This year the Petaluma History rooms celebrated Women’s History Month with a song…and many voices and a new display! We highlighted the 60 years that the Chorus has been sharing their love of singing. The chorus will host a 60th anniversary celebration in October 2024 at the Petaluma First Presbyterian Church to commemorate this event along with a send-off to Kansas City to compete in the Sweet Adelines International Competition held later that month. Before we send them off, however, let’s take a brief look at the history of the Sweet Adelines and our own local group: the Pacific Empire Chorus.

In 1943, The men’s group, SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America) incorporated to organize men’s chorus groups around the country. Noticing the joy and success that their husbands were enjoying in their own barbershop singing groups, a small group of Oklahoma women, 3 years later in 1946, led by Edna Mae Anderson founded the group Sweet Adelines with the intention of sharing "chord-ringing, fun-filled harmony."

Their first convention was held in 1947 and the chorus grew from there into an organization that connects thousands of singers from around the world. In 1957, a second group -Harmony- split from the original organization over racial exclusion, but both organizations subsequently opened their doors to all who wish to join. Today’s Sweet Adelines is a diverse group whose guiding principles include their vision of ‘inspiring and empowering voices to joyfully harmonize the world’ which invites all women to share the joy of barbershop music with their communities.

In 1964, the group reached California and other locales West when Santa Rosa chartered its group.

In this article, the men’s group (I just love this very long name) SPEBSQSA, held their 4th Annual show at the Santa Rosa High School auditorium. The Sweet Adelines got a shout-out in the program.

Over the next years, the group size fluctuated but never lost forward momentum. Moving to Petaluma in 1990, the chorus began to expand, earning regional awards and working their way up to international competition – becoming one of the top 5 choruses in the world.

Outreach to all through advertisements in the Argus brought in new members wanting to join in.

...and then, the awards... 
The chorus has performed in international competitions held in Indianapolis' Hoosier Dome twice, in Nashville, Orlando, New Orleans' Super Dome, Seattle, Denver's Pepsi Center, Denver, and Hawaii. 
Each competition brought our local group new friends and new sights and more desire to keep on singing!

The Argus Courier shared the news in April 1994

From placing 23rd in international competition in 1985 to 4th place in 1993, the Pacific Empire Chorus has shown that heart, joy, song…and practice, practice, practice…pays off.

“The exciting, talented, and award-winning women’s a cappella chorus located right here in Petaluma, did it again! On May 6, 2023, Pacific Empire Chorus, “PEC”, WON the Pacific Shores Region 12 Competition of Sweet Adelines International, held in Reno, Nevada” -- Press release: May 8, 2023 

It was a long road to getting there: COVID stopped competitions, in-person rehearsals became Zoom centered and with outdoor rehearsals finally allowed, PEC members jumped right in prepared to compete. PEC was thrilled to win. They now look forward to competing at the Sweet Adelines International Competition and Convention in the fall of 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri!

Come on down to the library to see the display! The QR code takes you to the website where you can learn more about how YOU can join in the fun. 

The Chorus' Friends and Family night on April 10, 2024 featured a highlight of the event will be featured quartets -which included songs prepared for the regional competition in Nevada on April 18-20. Especially exciting will be highlighted songs from the outgoing champions package. To find out more about their upcoming events, visit: https://www.pacificempire.org You may also reach out to: sing@pacificempire.org for questions about the chorus. 

Other sources used:

https://sweetadelines.com/mission- vision-and-guiding-principles 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Adelines_International