Rhythm of the Rockies is proud to nominate Lynda Elliott for the “Spirit of 26” award for 2010. We have just celebrated Lynda’s 25th anniversary as a Sweet Adeline and wish to acknowledge the many contributions she has made and continues to make to her chapter and region.
Lynda started her Adeline life with Alberta Gold Show Chorus, where she held many music and chapter management positions, including assistant director, lead section leader, board president, and show chairman. Lynda was one of Alberta Gold’s first nominees for the “Spirit of 26” award.
Lynda has been the lead in the quartet Ambrosia for 15 years. The quartet has competed at the regional level, performed on chapter shows, at corporate and public events, and entertained at many seniors’ residences in Calgary and Southern Alberta.
Joining Rhythm of the Rockies in 2006, Lynda quickly learned the repertoire, and soon after was invited to join the music team. She is section leader, tape listener, and member of the vocal warmup team. It didn’t take her long to join the Management Team as well, as Communications Co-ordinator. She’s also putting her extensive theater experience to good use as part of the group writing the script for our upcoming fall show.
Not only a leader at the chapter level, Lynda joined the RMT where she held the positions of Communications Co-ordinator and Team Co-ordinator during her four years of hard work on our behalf.
A strong believer in continuous learning, Lynda completed the DCP program as a Certified Director, has attended IES many times, and participates in all chapter and regional educational opportunities. She is currently the DCP Administrator, a regional appointment.
Efficient, organized, with an ever positive attitude, Lynda’s courage, beautiful voice, and cheery smile carries us towards our goals. She has always been an inspirational leader and role model, one who lives and breathes the “Spirit of 26”!
Thirty eight years ago Judy McAlpine was looking for a way to indulge her music interests and maximize her vocal talent. A friend invited her to a Lions Gate Chorus rehearsal and she knew right away she had found what she was looking for.
She joined the Chorus and during the following 10 years was active on the management team holding offices of president, corresponding secretary and membership chair. Musically, she shone as baritone section leader. Then in 1981, her husband’s career called for a transfer and the family moved to Penticton. Judy picked up where she left off and joined the Penticton Chorus (Peach Blossom) and again served on the management team. But here she became more involved with music and in addition to baritone section leader, she co-directed the chorus with Lois Fedorak from 1982 to 1985. And, she sang lead in the quartet “A Touch of Gold “competing 1983, 1984 and 1985.
Next came the move to Chilliwack and Green Heart Chorus in 1985. She began as co-director with Mona Fanstone and Rita Jones until 1995, and then directed solely until 2001. Subsequently she served as treasurer, show chair, music librarian, baritone section leader, music and management team member. She willingly contributes her teaching and coaching skills whenever called upon and currently is involved in teaching and placing prospective members. She sang baritone with the registered quartet, Emerald Coast.
Regionally, Judy served as CC in 1997 and 1999 and CRC in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2008.
And, she was part of the Region 26 Dream Team. Her commitment to the Region is exemplary and she has always had an excellent rapport with the diverse members of the Convention Steering Committees. Through her expertise, the conventions and competitions in the Greater Vancouver area have been well run and well received by judges, competitors and attendees. Judy is now Finance Coordinator on the Regional Management Team.
She has attended 14 International Competitions, director’s workshops in Tulsa and IES in San Antonio.
Judy is musically active in the community as well. She has worked with 5 YWIH quartets and a young men’s quartet as well as coaching the Chilliwack Men’s Chorus. Currently she is involved with a volunteer group which leads singing with elementary school children.
Judy has had several careers, first as a teacher for 13 years and then with CIBC for 23 years until retiring in 2003. She has been married to Wayne for 43 years, has 2 sons and loves to spend time with her 2 small grandchildren. She curls, golfs, and belongs to a bridge club. Whew!
Judy McAlpine personifies Sweet Adelines. She has tirelessly demonstrated her dedication at the chapter and regional levels and effectively brings barbershop to the community. Green Heart Chorus proudly nominates Judy McAlpine as the Spirit of 26.
