Returning to rehearsal this week after a two-week break, we marked this week’s theme, “National Coloring Book Day,” with our favorite colors and children’s books. After fun warmups by the Wee women, we launched into repertoire review, including sectional duets of our Summer Program song, “Count on Me” — a tune that is rapidly becoming one of our favorites.
Coming through town or interested in joining a chorus? Come check us out — Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at the Mo’ili’ili Hongwanji! See our join us page for more info.
What a blast we had on July 8 performing the two songs we learned for our summer program, as well as many other favorites from the Na Leo Lani repertoire. Making it even more special was a supportive turnout from sister choruses Honolulu Blend Show Chorus, Mission Valley Chorus (California), and Velvet Hills Chorus (Colorado).
After our performance, members of the audience and Na Leo Lani singers came up to participate in our first ever open mic event. It was a great afternoon of singing all around.
Many thanks to our summer program participants Summer, Marlene, Carolyn, and Donna — we hope you will continue singing with us! — and of course to all our chorus members and their families who made the event possible. Thanks most of all to Chris, our Director, for introducing these challenging but fun new songs. As she noted, they are still very much works in progress (hence our holding our sheet music in the video clip), but we covered a lot of ground in just six weeks and look forward to perfecting them further.
Enjoy the pics and video clips from the performance and open mic event below.
Amazing Summer Program participants Summer, Carolyn, and MarleneSandra from Mission Valley chorus and Chris Wee, NLL DirectorPure Nerves 2.0 with Anna pinch-hitting on bassFriends quartet reunited!A snippet from our new Summer Program song, “For Good”“How We Sang Today” joined by members Honolulu Blend Show Chorus, Mission Valley Chorus (California), and Velvet Hills Chorus (Colorado).Betsy tickling the ivories for open mic! A pop-up quartet of NLL members Chris and her husband, Phil, perform an open mic duet. Talk about nominative determinism — four variants of Carols, all of whom love caroling: Karlyn, Carolyn, Carol Kieko, and Carole!
At this week’s rehearsal, Na Leo Lani members wore a festive mix of red, white, and blue to honor and acknowledge those who served and those we’ve lost.
Another fun night of rehearsal with ensemble -style sectionals and a debut of a new tune by Pure Nerves quartet. The theme was “Goth Night,” which made for a lot of folks in black and some heavy eyeliner. 😉
Enjoy the video snippets and pic below.
Group B working on blend.
Pure Nerves offered an ode to America’s favorite sandwich. 🙂
Doing our best to look like “Goths” — with a dash of Halloween spirit thrown in (photo courtesy of Suzanne).
We had a ball today performing at the City & County of Honolulu Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) annual volunteer recognition celebration at the Waikiki Community Center.
In addition to honoring O’ahu’s 2023 volunteers of the year, we also recognized one of our own, Rosie Ramiro, who volunteers for the Lanakila Senior Center and many other places.
Whether serving on chorus committees, helping with rehearsal logistics, carpooling, or just sharing snacks, all of our NLL members are vital volunteers in our own right. Harmony is by definition a collective venture!
See video and pics below.
A couple of favorites. Photos and video courtesy of Adam LeFebvre, a fellow barbershopper who serves the City and County of Honolulu when he’s not singing!
After much hard work and immense amounts of help from family and friends, we put on our first holiday concert in three years! Thank you to all who came and enjoyed the show!
Very special thanks to
Reverend Won-Seok Yuh and Harris United Methodist Church for so generously allowing us use of their beautiful facility.
Jeff LeFebvre and his teamfor their much appreciated technical expertise and audio equipment support
Our very generous monetary donors for contributing to this hobby we love so much. Your contributions go toward rehearsal space rental, director fees, new music, music education, and preparations for our 2024 regional contest.
Our friends and family, who help set up, staff tables, bake delicious things, and pitch in to accomplish the essential tasks that enable us to put on a show!
Whether you support us with your time, your spirit, or your funds, know that our gratitude knows no bounds.
Na Leo Lani in concert!
Ovah da Pali ensemble Two generations of barbershoppers!Chris and RuthLoco Moco quartet
Guest quartet Vocal Mixology!
Pure Nerves quartet didn’t have a photo op at our 12/18 concert. Here is a pic from another of their recent performances instead.
Tonight’s rehearsal was extra special thanks to the presence of visitors Sandy and Ruthanne from Heart of Michigan Chorus, SAI Region 2. They took time out of their vacation to join us for a full night of song — and they enriched our bari and tenor sections in the process!
Also returning were old hands, SWUFTH participants, and repeat visitors Yoko, Lissi, Allison, and Pamela. Thank you for joining us, ladies! Can’t wait to see you next week.
Ruthanne and Sandy, all the way from Heart of Michigan Chorus in Breckenridge, MISporting a fitness theme at tonight’s rehearsal
Na Leo Lani sends you our very best wishes for a healthy, joyous, and harmonious holiday season with our version of “Silent Night,” with lyrics in English, Japanese, and Hawaiian, reflecting chorus members’ multicultural heritage and our love for the islands we call home.
Click the video below to watch our musical Christmas card.
Music and lyrics by Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber, a cappella arrangement by Arlene Fox, video-editing by Randy Sahae.
In 2020, while all of Honolulu was under pandemic lockdown orders, O’ahu’s three barbershop choruses — Na Leo Lani, the Sounds of Aloha Chorus, and Honolulu Blend Show Chorus — came together to overcome the gloom and learn a new song together for our first-ever virtual performance. It was a steep learning curve, but the results — a joyful blend of male and female voices in upbeat celebration — were well worth it. Many thanks to Adam LeFebvre of Sounds of Aloha for his extraordinary editing skills. Enjoy the performance by clicking HERE: “If There’s Anybody Here From Out of Town.”
Male and female barbershop voices in a socially distanced but heartfelt blend.
In August 2020, Na Leo Lani celebrated its 45th anniversary with a virtual birthday bash attended by friends from around the world. Our president, Dana Taylor, put together a slideshow of photos and memorabilia from our first four and a half decades. Our vice-president, Pam Ednie, emceed a live fashion parade of some of the many elegant costumes we have performed in over the years.
Na Leo Lani Chorus 