Alameda Residents “Return to Vaudeville”

What a great hobby to enjoy with your fellow Alamedans! The Harmony Fusion Chorus of Sweet Adelines is fortunate to have this group of performers, respresenting Alameda, in their chorus’s next show, “Return to Vaudeville”.

Harmony Fusion has the pleasure of introducing, from left to right, Sue McLaughlin, Lydia Chapman, Sandi and Norman McEachron, Jenny Swartz-Groody, and Garrienne Nakano. Jenny will be providing valuable services in the lobby and backstage.

Sue, Lydia, Sandi, Norman and Garrienne along with the entire cast of 35+ members of Harmony Fusion Chorus will be performing in Return to Vaudeville on Saturday, Sept. 29 (matinee at 2 p.m. and evening, 7:30 p.m.), at the Danville Village, Theater, 233 Front St., Danville.

For ticket information call (925) 314-3400. Their website is: www.villagetheatreshows.com. The audience will enjoy entertaining performances of “Me and My Shadow” and “Take Me Out to The Ball Game” as well as many other songs. The show will also include a fascinating juggler, a championship winning men’s quartet and the Who’s On First routine made popular by Abbott & Costello.

Sue: When Lydia asked me if I wanted to join Harmony Fusion with her, I said, “Sure!” without hesitation! What a great decision that was! As a new member of Harmony Fusion, I’m very excited to return to singing a cappella music. Originally from Rhode Island, I studied voice for four years with Marilyn Cocozza Trillo, a member of the “Ursa Minors,” an all-female a cappella group at Brown University. In the Spring of 2012, I sang in the Alameda Community Chorus. I enjoy singing in the car on my long commutes to and from South San Francisco each day, I love performing in groups, and am honored to be very kindly welcomed into this wonderful chorus of talented ladies!

Lydia is thrilled to once again be a part of Harmony Fusion! Lydia first sang with the Harmony Bay chapter of the chorus 12 years ago and she was touched to find that, upon her return, she was greeted with familiar faces and open arms. Lydia has had experience in musical theater at Alameda High School, student choruses at Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR and she most recently sang with the Alameda Adult Chorus. However, she knows nothing compares to the camaraderie and enthusiasm of Harmony Fusion, so she couldn't wait to return and bring her friend, Sue McLaughlin, along for the fun!

Sandi and Norman McEachron: Norm and I moved to Alameda in 1989 and have lived here ever since. I’ve been in the theater realm since taking classes at Los Positas and Chabot College. My first choral experience was with the Livermore Symphony Chorus, but I wanted more! I saw an ad in the Alameda newspaper about Harmony Bay Chorus and have been a Sweet Adelines chorus member ever since. I loved it! Norm has been a great supporter of Harmony Fusion Chorus and all its shows. Both of us have parts in Return to Vaudeville . I designed and made the vaudeville stage backdrop. Norm looks forward to contributing more in the future.

Jenny: After living in American Canyon for 13 years, we decided to move back to the East Bay and found a great house in Alameda. We've been here for 6 years now and still love it. I used to sing with Solano Choral Society and wanted to find a group down here. I went looking on the web to see what was around and found Harmony Fusion. I was a bit intimidated by the audition, but they were wonderfully patient with me. In addition to finding a group to sing with, I found 40 new friends. It was great that there was an Alameda carpool that had enough space for me.

Garrienne is the group’s most seasoned member from this island city. She became a member of Sweet Adelines’s chartered chorus, Harmony Bay, in 1991, when it was based in Berkeley. She has been singing Lead (melody) for the past 22 years. She came to Alameda in the 6th grade; went to Longfellow M.S., Encinal H.S. and graduated from Alameda High School. She’s married to Steve Nakano and they have two grown children, Julienne and Tom. They’re the owners, for the past 33 years, of Schroeder-Dent Printing, located at 741 Buena Vista Ave.

The Harmony Fusion Chorus is an award-winning chorus with more than 35 years experience singing and performing in the Bay Area. Barb Vander Putten, brings over 34 yrs of vocal music experience to her role as director of Harmony Fusion. Joining Sweet Adelines in1995, Barb provides the chorus musical education with her own special mixture of passion and humor, making working on our vocal craft rewarding and fun.

Harmony Fusion's members enjoy singing and are constantly perfecting their craft of a cappella 4-part harmony. Harmony Fusion is a local chorus, rehearsing every Monday evening at 7 p.m. at the Hill & Valley Club, 1808 B St., Hayward. Guests are always welcometo join them for an evening of fun. For more information, visit the chorus website at www.harmonyfusion.org.