I seriously cannot wait till our next rehearsal!