Who are We?

Magic Valley Chorus, an award winning chorus, and we are searching for women singers in the Rio Grande Valley area. Women of all ages who enjoy singing are invited to attend the chorus’ weekly rehearsal each Monday from 7pm to 10pm at St Mark United Methodist Church on 301 W. Pecan, McAllen, TX. The chorus began in Nov 1990, and in 1991 we put on our first annual show and went to competition and have been going strong ever since. In the past 2 years we received the Most Improved Chorus award with an increase of 61 points in 2009 and an additional 23 points in 2010! We are also sporting the 3rd place medals for the small chorus division this year!

We are an authorized chapter under Sweet Adelines International, Inc., a highly respected worldwide organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performance. This independent, nonprofit music education association is one of the world's largest singing organizations of nearly 25,000 members worldwide. There are more than 1,200 registered quartets and 600 choruses, including chapters located in Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Wales and most of the 50 states in the United States.

What are we all about?

The purpose for Magic Valley Chorus is to perpetuate and enhance the barbershop music art form through education, thereby benefitting local communities by furthering their artistic enrichment. We accomplish this purpose by providing education and training for its members in singing four-part harmony, barbershop style, without instrumental accompaniment. The four parts are tenor, lead, baritone and bass.

Magic Valley Chorus gives public, private and community performances to promote an interest in the development and general appreciation of all things pertaining to the art for of barbershop harmony.

We invite all women to sing with us at our rehearsals any Monday evening. Any woman who is genuinely interested in the promotion of barbershop harmony singing and friendship among women is eligible to be considered for membership. For more information click on the “Want to Become a Member” button on this website.

Here is our Mission Statement

Magic Valley Chorus is dedicated to achieving excellence of barbershop singing through individual growth and education. It is our joy to share the barbershop art form with our community and other women who want to join us in this endeavor.

What is barbershop harmony?

It is Four-part, unaccompanied, close-harmony singing, with melody in the second voice, called the "lead." Sung in the range between A below middle C, and C above middle C. Tenor is a harmony part sung consistently above the lead. Although tenor is the highest voice in barbershop harmony, it should not be confused with the soprano of conventional singing groups. The tenor should have a light, sweet, pure tone that will complement but not overpower the lead voice. Baritone covers approximately the same range as lead. The baritone harmony notes cross the lead notes; sometimes sung below and sometimes above. Bass singers should have a rich, mellow voice and be able to sing the E flat below middle C easily. Bass should not be confused with the alto of conventional groups.

Click on the “Calendar” button to see all the dates we will be performing in the Rio Grande Valley!