On October 21, Na Leo Lani joined with members of Honolulu Blend Show Chorus and men from Sounds of Aloha to celebrate World Singing Day.
Following a picnic and talk story time, we circled up and sang. The gorgeous surroundings of Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head were especially inspiring as we harmonized tunes we knew in common and new songs we learned on the spot.
Special thanks to HBSC director, Stephanie Brictson, for organizing this event, as well as to NLL members who attended: Jojo, Anna, Yvonne, Charley, Deb, Summer, Rosie and Chris, and dual NLL and HSBC members Yvonne and Charley.
We love harmonizing with all of you!
Beautiful music in a beautiful settingDirectors Chris and StephanieBarbershop harmony in harmony with nature!
A warm welcome to new Sweet Adeline, Rose, who was confirmed by the chorus as a new Na Leo Lani member this week. Rose brings her melodious voice, warm smile, and previous choral experience to our tenor section. We are thrilled to have her and look forward to many happy musical moments together!
Marking the occasion with cookies!
Making it official with our director, Chris, and president, Deb.
It’s almost that time of year again when the malls are decked out in poinsettias and we find ourselves crooning along with Bing Crosby, Mariah Carey (and Wham!?!) about Christmas days of old. If you love putting the “Mele” in “Mele Kalikimaka” (you know you do!), then Na Leo Lani’s “Sing with Us for the Holidays” (“SWUFTH”!) is for you!
Returning this year for another memorable season of song, SWUFTH 2023 is a ten-week program for women and women-identifying singers, age 14 and up, of all vocal talents and ranges.
WHEN?Wednesdays, 6:00 – 7:30 pm, October 11 – December 20 (December rehearsals may extend a bit longer)
WHERE?Mo’ili’ili Hongwanji, 902 University Avenue, Honolulu. Click HERE for map and parking details.
WHAT & HOW MUCH? $30.00 (Includes sheet music and learning tracks for three songs and two singalongs, plus weekly rehearsals & participation in our holiday performances in December.)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Email naleolanichorus@gmail.com or simply come to one of our weekly rehearsals.
For general info about Na Leo Lani chorus, see our Join Us and Who We Are webpages.
Whether you are an old hand at choral music or have only ever sung in the shower, we invite you to embrace the spirit of the season and experience the delights of four-part a cappella barbershop harmony for the holidays.
“SWUFTH” 2023 starts October 11. Come join the fun!
Na Leo Lani was pleased to perform for the June 2 ceremony at 15 Craigside honoring Hawaii’s top volunteers of 2023. Guests included Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke. Thank you to Adam LeFebvre for the lovely photos and video excerpt [click here to hear us!] from the event.
The indomitable JoAnne!With Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke
Guests and members (some dressed up in honor of “National Fast Food Day”)
Our rehearsal last night was graced by the presence of five ! guests, including two visiting Sweet Adelines from Australia — Marg Cox and Justine Cox, both of Southern Cross Region 34Headliners Chorus in New South Wales. We had a grand time and lots of laughs, including some crazy costumes in honor of Fast Food Day (who knew?!) and an audition by quartet Loco Moco.
Rehearsing Silent Night in Japanese Loco Moco auditioned to make official our new lead, Coralyn!
After months of rehearsals and many challenges along the way, we sailed through our competition recording yesterday with full-throated joy. What a journey it has been!
Thank you so much to our director, Christine Wee; to the Region 12 recording team of Mary Mamer, Donna Prochazka, Randy Sahae, and Joanna Davis, who flew all the way out to Hawai’i for a quick, 48-hour whirlwind of lights, camera, and action; to the men of Sounds of Aloha who volunteered hours of their day to assist with the event; and to our Vice-President, Kristi Dagdagan, who organized an elegant and bounteous Afterglow. Each of you was masterful in your attention to detail, planning, and performance. Our kids, too, rose to the occasion, tirelessly putting in hours of work to set up and clean up the party. The delicious food and beautiful setting of the Afterglow made for the perfect ending to our 2022 contest experience.
Most of all, thank you to our amazing chorus members, who stayed together through two and half long years of Zoom rehearsals, masked rehearsals, and rehearsals in unusual and less than ideal settings. As the lyrics of one of our contest songs goes, “There is a feeling deep in my heart . . . It’s a feeling heavenly!” Uniting in harmony truly is heavenly. Thanks, ladies, for making it happen.
Na Leo Lani, Pure Nerves, Rhapsody, and the Region 12 recording teamIn the role of “Lani” In the role of “Tutu”Singing with heartOur director in action.The closing chord The Region 12 recording team and volunteers from Sounds of Aloha, plus Tim Waurick!Rhapsody and Pure Nerves taka photo opHamming it upThe wonderful volunteers (our kids!) who made our Afterglow possible Relaxing at the AfterglowRhapsody shares a tune at our AfterglowView from the topKieko & Chris happy and relieved at the end of our performance
Recently featured in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s “Back in the Day” / Archive section was this photo from October 30, 1969 of the Air Fares of California, participating in the Sweet Adelines 23rd annual International Convention and Quartet Competition in Honolulu.
Do you recognize any of the women in this photo? If so, let us know!
The caption reads” The Air Fares from California are among 41 ladies’ barbershop quartets competing for the championship at the Sweet Adelines 23rd annual International Convention and Quartet Competition at the Honolulu International Center.”
Na Leo Lani Chorus 