We are a chorus of talented women, about 75 of us now, singing barbershop harmony.  We are a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, competing annually in Region 21 of that organization.   The chorus has a long history in Albuquerque 

and here is a version of that story as told by one of our members....

Enchanted Mesa Show Chorus History as seen by Pat Devejian

 Once upon a time, a hundred years ago, when Enchanted Mesa Show Chorus was Yucca Chapter, I became a Sweet Adeline.  (Actually I joined the organization in 1969 when Yucca was 42 members strong --Yucca Chapter chartered, with nine members, in 1953.  A little “pre-me” history – In 1969 Yucca won the Region 8 competition and hosted the 1969 convention.  I’m told that they also received gold medals in 1962, as did the Desertones Quartet, whose members were Mary Lee Luchetti, Lois Twyeffort, Julia Harley, and Jean Gray. In 1967 another Yucca quartet, The NewMexigals,

represented Region 8 in New York at Carnegie Hall – Shirley McKeever, Marilyn Nowlin,

Charlene Baker, and Athena Martin.  WOW!  Carnegie Hall – wish I’d been there! 

Six months after I became a member, a second chorus was formed – Chaparral Chapter,

 directed by Deanye Chapman.  Yucca then became the Albuquerque Chapter.  Lois Twyeffort

continued as our director.

It has been exciting being a member of this chorus.  We’ve had some wonderful shows

over the years – my favorites are those we’ve created, scripted, and costumed -- Broadway shows,

 futuristic shows, westerns, etc.  All fabulous fun.

The Barbersharps – Audrey Clement, Lois Twyeffort, Pat High, and Athena Martin –

was the first women’s barbershop quartet I ever heard, and they blew me away.  After hearing

them, I wanted to do “that!”  So I did – I’ve sung in some really good quartets, some not so good,

but I wouldn’t have missed a minute with any of them.  My first quartet, Note-i-rieties,

 placed 6^th in Region 8 first time out.  Not bad…. 

 

The directors of this chorus (in it's various incarnations) were:

Chapparal Chapter:

     1970-1973 – Deanye Chapman;

     1974-1976 – Charlene Baker;

     1977 – Vern McDade.

 

BIG NEWS:  in 1979 Chapparal and Albuquerque Chapters merged, becoming The Enchanted Mesa Chapter, chartering with 75 members, co-directed by Jeri Ewing and Charlene Baker.  In 1981 Bill Biffle became our director and remained with us for four years at which time, in 1984, Trish Graham stepped into the director’s role.  Trish remained our director until her untimely death in 1991.  We were all saddened by that loss, and I personally, because I not only lost a very dear friend but the lead in my quartet.  Our assistant director, Denise King took the reins.  Denise was new to directing but not to Sweet Adelines – she’d been around since age 15 when her mother was a member.  Denise has come a long way and brought us along with her – she attained the coveted title of Master Director in 2005 by helping the chorus score an all-time high 607 points.  WHEW!  That was a chorus and director goal reached at last! 

For the record, Denise has consistently directed EMSC into the top five  – 1991 – 4^th place; 1995 – 5^th; 1996-1998 - 4^th; 1999-2001 – 3^rd; 2004-2005 – 2^nd.  I’m saving the best for last:  in 2002 we WON Region 21’s gold medals.  In the spring of 2003, we hosted the Regional Competition and in September went on to place 22^nd  in EMSC’s first ever International competition. 

These 36 years have flown by and I’ve met and sung with so many special women.  Some standouts:  Pearl Borg – 1951 International quartet gold medalist and past president of the International Organization; Donna Graham – 1977 Queen of Harmony; Darcy Newell, who became a quartet International champion in 2002.  Other quartet members in our history to represent Region 21 in International competitions – Andi Rostel, Traci Love, Michele Baldwin, Claudia Thornhill, Anna-Lisa Glad, Donna Graham, Denise King, and Diane Morency.  In 2000 Donna Graham’s quartet, Portfolio, won the quartet contest at the Buckeye Invitational.

Let’s not forget the many, many women who have worked to make this chorus what is today – including those who represented us at the Regional Administrative level. 

Region 8:    Regent - Polly Baker (Yucca); Treasurer - Judy Maddux (Chapparal). 

Region 21:  Treasurer - Judy Hollis (Chapparal); Board Member - Karen Hill (Enchanted Mesa); Board Member - Lois St. John (EMSC); Treasurer, Vice President, Secretary, and WOW Editor - Judy Sherman (EMSC) ; and Director Coordinator - Denise King (EMSC).

 

The Enchanted Mesa Show Chorus (now named in 2000) is still going strong.  In August of this year (2005) we will compete in the Buckeye Invitational in Columbus, Ohio; and in July 2006 in the International Educational Symposium (IES) in San Antonio, Texas – an International Competition for the top five highest second place chorus’s; and we’ll have an annual show and a Christmas show plus a Regional Competition in between. 

We hope to continue to bring harmony to Albuquerque and its surrounding areas for many years to come.  Look for me – I’ll be the one on the front row pushing my walker around.