Southcentral Alaska chorus earns another region championship

WASILLA — Valley residents were among an a cappella women’s chorus that captured the Sweet Adelines International Region 13 Championship in Spokane, Washington, late last month.

The Alaska Sound Celebration Chorus won the event for the fifth consecutive time, competing against 16 other choruses. It’s the largest SAI regional competition in the world in terms of number of competitors, according to a press release issued by the group.

“Alaska Sound Celebration is a very hard working chorus in the Sweet Adelines organization. It’s so rewarding to be recognized with two first-place medals this year in Spokane,” master director Peggy Benton said in the press release.

The group earned first-place medals in the best mid-sized chorus and the best overall chorus, with a score of 634.

The women’s barbershop chorus has gained notoriety for its work in Fur Rondy Melodrama for the past 26 years, and the Celebrate the Music show each fall at the Alaska Center for Performing Arts. The nonprofit chorus meets every Tuesday at Wayland Baptist University off Muldoon Road in Anchorage.

The group always welcomes new members, the release stated.

“I’ve seen shy women suddenly come out of their shell and find confidence they never knew they had,” said Kate McKee, of Wasilla, a 14-year member of the group.

Alaska Sound Celebration Chorus will next compete on the international stage in Las Vegas, Nevada, in October of 2017. In October of 2015, the 80-member chorus placed 13th in the Las Vegas event, competing against 32 choruses from around the globe.

For more information, see alaskasoundcelebration.org or call 566-3987.