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Home Sweet Home added by Sheena
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.jpg) Most of the chorus is now back home whilst others have scattered to Hawaii, San Francisco, Toronto and L.A. and other places. We can look back on Vegas as a very successful International Convention, with the best ever result for a UK Chorus in terms of the number of other Regions which came below us. We've already seen our
DVD thanks to Dyrck and his laptop and we look good!
You can see some of the official photographs of our performance
here
jonbpetersen.photoreflect.com - You just put in the date
10/12/06 in the date box (you don't have to put in the event in the
'event' box) and you will get a list of all the choruses' photos -
scroll down to the bottom where it says 'more' and click on that,
and Surrey Harmony will come up. For those in the Family Chorus -
all those photos are on there also.
.jpg) All that nagging from Karen and Elaine about our faces paid off. We haven't been able to properly listen to the sound yet due to the amount of noise at our party on Saturday night. But we'll do that at our rehearsal on Wednesday, when we will also get a blow by blow account of the critique from the judges. Apparently there are mentions of something called sync - never heard of it! But as usual there is plenty of stuff for us to work on in the months ahead as we prepare for the UK Convention in May. Whilst we are pleased with our achievements this time, as Jenny says there is still much work to do. I must mention our SH-ooters again. What a fantastic addition to Surrey Harmony you have all been. You are now so much part of our family and we will miss you. If we are ever lucky to represent the UK at International again, we hope you will join us.
.jpg) We'll also be missing Deborah, Liz and Juliette who are off to Spinnaker (the chorus) and Wales and Australia (the countries). Good luck and thanks for your contribution to Surrey Harmony. I will sign off now with a couple of thanks. Firstly to all of you who logged on to my blogs in the past week. A special thanks to our webmaster David Taylor without whom nothing would be possible. And finally, to everyone in Surrey Harmony who is now logging on for the first time to see what I have been writing. I hope it reflects your experiences in some small way. And last but certainly not least to Jenny who continues to lead us onwards and upwards. Diva Las Vegas!
Sheena
16 October 2006
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Top Tones added by Sheena
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Las Vegas 2006 is almost over, and the Rich Tones are on top of the world. What a fantastic competition, the suspense waiting for the results was terrible. We've had a great end of convention party tonight, with presentations to Juliette, Liz and Deborah who sadly are leaving Surrey Harmony.
.JPG) We presented special medals to our SH-ooters who later did a wonderful version of Cinderella. 'Alright' Becky! We had visits from Eu4ria and Sound Bites and lots of our supporters and thanks to Elaine who said some very nice things about Surrey Harmony on behalf of the RMT.
We also thanked Jean and Judith for their wonderful fund raising efforts. To Jenny a huge thank you with further appreciation to come. Hope you all enjoyed the competition on the web cast. I'll do a final blog tomorrow.
15 October 2006
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Message from Jenny added by Jenny
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 I just wanted to say I have never been prouder of Surrey Harmony. It has always been a
privileged to be your Director and without fail you have never let me down. But your performance on Thursday raised Surrey Harmony to another level. This is thanks to all the hard work you have put in since we won the gold medal in 2005. You've taken on board everything I asked you to do, and responded to all the many changes suggested by our coaches. Despite the many attractions of Las Vegas you all turned up to our many rehearsals here without complaining (well at least not to me!)
I must say special thanks to the Music and Visual Teams who worked to hard to create the programme of rehearsals here in Vegas especially. I couldn't have done it without their love and support. Many thanks to all our supporters both here in Vegas and everywhere else in the world.
I have brought Surrey Harmony to International five times now, but NEVER before I have I been sought out by ordinary Sweet Adelines and those with official positions in the organisation to congratulate me on our performance. They've said that never before have they heard a British chorus sounding so good. So to every member of Surrey Harmony thank you and congratulations a on GREAT JOB!
14 October 2006
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It Never Rains added by
Sheena
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Our Assistant Director Valerie Taylor is in serious trouble. Her wonderful information booklet which she prepared for us said 'it never rains in Vegas' Well she was wrong. It has poured down here last night and this morning, which apparently is very rare. Back home in Surrey you're apparently enjoying very balmy weather. But it doesn't really matter as we'll be sat in the Chorus Finals for most of the day. The Rich Tones who are also staying in our hotel have been up since the crack of dawn, fully made up and ready to go. We meet them in the lift and they look totally shattered, with all the many hours of rehearsals. Bet you don't see a bit of that tiredness when they are on stage later. Congratulations to the Swedish quartet SALT who are the new Queens of Harmony after winning the quartet competition, and well deserved it was too.
