For
more information
Jessica Moser
(501) 258-1839
jess1199@comcast.net
topoftherockchorus@yahoo.com
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE-December 23, 2009
FOR RELEASE TO MEDIA IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS
TOTR
OFFERS FREE VOCAL LESSON PROGRAM TO NEWCOMERS IN JANUARY
Singing offers
joy and numerous health benefits
LITTLE ROCK- Here is a deal
for those who wish to improve their physical, emotional and mental well-being
in the New Year: Top of the Rock Chorus offers a free four-week vocal lesson program
in January to any interested female singers.
Any Central Arkansas
woman who would like to try out for membership with the chorus is invited to attend
the weekly rehearsals on Tuesday nights, beginning Jan. 5 and continuing through
Jan. 26, and receive special vocal training at no charge. This program is designed
to introduce newcomers to the art and methodology of four-part harmony, a cappella
singing, including vocal range evaluation, pitch development and breathing techniques.
No advance preparation is necessary, but the ability to read music is a plus.
There is no obligation to commit to future rehearsals or full-fledged membership.
The chorus meets at 7 p.m. each Tuesday night, at Woolly Auditorium at the
Arkansas School for the Blind, 2600 West Markham, Little Rock.
"There
is growing evidence that singing improves mental acuity, reduces stress and aides
in overall fitness and a general sense of well-being," said Kelly Causey,
one of Top of the Rock's directors. "Plus, as chorus members, we have always
known that it brings a tremendous amount of joy to both the singers and the audiences.
So we like to make this audition window available to any interested female singer
who would like to try singing with us."
Top of the Rock Chorus is Central
Arkansas's award-winning barbershop chorus for women. Most recently, it earned
the number-two spot in the midsize chorus division in the world at the Sweet Adelines
International Harmony Classic competition in Nashville, Tenn. Under the long-time
directorship of Peggy Gram and Kelly Causey, it has consistently placed among
the top five in its region and qualified for international competition six times.
Founded in the early 1960's, Top of the Rock is a full-charter member of Sweet
Adelines International with more than 60 members.
Sweet Adelines
International is the world's largest and most respected women's singing organization
with almost 26,000 members in the United States, Canada and 12 other countries.
Members of the 600 choruses and 1,200 quartets benefit from superb vocal education,
opportunities to perform in concerts, the chance to participate in regional and
international competitions and-above all-the privilege of continuing the uniquely
American art form of barbershop music.
For additional information,
contact Jessica Moser, membership chair at 501-258-1389 or e-mail jess1199@comcast.net.
Or visit the website at www.topoftherockchorus.com.
========================================================
Contact:
Christa Newburg
501-517-0059
topoftherockchorus@yahoo.com
November
2, 2009
For Immediate Release
Top of the Rock Chorus
Helps Set Guinness World Record for Largest Singing Lesson
Led
by Little Rock's Top of the Rock Chorus director Peggy Gram, Sweet Adelines International
set the Guinness World Record for the Largest Singing Lesson on Oct. 24, 2009.
The record-setting event coincided with the 63rd annual International Convention
and Competition held at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn.
Music
professional and past Sweet Adelines International Quartet Champion Peggy Gram
led the lesson by demonstrating inspiring techniques for integrating the voice
into the art form. The venue was filled with immense sound as 6,651 singers practiced
the demonstrated techniques and sang simultaneously for the duration of the 10-minute
lesson. Almost 50 chorus members of Top of the Rock, Arkansas's premier a cappella
chorus for women, participated in this ambitious feat.
Guinness
World Records official adjudicator Danny Girton Jr., presided over the certificate
ceremony to validate the record and confirm that the achievement met the criteria
set forth by the organization. "We welcome Sweet Adelines International into
the Guinness World Records family for its inspirational and fun achievement,"
said Girton when presenting the award.
Gram called the experience
of teaching the largest singing lesson exhilarating. "It was inspiring to
demonstrate our unique style of music to thousands of singers from around the
globe," Gram commented after accepting the certificate. "While obtaining
the world record is terrific, what's even more important is that it allowed us
the opportunity to show how rewarding it is to sing barbershop harmony."
Eager for the opportunity to make history, Sweet Adelines
members lined up to participate. "The enthusiasm of Sweet Adelines International
members and fans was instrumental in achieving this record," said Kelly Kirchhoff,
director of communications for Sweet Adelines International. "Instructing
thousands of participants simultaneously is an extremely impressive accomplishment."
The
Top of the Rock members share a love for music and singing four-part barbershop
harmony. The chorus holds weekly rehearsals on Tuesdays at Woolly Auditorium at
the Arkansas School for the Blind, 2600 West Markham, Little Rock, and is currently
holding auditions through November 17. To learn more about Sweet Adelines International
and how to become a member of TOTR, visit www.topoftherockchorus.com or contact
Christa Newburg at 501-517-0059.
Sweet Adelines International
is a musical force in the United States and throughout the world. This nonprofit
music education association is headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., where it was founded
in 1945. It is one of the world's largest singing organizations for women, committed
to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and
performance. The membership encompasses nearly 25,000 singers, 1,200 registered
quartets and 600 choruses in most of the fifty United States, Australia, Canada,
England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, The
Netherlands and Wales.
About Guinness World Records
Guinness
World Records is the universally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement.
First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records book is published in
more than 100 countries and 25 languages and is one of the highest-selling books
under copyright of all time with more than 3 million copies sold annually across
the globe. Guinness World Records celebrated its 50th anniversary edition in 2004,
a year after the sale of its 100 millionth copy. Guinness World Records also annually
publishes the Gamer's Edition; a records book devoted solely to the world of computer
gaming and high score record achievements. The Guinness World Records Web site
(www.guinnessworldrecords.com) receives more than 11 million visitors a year.
Guinness World Records is part of the Jim Pattison Group, one of Canada's largest
privately owned companies which are a conglomerate of interests, including advertising,
broadcasting, grocery stores and automotive retailing.