Shayna Steeves has been an involved, self-motivated member and leader since the day, at the tender age of 13, she followed her mother, Sharon Steeves, into the ranks of Burnaby/Westcoast Harmony Chorus.
Shayna is a natural leader, a fastidious planner, and a no-nonsense organizer. A typical Shayna-ism: "...we're gonna do this - and we're gonna do it right - and on time - and if we can, with a profit....Woohoo!"
Shayna joined the Regional Management Team in 2006 where she continues to be a committed, thoughtful leader in all that she does. Her regular editions of the Regional Management Update are concise, prompt, upbeat, well-written, and loaded with information pertinent to members across the Region.
Incidentally, she is also a superb baritone, having sung for sixteen years with multi-Regional championship quartet, Omni.
Whether in her personal or Sweet Adeline life, Shayna engenders respect and trust. A generous and sharing woman, she is an exemplary leader - one who puts the spirit in the Spirit of 26.
When one thinks of all that is best in Sweet Adelines, Sandy Robinson Marron immediately comes to mind. Sandy exemplifies the dedication, commitment and unfailing energy needed to be successful, selflessly giving her time and energy to further the barbershop art form in both the women’s and men’s organizations.
With R.C.M. Grade X Piano credentials and an incredible tenor voice, Sandy joined Burnaby Chorus in 1987, plunging head-first into a leadership role and before long was singing and dancing in the front row while honing her skills as an Assistant Director. In 1991, having become a Certified Director through the DCP, she was lured away to direct Lions Gate Chorus. The chorus has earned six gold medals under her direction, earning Sandy her Master Director pin in 1999, and again in 2002, 2004 and 2006. Sandy’s willingness to “push the envelope” has turned Lions Gate into a fun-loving, innovative, diversified group of women who love to sing and perform popular music, but it is Sandy’s strong commitment to the barbershop style that makes them stand out. The chorus was proud to win the Harmony Achievement Award at International Convention in 1999, and to earn an 11th place mic-testing spot in Phoenix in 2003.
Not content to limit her talents to directing, Sandy became a member of the Regional Management Team in 2000 as Directors’’ Coordinator, and prior to that joined the Regional Music Faculty, coaching almost every chorus in the region over the course of 17 years, which has helped to influence an overall improvement in the musical accomplishments of Region 26. She joined the International Faculty Program in 2001 and has taught at five International Education Symposia, as well as in the US, Great Britain, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. She coaches regularly and at any Sweet Adelines or BHS convention, you will find her backstage, giving her “coachee” choruses and quartets last-minute words of encouragement before they go on stage. She recently earned the coveted designation of Certified International Faculty member. An accomplishment indeed, and so well-deserved!
Also at the International level, Sandy is an Approved Judge in the Sound Category, enjoying the challenge of writing score sheets that inform as well as encourage. She serves on two International Committees, the Sales and Marketability Committee and the Director Education Coordinators. A talent in demand!
Inspiring and heady though these accomplishments are, for many of us they are all outdone by the thrill of seeing Brava! win the gold in Phoenix in 2003. Sandy’s clear tones in “And So It Goes” brought the house to its knees and after 12 years of watching them compete, Lions Gate could not have been prouder of seeing our Director get that crown pinned to her head. Brava! has been a stellar representative of Region 26 and we will miss hearing them sing for us.
You might be wondering if Sandy has time for another life. Well, interestingly enough, she does! Sandy spends as much time as she can with her mother who lives in Victoria, and after many years as a single woman, married Tim Marron, a police officer in Seattle, last June, and became step-mother to his two young boys. Their love for each other is evident when you see them together and Tim’s support for Sandy’s hectic schedule is to be admired, which includes a seven hour commute on a Tuesday! At any singing convention you can find Sandy and Tim singing tags into the wee hours and teaching them to anyone who wants to learn – always sharing and spreading the love of barbershop around.
Lions Gate Chorus is proud to nominate Sandy Robinson Marron as the Spirit of 26. She represents the chorus, Region 26 and Sweet Adelines International in a manner that is second to none, and her beaming smile is testament to her credo: ”Do what you love and love what you do.”
