About Great Lakes Harmony Region 17 Sweet Adelines

WHO WE ARE

SAI Region 17 includes parts of Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. We currently have nearly 700 members in 19 choruses and over 30 registered quartets. Each Sweet Adeline region holds an annual competition for both choruses and quartets. Competitions represent exciting opportunities for Sweet Adelines members to travel, perform and learn. Judges give detailed feedback on performances, which can be used as a learning tool to improve performance of the individual as well as the group.

In addition to competition, our region offers many other educational opportunities, including a semiannual weekend retreat called Harmony Weekend where internationally certified faculty, as well as regional faculty, are invited to instruct our members in the art of singing four-part harmony in the barbershop style. These weekends provide a wealth of information and wonderful opportunities for meeting and socializing with others in the region.

SWEET ADELINES INTERNATIONAL - OUR PARENT ORGANIZATION

Sweet Adelines International is a highly respected worldwide organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performance. This independent, nonprofit music education association is one of the world's largest singing organizations for women.

Members extend over five continents and belong to more than 600 choruses and 1,200 quartets. Today's Sweet Adelines choruses and quartets sing exciting a cappella, four-part harmony music, barbershop style. The music includes special arrangements of today's ballads and upbeat songs, popular show tunes, and even jazz. Members say that singing the powerfully balanced sounds of barbershop harmony provides a rich, rewarding experience.

WHAT IS BARBERSHOP?

Barbershop is the art of singing four-part a cappella (without accompaniment) harmony. When four voice parts simultaneously execute on time and on pitch, the chord will produce a “fifth note” called an overtone. Hearing an overtone “ring” is a special kind of magic — once you hear the ring you'll know what we mean!

LEARN MORE HERE!

OUR MISSION

Great Lakes Harmony Region 17 is committed to advancing the joy of singing a cappella music in the barbershop style through education, competition, and performance.