2019 A Cappella Academy & Concert: Serious Wow Factor!
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The Sounds of Aloha's A Cappella Academy for young singers had a lot of "firsts" in 2019!
Sounds of Aloha's blog
SOA Again Pays Tribute to America's Fallen Service Members
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The Sounds of Aloha again proudly helped commemorate fallen U.S. military service members, at the 70th Annual Mayor's Memorial Day Ceremony on May 27, 2019 at the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Puowaina (Punchbowl Crater). Along with the Royal Hawaiian Band, the chorus has become a fixture at this moving event, musically speaking. In addition to Mayor Kirk Caldwell and other dignitaries, this year's honored guest was U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John M. Richardson, whose service record, it was noted, includes command of the submarine U.S.S. Honolulu.
Ice Cream and Barbershop Make a Great Combination!
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"Ice cream, ice cream, ice creaaaam!" A fun time was had by all at the Sounds of Aloha's annual Ice Cream Social, dubbed "Sundaes on a Sunday," on May 19, 2019, at the McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Beach Park. Once again, attendees enjoyed all-you-can-eat Dave's Ice Cream with all the fixin's, other refreshments from our other generous sponsors, and best of all, lots of harmony and singing, up close and personal.
Another Great Community Choral Festival is In the Books!
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One of the Sounds of Aloha's favorite events of the whole year is when we get to listen to, and sing for, other choirs at the Community Choral Festival held by our friends in the Honolulu Chorale. The 2019 festival on April 28 was no exception, and once again, the individual groups and the event as whole were better than ever! The diversity of music that every group selected to share in its own set was especially impressive.
A Fond Farewell and Best Wishes to De DeCrow
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Today marks the departure from Hawaii of a Sounds of Aloha member with one of the longest and most influential legacies in Hawaii's barbershop community. Thurlow "De" DeCrow is moving to the Dallas, Texas area to live near his son Steve. He has been a member of the Sounds of Aloha Chorus for 66 years.
De was a fixture in the chorus baritone section, in various chorus leadership roles, and in a number of quartets, including the especially long-lived and well-known Tiki Tones and Sugarcane Express. SOA member Bill Joor stood on the opposite end of those two quartets, as the tenor, for a combined total of 40 years.
Hawaii's Musical Cupids Strike Again!
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The Sounds of Aloha's annual Singing Valentines event was a big hit again in 2019, with love songs delivered all over Oahu to appreciative sweethearts! February 13 and 14 saw quartets deployed across the island bearing roses from Watanabe Floral, personalized cards from loved ones, and romantic serenades! 19th Avenue (with substitute bass Adam LeFebvre) spread the word about the event with the help of KHON TV's Wake Up 2day.
SOA Pays Musical Tribute to Belatedly Recognized Heroes
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America's Filipino heroes of the Second World War are finally getting some overdue recognition nationally, and the Sounds of Aloha Chorus was thrilled to help by raising our voices in celebration at a very special occasion at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu! The chorus provided music for the January 26, 2019 award ceremony honoring Filipino veteran recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress's highest civilian honor.
SOA's Christmas "Gift of Song" is a Gift Well-Received!
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An enthusiastic audience enjoyed a free concert of holiday favorites on the first Friday night of December 2018 (which this year fell on the seventh) in the beautiful and historic Kawaiaha'o Church! The performance of "A Gift of Song" by the Sounds of Aloha Chorus and its quartets was co-sponsored by the Kawaiaha'o Church Ministry of Music & Arts. We were grateful for this opportunity to share Christmas joy, harmony, and laughs with so many old friends and so many new ones, and it was exciting to do so right across the street from the Honolulu City Lights celebration. The church is a wonderful setting for music any time of year, but even more so when it is beautifully decorated for the holidays!
Overflow Crowd Enjoys "A Night At the Movies!" with SOA!
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The Sounds of Aloha's latest cabaret dinner show, on October 13, 2018, at St. Pius X Hall in Manoa, treated our patrons to a musical celebration of "A Night at the Movies!" The program featured some of the best songs from the golden age of film until the present day, including several exciting numbers that are new to our repertoire. Those in attendance had a grand time, and as you can see here, our guys really got into it too!
Singing for Our Friends, and Making New Ones, in Makiki!
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The Sounds of Aloha Chorus had a whole lot of fun performing for our friends at the Honolulu Church of Christ and their guests at their Friends and Family Day on September 16, 2018. The chorus and four of our quartets shared songs from the Great American Songbook, including several terrific new additions to our burgeoning repertoire!
We are so grateful for the church's hospitality in affording us an alternate rehearsal venue on many a Thursday evening this year when our normal site, the Palladium at the Ala Golf Course Clubhouse, was unavailable during repairs. It was great to see so many smiliing faces that afternoon as we expressed our thanks and shared our art form!
