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Chorus celebrates its director, 40 years of singing

Jean Barford (at the microphone) addresses the crowd at the Gem City Chorus of Sweet Adelines 40th anniversary party July 24. Barford, the retiring director of the Chorus, was celebrated for her 40 years of service.

Contributed photo Jean Barford (at the microphone) addresses the crowd at the Gem City Chorus of Sweet Adelines 40th anniversary party July 24. Barford, the retiring director of the Chorus, was celebrated for her 40 years of service.

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By Jill Kelley, Staff Writer 1:46 PM Thursday, August 5, 2010

CENTERVILLE — The Gem City Chorus of Sweet Adelines celebrated its 40th anniversary and the 40-year tenure of Jean Barford as Gem City’s director July 24.

The Chorus, which is based in Centerville, bid a music-filled farewell to Barford and presented her with an honorary plaque naming her “Director Emeritus,” in front of around 350 guests at Southminster Presbyterian Church.

Also during the program, Centerville Mayor Mark Kingseed designated July 24 as “Jean Barford Day.”

Jo Anne Gunderlock of Springboro has been a member of the Chorus for the last couple of years.

“Jean really started the chorus and has been the only director,” said Gunderlock, adding that Barford’s name and that of the Chorus are permanently linked.

“The Chorus has always placed in the top six in the international contest,” Gunderlock said. “That’s really remarkable, especially since all hobby groups have an ebb and flow that goes along with the migration of people.”

Barford said she is retiring from the Chorus, but not from performing with Sweet Adelines. She also will still be a member of the international faculty and judge, and will continue to coach.

“I’ll be busy,” she said.

Barford said she was 21½ when the Chorus formed.

“They needed a director, and I was majoring in music at UD,” she said, adding that she had no idea it would become an internationally recognized group.

She added that the anniversary/retirement party was wonderful.

“They didn’t leave a rock unturned,” she said. “They had wonderful food and a lot of people from around the country.”

The guests at the event included many quartet champions who had been coached by Barford, including Chorus members and 20 Sweet Adelines Queens of Harmony, which are first-place quartet champions.

“The cluster of rhinestone-headed women in the center of the room was impressive,” Gunderlock said, referring to the crowns the Queens of Harmony wear. “It is quite an accomplishment.”

Barford also has the designation of a Queen of Harmony, and sang tenor and received her crown in the 1974 champion quartet, “Sounds of Music.”

Also at the event, the current international quartet champion quartet from Ohio, Moxie Ladies, performed, as did the 2001 champions, Fanatix, who came in from California.

The Indianapolis-based men’s quartet, Forefront, which placed 13th at the July 2010 international convention of the Barbershop Harmony Society, also played in honor of the occasion.

Barford also is a certified judge in the sound category for Sweet Adeline quartet and chorus competitions nationally, as well as a sought-after coach of both men’s and women’s groups.

Barford led Gem City to five first-place medals between 1970 and 2010, and gained the distinction of master director.

In 2004, Barford received the Sweet Adeline Lifetime Achievement Award for her broad contribution to barbershop singers.

The Chorus itself was recently named as an inductee to the Dayton Walk of Fame, based on its substantial accomplishments as an internationally respected champion.

The Chorus meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at a rehearsal hall next to Marion’s Piazza on Far Hills Avenue in Centerville.

Women who enjoy singing are welcome to visit a rehearsal. The Chorus also will offer a five-week program of free singing lessons, also on Tuesday evenings beginning Sept. 14, at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 7001 Far Hills, in Centerville.

For reservations, call (937) 433-1014. For more information, visit www.gemcitychorus.org.

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