 We all made the most of our day off. Last night I went to see Le Reve, a water based Cirque du Soleil which was fabulous. The strength of the gymnasts, the precision of the synchronised swimming, and the trapeze work was stunning. There is just so much to do in Vegas, it's have the time and the cash to do it.
So the day of reckoning is here for all those top choruses who are here. Which one will it be? So looking forward to six hours of sheer entertainment.
14 October 2006
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More Good News added by Sheena
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The moral of today's tale is never go to bed too early! Being the good girl I am that's exactly what happened only to wake up this morning thinking that'd I'd had a lovely dream that in fact we had come 22nd in the competition and not 23rd. But in fact it was true! Somewhere along the line there had been a mistake and it was only announced after I'd put my weary head on the pillow. But what a great mistake to have to correct.
.jpg) We were also delighted when we poured over all the scores to realise we came 19th in the Sound category. Walking around the Harmony Bazaar this morning we have had so many great comments on our performance. We are walking tall today. We have finally had a day off today. I like some of the others took a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon. The Americans use the word 'awesome' a lot, but in this case it's the perfect word to use.
I continue to hear lots of great stories about what Surrey Harmony members have been doing. Vice President Maris ended up on stage with a magician who asked her if she had performed recently. When her husband Roger shouted 'this morning' it got a great laugh from the audience who thought he was a lucky man. He of course was referring to Surrey Harmony! Our 16 year old Tenor Sorrella is keeping quiet about her encounter with the Chippendales. However her Mum Jan was with her at the time, so it couldn't have been too naughty.
.jpg) The line up for the Chorus Final tomorrow has to be seen to be believed. So many of the big guns going for gold. I think it will be a case of being glued to the seat in case you miss a single thing.
Thanks so much to those of you have been reading the blog. We've had great feed back from Sweden, the UK and elsewhere - Jill Mills a former member in Australia sent a lovely fax to Jenny.
We are awaiting the outcome of the Quartet final later, that too is a line up of the best in Sweet Adelines. Off to hit the Strip now.
14 October 2006
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Stop Press added by Sheena
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In the year dubbed Clash of the Titans because of the exceptionally high standard of the competing choruses, we are thrilled to announce we came 23rd out of 33 competitors. We achieved 1083 points which we are also very pleased with. We have had so much positive feedback about our improving standards. Jenny has even had Queens of Harmony tell her how much we have grown since we first started competing at International. Many people loved the moment the front row ripped off their skirts - the nightmares were worth it. We are all off to bed now as there's Death Valley, the Grand Canyon and all sorts of things to see tomorrow.
13 October 2006
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Go Team Surrey added by Sheena
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We are just back from the competition on a high. We were thrilled by the way it went. We have yet to see the judges comments, but we are confident we did the best we could.
.jpg) Everyone had such a good time on the stage. Our support in the auditorium was truly fantastic. Thanks to everyone who was there cheering for Surrey Harmony. How funny it was when
Åse lost her Swedish flag, she was throwing it around so much she lost it! Thanks also to Di who said such nice things about us on the web cast. We already know that many of you stayed up to the wee small hours to watch and listen to us. Thanks so much. We are now ready to party - we deserve it after the work we have put in. Come back soon and find out what the judges said. In the meantime, where is my gin and tonic......
13 October 2006
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The BIG Day added by Sheena
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After all the rehearsing, the coaching, the fund raising and the organising, it's finally here. The competition is just hours away now. We have worked so hard in the past three days, the front row especially have found thigh
muscles we didn't know we had. Sue Chilvers is a serious task master. Karen and Elaine have been working on the choreography and faces of the whole of the chorus to make sure we are slick and sexy on stage.
Åse came to see us again at our Wednesday night rehearsal and we managed to make her cry with our ballad - result!
.JPG) Jenny is so pleased with the way we are performing that she made a big confession - she's actually looking forward to the competition. Now THAT is a real achievement. Jenny has worked so hard with us that we just have to give it our best shot.
We went to the Thomas and Mack Centre on Wednesday afternoon to support our Region 31 quartets, Eu4ria and Sound Bites. They both performed so well - we were very proud of them. It also gave us a chance to have a look at the auditorium before we hit the stage. It goes without saying it's huge, but by all
accounts a nice place to sing.
