Pride of Portland

When we talk about the best Sweet Adeline choruses in the United States, Pride of Portland is always on the list.  I was hoping they would invite me to stop by and very happy when Allison Lew did.

It wasn't an easy decision because there was another foul weather system headed for Portland and it was due to arrive Wednesday night, possibly preventing my departure on Thursday.   But after consulting with my FAA weather briefer, I learned that Oregon has micro climates, like my home region the SF Bay Area.  Portland can be rainy and over the Cascade mountains it can be sunshine.  So I relocated my plane to the Dalles and planned to leave 9am Thursday.  This happy decision meant I could visit Pride of Portland Chorus!

I was one of 12 visitors, (mostly baritones!), on Wednesday night where, after three physical warmups and three or four song warmups, they worked on their competition songs, some New Zealand trip songs, and a new song.  I can sight read music reasonably well, and I tried to keep up with them, but when a song has five key changes, well ... that's when I go sit down in the visitor gallery.

I was thoroughly impressed with their professionalism and skill, and can't wait to seem them on the competition stage in Las Vegas.  Pride of Portland I will be cheering for you!!!

Picture below is Bridge Over Troubled Water, arranged for soloist, quartet and chorus.  They have some interesting and fun arrangements, including a new one by Lauren Kahn, who used to sing with Pride, and now directs Greater Eugene Chorus where I sang on Monday.

Many thanks to Judy and Ken Galloway, Judy Beckman (and Lance), Raymond and Lisa Schwarzkopf, and everyone else who made my stay so memorable. Heading home on Thursday.