Sweet Adelines International Relocates the 59th Annual Convention and Competition from New Orleans to Detroit

Sweet Adelines International Relocates the 59th Annual Convention and Competition from New Orleans to Detroit

TULSA, Okla., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweet Adelines International announces that the 59th annual convention and competition will be relocated from New Orleans, Louisiana to Detroit, Michigan, October 4-8, 2005.

"The Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, along with our hospitality community, is grateful to be able to offer assistance by hosting the Sweet Adelines International Convention and Competition and honoring the organization's 60th Anniversary," stated Larry Alexander, President and CEO. "While our hearts are in the south with the victims of this terrible tragedy, our staff and community are committed to providing Sweet Adelines with a remarkable and memorable experience in Detroit, a city world renowned for its musical heritage," Alexander continued.

Sweet Adelines International is headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., where it was founded in 1945. It is one of the largest women's singing organizations in the world, committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performance. The international membership of nearly 30,000 women, all singing in English, includes choruses in most of the fifty United States as well as in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, Wales and the Netherlands. There are also prospective choruses in Denmark, Greece and United Arab Emirates. The organization encompasses more than 1,200 registered quartets and 600 choruses. This year marks Sweet Adelines International's 60th anniversary.

More than 9,500 four-part harmony singers and guests from around the world are expected to bring their unique style of music to the Cobo Arena. Sweet Adelines International is deeply saddened by the tragic events caused by Hurricane Katrina. Members will honor them by joining hands, hearts and voices in harmony.

The convention will commence on Tuesday, October 4, beginning at 8:00 p.m., with Showcase, featuring The Kingston Trio, 2005 International Quartet Champion "THE BUZZ," and the 2005 International Chorus Champion Harborlites Chorus.

With more than 33 choruses and 47 quartets from around the globe competing for the gold, the Cobo Arena is sure to be buzzing with excitement. The close- harmony competitions open with the quartet semifinals on Wednesday, October 5, 10:45 a.m. The top ten quartets return for the finals on Friday, October 7, beginning at noon. The 2005 International Champion Quartet, "THE BUZZ," will relinquish their crowns to one winning quartet.

The chorus semifinals competition opens on Thursday, October 6, 10:45 a.m., at the Cobo Arena. Only the ten best choruses reach the finals on Saturday, October 8, beginning at noon. The 2005 International Champion Chorus, Harborlites, under the direction of Master Director Pam Pieson, will hand over the title to the 2006 Champion.

A Friday morning Mass Sing on October 7 will draw thousands of singers together for a FREE concert at the Cobo Conference and Exhibition Center. Members of the community and media are encouraged to join with Sweet Adelines International members from around the world. The event begins at 11:15 a.m.

All competition sessions and Showcase are open to the public. Tickets may be purchased at the Sweet Adelines International ticket office at the Cobo Conference and Exhibition Center beginning Tuesday, October 4, 9:00 a.m. Individual tickets range in price from $30 to $35 per competition session. The best value is the all-event pass at $125 for Sweet Adelines International members and $140 for non-members, which allows access into each semifinal and finals competition. Showcase tickets are $25 each. Call 800.992.7464 for more ticket information or go to http://www.sweetadelineintl.org/.

Photos:

http://www.ereleases.com/pr/2005-sweetadelines.html

Contact:

Kelly Kirchhoff, Director of Communications or Sherree Murray, Communications Assistant 800.992.7464 commdept@sweetadelineintl.org

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.

Source: Sweet Adelines International

CONTACT: Kelly Kirchhoff, Director of Communications or Sherree Murray, Communications Assistant of Sweet Adelines International, +1-800-992-7464, commdept@sweetadelineintl.org

Web site: http://www.sweetadelineintl.org/

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