Lori Lyford
Nancy Bergman
Don Bott
Stating the obvious, a truth of life is that you the reader wouldn’t be here at SaddleBrooke if you had not been successful. And included in my definition of success is being a good person and enjoying life.
You also probably know that I’ve written a few articles about our December 11 holiday gala at the DesertView Performing Arts Center which includes successful and talented performing groups to include our Canada del Oro Barbershop Chorus (CDOBC), the award winning High Priority Barbershop Quartet and the Chandler High School (CHS) choral group, The Treblemakers.
This article highlights the two women who are very involved in The Most Wonderful Time of the Year and enjoy the reputation of being among the very best in America’s world of Barbershop Harmony.
CDOBC Director Nancy Bergman has devoted her life to barbershop music as an educator and arranger, beginning her musical association with the Sweet Adelines in 1951. In 2002 she was honored with the coveted Sweet Adeline Lifetime Achievement Award for 50 plus years of devoted service to the Sweet Adelines as a quartet singer, chorus director, music educator, judge, international faculty member and managing director of the organization from 1957 to 1968. She has been our director for twelve years and has succeeded in molding us into a credible group of harmonizers who learn, work hard and have great fun and personal satisfaction in the process.
Lori Lyford, the director of The Treblemakers, was born and raised in Kalispell, Montana. In high school she was active in choir and band and was a state champion track athlete. In 1993 she moved to Chandler to be the director of the Scottsdale Chorus, a world champion Sweet Adeline international chorus. In 2008 she became the CHS choir director and “found her calling.” Her success in that role has resulted in the Chandler youngsters, both the women and men’s chorus (who graced our DVPAC stage last March), being recognized as being among America’s top youth choral groups. So on our stage on December 11 we’ll have two of America’s most experienced and successful directors doing their thing.
Also noted with pride is a very diverse group of men who have been successful in their lives in so many ways. Our CDOBC chorus consists of individuals who have been in corporate sales, some educators, some engineers and physicists, a couple of PhD’s, a professional baseball player, some retired military, a health care administrator and Bass section member Jason Noffsinger is currently involved with many local music groups to include being the percussionist with the Old Arizona Brass Band. Our common thread is singing wonderful music and having fun.
Show tickets can be purchased for $20 at the HOA 2 MountainView Ticket Office (825-2818) or online at www.tickets.saddlebrooketwo.com. It will be a grand evening that will definitely put you in the holiday spirit. Now is the time to buy your tickets.