Anchorage Daily News

Anchorage got a free chance to hear the Alaska Sound Celebration chorus's award-winning style when the winners of this year's Region 13 Sweet Adelines International performed on Saturday night.

The program consisted (mostly) of songs from the movies -- everything from "Singing in the Rain" to "Rent," with stops at "Footloose," "Chicago" and more -- all delivered with spunk and style and attention to detail.

It was the group's first performance from its brand new risers, made possible by a $24,775 grant from the Rasmuson Foundation. A representative of the foundation was on hand to receive thanks for the safer and un-squeaky platforms.

I noticed the Discovery Theatre filled with unusually young folk. That's because the concert also featured a scholarship competition for some astonishingly talented teens. The audience was handed ballots to vote for their favorite before intermission, and the winners were announced at the end of the show. Several of the contestants brought fan clubs from their schools.

First prize, $500, went to Kaitlyn Collums from Eagle River High School, who had the most complicated piece with the greatest range of voice and action, "When You Come Home to Me/Climbing Uphill" from "The Last Five Years." But it had to be a close call with the second-place winner, homeschooler James Harris, who showed an intense tenor in "Wick" from "Secret Garden."

The remaining prizes went to Carly Campbell from South High, Madeleine Bundy from West and Maureen Blair from East.

The chorus consists of 70 or more women from Anchorage and the Valley, formed when two Sweet Adelines women's barbershop-style groups -- the Anchorage Sourdough and Top of the World choruses -- merged last year.

They'll head for Nashville, Tenn., one year from now to vie for the national championships.

Find Mike Dunham online at adn.com/contact/mdunham or call 257-4332.

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