Faculty and Coaches Great Lakes Harmony Region 17 Sweet Adelines

Region 17 Faculty & Coaches

We have many talented Region 17 faculty who provide PVIs (private voice lessons) and coaching (quartets, choruses). These credentialed faculty include our certified and master directors and Regional quartet champions.
Many are available for coaching at Harmony Weekends and for private education and quartet and chorus coaching at other times. If you are a faculty person or coach in Region 17 and would like to be listed here, please complete this REGIONAL FACULTY INFORMATION FORM and email it to both Lynne Erskine Peirce, Education Coordinator and Sherry Berkley, Communications Coordinator.

Sherry Berkley
Member of River Bend & Melodeers Choruses
Certified Director, River Bend Chorus
Assistant Director, Bass Section Leader Melodeers Chorus
Regional Medalist Quartet Singer (Lead) Sublime, multiple others in Region 3

Biography:

42-year member Sweet Adelines International
Member of BHS and Harmony Inc
Have coached serveral quartets and small choruses over the years
6-time International Chorus Champion member (Melodeers
Served several years on both Region 17 and Region 3 Regional Management Teams

Area of Expertise/Strengths:

Sound and Vocal Production
Expressive singing
Unity
Section leader Training
Beginning music theory and sight-singing

Coaching:

Quartets
Choruses
PVIs

More info

Sara Clevenger
Member of Greater Harmony Chorus
Associate Director, Visual Team Leader and Lead Section Leader, Greater Harmony Chorus
Regional Champion Quartet Singer (Lead): Surefire and Daybreak Quartet

Biography:

29-year member of Sweet Adelines, International
Had the pleasure of coaching multiple quartets and choruses over the years, and look forward to supporting others, in any way I can be of help.

Area of Expertise/Strengths:

Sound Category elements of areas of instant lock/ring, accuracy and intonation.
Vocal Production, consistency of placement and vocal space throughout the vocal range.
Expression Category elements including lyrical phrasing as well as technical elements (vowel production, singable consonants/use of diphthongs.
Visual Communication Category, focusing on authentic performance, characterization, musical energy and unity across the performers.
Managing fears and stage nerves, inviting a healthy sense of confidence and connection to the audience.

Coaching:

Quartets
Choruses
PVIs

More info

Michael Hengelsberg
Master Director, Greater Harmony Chorus

Biography:

Regional Champion Director in Region 17
Have directed barbershop choruses and church choirs for 30 years
Have coached quartets and choruses in Region 17 since 2016 when joining Greater Harmony Chorus

Area of Expertise/Strengths:

Sound - free flow of vocals
Connecting the meaning of a song to the vocals of a song
Ability to work with beginning and advanced quartets to help them grown

Coaching:

Quartets
Choruses
PVIs

Comments:
I thrive on coaching and look forward to helping. I would love to work with you in any venue that is convenient.
More info

Dana Kachurchak
Member of Greater Cleveland
Regional Champion Quartet Singer
International Medalist chorus member, have been a member of Maple Mountain, Pride of Toledo and Scioto Valley Choruses

Biography:

Professional speaker/communications skills trainer
Executive coach for companies such CBS in New York, New York Times, General Electric and Johnson & Johnson
Region 17 H Guest Faculty
Member of Leadership Education Team
Developer/Facilitator for educational sessions on Marketing Your Chorus, Chorus Wellness Campaigns, Revving up the Troops, and Energy on the Risers

Area of Expertise/Strengths:

Crafting your stage presence
Connection with your audience
Continuity of your message
Harnessing your energy
United you sing

Coaching:

Quartets
Choruses
PVIs

More info

Margie (Mim) Manuel
Member of Greater Harmony Chorus
Regional Champion Quartet Singer (Baritone): Daybreak Quartet

Biography:

Member of Daybreak Quartet and Greater Harmony Chorus

Area of Expertise/Strengths:

Sharing tools to getting to be a better singer

Coaching:

PVIs (at Harmony Weekends)

More info

Lynne Erskine Peirce
Harmony 500 Director, River Raisin Chorus
Regional Champion Quartet Singer (Bass): Surefire Quartet

Biography:

Sweet Adelines Harmony 500 Director, multiple top 5 finishes
Certified District Chorus Champion Director BHS
Regional Quartet Champions and International competitors: Accolade (Reg 3) 1991, 1993, Surefire (Reg 17) 2015, 2018
Administrative Education coordiantor REgions 2 & 17
Director Coordinator Region 17, Education Coordinator Region 17

Area of Expertise/Strengths:

Chorus and quartet coaching in all judging categories in both SAI and BHS comptitions
Visual program creation and coaching for both choruses and quartets
Full day and weekend retreats focusing on creative learning and growth
Team building, strategic planning for coruses
Interest-Based Problem Solving (certified) for choruses

Coaching:

Quartets
Choruses
PVIs

More info

Jennifer Recker
Chapter-at-Large, Region 17
International Quartet Champion (lead): Moxie Ladies 2009
Region 17 Quartet Champion 2019 & 2024 Intenational 4th-place Medalist (lead): Lucille Quartet

Biography:

Vocal Music/Choir director for 20 years
Master in Education
Have worked with choruses and quartets across the country

Coaching:

Quartets
Choruses
PVIs

More info

Amy Ringley
Member of Greater Cleveland Chorus
Regional Champion Quartet Singer (Lead)

Biography:

27-year member of Sweet Adelines, International
Approved director, Music Team member
Section Leader/Vocal Auditor
Private Vocal Instruction
Quartet performance coaching

Area of Expertise/Strengths:

Vocal warmups
Bocy mechanics for best vocal production
Interpretation/phrasing of the musical line

Coaching:

Quartets
Choruses
PVIs

More info

Dawn Seigneur
Certified Director, Pride of Toledo chorus
Regional Champion Quartet (tenor), Surefire Quartet

Biography:

Certified Director, River Raisin Chorus (23 yrs) and Pride of Toledo Chorus (current)
Member of Toledo Seaway Chorus and Pride of Toledo Chorus (at least 8 -time International competitors), 4-time International quartet competitor (InVoice and Surefire Quartets),
Developed and ran front row tryouts (Greater Harmony x 2, Pride of Toledo and River Raising choruses

Area of Expertise/Strengths:

Choreography
Front Row Tryouts
Rhythm
Tuning

Coaching:

Quartets
Choruses
PVIs

More info

Cindy Sheffler
Certified Director, Indi-Anna Chorus
Baritone of Stay Tuned Quartet

Biography:

Certified Director (currently Indi-Anna Chorus)
Sweet Adelines chorus and quartet singer since 2000.
Received 2022 Region 17 Novice Director Award
Mentors have included Bonnie McKibben, Kay Seymour and Paula Davis.
Love to be coached and have observed and participated in coaching sessions with Betty Clipman, Petty Gram, and Kim Vaughn
Regular attendee of all Regional Education Weekends, several Queens Colleges and an IES in San Antonio
Attended several International Competitions

Area of Expertise/Strengths:

I consider myself a “positive enthusiast” who may not always have all the answers, but will always give it my best effort! I love spreading the joy of barbershop harmony and feel I can best encourage beginners in our craft.

Coaching: