Region 17 Faculty & Coaches
We have many talented Region 17 faculty who provide PVIs (private voice lessons) and coaching (quartets, choruses). These credentialed faculty include our certified and master directors and Regional quartet champions.
Many are available for coaching at Harmony Weekends and for private education and quartet and chorus coaching at other times. If you are a faculty person or coach in Region 17 and would like to be listed here, please complete this REGIONAL FACULTY INFORMATION FORM and email it to both Lynne Erskine Peirce, Education Coordinator and Sherry Berkley, Communications Coordinator.
Sherry Berkley
Member of River Bend & Melodeers Choruses
Certified Director, River Bend Chorus
Assistant Director, Bass Section Leader Melodeers Chorus
Regional Medalist Quartet Singer (Lead) Sublime, multiple others in Region 3
Biography:
- 42-year member Sweet Adelines International
- Member of BHS and Harmony Inc
- Have coached serveral quartets and small choruses over the years
- 6-time International Chorus Champion member (Melodeers
- Served several years on both Region 17 and Region 3 Regional Management Teams
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
- Sound and Vocal Production
- Expressive singing
- Unity
- Section leader Training
- Beginning music theory and sight-singing
- Quartets
- Choruses
- PVIs
Sara Clevenger
Member of Greater Harmony Chorus
Associate Director, Visual Team Leader and Lead Section Leader, Greater Harmony Chorus
Regional Champion Quartet Singer (Lead): Surefire and Daybreak Quartet
Biography:
- 29-year member of Sweet Adelines, International
- Had the pleasure of coaching multiple quartets and choruses over the years, and look forward to supporting others, in any way I can be of help.
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
- Sound Category elements of areas of instant lock/ring, accuracy and intonation.
- Vocal Production, consistency of placement and vocal space throughout the vocal range.
- Expression Category elements including lyrical phrasing as well as technical elements (vowel production, singable consonants/use of diphthongs.
- Visual Communication Category, focusing on authentic performance, characterization, musical energy and unity across the performers.
- Managing fears and stage nerves, inviting a healthy sense of confidence and connection to the audience.
- Quartets
- Choruses
- PVIs
Michael Hengelsberg
Master Director, Greater Harmony Chorus
Biography:
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
Master Director, Greater Harmony Chorus
Biography:
- Regional Champion Director in Region 17
- Have directed barbershop choruses and church choirs for 30 years
- Have coached quartets and choruses in Region 17 since 2016 when joining Greater Harmony Chorus
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
- Sound - free flow of vocals
- Connecting the meaning of a song to the vocals of a song
- Ability to work with beginning and advanced quartets to help them grown
- Quartets
- Choruses
- PVIs
I thrive on coaching and look forward to helping. I would love to work with you in any venue that is convenient.
Dana Kachurchak
Member of Greater Cleveland
Regional Champion Quartet Singer
International Medalist chorus member, have been a member of Maple Mountain, Pride of Toledo and Scioto Valley Choruses
Biography:
- Professional speaker/communications skills trainer
- Executive coach for companies such CBS in New York, New York Times, General Electric and Johnson & Johnson
- Region 17 H Guest Faculty
- Member of Leadership Education Team
- Developer/Facilitator for educational sessions on Marketing Your Chorus, Chorus Wellness Campaigns, Revving up the Troops, and Energy on the Risers
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
- Crafting your stage presence
- Connection with your audience
- Continuity of your message
- Harnessing your energy
- United you sing
- Quartets
- Choruses
- PVIs
Margie (Mim) Manuel
Member of Greater Harmony Chorus
Regional Champion Quartet Singer (Baritone): Daybreak Quartet
Biography:
- Member of Daybreak Quartet and Greater Harmony Chorus
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
- Sharing tools to getting to be a better singer
- PVIs (at Harmony Weekends)
Lynne Erskine Peirce
Harmony 500 Director, River Raisin Chorus
Regional Champion Quartet Singer (Bass): Surefire Quartet
Biography:
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
Harmony 500 Director, River Raisin Chorus
Regional Champion Quartet Singer (Bass): Surefire Quartet
Biography:
- Sweet Adelines Harmony 500 Director, multiple top 5 finishes
- Certified District Chorus Champion Director BHS
- Regional Quartet Champions and International competitors: Accolade (Reg 3) 1991, 1993, Surefire (Reg 17) 2015, 2018
