The Queens of Region 21

 

From: San Diego, California, Region #21
Convention City: Portland, Oregon

Constance Noble, tenor
Darcy Newell, lead
Sandra Shelver, baritone
Gerry Papageorge, bass

Fanatix quartet consists of Constance Noble, tenor (past international champion with The Fourth Edition and Savvy and long time tenor of High Society); Darcy Newell, lead; Sandy Shelver, baritone (past international champion with High Society); and Gerry Papageorge, bass (past international champion tenor with Panache).

Fanatix formed in 1998 and earned 4th place in their first regional contest and earned a wild card slot to international competition in Atlanta where they placed 4th.

In the 2000 international competition in Orlando Fanatix placed 5th. After that competition they teamed up with new coaches, Jean Barford and Nick Papageorge and began working really hard to find their sound. The hard work paid off when they were crowned 2002 international champions in Portland, Oregon. This was Darcy's first international medal and Gerry became the first Sweet Adeline ever to earn international medals in 3 different voice parts: lead, tenor and bass.

 

From: Oceanside, California, Region #21
Convention City: Orlando, Florida

Bette Gorton, tenor
Kim Hulbert, lead
Tomi McEvoy, baritone
Susan Lamb, bass

Quartet members Kim Hulbert, Susan Lamb, Sandy Trombly and Bette Gorton immediately set goals and made a commitment to work intensely to achieve them. With the help of their friend and coach, the late Carolyn Butler, A Cappella Gold won the Region 21 championship in 1998.

To their extreme joy, the quartet placed sixth in its first international contest in Nashville. The joy was short lived, however, when baritone Sandy Trombly made the painful decision to retire. A Cappella Gold auditioned baritones and was lucky to find the very talented Tomi McEvoy. New to barbershop, Tomi was more than eager to learn the quartet's music and choreography in short order, making her first performance with the quartet as mic testers at the 1999 Region 21 contest. Later that year, the quartet placed third at international contest in Atlanta.

Armed with score sheets, judges' recommendations and a new coach Joni Bescos, the quartet set new goals and began the search for the elusive gold medal. At the International Education Symposium in San Antonio in July 2000, A Cappella Gold experienced the remarkable talent of Jean Barford, who was rooming that week with coach, Joni Bescos. The combination was to prove life altering. A Cappella Gold's path, direction and work regime became clearly defined. With the addition of Brian Philbin to the coaching staff, they found they had a natural bent for comedy, and with that added element, the excitement heightened.

Winning first place in September 2000 in Orlando was the thrill of a lifetime and an absolute dream come true resulting in first medals for bass Susan Lamb and baritone Tomi McEvoy, a second gold medal for tenor Bette Gorton, and an unprecedented third gold medal for lead Kim Hulbert.

 

From: Los Angeles, California
Convention City: Salt Lake City, Utah

Gerry Papageorge, tenor
Pam Pieson, lead
Sally Briner, baritone
Bonnie McKibben, bass

Panache has been described as "Four warm, wonderfully talented individuals whose innovations in musical style and artistry have allowed their audiences to experience new heights in listening enjoyment!" Its individual members have belonged to dozens of other quartets, most of which were regional and international medalists or champions.

Panache formed in late 1986, placed second in its 1987 regional competition, and won the regional title in 1988. That foursome placed ninth in the 1988 international contest. Within a few months, the original bass resigned and was replaced by Bonnie.

Panache placed third in the 1989 international contest but within a few month the tenor resigned . Gerry asked to try out for the open position and the quartet was off to the 1990 international contest in Salt Lake City for an inevitable happy ending. Sally is Sweet Adelines' fifth member to win two international gold medals - she also sang baritone with the 1984 champion quartet, 4 For The Show.

Retired in late 1996 from a full schedule of performances, the members of Panache count among their special memories an appearance at a surprise 80th birthday party for former U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1991. His comment after hearing Panache sing several tunes was, "Now that's music!"

 

From: San Diego, California
Convention City: Houston, Texas

Connie Noble, tenor
Kim Hulbert, lead
Sandy Noble, baritone
Tippi Sanders, bass

The four members of Savvy all sang with San Diego Chorus, which Kim directed as well. The chorus was a frequent international medalist and Savvy credited the chorus' support for much of the quartet's success. Called "a special quartet," Savvy exemplified Sweet Adelines at its best - they sang exceedingly well, were active members on all levels, were true friends and shared their love of singing with all. Connie (not related to Sandy) is the only Sweet Adeline to boast three quartet gold medals: She won here first in 1972 with 4th Edition and obtained her second as replacement tenor in High Society. Kim, a popular coach as well as successful chorus director, has two quartet gold medals (High Society). Sadly, Savvy retired shortly after winning, when illness claimed the life of Tippi Sanders, one of Sweet Adelines' finest bass voices.

 

From: San Diego, California
Convention City: Cincinnati, Ohio

Bette Roberts Gorton, tenor
Kim Bone Hulbert, lead
Sandy Shelver, baritone
Pat Morse Vozza, bass

The four original members of High Society were also members of the 1975 International Champion San Diego Chorus. They began woodshedding (singing together informally without written arrangements) at a coffee shop after a chorus function to "see if our voices blended." Several hours later they agreed they had something special and that all four wanted to be quartet champions.

Bette was choreographer for the San Diego Chorus and, after winning the quartet championship, began directing the Escondido Chorus. Kim was a relative newcomer to Sweet Adelines. She had met Pat in a carpool, where they sang with the radio. Pat was unable to convince Kim to join Sweet Adelines but Kim's mother finally persuaded her. Sandy served as the costume chair for San Diego Chorus. Pat served as assistant director for San Diego as well as director for Singing Hills Chorus. She was a choreographer coach and designed the quartet costumes and hairdos.

High Society is still a semiactive quartet but there have been many personnel changes along the way. Suzy McGehee Lobaugh sang tenor with the quartet at their outgoing champion appearance in 1977. Connie Noble became the full-time tenor shortly thereafter and is the tenor voice most associated with the quartet. They retired the first time in 1984 but in 1990 reorganized with Sandy Noble as bass. In 1992 they reorganized once again with Connie as tenor and original members Kim, Sandy Shelver and Pat. Kim eventually became the San Diego Chorus director, leading the group to two international medalist performances (1988 and '91).