Quartets

Havin' A Blast

Havin' a Blast quartet was formed about in 2002 and is comprised of four women who have almost a hundred years of barbershop singing experience among them.  Hard to believe since we all look so young! Molly Jean Gerbi, tenor, followed in her mom's vocal footsteps when she was just 16 years old and has only taken a couple of years off from singing to achieve her Masters Degree in teaching. She's a mom of two and loves being a 2nd grade teacher in Vail.  Gail Trader, bass, is also a mother of 2 and an elementary school teacher as well who has been singing barbershop for more than 40 years. She has made a name for herself in a number of Summer Stock theaters across the country, known for her comedic timing and beautiful voice. Eileen Fernstrom, baritone, also a mother of two, is the newest to barbershop, having joined the local Sweet Adelines chorus about 8 years ago. She recently made a dramatic life change. After being a legal secretary for 20 years, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse and after 2 years of dedicated study, she accomplished her goal. Elissa Fazio, lead, started her Sweet Adelines career in California 21 years ago. She has no human children but shares her home with 2 cats, a snake and a tortoise. She and her husband are local entrepeneurs. Her biggest passion, besides singing, is hummingbirds. She volunteers as a hummingbird bander for a research project dedicated to the conservation of hummingbirds and their habitat. With such disparate backgrounds, it's hard to believe that these 4 mesh so well when it comes to making music. They are all dedicated to the art of a cappella singing in the barbershop style and strive to become better singers and entertainers with each year they perform together. They love entertaining at community and private events and also look forward to competing each year against other women's quartets at the regional level. Competition allows them the opportunity to hone their skills and reach for higher accomplishments each year. They consistently place in the top 10 and have even come home with coveted 5th Place medals. All styles of music can be arranged "in the barbershop style" but "Havin' a Blast" loves to put their stamp on many of the great swing classic from the 40s and 50s. They enjoy sharing their love of barbershop harmony with just about anyone who'll listen - sometimes breaking into song while in a restaurant or hanging out on the street corner - even at the risk of embarrassing accompanying family members! They can't help themselves. They consider themselves lucky to have found each other and hope to make beautiful music together for many years to come.

Contact Elissa Fazio
esquared@qwestoffice.net
520-326-1449 home phone
or
520-869-6385 cell phone
 

Footnotes

Footnotes favorite thing to do is to get out there and perform! Anywhere... Anytime! We completely embrace the "I Want to Teach The World To Sing" idea! On a recent road trip we made a pact to sing at every stop (rest stop, gas station, restaurant...) between Arizona and California. We want everyone to know how much fun this singing thing is -- and that anyone can come visit a chorus and see if a cappella barbershop style is for them. Where else can four people, whose only thing in common besides the love of performing and ringing chords (and wearing size 10 shoes) become close friends, receive fantastic vocal education at rehearsals and "weekend retreats," perform publicly on a regular basis, participate in "competitive harmony" at chorus and quartet contest, while having the best time singing together?!

We have been singing together since October 2010. Fran, our Tenor, has been singing Barbershop over 40 years and has won regional contests and went on to compete on the international contest stage. Carrie, our Lead, started singing with what is now Tucson Desert Harmony chorus shortly after college, took some time to do some theatre, then came back to the irresistible harmonies to sing in a Sweet Adeline chorus in Edinburgh, Scotland - which was her first quartet competition experience. Penny, our Baritone, is the newest member of the Sweet Adeline family and Footnotes is her first quartet experience. Originally from England, she adds a comedic flair to our foursome, along with international flavor. Rhonda, our Bass, joined the chorus a few months before Penny, and comes from a life immersed in athletics and sports, so while competition and good practice techniques are not new to her... the rhinestones and sequins are!

We cover classic 30s, 40s, and 50s music as well as more recent contemporary hits and can put together a 15-, 30- or 45-minute program for you! We'll come to your place (Home? Workplace? Party?) and serenade someone special for any occasion... Special Day or Ordinary Day! We sing the kind of music that everyone loves to hear, sung unaccompanied in close four-part harmony. Whether we're busking on a street corner, or belting it out at the ball field, we're happy to entertain you!

Contact Penny Starr
(520) 906 3000
penstar@prodigy.net