SOS News's blog

THE SPIRIT OF SYRACUSE MASTER DIRECTOR, KAY CRAWFORD, TO RETIRE

SYRACUSE, NY – September 20, 2022

The Spirit of Syracuse Chorus announced today that Master Director, Kay Crawford, will be retiring as the organization’s front-line director. She has agreed to stay on as our interim front-line director until a replacement is found.

Crawford, who joined the chorus as a singer in 1983, remains as one of the chorus’s longest members-having sung in the a cappella group through 4 decades. Over that time, she has been a dedicated leader serving in several chorus management positions and becoming a mentor for dozens of women in the Central New York area.

Congratulations Sky Harris!

The Spirit of Syracuse Chorus is thrilled to share that AMANDA “SKY” HARRIS has been honored with the 2022 Harriette Walters Leadership Award during the NY/NJ Region 15 Awards Celebration in Albany, NY.

Harriette Walters (Master Director 700, Greater Nassau Chorus) revealed our winner, and Lori Britt-Horvath (Region 15 Management Team Coordinator) presented the award to Sky.

Here are some highlights from Harriette’s remarks:

“A second generation barbershopper and career music teacher, Sky motivates and inspires the members of Spirit of Syracuse Chorus on a weekly basis. She strives for excellence and serves as a role model for all – and puts herself last and all members first!

Illuminate - The Champs!

Congratulations to Illuminate Quartet for winning the Sweet Adelines Region 15 quartet contest in May 2022! They wowed the audience -- and obviously the judges. We are so very proud of them! Kudos to Alicia Caron - Lead, Cherie LaDuke - Bass, Jennifer Hunter - Baritone, and Becky King - Tenor. This powerhouse quartet made up of women hailing from both Region 1 and 15 have only been singing together since the fall! But their combined determination and passion equated to magic on the stage!

This September, they will be heading to Phoenix AZ to join all the other regional quartet winners from around the world to compete at the Sweet Adelines International Contest. Much love and luck to these amazing women!

Gratitude on the Risers

What is our word for our regional contest last month? Gratitude. We were so grateful for all of it. A huge shout out to Greater NY/NJ Region #15 for putting together an amazing contest experience in the middle of a pandemic. Judges, buses, hotel and singing for an audience- oh my! Thank you to the city of Albany for welcoming us back!

A Big Deal in the Big Easy!

With our sequins packed and our hearts full, the Spirit of Syracuse Chorus rolled into New Orleans this September with a singular mission - REDEMPTION! The chorus was incredibly honored to represent NY/NJ Region 15 in the 2019 Sweet Adelines International Competition as a surprise wild card contestant. With 18-months under our belts from our previous dance at the 2016 Las Vegas SAI competition, the chorus felt ready to take on the big stage in front of more than 5000 of our worldwide harmony sisters.

Perfect Fourth Thrills in the UK!

Perfect Fourth, our Young Women in Harmony Quartet in the Spirit of Syracuse Chorus, have placed second in the world at Sweet Adelines International’s 2019 Rising Star Quartet Contest on July 27 at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, U.K! Kristina Valentino (lead), Gabby Galanti (tenor), Catrina Tulowiecki (baritone) and Katie Sheerin (bass) have been singing together for 3 years since beginning the quartet while students at Liverpool High School.

The quartet placed with a score of 359 out of 400.

Duly Noted of Fort Myers, Florida harmonized their way take top honors at the barbershop singing championship.

SOS Scores a 2017 International Wildcard!

Vegas Baby!

With their second highest regional score ever, the Spirit of Syracuse chorus has earned a coveted wildcard invitation to compete in the 2017 Sweet Adelines International Competition in Las Vegas, NV. This will make the 5th time the chorus has crossed the international stage, with the most recent appearance during the 2007 showcase in Calgary Alberta, Canada.

The chorus's international record is impressive, consistently ranking as a top 20 chorus in each of those five years: Nashville, TN (1998) 19th, Phoenix, AZ (2003) 15th, Detroit, MI (2005) 15th, Calgary, AB (2007) 17th.

Ringing at Regionals!

The Spirit of Syracuse chorus and four SOS quartets traveled to Albany, NY, for the 2016 Greater NY/NJ Region #15 regional competition of Sweet Adelines International this past April. Vocal Sorority, Skylark, Resonance, and Soundbyte gave terrific performances, and both Soundbyte and Resonance finished in the medals - Soundbyte in 5th and Resonance in 3rd - with Skylark taking home the region’s most improved quartet award.

Resonance Stuns in Phoenix, AZ!

Representing both Region 15 and the Spirit of Syracuse, our very own Resonance Quartet has spent the last few days in Phoenix, AZ as guests of Region 21 learning and competing in the Sweet Adelines, International Rising Star Contest. Open to quartets made up of singers under the age of 25, Resonance truly changed the hearts of the judges and audience in a packed house Saturday night to come away with the title of International Rising Star 5th Place Medalists! To see more about their journey to share their love of barbershop, check out their Facebook page! We're so proud of them!