Adelines

Calling all shower sopranos! If you like to sing and harmonize, here's an opportunity to improve your voice in a friendly, fun atmosphere with the Upper Chesapeake Chorus of Sweet Adelines International.The choral group, which sings four-part a cappella harmony in the barbershop style, is holding a four-week vocal workshop for prospective members starting Sept. 12."It's really a lot of fun," says Fran King, president of the chorus. "We decided on the name 'Vocal Images Show Chorus' for our performing group because we want people to know we're not just a bunch of old ladies standing on risers singing old songs."

Adeline Ogier Bracken, a multi-talented athlete who earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics when few women attended college and went on to raise 10 children, died Tuesday of heart failure at Mercy Ridge Retirement Community in Timonium. She was 96. Mrs. Bracken, born Adeline Ogier and raised in Baltimore's Roland Park, was inducted into the athletic Hall of Fame of both her high school and college, her family said. She excelled at many sports. As a child she sailed and swam during summers at Gibson Island.

SOMETIMES, EVEN the best laid plans go wrong. A few weeks ago, the Crofton Civic Association had planned an evening concert to be held at the Village Green. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate. It rained.Recreation assistant Linda Van Sickel rescheduled the concert for 6: 30 p.m. Monday on the Village Green. The program will begin with a performance by the Dundalk Chapter of the Sweet Adelines, followed by the local band Pocket Change. Bring a chair and join some friends for an evening of music.

The four women of Maxx Factor make beautiful music together. That's a given, and it explains why the Sweet Adelines quartet from Baltimore was chosen to compete on "The Sing-Off," an a cappella music competition debuting on NBC Monday night. But maybe that's not the whole story. Given that the four members of Maxx Factor are all in their 30s or older, while their competition comes primarily from kids who are teenagers or only slightly older, maybe the producers hoped the four Baltimore-area women could provide something of a calming influence.

Members of the Elkridge Chorus, Sweet Adelines stood on risers and focused on their music director, who conveyed the interpretation and tempo he wanted them to put into a 1940s swing song, "Java Jive.""I love coffee . . . I love tea . . . I love the Java jive and it loves the women sang -- young and old, homemakers, professionals, retirees, mothers and daughters, all hitting the notes just right.Once a week the women, who come from six different counties, meet at Hilltop Elementary School in Ferndale and stand for three hours practicing songs for the sake of a shared love: barbershop-style singing.

A quartet from Ramapo, N.J., and a chorus from Richardson, Texas, sang their way to the top notes at the 46th Annual Sweet Adelines International Convention and Competition last weekend at the Baltimore Arena.The convention drew some 8,000 members of all-female barbershop harmony singing organizations, who began competitions Wednesday and concluded Saturday night.The top quartet was judged to be City Lights, whose four members -- Nancy Fuhrmann, Jo Lund, Sharon Vitkovsky and Jeannie Froelich -- were part of the Ramapo Valley Chorus.

When more than 250 members of the Sweet Adelines finish their Inner Harbor concert Aug. 13 in Baltimore, Frances King will have herself to thank.Ms. King of Bel Air is president of the Vocal Images Show Chorus from the Upper Chesapeake chapter of Sweet Adelines International. She has organized a "mass sing" in the Inner Harbor amphitheater to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Sweet Adelines, a group that sings in a traditional barbershop style."The idea just kind of came up on the spur of the moment," she said.

The woman and her date were enjoying a romantic dinner at a Havre de Grace restaurant last Valentine's Day when four strangers came up to the table and burst into song -- and then another song.For the barbershop quartet, it was business as usual.For the amazed woman, it was the perfect Valentine gift.Her boyfriend had planned the surprise, said Frank Lina, a member of the group that serenaded the couple."He made all kinds of points that night," Mr. Lina said with a chuckle. "You could see the sparks flying."

WHAT COULD BE nicer than a summer evening concert under the stars? This month, area music lovers will be able to enjoy some great music in beautiful settings.Crofton Civic Association continues its summer concert series at 6: 30 p.m. Monday at the Village Green. The Dundalk chapter of Sweet Adelines will open the program, then Pocket Change performs light jazz, oldies, standards and dance music. Local musicians performing with the group are Ken Smith, Bruce White, George Vermillion and Arundel High instrumental teacher Phil Butts.

Helen M. Seay, a retired school secretary and co-founder of the Dundalk Sweet Adelines, died June 6 of heart failure at her Dundalk home. She was 88. Helen McMillen was born in Aliquippa, Pa., and moved with her family to Dundalk in 1925. She was a graduate of St. Rita parochial school and in 1937 from Eastern High School. She was also a graduate of Strayer's Business College. While working at Aberdeen Proving Ground, she met her future husband, Robert Leon Seay III, whom she married in 1941.