The glitter, sparkle and bling is now out in force. Nowhere else would you see women wearing crowns and pushing a stroller down the street! But that's the world of Sweet Adelines. Those wearing the crowns are Queens of Harmony - past winners of the International Quartet Competition. They are the Sweet Adelines royalty - a bit like meeting the real Queen. Lorraine Thomas had an encounter with one as she left the ladies with her skirt tucked up in her pants - every woman's nightmare. Imagine how she felt when this Queen tapped her on the shoulder and said 'let me get that for you honey'.
We are all taking it easy this morning, before we get ready to paint the nails red, slap on the pancake and stick on the false eyelashes. Then we'll be trying the yoga breathing exercise
Åse gave us for stage nerve before heading to the competition.
We have had a chant for the last few weeks saying 'Ain't no stopping us now'.
Now it's time to make it happen and we're ready. Come back later and I'll let you know how we got on. Wish us Luck!
12 October 2006
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Fabulous Foursomes added by Sheena
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It's quartet semi finals day and our Region 31 quartets Eu4ria and Sound Bites are sounding
absolutely fantastic. Both have visited our rehearsals to sing for us and they are sounding on top form. It's the first time Region 31 has had two quartets at the World Championships and it shows how much the Region is progressing. We will be there cheering them on as loudly as we can without jeopardising our own voices of course. Our own spirits are very high, especially after a visit from our friend and coach Di Porsch. She said we were singing better than she had ever heard us - and we think she meant it! She like
Åse gave us a couple of tips just to put some finishing touches to our package. The wig shop continues to do a roaring trade - the latest member to get a brand new look is our Region 31 team co-ordinator Shelia Docherty.
.jpg) We've been visiting some of the amazing hotels - sightseeing trips in themselves, the fountains at the Bellagio should not be missed and you can even take a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower or visit the Pyramids. Some of us have been watching rehearsals for some of the top choruses like the Melodeers - wow. Wednesday nights are about to get a lot harder!
Talking of rehearsals, I am now late for ours.
11 October 2006
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Doing the Strip! added by Sheena
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 We are all here safe and sound. Everyone was in good spirits for our Monday morning meeting, despite varying degrees of sleep. Most of us have already checked out the Strip and we are busy booking up tours and shows. We were delighted to learn of the arrival of a prospective Surrey Harmony member. During our trip across the Atlantic, our lead Rachel had a baby girl, Rebecca. Congratulations to Rachel and her husband. The impending arrival of Rebecca was the reason Rachel couldn't come to Vegas. But now there's no excuse for her not to make it for Thursday! We understand Rebecca is already in voice training, the tenor section is looking at her as a potential new member!
June has already had a run-in with the FBI. She had to make a late night trip to the airport to collect her bag and got caught up in the chaos of the aftermath of a shooting. And she failed to get the phone number of the best looking FBI agent - shame on you June. We are all set for our first rehearsal this evening and hopefully a full night's sleep.
09 October 2006
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Vegas Here We Come added by Sheena
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At last our Vegas adventure begins. After 18 months of hard work, we are about to depart. Have I remembered everything? Costume, shoes, false eyelashes? I'm sure the kitchen sink is in the case somewhere! Don't forget to log on regularly over the next week to see how we get on. Surrey Harmony welcomes your support. Diva Las Vegas!
07 October 2006
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This is the Surrey Harmony Blog page! added by Blogette
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Everyday whilst we’re in Las Vegas we’ll be updating our blog with all the things we’ve been doing!
Remember to check back each day to follow our progress. The first blog should be posted on 8/9 October!
24 August 2006
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Everyone is having such a wonderful time here in Vegas. There is so much to do and see. A group went to see Celine Dion and said she was just awesome (we're picking up the language). Choreographer Elaine especially liked the number with lots of half- naked male dancers. We are hoping she's working on introducing something similar for us. 
Las Vegas is now officially an Adeline town. Everywhere you go there are Sweet Adelines all having a great time. We have chorus members in Surrey Harmony who have previously sung in Sweden, Australia and New Zealand and they have been busy catching up with relatives and friends. Sweet Adelines is just one big family.
We didn't recognise three glamorous women who turned up at our Monday night rehearsal. Barbara, Margaret and Veronica had spent the afternoon buying wigs to wear on stage. Never again will they have a bad hair performance!