Amid all the Region 2 contest excitement, we also took time to celebrate 71 amazing years as a Sweet Adelines chapter!

Our fabulous baritones threw us the purrrrrfect birthday bash—complete with a Stray Cat theme, a photo booth, games, and plenty of people-treats! Thank you to our Bari section for all the creativity, fun, and thoughtfulness you brought to the evening.

Here’s to the music, the memories, and the friendships that make every year better than the last!

Contest weekend was amazing! 

We were proud to serve as Chapter Assistant Chorus at this year’s Region 2 Contest & Convention lMay 1 & 2 - and wow, did we keep busy! We had the honour of chaperoning competing quartets and choruses through the contest pattern, helping guests find their way, and holding down the fort at the Boutique table. It was a joy to support Region 2 in such a hands-on way!

Back in Harmony with Jordan Travis!

We were thrilled to welcome Jordan Travis back to London Chorus as we prepare for Regionals 2025. Having him with us always feels like reuniting with a good friend—someone who knows just how to push us higher and ring those chords just right!

Thank you, Jordan, for your energy, insight, and harmony-driven magic! We can’t wait to put your direction into action at rehearsal tonight and we're excited to hit the stage!

We had an unbelievably amazing coaching session this past Saturday with the incredibly talented Holli Houtz! Holli, a fourth-generation barbershopper, has harmony in her DNA and brings a wealth of experience and passion to her coaching.

Not only is she the director of the Grand Rapids Chorus of Sweet Adelines, but she's also an accomplished competitor, with her quartet earning the title of 2023 Rising Star Quartet Champion. And she recently passed the Sweet Adelines International Director Certification Program (DCP)! Her dedication to barbershop is truly inspiring.

London Chorus was feeling so fine at rehearsal, while donning our green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day!  

They say finding a four-leaf clover brings good luck, but we think we’ve already found something even luckier—four-part harmony and the incredible friendships that come with it! Wishing you all a good, good day filled with harmony, happiness, and a little bit of Irish luck! 

As we celebrate Black History Month, we recognize and honour the deep musical heritage of Black artists in shaping barbershop harmony.

Though barbershop is often associated with early 20th-century white quartets, its origins trace back to the rich, improvisational harmonies created by Black musicians in the late 19th century. These singers blended spirituals, folk songs, and call-and-response traditions into the distinctive close-harmony style that became the foundation of barbershop music.

The year got off to a patchy start, with winter weather sending us to Zoom rehearsals a couple of times.

But each time we came back together in person, the harmony grew stronger!

This week, we had the privilege of working with Jordan Travis, who joined us for an incredible coaching session as we continue preparing for upcoming performances and our journey to International Contest. When Jordan says, “Now, this might feel weird…” you just know magic is about to happen!

Thank you, Jordan, for sharing your expertise, energy, and encouragement. We’ll take what we’ve learned, put in the work, and be ready for the next time!

What do you give someone who challenges you to reach for the stars?

This year, for our director Julia Beadle’s birthday, the London Chorus purchased a star in the Milky Way and named it Julia in her honour.

It will shine brightly, just as she does, for generations to come—reminding us all to reach for our potential, and reflecting the joy and inspiration she brings to each of us. We're so thankful to Julia for lighting our way with her passion, dedication, and love for music. She truly is one in a million, or perhaps... one in a galaxy.

Learn more about our amazing director here: Julia Beadle, Master Director

As we celebrate this joyous season, we look back on a truly memorable year filled with incredible moments of music, friendship, and achievement.

Highlights of 2024:

• Regional Champions! We proudly earned the title of Border Lakes Region 2 Chorus Champion and 1st Place Midsize Chorus, solidifying our place among the best in the world.

Special Performances:

• Valentine's Day Greetings: Quartets delivered heartfelt musical messages to loved ones, spreading joy in February.

• Performances of O Canada: At a Canadian Citizenship Ceremony and a London Majors Playoff Game, we proudly shared our national anthem with heartfelt harmony.

We traded our risers for laughter, games, and holiday cheer at our annual London Chorus Holiday Celebration!

We played hilarious games that kept us on our toes, indulged in delicious treats and enjoyed the chance to chat and connect—something we’re usually too busy rehearsing to do! We were also treated to fabulous entertainment by some of our talented quartets.And, of course, we sang!

It was the perfect way to cap off an amazing year with our chorus family. As we take a short break for the holidays, we’ll rest, recharge, and return on January 8th, ready to dive into preparations for Sweet Adelines International Contest in October 2025!

Wishing everyone a holiday season filled with music, love, and laughter!