Verdugo Hills Women’s Chorus (VHWC), a member of California Women’s Chorus, Inc. (CWC), is getting ready for the southern area rehearsal on March 16. Each year VHWC members meet up with Burbank Singers, Choral Belles, Harbor Singers (Costa Mesa), Sweet Harmony (San Diego), Riverside Mission Belles, Santa Barbara Treble Clef Chorus and New Century Singers Whittier for a group rehearsal in a Southern California city. The choruses have been rehearsing the same music since fall and when they get together it is quite a sound. Approximately 150 women from eight of the 10 choruses comprising CWC meet to share a laugh, have a snack and sing, sing, sing – all in preparation for the CWC annual concert in May. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the CWC concert.

The CWC southern area rehearsal will be held this year at the First United Methodist Church, 134 N. Kenwood in Glendale and is being hosted by VHWC. The event is being co-chaired by Sharon Schlarb, Cleta Porterfield and Jeanne Long.  Each of the singers in VHWC will participate in some way to make this an exceptional rehearsal. 

The day begins with refreshments from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and singers must be in their seats and ready to sing at 8:45 a.m. Guest director is Rob Blaney ¬– no stranger to CWC or VHWC. He returns to the podium for this rehearsal and his excitement is contagious. 

He has been director of vocal music at Woodbridge High School in Irvine since 2010 and he currently conducts five choirs. Blaney will also travel to the northern area rehearsal at a later date to meet with members of soprano and alto singers of Solano (Vallejo) and Lake Wildwood choruses.

Following the group rehearsal on March 16 will be auditions for those who wish to compete for solo opportunities. VHWC looks forward to welcoming old friends and making new ones at the area rehearsal. Membership in any of the 10 CWC choruses is open to any woman with a love of music and a desire to share music with others. Visit the CWC website, cwchorus.com, for more information.

Submitted by
Arlene MASSIMINO

  VHWC