By Kevin McClintock
Globe Staff Writer
JOPLIN, Mo. —
It’ll be a first for Joplin -- a half-dozen Sweet Adelines choruses, 100-plus women, performing together for a single event tomorrow evening inside Joplin’s Memorial Hall.
“We’re very excited,” said Judi Campbell. “It’s the first time this many choruses have been in Joplin and the first time we’ve done anything like this.”
Joplin residents will experience the true power of barbershop singing at 7:30 p.m. when Zing!, the 2010 Sweet Adelines International Quartet champions, joins other Sweet Adelines singers in concert.
“Usually with this many choruses (in one venue) it’s a competition, so there’s a little apprehension involved because we’re all competing,” Campbell said, though on this occasion, they are one big happy family.
One very big family.
Participants will spend most of the day “ringing chords and perfecting vocal harmonies” inside Memorial Middle School as participating choruses are coached on the techniques of barbershop music by Zing! members, Campbell said.
“Twenty international champions working with different choruses; in the evening we’ll have four choruses with 80 percent of its members ÉÊand everybody will be performing two numbers,” she said.
Zing! Members will include Michelle Hunget (tenor, Olathe, Kan.), Susan Ives (lead, Topeka, Kan.), May Rhea (baritone, Norman, Okla.) and Melynnie Williams (bass, Newton, Kan.).
In addition to Zing!, there will be performances by members of Springfield Metro Chorus, Queen City Sound Chorus and Ozark Showcase Chorus, of Springfield; Sunflower Harmony Chorus, of Topeka, Kan.; Oklahoma Jubilee Chorus, of Tulsa, Okla.; Wamego Dutch Mill, of Wamego, Kan.; and Joplin’s own Show-Me-Harmony Chorus.
Choruses will be singing individually and together, Campbell said. There will also be a “mass sing” of two songs learned during the classes held at Memorial.
Some of the anticipated songs sung will be “You Turn the Tables on me,” “My Foolish Heart,” “Smile” and “Aquarius.”
“There will be quite a variety of music,” Campbell said.
For many of the out-of-town singers it will be their first performance in Southwest Missouri, Campbell said.
“We’re hoping some of the Sweet Adelines choruses will see Joplin as a place where we can all meet and do some things for Joplin; a good way not only to have fun but to promote Joplin,” she said. “The friendships we all have, it’s a real bond. The women in Sweet Adelines are very supporting of each other.”
They hope to see Memorial Hall filled to capacity tomorrow night.
“This is an unparalleled opportunity for the people of Joplin and the surrounding area to see an international courtet ... with 52 regional champions.”
Details: Tickets are $5 and kids aged 6 and under get in free and will be available at the door.
