Every NLL rehearsal is an opportunity for fun, but Halloween in particular is a time for good-spirited silliness, with unusual assemblages of vocal parts facing off in a Krazy Kwartet competition.
This year’s Kraziness featured a trio of spooky witches, an all-tenor ensemble hitting those scary high notes, and a quintet of bold basses. Not to be outdone, the leads and baris formed a motley flock of black sheep — so baaaad, they’re good!
Basses band together
What a whirlwind few weeks it’s been — more than a month has passed already of our Sing With Us for the Holidays (SWUFTH 😉) program! It’s been a joy getting to know our SWUFTH participants and blending with them in marvelous holiday harmony.
Enjoy some snapshots of Weeks 1-4 below, plus a snippet of an impromptu ensemble warming up the chorus with an old favorite.
Thanks so much to everyone who turned out for our yard sale fundraiser on October 19!
There were bargains galore and a fantastic team of NLL members and supporters whose hard work made the event run smoothly. Mahalo nui loa for all you do. 🥰
Come shop with us at our upcoming Na Leo Lani garage sale fundraiser on October 19!
WHEN? Saturday, October 19, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
WHERE? 941 Wainiha Street, Hawai’i Kai
WHAT? Gently used goods and unexpected treasures! All proceeds go to support Na Leo Lani chorus.
If you have items you’d like to donate to the sale, please email naleolanichorus [at] gmail.com
Can’t wait to see you there!
Hard to believe on this warm & sunny September day, but the holiday season will soon be upon us, and Na Leo Lani is already getting ready with the third year of SWUFTH: Sing With Us for the Holidays! The acronym may be awkward, but the sound is pure harmony.
If you love crooning Christmas carols or find yourself singing along (despite yourself!) with the holiday soundtrack at Longs, this program is for you.
When? Wednesdays October 2 – December 18, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Where? Na Leo Lani’s rehearsal space at the Mo’ili’ili Hongwanji, 902 University Ave, Honolulu.
For directions and parking info, click HERE
What? Learn SIX songs along with chorus, and participate in any holiday performances on our line-up. You will be voice-placed by our Music Team in one of the four barbershop harmony parts (tenor, lead, baritone, or bass).
How much? Cost is $35 for the full program, including sheet music and rehearsals. Register and pay in person at the first SWUFTH rehearsal on Oct. 2, or whichever week you join us.
Who? Women / women-identifying singers of all ages, abilities, and interests. Welcome, we can’t wait to meet you!
It’s been a whirlwind, literally! at our rehearsals lately as we’ve incorporated a mad frolic of colorful streamers into our moves, along with ukulele singalongs, and a walk down musical memory lane as we celebrated the 49th anniversary of the chorus.
Our 50th is coming up next year!!
Enjoy these pics from our late August and early September rehearsals, plus a snippet of a gorgeous rendering of Aloha ‘Oe by an ensemble of our members.
This past week we celebrated our August birthday gals, worked hard on the songs for our next performance, and even made time for a little ukulele strumming. It was great seeing folks back from their summer holidays, as well as a guest, Sam, whose theatre and voice background showed as she leapt into our lead section with aplomb. Welcome, Sam, and welcome back members who have been away!
The annual concert of our brother barbershop chorus, Sounds of Aloha, is just two weeks away, and if you love hearing those down-low male voices as well as the mellifluous tones of tenors with testosterone, then hurry to the Sounds of Aloha website and get tickets!
Intriguingly titled “THE Final Encore of the Gray Guardians!”, the performance will feature caped crusaders, superheroes, and other favorite male fantasies — all with a wink and a smile. They will be joined by gold medal winning quartet, Main Street!
When? Saturday, August 24, 2024, 7:04 p.m. – 9:04 p.m.
Where? Moanalua High School Performing Arts Center
Order tickets on the SOA website
Last week’s rehearsal theme featured flag-waving, Hawai’i-style, as we celebrated the state flag of Hawai’i, sang more tags, and had a ball reviewing repertoire songs. Folks who aren’t from the islands often wonder why the British Union Jack is on our flag. For more on the Hawai’i state flag history, see the explanation of our Lt. Governor, Sylvia Luke, here.
Many of our members are on vacation at the moment, so we had a small but feisty crew at this week’s rehearsal. We celebrated Christmas in July with several rounds of Mele Kalikimaka, refreshed our memory of other standards in our repertoire, and had fun singing tags in spontaneous quartets.
We also took some time to get to know each other better by going around the group and having each one of us share a bit of background about our parents. Some people brought photos and precious newspaper clippings. With members of wide-ranging ages, what an astonishing array of stories we encompass as a chorus! War, emigration, immigration, internment, refugee escape, starstruck romance, arranged marriage, self-made men, tenacious women — our parents’ stories and our own personal histories represent an extraordinary cross section of twentieth and twenty-first century history. Singing together is wonderful, but so too is learning more about each other’s origins and the experiences that made us who we are — all in the service, of course, of building harmony and making our chords ring!
Na Leo Lani Chorus 