In Full Voice
Illawarra Mercury
Friday November 26, 1999
ITS ranks swelled by a flood of new members and buoyed by international recognition, the Wollongong Harmony Chorus is on song to score its name into Australian choral history.
In June 2000, the 80-strong barbershop-style harmony chorus will compete in the sixth Sweet Adeline International Australian Area Convention and Competition in Perth and this time a gold medal is no long shot.
In 1998 the chorus scored a remarkable third placing behind the larger choruses from Perth and Melbourne who, between them, have won every competition since the bi-annual event's 1990 inception.
But in 2000 the Wollongong Harmony Chorus will make a bid to break the mould.
In February this year a recruitment drive brought 120 expressions of interest and more than 30 dedicated performers, swelling the chorus' ranks past the 80 mark.
The extra voices have given the chorus an even richer sound and group spokesperson Jill Vickery was impressed with how well the old and new members had merged into a tight, hard-working unit.
``The group is going from strength to strength," she said. ``We have drawn people from all walks of life and the synergy is fantastic. It really is special.
``There's a versatility to the choir and it's like a mini-performance every time we get together to rehearse."
The burgeoning growth of the chorus and the dedication of its long-standing members have also propelled the Wollongong Harmony Chorus to international recognition within the Sweet Adeline organisation.
In September the chorus won the group awards for both net growth and retention of members on a worldwide scale but there are no plans to rest on its laurels.
Vickery said the chorus aimed to reach the 100 membership level by 2002, the year in which Wollongong will host the bi-annual national conference.
Wollongong successfully outbid Melbourne for the honour of hosting the conference which will bring more than 1000 singers and their supporters to the region.
With so much to aim for in the future, the Wollongong Harmony Chorus - which boasts singers aged from their early 20s to their 70s - is now seeking to raise its profile in its hometown.
You may spy them performing around Illawarra shopping centres in the lead-up to Christmas but the chorus will be on full song in their annual concert tomorrow night.
Gold Fever (Vickery said the title said a bit about their aspirations) will combine a medley from Paint Your Wagon with a ``songs of Australia" package and a series of glitzy numbers designed to highlight the various harmonies on which the chorus prided itself.
With colourful costumes and choreography to underscore the beauty of the music, the Wollongong Harmony Chorus is predicting an unforgettable performance.
The show is on in the Woonona Bulli RSL at 3pm and 7.30pm. For more information and tickets, contact the club.
© 1999 Illawarra Mercury