Looking for the perfect example of the “Spirit of Region 26”?
Find her in Westcoast Harmony Chorus, where our candidate, Carol Argue, has been a driving force for 20 years!
Carol enjoys a close-knit family and loves to read, do jig-saw puzzles, and bake her famous music note cookies. She loves a good movie, and adores musical theatre! (especially in New York!). She has enjoyed travels to many countries around the world. Imagine the experience for the passengers of a Greek cruise to be taught a joyful barbershop tag! Truthfully, Carol will teach a tag anywhere, any place, any time and has rightfully earned the title “Queen of Tags``!
No mystery is her passion for singing a mean bass in the chorus and in several quartets. She is an eager singer, always saying yes to the question, “Wanna Sing?”
Currently one of our bass checkers, she’s there, pitch pipe in hand, to help any bass who seeks assistance. She has a steel- trap mind for choreo and often arranges extra-curricular visual rehearsals.
A degree in Early Childhood Education led her to develop and coordinate the valuable Before and After School Care program for New Westminster. Under her capable guidance, the program began in one school and soon grew to include eight more schools. Currently Carol has moved on to facilitate the Parent and Family Literacy programs in Burnaby and New Westminster, thereby promoting children’s literacy via their parents.
These organizational and administrative talents have allowed her to capably serve on the chorus board and management teams. Her positions have run the gamut from committee member to chair, from Secretary to President/Team Coordinator. Currently she is our chorus Education Coordinator.
Regionally, Carol has served on the Regional Board of Directors/Management team for 12 years. Our Regional Bylaws required Carol to step down from the RMT for one year, but in true “Spirit of 26” fashion, this year she is back in the Internationally appointed position of Education Coordinator.
Internationally, Carol has served on the Regional Competition Steering Committee where she has held the position of Competition Coordinator four times.
Carol is a born leader. Her passion for our music shines through in everything she does. Look no farther! Carol IS the “Spirit of 26”!
She’s been called a “fireball of energy” by a Showmanship Judge. Others refer to her as mother, sister, daughter, one lucky man calls her wife and one special little boy calls her grandma. The rest of us just call her “friend”. She is the multi talented Chris Evans and it is with great pride that we nominate her for the Spirit of 26 Award!
Chris' love affair with barbershop harmony began in 1988 when she joined Prairie Gold Chorus. Chris approached chorus life with the enthusiasm and commitment which has become her trade mark. She has held numerous board positions including Membership Chair, Communications Chair, Secretary, Ways & Means Chair, Vice President and Music Chair. She has lent her expertise to show committees and has been involved with the music team in many ways, including bass section leader, and assistant director.
Chris became Prairie Gold’s Music Director in 1997 and what a success story that has been! In that time the “Prairie Gold Team” has received thirteen regional awards including five 1st Place A, one 1st Place AA, and Most Improved. Internationally, they took 4th Place A in 2000 and in 2003, with class and dignity, Chris proudly accepted 2nd Place A, one point away from the Gold Medal!
Chris is serving her third two year term on the Regional Management Team as Directors’ Co-ordinator and DCP Administrator. She has also served as a member of the Regional Nominations Committee and is a member of the Regional Music Faculty and a coach. She will be trial scoring this spring as International Judge Candidate in Sound Category.
Chris has spent 27 years at SaskTel, currently as a Technical Assistant. Her sense of community extends well beyond the parameters of chorus and work. She has served as lay minister in her church, public speaker, workshop facilitator and co-ordinator of community groups.
Chris brings spark and energy to her role as chorus director. Music is a passion in her life and Sweet Adelines has provided opportunity for her to develop that passion and share it with others. Her leadership and interpersonal skills have been catalysts for chorus growth, both musically and with membership. She inspires others to share her vision for success, the words “can't be done” simply do not exist in her vocabulary. Her outstanding qualities of dedication, hard work and empowerment of others make her an ideal candidate for the Spirit of 26 Award.
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