- BGC Thrives during Pandemic- Wins Regional Contest!
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Date Posted: Thu, May 19 2022
re·sil·ience: an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change, the ability to be happy, successful, etc. again after something difficult or bad has happened
per·se·ver·ance: continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition or even when it takes a long time
Buffalonians are no strangers to either of these traits…whether it is dealing with snow, four successive Superbowl heartbreaks or a Sweet Adeline chorus dealing with a pandemic, there just is no giving up!
Instead of letting the uncertainty and difficulties imposed by the pandemic have a negative impact on our chorus life, we have used it to thrive. Led by our amazing director, Diane Porsch, and an incredible Management Team, we were on Zoom the very next week and have become the masters of pivoting! We maintained our regular Wednesday night rehearsals and added additional “Zoomtini” sessions in the week to check in with each other and keep us connected.
And boy did our members respond! We deepened our existing bonds as we now had more time to talk online after rehearsal and during “Zoomtinis,” than we typically do in person. We figured out new ways to use technology to keep us moving forward, Di and the music team kept educating us and we took the opportunity to strengthen the individual singing skills across our entire membership. The Management Team was able to address any financial concerns members may have had, we kept all our Canadian members despite a closed border, and we got everyone the technical help they needed to be able to participate virtually. We have done everything we could to ensure that each chorus member knew that they were important and would be supported-however they needed it…and it worked! For two years we consistently had an average 70-80% attendance for online rehearsals.
We kept preparing and planning to compete in Phoenix this fall. Unfortunately, the deadline for Phoenix competition fell in early January during an Omicron outbreak. With several of our members ill, or unable to commit due to pandemic uncertainty, we made the difficult decision to withdraw from the 2022 International competition.
For us, after working so hard to keep our membership intact and motivated for so long, leaving a good portion of the family behind to compete this year wasn’t even an option. So once again, we re-grouped and set our sights on getting ready for the spring regional contest to be eligible for Louisville in 2023- which ironically, is where we were slated to compete in 2020.
At retreat on March 11th, 2022, Buffalo Gateway Chorus got together in person, without masks and on risers, for the first time since the start of the Pandemic- exactly two years to the day, from the last pre-Covid rehearsal. In the 730 days in between, this top 10 International chorus, has taken life’s lemons and not only made lemonade- but we also made lemon pie, lemon tarts, lemon chiffon cake, lemon martinis…you name it, we’ve made it!
Buffalo Gateway Chorus with director Diane Porsch (front row center) and coaches Kim Vaugh (left of Di) and Cindy Hansen (right of Di)
There have been very few resignations and incredibly, we have added fifteen brand new members to our ranks! Some of whom, until recently, have only known us on Zoom and had never even heard the chorus sing live! New Members added since the pandemic started
On May 14th, after a successful video contest in Region 17, Great Lakes Harmony, Buffalo Gateway earned the 1st Place Chorus Award with a score of 647 points!
After all the losses suffered in the last two years, Buffalo Gateway Chorus is thrilled to have so much to celebrate, and we look forward being with all our Sweet Adeline friends again in Louisville!
Written by Andrea Thorne-Percy on behalf of Buffalo Gateway Chorus.
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- Buffalo Gateway Show Chorus Wins Regional Competition, earns 7th Trip to Internationals!
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Date Posted: Thu, Jun 6 2019
The Buffalo Gateway Show Chorus (BGC) is delighted to share that
they have been recognized with a first place finish at this year’s
Regional Competition. This year’s event took place in Cleveland, Ohio
on May 18th, 2019.
“We are honored to have the privilege of representing Western New
York in the Sweet Adelines 2020 International Competition, taking place
in Louisville, Kentucky,” says Diane Porsch, Master Director.
Chartered in 1964, BGC is comprised of 90+ women singing 4-part
acapella harmony in the barbershop style. BGC’s long standing
commitment to musical excellence in a fun and inclusive environment is
a hallmark of the organization. With membership hailing from all
corners of Western New York, as well as Ontario, Canada, BGC takes
pride in sharing its music locally through a variety of venues and
community events.
Sweet Adelines International is a worldwide women’s singing
organization committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop
harmony through opportunities in education, performance, and
competition. With an international membership of more than 23,000
chorus and quartet members, its members have been singing 4-part
barbershop a cappella harmony since 1945.
There has never been a better time to step on the risers with Buffalo
Gateway Chorus. Guests and prospective members are always
welcome! Our doors are open, and you’re invited to come experience it
firsthand.
