Alaska singers mine gold at championships

Anchorage-based Alaska Sound Celebration besting 15 other groups from Alaska, Washington and Idaho to win the gold medal April 27-29 at the regional championships for women’s barbershop groups held in Spokane, Wash.

The win means Alaska Sound Celebration, directed by Karen Leet of Palmer and Peggy McBride of Anchorage, qualify for the Sweet Adelines World Championships in Hawaii in November 2013.

The chorus is comprised of 60 women from Anchorage and the Mat-Su and received a second gold medal for being the highest scoring group of its size.

For the first time in 30 years, the quartet competition was won by an Alaska quartet, Backbeat, comprised Karen Leet, Cheryl Cullen and Carol Bailey of Anchorage and Katy Hawley of Washington.

Hawley stepped in to sing after Backbeat’s tenor, Kathy Laymon of Anchorage, who was unable to travel to Spokane. Backbeat’s win means the group is eligible to compete at this year’s world championships in Denver.

“After coming second in the competition three times, it’s a huge thrill to finally take the gold medal,” Leet said. “We could not have done it without the love and support of our families and Alaska Sound Celebration. We are very excited to compete in Denver.”

Alaska Sound Celebration is looking forward to recruiting new members to join the group for the Hawaii world championships.

For more information, contact info@alaskasoundcelebration.org.