Grow, Connect, Enjoy
Join Region 21 Golden West on June 20-22, 2025, in beautiful Queen Creek, AZ.
The incredible Lori Lyford, Master Director 700, of Scottsdale Chorus, and Jana Gutenson, Associate Director of Scottsdale Chorus, will be our faculty for these 3 days of barbershop immersion. The weekend also features tag singing, a Novice Quartet Contest, a Double Quartet Contest and performance from the Scottsdale Chorus! Afterglows will be hosted by the Region 21 Management Team at the hotel both nights.
Register for the Seminar
This All Events Ticket includes attendance to all classes for the Summer Seminar 2025 weekend including the Saturday Night Showcase (Double Quartet Show and Novice Quartet Contest). Looking forward to seeing you there!
NOTE: The registration link is through Zeffy which defaults to a donation amount in the order form to keep their product free to non-profits like us. You can change this donation to a different amount, (including zero), but you must do this before you check out.
Summer Seminar Accommodations
Reservations will be accepted at the discounted group rate until June 6th, 2025 or until the block is full, whichever occurs first. Book accommodations by phone: (480) 579-2112 and reference Region 21 Sweet Adelines, or online with the link below.
Note: The hotel is very close to the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport, so fly into that airport for the most convenient trip.
REGISTRATION & ACCOMMODATIONS
Learn Our Regional Songs
Learn and perform our regional songs, It's the Music that Brings Us Together & Come On and Sing.
Once your registration is purchased, an email will be sent with links to the music and learning tracks.
Other Ways to Participate
FEATURED EVENTS
Speed Dating
Sweet Adelines style!
In this fun and fast-paced round-table segment, explore a variety of topics including Why We Sing, Choosing and Finding Music, Quartet Chat and much more —one table at a time!
General Sessions
Your summer seminar faculty and members of the regional management team will present an array of Barbershop topics like Building a Chorus Culture, Physical Warm Up & Visual Communication, Filling your Vocal Toolbox and so much more!
Boutique
Come visit the boutique throughout the weekend hosted by Song of the Pines.
Afterglows!
Come to the hotel Friday and Saturday nights for social time together and fun TAG singing with friends, hosted by the regional management team.
Saturday Night Show!
Featuring Scottsdale Chorus, Region 21 top quartets, Novice Quartet and Double Quartet Contests. Open to the public - only $25 to attend the show! Buy your ticket under Register for the Seminar. (Show is included in All Events Ticket purchase).
SEMINAR SCHEDULE
Welcome Lori Lyford
Lori Lyford has been the dynamic director of the internationally acclaimed, multi-award-winning Scottsdale Chorus since 1993. Widely recognized as one of the most sought-after coaches in the Sweet Adelines world, Lori brings decades of experience, passion, and musical excellence to every rehearsal and coaching session.
Lori began her Sweet Adelines journey in 1983 when she became the director of the Rolling Hills Chorus in Region #13. A decade later, she relocated to Arizona to lead the Scottsdale Chorus, guiding them to International Championship status.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in K–12 Music Education and Applied Voice, with a minor in Physical Education, from Whitworth College in Spokane, and in 2007, she earned a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from Northern Arizona University.
Lori spent 42 years inspiring students as a public school music teacher, retiring in 2020 after a rewarding career that included teaching choir at Chandler High School, where she shared her love of barbershop with countless young singers. In 2017, she was honored as one of Arizona’s Top Five Teachers by the Arizona Educational Foundation.
A dedicated educator and International Faculty member since 1983, Lori has taught and coached in nearly every region of Sweet Adelines, leaving a lasting impact across the globe.
Lori has achieved the title of "Master Director 700," which distinguishes those who have directed their choruses to a 700+ point score in competition.
Jana Gutenson has been a member of Sweet Adelines International since 1984, though barbershop harmony has been a part of her life since birth. Her mother was honored with her 60-year membership pin in Seattle in 2010, and her father was a three-time International Champion with the Pekin Chorus of the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Jana is a proud member of the six-time International Champion Scottsdale Chorus, where she has served as Baritone Section Leader and a member of the Music Team since 1988. A 25-year front row veteran, she is also a certified director and frequently works as an in-house coach in her role as Scottsdale’s associate director.
She has sung baritone in several internationally competitive quartets, including Affinity, which placed in the Top 10 at International in 2008. Jana is a sought-after coach for quartets and choruses of all levels, and she has served on faculty for regional events and quartet workshops across both Sweet Adelines International and the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Within the Sweet Adelines Judging Program, Jana is a certified music category judge and currently serves as the music category specialist on the SA Judge Specialist Committee. Her leadership experience includes serving on the International Regional Leadership Committee (2014–2016) and as education coordinator for Region 21 for six years. She was inducted into the Region 21 Hall of Fame in 2010 and named the NaFME/Sweet Adelines Music Educator of the Year in 2016. She also served as co-chair of the 2017 International Education Symposium.
Jana holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and a bachelor’s degree in marketing and music education. She recently retired after 23 years of teaching elementary general music in the Chandler School District.
Welcome Jana Gutenson
Meet your Summer Seminar Faculty!
EXPLORE QUEEN CREEK
