The Grand Olympics Sweet Adelines Chorus is presenting its annual fundraising event and enlisting the talent of five other local musical acts Nov. 5.
Barbershop Rocks is a 90-minute concert honoring traditional and barbershop rock with participating bands Hot Apple Pie, Rainshadow Blend, Synergy, the Strait Men Barbershop Chorus, the Grand Olympics Chorus and Guy Horton as Elvis. It will be a nice jam-packed musical event, said show chairwoman Judy Larson, who will perform in the Sweet Adelines and Hot Apple Pie choruses as well as organizing the event. It will be real intense: music, music, music, she said, adding, I don't think we've ever done the rock and roll theme in this area.
"We really appreciate the fact that so much talent is being contributed," Larson said. "There's a lot of very good people in our community and now you get to meet them."
Larson said she is particularly excited about the concert including both men and women on the agenda. "We really enjoy singing with them," she said about the men's choruses.
The Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe donated the 7 Cedars Casino Club Seven building for the two performances at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Because of the casino environment, audience members must be 21 or older.
"We wish we could have had families come in," Larson said regretfully.
The annual fundraiser is usually held at the Sequim High School Performing Arts Center and individuals of all ages can attend. Unfortunately, the school district was unable to commit to the date so the Sweet Adelines took the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe up on their offer.
"To cover our costs it is important for us to have a fundraising event," Larson said, explaining that a significant portion of the money raised from the concert goes toward a scholarship the Sweet Adelines donates each year to a Clallam County high school senior.
"It's a fun and fundraiser," she said. "It will be a good learning experience for all of us who participate." Previous scholarship beneficiaries have been Jessie Lee Davis, Rae Dawn Puntenney and Ann Marie Gibson.
The Grand Olympics Chorus is a local branch of Sweet Adelines International, a group designed for women to practice and enjoy barbershop harmony through education and performance. Internationally, Sweet Adelines includes more than 30,000 members. In Sequim, the Grand Olympics Chorus has 26 official participants.
For more information on the concert, the Grand Olympics Chorus or any of the other musical acts performing in the fundraiser, contact show chairwoman Judy Larson at 683-3265.