- Administrative Education coordiantor REgions 2 & 17
- Director Coordinator Region 17, Education Coordinator Region 17
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
- Chorus and quartet coaching in all judging categories in both SAI and BHS comptitions
- Visual program creation and coaching for both choruses and quartets
- Full day and weekend retreats focusing on creative learning and growth
- Team building, strategic planning for coruses
- Interest-Based Problem Solving (certified) for choruses
- Quartets
- Choruses
- PVIs
Jennifer Recker
Chapter-at-Large, Region 17
International Quartet Champion (lead): Moxie Ladies 2009
Region 17 Quartet Champion 2019 & 2023 Intenational 7th-place Medalist (lead): Lucille Quartet
Biography:
Coaching:
Chapter-at-Large, Region 17
International Quartet Champion (lead): Moxie Ladies 2009
Region 17 Quartet Champion 2019 & 2023 Intenational 7th-place Medalist (lead): Lucille Quartet
Biography:
- Vocal Music/Choir director for 20 years
- Master in Education
- Have worked with choruses and quartets across the country
Coaching:
- Quartets
- Choruses
- PVIs
Amy Ringley
Member of Greater Cleveland Chorus
Regional Champion Quartet Singer (Lead)
Biography:
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
Member of Greater Cleveland Chorus
Regional Champion Quartet Singer (Lead)
Biography:
- 27-year member of Sweet Adelines, International
- Approved director, Music Team member
- Section Leader/Vocal Auditor
- Private Vocal Instruction
- Quartet performance coaching
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
- Vocal warmups
- Bocy mechanics for best vocal production
- Interpretation/phrasing of the musical line
- Quartets
- Choruses
- PVIs
Dawn Seigneur
Certified Director, Pride of Toledo chorus
Regional Champion Quartet (tenor), Surefire Quartet
Biography:
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
Certified Director, Pride of Toledo chorus
Regional Champion Quartet (tenor), Surefire Quartet
Biography:
- Certified Director, River Raisin Chorus (we3 yrs) and Pride of Toledo Chorus (current)
- Member of Toledo Seaway Chorus and Pride of Toledo Chorus (at least 8 -time International competitors), 4-time International quartet competitor (InVoice and Surefire Quartets),
- Developed and ran front row tryouts (Greater Harmony x 2, Pride of Toledo and River Raising choruses
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
- Choreography
- Front Row Tryouts
- Rhythm
- Tuning
- Quartets
- Choruses
- PVIs
Cindy Sheffler
Certified Director, Indi-Anna Chorus
Baritone of Stay Tuned Quartet
Biography:
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
Certified Director, Indi-Anna Chorus
Baritone of Stay Tuned Quartet
Biography:
- Certified Director (currently Indi-Anna Chorus)
- Sweet Adelines chorus and quartet singer since 2000.
- Received 2022 Region 17 Novice Director Award
- Mentors have included Bonnie McKibben, Kay Seymour and Paula Davis.
- Love to be coached and have observed and participated in coaching sessions with Betty Clipman, Petty Gram, and Kim Vaughn
- Regular attendee of all Regional Education Weekends, several Queens Colleges and an IES in San Antonio
- Attended several International Competitions
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
- I consider myself a “positive enthusiast” who may not always have all the answers, but will always give it my best effort! I love spreading the joy of barbershop harmony and feel I can best encourage beginners in our craft.
- Quartets
- Choruses
- PVIs
Kathy Wakeman
Associate Director (Certified), Buffalo Gateway Chorus
Biography:
- 45-year member Sweet Adelines International
- Certified Director with 18 years directing experience
- Past RMT Region 16 - Communication Coordinator
- Past faculty Region 16
- Masters in Music Education
- Experienced quartet singer
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
- Vocal skills
- Warmups
- Quartets
- PVIs
David Wallace
Master Director, Sounds of Pittsburg and City of Flags Choruses
Biography:
- BHS International Quartet Gold Medalist
- 6-time Regional Champion Director
- 3-time Harmony Classic Division AA chorus Competitor
- Master director with 40_ years directing in SAI
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
- Tuning
- Vocal technique
- Synchronization (all things "technical")
- Expression
- Interpretation
- Quartets
- Choruses
- PVIs
JoAnn Willson
Assistant Director, Greater Cleveland Chorus
Biography:
- Member Sweet Adelines International since 1992
- 3-time Regional quartet champion
- Section leader
- Certified director
- Past Region 17 RMT member - Education Coordinator, Events Coordinator
- Region 17 Director Certification Program Coordinator
Area of Expertise/Strengths:
- Sound
- Expression
- PVIs
- Quartets
- PVIs
