Meet The Chorus
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About the Indi-Anna Chorus
The Indi-Anna Chorus is a member of Sweet Adelines International a worldwide organization of 23,000 women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education, competition and performance, who meet regularly to practice, perform, socialize, and have fun! As one of the largest associations of women singers on earth, Sweet Adelines is an organization that positively impact women's lives, helps them find their voice, builds confidence, helps to enhance their vocal abilities, improve leadership and management qualities. Members create a lifelong support system of sisterhood and friendship and we are always looking for new “Sisters in Harmony!”. We are a group of ladies who LOVE each other and to sing Barbershop Harmonies. Here's a little more about each of us and what part we play with The Indi-Anna Chorus. 
CINDY SHEFFLER
DIRECTOR Cindy Sheffler has been a passionate Sweet Adeline, joining the organization and sharing her love of barbershop harmony in June 2000. Having served in various musical and administrative roles, she has sung lead and baritone and loved performing with several choruses and quartets, having been a novice quartet champion and most recently an Assistant Director with the award winning Greater Harmony Chorus. Cindy recently fulfilled her lifelong dream of performing on the International stage and has been coached by some of the very best Sweet Adelines has to offer, including Bonnie McKibben, Pam Pieson, Gerry Papageorge, Peggy Gram, Betty Clipman, Paula Davis and Kay Seymour. She feels blessed to consider them not only her talented mentors, but also her treasured friends and is thrilled for the opportunity to be carrying on their legacy of excellence as she officially begins her own directing career with the Indi-Anna Chorus in January 2020. Cindy is a graduate of Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA having received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. Professionally she will be celebrating her 30 year anniversary in April 2020 as an estate paralegal with the Pittsburgh law firm of Tucker Arensberg, PC. Cindy’s other full time job involves caring for her wonderful Mom, Louise, who first introduced and shared her love of singing and music with Cindy as a young child and continues to support Cindy’s Sweet Adeline endeavors today, officially as her #1 fan! Grateful for her God-given talents and the love and encouragement of her many friends and family, Cindy is excited and proud to embark on her new adventure with the fabulous singers and fine women of the Indi-Anna Chorus. 
MARY LOU McKINNEY
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MEMBERSHIP CHAIR Mary Lou’s love of music began at an early age when she sang a’cappella in the Church of Christ with her family. She met her husband Dave at the age of 15 at a music school and they have been making harmony ever since. She has studied voice privately and was introduced to the barber- shop style of singing when she and Dave moved to Youngstown, Ohio in 1969. She joined Sweet Adelines in 1970 and throughout her musical career she has been part of the regional and chapter administration and has been an assistant director and director in Indiana and Youngstown, Ohio. She recently completed a two year course of study to become a Certified Director with Sweet Adelines International. This training along with each chorus member’s hard work and an esteemed coaching staff of Kay Seymour, Alice Kress and Dave McKinney have given this chorus many awards with in the region and they are the home town pride of Indiana County. Mary Lou recently retired from the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District. Her husband Dave who is our coach and a behind the scenes manager and confidant of our chorus is an active Barbershop Harmony Society member. They spend many weekends traveling to various performances, competitions and education seminars. They have three sons who are all involved in music, three daughters-in-laws and eight precious grandchildren who continue to hear barbershop music on the CD players in the cars and home. Mary Lou and Dave love to spend time with their family and encourage them and everyone they meet to fill their lives with music. |
KAREN MACVAY
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR BARITONE SECTION LEADER Karen MacVay grew up in the small town of Clintonville, Pennsylvania in southern Venango County. The youngest of three children to Oliver and Alice MacVay. She was the light of her older brother and sister's life-until she learned to talk. And she hasn't stopped since. Talking very quickly turned to singing, and that hasn't stopped either! At Franklin High School, she was involved in the Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers, representing her high school at both District and Region Choruses. After high school she attended Clarion University, and graduated with a degree in Music Marketing. There she was also a member of both the Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers. Since joining the Indi-Anna Chorus in 2000, she has been involved in the "4 Good Measure" quartet, singing both tenor and lead, and is currently singing baritone in "On Common Ground" and in 2XQ - The Double Quartet. She has been on the board of directors and has also held the office of President of the chorus. She is currently the costume chairperson and has the costume closet to prove it! Karen is nearing her 23rd year with JoAnn Fabrics, her 16th in Indiana. If you stop in the store and hear singing, it's most likely Karen...putting her degree to good use! 
MARY JANE GATTI
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR BASS LEADER SECTION LEADER & CHOREOGRAPHER Mary Jane Gatti hails from upstate New York, where she and her six sisters spent many years studying piano, voice, and dance. Mary Jane has been a Sweet Adeline for 34 years and has served in a variety of positions, including choreographer, member of the Chapter Board of Directors, chorus Treasurer, lead section leader, Director and Assistant Director. She was chorus Director for five years, and Mary Jane has attended numerous Regional and National Sweet Adeline classes and seminars in choral directing and performance. Other hobbies include golf, skiing, travel, and dance.. Mary Jane and her husband Bill have four grown children and ten grandchildren. Mary Jane is a dual member with the Sounds of Pittsburgh Chorus, and sang with them four years ago, in the International Chorus Competition in Nashville, TN. Mary Jane has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and a Masters degree in Counseling, specializing in elementary age children. Her latest effort for the chorus has been organizing Young Singers Chorus, to join with the Indi-Anna Chorus in today’s performance. It is everyone's hope that young singers will continue to enjoy barbershop style music, and the Young Women in Harmony Chapter that has been established will continue to flourish. |
Tenors
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Leads
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Baritone
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Bass
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