Out Of Shower, Onto The Stage
Illawarra Mercury
Friday June 7, 2002
Karen Wilmott is in strict training for this weekend's barbershop convention at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
The Wollongong Harmony Chorus member said she had been singing in the shower where the acoustics were particularly good, and had also been stretching her vocal chords while driving the car and doing the ironing.
``At this stage it's just practise, practise, practise," she said. `` All of my favourite pop tunes have had to take a back seat.
``I haven't sang anything else with such a large convention like this coming up."
This weekend more than 1100 singers from around Australia will converge on Wollongong for the Sweet Adelines International Southern Cross Convention.
Sweet Adelines is the name given to female groups who sing a cappella barbershop harmony
The 65 members of the Wollongong Harmony Chorus have been practising hard for the event, and Ms Wilmott said this year they were hoping to improve on the second place they received at the last national convention.
``This year we're going for gold. The theme for the event is Dare to Dream, and we'll be striving to be the best we can," she said.
``The Perth chorus set a very high standard in the last competition, but we're aiming to do better this year."
This year will be the first time the competition has been held outside of a capital city, and convention coordinator Jill Vickery said it was a coup for the region.
``One of the biggest events will be the mass sing, which is being held in the new northern grandstand at WIN Stadium," she said.
``There will be more than 1100 people singing in harmony together, which will be really inspiring."
The convention will begin at 6pm at WIN Stadium, and the competition will run all weekend.
© 2002 Illawarra Mercury