Join us for in-person rehearsal! Contact honolulubsc@gmail.com for details.
OUR HISTORY
The Honolulu Blend Show Chorus, founded in 2007, is one of more than 500 Sweet Adelines International chapters worldwide. Our first director was Rob Hartley, from the Sounds of Aloha Chorus. In 2011, we welcomed Bonnie McKibben, a Queen of Harmony (bass of Panache quartet, 1990), an acclaimed director, and a certified Showmanship judge.
On February 24, 2012, Honolulu Blend received its official charter and twenty-four members sang for evaluation at the Region 21 Convention in Pasadena in April of that year. The experience fired the members' enthusiasm for competition and a decision was made to pursue regional membership. On January 11, 2013, HBSC became a part of Region 21, the Golden West Region.
In April 2013, twenty-three members of Honolulu Blend returned to Pasadena, California to compete in the Region 21 contest and brought home the 1st place Division A Chorus medal and a 3rd place overall finish with a score of 581! This score put HBSC among the top five small choruses worldwide and earned the chorus an invitation to compete at the following year’s SAI International Harmony Classic. In November of 2013, HBSC was honored to be the mic-testing chorus for the Harmony Classic event at International contest—held in Hawaii!
In April 2014, seventeen members competed in the Region 21 contest and repeated our success of the previous year: the 1st place Division A Chorus medal and a 3rd place overall finish! Later that year, we competed in Baltimore, Maryland where we placed third in the Division A Small Chorus category of Harmony Classic.
Bonnie McKibben left HBSC in mid-2015 and a period of transition followed. Stephanie Conching served as the chorus interim director from the time of Bonnie’s departure up to the early summer of 2016.
Marlyn Hutton and Tracy Southerland took on the co-directorship and the chorus returned to the regional stage in Phoenix, AZ in April of 2017. The chorus was thrilled to receive a 2nd place medal in Division A and an overall 6th place finish.
Marlyn Hutton took on the directorship solo after the 2017 contest and continued in the position until June of 2019.
Benjamin Sobel came on board in August of 2019 and led us virtually through the covid pandemic before departing in October of 2021. Julianne Hiu served as the chorus interim director from the time of Ben's departure up to the spring of 2022.
Master Director, Stephanie Brictson joined us in May of 2022, and we are thrilled to have her on our journey of continual growth and connection.
Honolulu Blend is committed to promoting the art of a cappella singing in the barbershop style through competition, public performance and member education.
What is Sweet Adelines, International?
SAI is a worldwide organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education, competition and performance.
The music includes special arrangements of today’s ballads, classic songs, show tunes and mainstream music. An SAI chorus is a musical asset to its community. Geographically, there are more than 500 SAI chapters located throughout the United States and 14 other nations. SAI choruses regularly entertain at civic events and charitable functions.
Founded: July 13, 1945