About Us

Director Wanted for this Award Winning Chorus!

Information

Barbershop is an original American form of music displaying close, unaccompanied four-part harmonies and ringing chords. Its four voice parts are called by their traditional names– tenor, lead, baritone and bass whether referring to men’s or women’s vocal groups.

Barbershop’s distinctive quality is that the melody, sung by the lead voice, is below the tenor harmony. The bass is the harmony part below the melody line, while the baritone part is the "missing note" required to complete the four-part chord.

Sweet Adelines International is a nonprofit musical education association of women founded in 1945 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It gives its 30,000 members a mastery of four-part harmony, barbershop style. There are eight chapters in Maryland and 610 choruses throughout North America and 12 other countries.

Sweet Adelines International holds an amateur standing because its members perform simply for the love of barbershop music. However, its choruses and quartets reflect a caliber of showmanship regarded as highly professional and extremely entertaining.

Certified Director, Cydney Wentsel

Certified Director Cydney Wentsel has been a member of Sweet Adelines International for 30 years. She has performed in many choruses and quartets, including Independent Party (1983 Region 14 quartet champions), Elkridge Chorus (1986 and 1988 Region 19 chorus champions), Madison Avenue (seven-time top five Region 19 medalist quartet) and most recently, she sings tenor with Vogue (2006 Region 19 second place medalist quartet).

An accomplished singer, choreographer, music arranger, quartet and chorus coach, and director, Cyd has been tapped on numerous occasions to share her expertise with other Sweet Adelines. During the past 20 years as a member of Region 19’s education faculty, she has taught classes in arranging barbershop harmony, singing baritone, arm-waving, tag singing, sight reading music, and personal vocal improvement. Her tenure in regional leadership also includes three years as the region’s Director of Musical Activities.

Cyd has been musical director of the Upper Chesapeake Chorus for 20 years. During that time, the chorus has won many regional awards including its highest placement, third place overall in 2005. Previously, UCC has achieved honors as first and second place small chorus, first and second place mid-size chorus, and 4th and 5th place overall. Additionally, UCC has twice been named Most Improved Chorus.

In her daily life, Cyd is supervisor of the school counseling program for the 50 public schools in Harford County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from DePauw University, a Master of Science in School Counseling from Purdue University, and certification in administration and supervision from Loyola College.

UCC continues to grow, both in numbers and musical ability, thanks to Cyd’s leadership, talent, friendship, and tireless dedication.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals are held on Monday nights from 7 PM - 10 PM at the Fellowship Hall of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 201 Mt. Royal Avenue, Aberdeen, MD.

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Directions to the Fellowship Hall of St. Paul's Lutheran Church

Take I-95 to MD Rt. 22, exit towards Aberdeen (east). Go to Mt. Royal Avenue and turn right. The church is in the middle of the block on the left. Here it is on Google Maps!

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Typical rehearsals include:

• Physical Warm-ups
• Vocal Warm-ups
• Vocal Production
• Choreography
• Work on Repertoire

If you have any questions, you can contact our Membership Coordinator, Debbie Verbillis, by phone at 410 638-6802 or by email debverb (at) aol.com, or by calling the UCC hotline at 410 638-0777.