When: Wednesdays at 7 pm
Where: Sacred Heart School, 5331 Genesee St., Bowmansville, New
York
For more information: www.buffalogatewaychorus.com; (716) 635-8642
- Buffalo Gateway competes Saturday May 18th in Cleveland
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Date Posted: Mon, May 13 2019
Buffalo Gateway Show Chorus will compete for 7th Trip to International Competition!
The Buffalo Gateway Show Chorus (BGC) is heading to Regional Competition in Cleveland, Ohio on May 18th, 2019 to compete for the privilege of representing Western New York in the Sweet Adelines 2020 International Competition.
This follows BGC’s highly successful performance at international competition in the fall of 2018 where the group was delighted to earn a 10th place medal in a field which began with over 550 choruses from across the globe!
“This year’s Regional Competition is especially meaningful for us as it will be our first time competing in a new region,” says Diane Porsch, Master Director. “We’re also excited to welcome the many new members who have joined us this year and are looking forward to getting out in the community to share our music!”
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE WEBCAST AND WATCH US LIVE!
Chartered in 1964, BGC is comprised of 90+ women singing 4 part acapella harmony in the barbershop style. BGC’s long standing commitment to musical excellence in a fun and inclusive environment is a hallmark of the organization. With membership hailing from all corners of Western New York, as well as Ontario, Canada, BGC takes pride in sharing its music locally through a variety of venues and community events.
Sweet Adelines International is a worldwide women’s singing organization committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through opportunities in education, performance, and competition. With an international membership of more than 23,000 chorus and quartet members, its members have been singing 4-part barbershop a cappella harmony since 1945.
There has never been a better time to step on the risers with Buffalo Gateway Chorus. Guests and prospective members are always welcome! Our doors are open, so come experience our passion for singing and the fellowship and friendship that serve as Buffalo Gateway’s foundation.
When: Wednesdays, 7 pm
Where: Sacred Heart School, 5331 Genesee St., Lancaster, New York
For more information: www.buffalogatewaychorus.com; (716) 635-8642
- "Success isn't always about Greatness, it's about consistency"- Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
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Date Posted: Thu, Nov 8 2018
Well no one can say Buffalo Gateway Chorus isn't consistent! In October of 2018 at the international Sweet Adelines convention and competition in St. Louis, Missouri. we are thrilled to have a achieved a 10th place overall finish!
This was our sixth time competing on the International stage since 2008 and have placed in the Top Ten each time. Previous competitions in Honolulu, Seattle, Denver, Baltimore and Las Vegas have all resulted in Top Ten placements which is not an easy feat when there are over 500 choruses world wide in our organization!
Many thanks to all our family, friends and supporters in helping us achieve this goal.
Follow us here and on Facebook for more updates...or, better yet, be a guest at one of our upcoming rehearsals on Wednesdays from 7:00-9:45 p.m., Sacred Heart School, 5331 Genesee St., Bowmansville, NY. We'd love to meet you!
- BGC PERFORMED AT CHAUTAUQUA AMPITHEATER ON AUG. 26, 2018
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Date Posted: Sat, Jun 23 2018
BARBERSHOP HARMONY PARADE SHOW
Sunday, August 26, 2018 -- 2:30 P.M.
Buffalo Gateway Show Chorus put on an exciting performance for several hundred music lovers at the Chautauqua Institute on Sunday, August 26, 2018.
We are thankful to the Barbershop Harmony Society's Seneca Land District for having invited us! We had a blast...and this is the type of activity that any woman who loves to sing will enjoy if she decides to give us a try!
- Shop at Amazon and Support Buffalo Gateway Chorus
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Date Posted: Mon, Apr 2 2018
For more information, see: smile.amazon.com/ch/16-6061478
- Buffalo Gateway - Contestant #17 - St. Louis International Convention - October 18, 2018
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Date Posted: Thu, Feb 1 2018
Buffalo Gateway Show Chorus is thrilled to be headed to our sixth international Sweet Adelines convention and competition since 2008! We've competed and placed in the Top Ten in Honolulu, Seattle, Denver, Baltimore and Las Vegas with St. Louis, Missouri our goal in October 2018.
Follow us here and on Facebook for more updates...or, better yet, be a guest at one of our upcoming rehearsals on Wednesdays from 7:00-9:45 p.m., Sacred Heart School, 5331 Genesee St., Bowmansville, NY. We'd love to meet you!
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