About Us

Sweet Adelines International is a highly respected worldwide organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performance. This independent, nonprofit music education association is one of the world's largest singing organizations for women.

Members extend over five continents and belong to more than 500 choruses and 1,200 quartets. Today's Sweet Adelines choruses and quartets sing exciting a cappella, four-part harmony music, barbershop style. The music includes special arrangements of today's ballads and upbeat songs, popular show tunes, and even jazz. Members say that singing the powerfully balanced sounds of barbershop harmony provides a rich, rewarding experience.

Sweet Adelines International is governed by an elected board of directors and administered by a professional staff in Tulsa, Okla. The staff manages a wide range of programs and services, including:

* The Pitch Pipe, a quarterly magazine
* Digital mastering of audio and video productions
* Music publishing services, with hundreds of barbershop arrangements in print
* Distribution of compact discs and DVD's for entertainment and education
* Convention planning for meetings attended by 8-10,000 people annually
* International Sales, an educationally focused inventory of products and materials
* Education programs such as Directors Certification Program, Arrangers Program, Faculty Program and Judging Program
* Contests in quartet and chorus singing at regional and international levels
* International champions named in chorus, quartet, and young women aged 25 and under divisions at International Convention each Fall.

Motto
"Harmonize The World"

Founding
First meeting: Friday, July 13, 1945 in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Vision Statement
Sweet Adelines International is a worldwide organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performances.

Education Programs
The Young Women in Harmony program offers music educators a means of including the study and performance of barbershop harmony in school music programs. The aim is to provide materials, training and performance opportunities for young women and to foster appreciation for the American musical art form of barbershop harmony. Various regions or choruses within Sweet Adelines organize festivals and school presentations each year. Free educator kits are provided to music educators.

Charitable and Community Activities
Sweet Adeline choruses regularly entertain at civic events and charitable functions. Proceeds from performances are often shared with scholarship funds, health care and social services programs, and the arts and humanities. The Young Singers Foundation has been the official charity of Sweet Adelines International since 1992. The foundation's purpose is to enrich the lives of young people by supporting vocal music programs and education through its grant program. The Young Singers Foundation offers scholarships for vocal music students and grants for Young Women in Harmony and community vocal music activities.

Barbershop Harmony
Four-part, unaccompanied, close-harmony singing, with melody in the second voice, called the "lead." Sung in the range between A below middle C, and C above middle C. Tenor is a harmony part sung consistently above the lead. Although tenor is the highest voice in barbershop harmony, it should not be confused with the soprano of conventional singing groups. The tenor should have a light, sweet, pure tone that will complement but not overpower the lead voice. Baritone covers approximately the same range as lead. The baritone harmony notes cross the lead notes; sometimes sung below and sometimes above. Bass singers should have a rich, mellow voice and be able to sing the E flat below middle C easily. Bass should not be confused with the alto of conventional groups.