The Women of Note Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, in conjunction with the Barbershop Harmony Society, hosted more than 100 high school and middle school girls and boys at its second annual Youth Harmony Workshop on Friday, Oct. 25 at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in West Palm Beach.
The festival introduced and reinforced the art of a cappella barbershop music to students in grades 8 through 12.
Teaching clinicians from Women of Note spent the morning coaching the girls on the importance of proper singing and breathing techniques, forming correct vowel sounds, diphthongs, and consonants, giving life to the music. The instructors demonstrated proper facial expression and body movement to enhance the sound. Clinicians from Powerline, a men’s quartet from Miami and Texas, coached the boys, focusing on vocal production and performance.
The workshop ended with performances for parents and friends under the direction of Mitch Greenberg, director of Women of Note, and Kevin Mendez, director of Powerline. The boys gave a rousing rendition of “Bye Bye Love” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” The girls performed “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “Breakin’ Up is Hard to Do.”
Many students lingered after the workshop, harmonizing the tags they had learned throughout the day. Some indicated that they would find friends at school and form their own quartets.
For more information about the Women of Note, visit www.womenofnote.com.
ABOVE: Students participate in the Youth Harmony Workshop with Women of Note Chorus Director Director Mitch Greenberg.
