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Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Linda Morgan, left, Maggie McLoughlan, Mary Lou Bales, and Ethleen Gummow of the quartet Tiempo, will surprise Valentine's Day sweethearts with a song. The singers are members of the Sweet Adelines, a group who have been rehearsing and performing in Cupertino since 1987.
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Singing Their Hearts Out
Local group spreads Valentine's Day joy through song
By Jeff Kearns
A small, Cupertino-based army of quartets will fan out around the South Bay this weekend, belting out singing valentines.
The activity is part of the third-annual fundraising campaign for the Sweet Adelines, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading the sound of traditional American music to anyone who will listen.
Fifteen a cappella quartets will croon their sweet songs for sweethearts Feb. 12, 13 and 14 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The groups will appear at restaurants, jobs, homes, or wherever their songs' recipients may be. Last year, the group delivered more than 80 singing valentines.
The Sweet Adelines have been practicing in Cupertino since 1987 and are members of the Bay Area Showcase Chorus, a 135-member group. The chorus, in turn, is part of Sweet Adelines International, the sister organization of the Society for the Preservation of Barbershop Quartet Singing.
The group has dedicated its profits to the Showcase Chorus' music education efforts in schools, senior centers and community centers. Sweet Adelines' singers generally put on low-cost performances for community organizations or spend time guest-teaching music classes at schools. Their major focus is on promoting barbershop harmony.
"If we don't educate the public and the youth growing up here, the music form is going to disappear," said Linda Morgan, the group's public relations coordinator and a Sweet Adeline herself. "We really just want to preserve this kind of music."
Showcase Chorus members come from all nine Bay Area counties. The 44-year-old group has earned top honors at the Northern California Sweet Adelines Chorus Competition several times.
"It's what we love so much," said Morgan, a group member since 1974. "What better way is there to raise money for a music education program than by sharing our music?"
Costs associated with keeping the chorus going aren't incredibly steep by show business standards. There are expenses, though, including travel, risers and costumes. Chorus members contribute half of their own costume costs.
The Sweet Adelines also perform for birthday parties, conferences, fundraisers and various other events. The group plans a concert at the Quinlan Community Center this summer.
For more information about the singing valentines program, call 408.277.7461.
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Cupertino, California Since 1947
