The sweet voices of harmony. Sound of New England Chorus

By Natalie K. Pollock

Staff Writer

Harmony is the positive result that most of seek when we come together in friendship, fellowship and especially in music. During these turbulent times, harmony is difficult to find, but the Sound of New England Chorus offers the musical beauty of female voices singing together a capella in four-part harmony on a regular basis.

Based in West Hartford, with members from all over the greater Hartford area, Connecticut and Massachusetts, this group is an award-winning member of Sweet Adelines International, famous for its easily recognizable barbershop style of harmonizing. Founded in 1945 in Tulsa, Oklahoma the global organization invites members to compete for awards and to start their own local area choruses and quartets.

Master Director Marion Devokaitis, who lives in Farmington, has led the New England Chorus since its founding in 1993 and has been an active member of Sweet Adelines International for 30 years. She has been involved with other choruses and quartets and has won several awards with both over the years. The New England Chorus, which has been performing for 33 years, currently has 20-30 members but began with 50 to 60. A victim of the pandemic, it is in the process of seeking new members.

From left to right; front, middle and back: Geri Gasior, Carol McKenzie, Sue Mimnaugh, Karen Prendergast; Gwen Sibley, Gayler Nidoh, Sting the Bees’s mascot, Marilyn Averill, Laura Pienkowski; and Judy Weinstein, Marion Devokaitis, and Holly Landers formed a small group that sang the National Anthem at the New Britain Bees baseball game. Courtesy photo

According to Devokaitis, there are 18,000 to 20,000 choruses around the world in all the continents. In Connecticut, there are three.

“There are 26 regional competitions. Ours is in Springfield. We tied in ours. We represented the North Atlantic Region at international competitions. Some choruses have professional directors, as many as 150 people, and real musicians. We perform show tunes, big band hits, jazz, ballads, and patriotic standards,” she said.

Devokaitis has sung in several quartets and served as a coach. In 2019 she was honored with the Marge Bennett Angel Award by Sweet Adelines International in recognition of her leadership and service in the region and has gone to the international competition six times. That same year the Sound of New England won First Place for a Small Chorus in Region 1 and Fifth Place Overall in Region 1.

“In barbe

From left to right; front to back: Carol McKenzie, Amy Arlin, Sue Mimnaugh, Jan Grant; Eileen Root, Marion Devokaitis, Santa Claus, and Laura Pienkowski sang carols while strolling at St. Luke Church Christmas Bazaar in Ellington. Courtesy photo

rshop, if you are singing well (in four-part harmony) you will make a fifth note (a phenomenon that is not in the sheet music). The chorus that makes the fifth note the most times wins. We also perform with choreography and costumes,” said Devokaitis.

She has served as a judge at competitions because she has a good ear and so many years of experience.

“We judge the sound by how well the singers are producing it. A resonant (deep and clear) sound is good, with no forcing–a full sound. All the chords must line up. Also, showmanship and the selection of music is judged,” she said.

Devokaitis added, “So the vowels matter, and you cannot take a breath at the same time (as others who are singing your part). You have to plan that out together (with your group) in advance. Each part sits down and does that. Otherwise, it’s not barbershop.”

The New England Chorus is in the midst of a membership drive and trying to attract younger members as well as seasoned singers.

Amy Arlin from Avon is all smiles after receiving a SONE shirt and pin upon being officially sung into the Sound of New England Chorus. Courtesy photo

“We are trying to vary our music to bring in younger people. We are now preparing songs from ‘Wicked.’ And we are working on new choreography. These days visual communication is how to get our message to our audience,” Devokaitis said.

When she joined Sweet Adelines in 1979 the singers wore dresses that were measured with a tape measure to make sure the hems were all the same height, although some women were taller or shorter.

Sue Mimnaugh joined the New England Chorus five years ago as a tenor, the highest voice in barbershop singing.

“I started as the lead then moved to baritone and will sing bass probably someday. Mom was in a barbershop chorus, and they had rehearsals in our house. I am the oldest of five siblings and all of us grew up harmonizing. I liked community theater too but decided on barbershop because of the harmonizing,” said Mimnaugh.

In an interesting coincidence, she discovered that she had been a fifth-grade student in Devokaitis’s class in Simsbury. Now the two are dear friends. Mimnaugh joined the first Sweet Adelines chorus in Simsbury when she was 21.

Farmington resident Marion Devokaitis is the long-time director of the Sound of New England Chorus in West Hartford and a teacher at Canton High School. Photo by Natalie K. Pollock

Now she is reaching out to others to share the joy of singing in a community of singers. Rehearsals are on Tuesday nights from 7-9pm at the Bethany Lutheran Church on South Main Street in West Hartford. Mimnaugh, who lives in New Hartford, drives a half hour each way and does vocal exercises in the car.

“Women live busy lives and singing in this chorus is a good way to take time off for yourself. Barbershop singing is better than Botox – it keeps you young. I go around the house singing. This fall is the 80^th anniversary of Sweet Adelines,” she said.

Rehearsals consist of running through the older pieces and then dissecting the new ones and breaking them down by melody and singing parts. Devokaitis begins with warmup exercises. She sings bass.

“At the end of each rehearsal we get into a circle with the section leader and listen to each other. If a chorus member is new, then they are asked to sing up and down a scale and sing a standard piece, like ‘Happy Birthday.’ Next, I will sing against their part (to see if they can continue singing their own part),” says Devokaitis.

Her father was a drummer, but her mother was not musical. She has a sister 12 years her senior who is a concert pianist. Devokaitis is 80 years old but still energetic and in good singing voice. She agrees that singing is healthy and it still makes her happy after all these years. The youngest choral member Anna Calos is 18 years old, a senior at Canton High School, and aspires to sing on Broadway one day. Devokaitis teaches at the school.

She earned her master’s in education from the University of Connecticut and has taught fifth grade for 34 years at Canton Elementary School.

The choral director sings in one chorus and directs another and keeps quite busy with rehearsals and performances for both. Her quartet won the annual international competition five times over the years and still keeps her busy.

The New England Chorus is typically paid to perform so it can be found at a variety of events and venues, such as homes for the elderly, memorial services, anniversary and wedding parties, and Christmas celebrations. They have also entertained on the stage at Blue Back Square and at West Hartford’s farmer’s market.

“I joined Sweet Adelines to sing. Directing was never in the cards. But the joy I get each week as I share my passion for barbershop harmony is unparalleled. This chorus is part of my extended family, and they are a large part of my life,” said Devokaitis. WHL

Sound of New England Chorus rehearsals at Saint Mary Home Auditorium, 2021 Albany Avenue, West Hartford. Call 860-249-1840 or email hello@soundofnewengland.org.