Sweet Adelines History
Find stories from members (some of whom have been Sweet Adelines for over 50 years!), historical milestones, trivia, performances, and more.
Serving as Sweet Adelines International President requires dedication, vision, and lots of energy! Learn about the leaders who have taken on this important role throughout the years.
History panels chronicling each of Sweet Adelines 75 years line the halls at Sweet Adelines International Headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma (USA).
Since 1951, Sweet Adelines International Champion Quartets have been presented with crowns to recognize their achievement. The ultimate gift to quartet champions is the crown, and it lives on as a lovely and lasting tradition of our organization.
Dolls representing all our champion choruses and quartets, each dressed in a handmade replica of the costume the singers wore on the international stage. The dolls are housed and lovingly cared for at Sweet Adelines International Headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma (USA) in the Hughes Gehrke Champion Showcase. We are very grateful for the generosity of Shelly Hughes and Mike Gehrke. Thanks to their philanthropic support, we are able to acknowledge the success of our quartets and choruses over the years in this special way.
The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award is chosen by the current International President to acknowledge a Sweet Adeline who possesses “our most valued qualities of service and leadership to Sweet Adelines International.”
The Ann Gooch Award is presented to members from outside North America who have contributed significantly to the furtherance of barbershop in the worldwide area.
The Sweet Adelines Music Educator Award is presented each year to an outstanding music educator who has embodied our Guiding Principles of musical excellence, culture of belonging, diversity & inclusion, personal empowerment and leadership, and outreach by using their expertise to promote barbershop-style singing in their schools.
Singin’ on Tulsa Time…On July 13, music fans around the world celebrate Barbershop Music Appreciation Day – a day that commemorates the founding of Sweet Adelines International in Tulsa, Oklahoma (USA). On our 75th birthday as an organization, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum issued a proclamation in honor of Sweet Adelines International. Happy Sweet Adelines Day!
Read about unusual gigs, important happenings, and other Sweet Adelines historical highlights — and check out retro costumes and hairdos — in the “Countdown to 75” articles from The Pitch Pipe! Each article is separated by decade, so click/tap on your favorite to find out what was going on in our early years.
It’s Trivia Time, Sweet Adelines! Tuesdays and Thursdays between July 13 and Oct. 17, answer a Sweet Adelines trivia question in the comment section on Facebook. Winners’ names will be listed on the following day. It’s part of our #SweetAds75 virtual celebration!
What’s Sweet Adelines life like? In celebration of our 75th anniversary, Sweet Adelines from around the world shared photos, videos, and memories of the barbershopping life.
