Vocal HERSpective

Anita Prather Harvell's Harmony, Inc. story starts with a night in a bar, but developed from so much more than that. One of the first faces you'll see at a convention, she brings a wide variety of experiences to the table that help her on and off stage as part of the lifeblood of the organization.

When the Jack of all Trades Barberbrat becomes a Barbershop Queen - who you have is Melody Hine. You can find Melody in all of the barbershop orgs AND hear her arrangements as her work is going through a meteoric rise right now. Harmony Queen with Hot Pursuit in 2019, Melody first took the stage with Song of Atlanta Show Chorus at age 14. You've also seen her with Parkside Melody and we all await the official debut of Lazy Susan, but in the meantime, tune in to hear the interview!

Get to know Fatima Whelan, who brings a wealth of experience and love for the art form to Valley Voices A Cappella Chorus, her quartet Flourish, and to the judging panel for Harmony, Incorporated. We talk about a cappella from barbershop to contemporary, the role music plays in helping people feel like they belong, and so much more!

On this episode we sit down with Jill Clark to talk about her journey from falling in love with a cappella to owning her own production company. It's been quite a ride and we are especially excited to feature Jill as a woman who primarily works on the technical side of things - something that is still so uncommon!

Our hearts are overflowing with the myriad of ways we could introduce this week's guest, but we'll leave it at: Living Legend. Jeanne O'Connor exemplifies everything it means to "give of talents, time, and song" because that is exactly what she has been doing for over 64 years. Jeanne joined The Village Vocal Chords of Harmony Incorporated at just 14 years old, eventually going on to be their director, leading the group to 20 gold medals. She was also a member of Queen quartets, The Scale Blazers (1964), Esprit De Corps (1974), and U4X (2008). She also lent her voice to winning quartets, Kaleidoscope and Voices, and now sings with Coastal Voices. Jeanne is also a longtime volunteer and member of the International Board, including multiple terms as International President. We *could* go on and on, but we'll let you tune into the interview to learn more!

This week our interview is with barbershop swiss army knife, Lorie Autote. Lorie is a two time queen with For Heaven's Sake and LiveWire and also a member of champion chorus, Northern Blend. She is currently competing with Vivàce Quartet, too! Listen in for all the wisdom this longtime, successful singer has to share.

Dr. Thea Kano came on as the surprising choice for Artistic Director of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington 21 years ago. The conversation highlights the important role that music and the arts play in turbulent times and how the chorus lives out their mission to promote equality, achieve justice, and overcome our differences.

From a childhood full of music, to a scary diagnosis, to finding her voice again, Lynn Blakeney clearly doesn't take her ability to sing for granted. With three sparkly hats and more medals than she can count, you may be surprised to know that Lynn's focus goes far beyond competing. Listen in as she chats about her time with Upstate Rhythm, LiveWire, Roulette, Northern Blend, and even Village Vocal Chords, plus her perspective as a judge and coach. So much to pack into one episode!

Amy Patterson pulls off quite the balancing act in the sheer amount of things she accomplishes. You can see her singing or directing with A Cappella Showcase, singing with her International level quartets, Empire and Sapphire, quickly building a new mixed chorus with Voices Unlimited, or nurturing the singers of tomorrow with Young Voices. Oh, and then judging, coaching, and teaching. Hear more from this barbershop start out of Ontario on this week's episode!

Allison Thompson certainly knows how to keep about a dozen balls in the air at once. As the Convention Manager for Harmony, Inc., Allison is the driving force behind the annual International Convention & Contest. This year, she's also stepped up to help with the organization's expansion efforts and is leading the team for Harmony Fest West. Hear more about the upcoming events and gain a little insight on what goes into pulling off stellar large-scale events!