Scenic City Chorus marks milestone with favorites from five decades

IF YOU GOWhat: Scenic City Chorus 50th anniversary show.When: 1:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday.Where: UTC Fine Arts Center, 752 Vine St.Admission: $9 for matinee, $12 for evening performance.Website: www.sceniccitychorus.com.

The Scenic City Chorus, local affiliate of Sweet Adelines International, will mark its 50th anniversary with a musical revue of hits from its five decades during two performances Saturday in the UTC Fine Arts Center.

"We will be performing selections from all five decades the chorus has been together. It's a neat little trip down memory lane," said chorus member Cynthia Thomas.

"We have a little rock, a little country and some very current repertoire, such as Katy Perry's 'Fireworks,'" said Kathy Yonka, Scenic City Chorus president. "A lot of the songs have significance to the era in which they were popular such as 'Dancing Queen' in the 1970s or the boyfriend songs of the 1960s."

During intermission, concertgoers will be entertained with a 30-minute video compilation of the singers through the years. Check out those hairdos!

Thomas is a member of the committee that invested 100 hours poring over 30 scrapbooks, choosing and scanning photos to add to the video. Thomas said she has been an Adeline for 15 years, ever since she attended one of the chorus's guest nights.

She said the biggest change she's seen has been the increase in song charts available to the women.

"There are a lot more people arranging songs to be sung in this close, four-part harmony. A long time ago you wouldn't hear four-part harmony sung to a contemporary song that you heard on the radio," she said.

The 55 singers will be directed by Jennifer Cooke of Nashville. Special guests of the Scenic City Chorus will be Dream Quartet, the 2011 and 2012 Region 23 quartet champions.

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