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The Maple Mountain Chorus is comprised of women of all ages who meet weekly to prepare their performance repertoire, practice their choreography, and enjoy the friendship, harmony and fun of singing together.
We are part of Sweet Adelines International, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating its members in the art of singing a cappella four-part harmony, barbershop style. |
Director - Beth Karchefsky
Our Director, Beth, has been a Sweet Adeline since 1979. Her parents, Cliff & Shirley Shandle, were quite influential in her musical development as they surrounded her with musical
opportunities and have also sung barbershop for 40 years. Beth has been active in the organization as a chorus member, choreographer, assistant director, director, and quartet member. Her husband, Chet, is also involved in barbershop.
Beth is a Mentor High School alumnus, where she participated in Top 25, Wind Ensemble, & Marching Band as the Senior Captain of the Majorette Squad. She attended Ohio State University and received her Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Akron University. She completed her Masters Degree in Arts Education in Music from Case Western Reserve University.
Beth continues to teach in the Mentor School District where she has been involved with grades Kindergarten through 12. She has dedicated many years to teaching & directing elementary & secondary programs, both vocal & instrumental. Beth was director of the MHS Scarlet Band & Assistant Director of the Marching Band for 10 years. She also spent many years coaching majorettes & flags for the Fighting Cardinal Marching Band. Among her many accomplishments are several qualifying ratings for State competitions, as well as a superior rating at OMEA State contest. Beth is currently teaching elementary instrumental music.
Beth & Chet enjoy sharing their musical talents and hobby with their children, Tara, age 14, & Kyle age 7. While both kids love to sing & dance, Kyle is an avid sports fan. He plays travel ice hockey and baseball. Tara also enjoys being active as a competitive gymnast during the school year and participates in track and baseball in the spring. Beth and Chet are proud of Tara’s musical
accomplishments as she enjoys her second year as a member of the Shoreline Singers.
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Assistant Director - Shirley Shandle
Assistant Director, Shirley Shandle, has been a very active Sweet Adeline since 1968 when she joined the Buckeye Belle Chapter in Mentor, transferring to C.E.S. in l972. She is a charter member of Maple Mountain Chapter that formed in l988. Currently, besides being an Assistant Director, Shirley is the Bass Section Leader, serves on the Music Staff, and is Music Education Chairperson. She has served on the board & chaired many past annual shows.
Shirley has also been in several quartets over the years and is always ready to quartet for fun. She is currently singing in a couple of chapter quartets, & loving it. "Once bit by the ‘barbershop bug’, it's in your blood. I'll never give it up, it's my mental therapy, and besides, it's FUN, FUN, FUN!! There's no way I'd be doing this all these years if it wasn't fun --- entertaining is just so rewarding!"
Shirley's husband, Cliff, also sings in the North Coast Chapter's "Johnnycake Ridge Singers" Barbershop Harmony Society. Daughter, Beth Karchefsky, is director of our very own Maple Mountain Chorus!! They share the "barbershop bug." Shirley and Cliff have 4 children, 8 grandchildren, 4 great-grandsons & 1
“on-the-way”! She is enjoying "semi-retirement", and when time allows she loves to read & to travel.
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Assistant Director - Patty Wilcoxon
Since joining Sweet Adelines in 1973, Patty has held various positions in the C.E.S., Little Mountain and Maple Mountain Choruses, including assistant director, section leader, music staff, board member, corresponding secretary, president, show committee, performance engagement liaison, music coordinator and Young Women in Harmony liaison.
Patty enjoys quarteting and currently sings lead with “Just 4 Fun” quartet, although she sings baritone in the chorus.
Patty leads a busy life. As a retired teacher, she volunteers at State Street School in the HOST Program and also spends two Sunday mornings each month at the Mentor Way Care Center
sharing her love of music by providing sing-a-longs for the residents. She is also looking forward to working with Young Women In Harmony quartets at Riverside High School. In her “spare” time, Patty enjoys gardening (just ask her about her perennial garden!), reading, working sudoku puzzles, visiting her grandchildren (all in different states) and providing “Piano With Pat” sing-a-longs for area senior citizens.
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Choreographer - Ginny Hennessy
Choreographer, Ginny Hennessy, has been a Sweet Adeline since 1994. Her background in choreography includes training in Modern Dance and Jazz Dancing. She has also been involved in amateur theater as an actor, singer and director.
Ginny has many important roles in the chorus: she is chair of the Membership Committee, acts as Femcee, is a member of the Music Staff and is the Tenor section leader.
Outside of singing, she is a busy mom and grandmom who does service in the community, works with teenagers and is an Operating room nurse.
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