The four women of Maxx Factor make beautiful music together. That's a given, and it explains why the Sweet Adelines quartet from Baltimore was chosen to compete on "The Sing-Off," an a cappella music competition debuting on NBC Monday night. But maybe that's not the whole story. Given that the four members of Maxx Factor are all in their 30s or older, while their competition comes primarily from kids who are teenagers or only slightly older, maybe the producers hoped the four Baltimore-area women could provide something of a calming influence.

On January 3, 2008, ADELINE G. (nee Braten); beloved wife of the late Maurice E. Garrison; devoted mother of Linda Baril, Lynn, Greg and Michael Garrison. Also survived by six grandchildren. Friends may call E.F. Lassahn Funeral Home, P.A., 11750 Belair Road (Kingsville) on Sunday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Funeral services will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kingsville on Monday at 10 A.M. Interment St. Paul Lutheran Church Cemetery.

On September 21, 2007, ADELINE MERKLE (nee Kilmer), beloved wife of the late Harry J. Merkle, loving mother of Carol Clapp, Gerald Merkle, Paula Burke, Donna Button and the late Ted Merkle; cherished grandmother of nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Memorial service will be held at the First Lutheran Church of Gray Manor, Sunday, September 30 at 2 P.M. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the First Lutheran Church of Gray Manor, 212 Oakwood Road, Dundalk, MD, 21222.

Helen M. Seay, a retired school secretary and co-founder of the Dundalk Sweet Adelines, died June 6 of heart failure at her Dundalk home. She was 88. Helen McMillen was born in Aliquippa, Pa., and moved with her family to Dundalk in 1925. She was a graduate of St. Rita parochial school and in 1937 from Eastern High School. She was also a graduate of Strayer's Business College. While working at Aberdeen Proving Ground, she met her future husband, Robert Leon Seay III, whom she married in 1941.

On January 10, 2007, ADELINE (nee Janiszewski), of Stewartstown, PA; beloved wife of the late Richard P. Hill; devoted mother of Catherine Gerst, Diana Harris and Charlott A. Brengle; sister of Eleanor McNicholas Benigna Hall and the late Hilary Janiszewski. Also survived by five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Friends may call Monday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. at the Eline Funeral Home, 934 S. Main Street, Hampstead, MD 21074. Services Tuesday 10 A.M. at the funeral home. Interment in Evergreen Memorial Gardens.

On May 3, 2006, ADELINE M. (nee Rapski) beloved wife of the late Frank Tauber, devoted mother of Theresa La Follette, loving grandmother of Leonita Barber, Bruce La Follette Jr., and his wife Kris, Bernadine La Follette and John, Bernadette Marsh and her husband Ken. Dear sister of Josephine Toler, Ed and Leon Rapski. Mrs. Tauber was predeceased by two sisters and five brothers and survived by six great-grandchildren and two little angels. Friends may call at the CONNELLY FUNERAL HOME OF DUNDALK, P.A., 7110 Sollers Point Road on Friday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart of Mary Church on Saturday 12:30 P.M. Christian Wake Service will be held on Friday afternoon 4 P.M. Interment Holy Hill Memorial Gardens.

ST. AUGUSTINE'S church sponsored the first meetings of the Elkridge Sweet Adelines 28 years ago.The Sweet Adelines, an international music club, sings ladies' a cappella barbershop style in concert and in competition.The club has 30,000 members around the world.The Elkridge group has become a powerhouse in the world of barbershop. For the past 12 years, the Elkridge chapter has placed among the top-10 choruses in international competitions.Now, the 119-member Elkridge chorus meets in Laurel Lakes Shopping Center.

Towson Chorus of Sweet Adelines International. Women's four-part harmony chorus has openings for singers. Join the group at an open house at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at 300 W. Chesapeake Ave. in Towson. Regular rehearsals are 7:30 p.m. Mondays. Call 410-561-1229 or 410-521-7355.

Jane L. Biehl, a retired office administrator who sang for more than 40 years with area choirs and the Dundalk Sweet Adelines, died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease April 11 at Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital. The Idlewylde resident was 75. She was born Ethel Jane Landis at her home in Hamilton and was raised in the Northeast Baltimore neighborhood. She graduated from Eastern High School in 1948 and worked as a sales associate for Hutzler's department store in downtown Baltimore.