Vivacious! Dazzling! Confident!
We are an award-winning chorus performing four-part harmony in the barbershop style. Vallee de Croix is part of Sweet Adelines International, a musical force in the United States and around the world. This nonprofit music education organization is the world's largest singing organizations for women, with more than 25,000 members and 600 choruses throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, The Netherlands and Wales.
As members of Sweet Adelines International, we provide vocal instruction to women of all ages who love to sing. Vallee de Croix is constantly learning the nuances of the barbershop craft and share this passion for harmony in performances throughout the community and in competition. Vallee de Croix is known for performing outside the box, combining vocal interpretation, costuming and choreography to create a truly unique and entertaining experience.
Vallee de Croix recognizes that the future of Sweet Adelines International lies in our youth. Vallee de Croix proudly supports young singers through the Young Women In Harmony (YWIH) program by providing coaching assistance to high school students. In coordination with two Barbershop Harmony Society choruses, Vallee de Croix conducts an annual Youth In Harmony festival, giving over 100 young people the opportunity to experience barbershop harmony, many for the first time. Singing is a hobby that can continue well beyond high school.
History
Chartered in July of 1983 in Stillwater, Minnesota, Vallee de Croix began under the leadership of Maggie Speich. Once a week, this small group of women who loved to sing met at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Stillwater, where the chorus still meets today.
Vallee de Croix's first director was Jim Hall, who was succeeded by Patricia "Pat" Rygg in 1986. Over these years, Vallee de Croix has traveled the region, the country and beyond, entertaining audiences and competing on the Regional and International stage. In 2000, VdC was chosen as one of four choruses from the United States to represent Sweet Adelines International at the Austrian Alps Performing Arts Festival in Kitzbuhel and Innsbruck, Austria. For many members, it was the highlight of their time with the chorus. In 2002, the chorus won its first regional competition, earning the right to compete at the international competition in Phoenix, Arizona. The chorus scored over 600 points that year, a score that gave Pat the title of Master Director. Again, in 2004, Vallee de Croix took first at regions, taking them to the International competition in Detroit (after Hurricane Katrina changed venues from New Orleans to Detroit). In the spring of 2010, after 24 years, Pat Rygg stepped down as director of Vallee de Croix.
Vallee de Croix opens a new chapter with the hiring of Derek Glenna as Director. We look forward to learning and achieving new heights with his musical knowledge and enthusiasm for barbershop music.
Mission Statement
Vallee de Croix is an organization of women sharing a love of singing four-part harmony, achieving musical excellence through education and personal development, and bringing the joy of music to the community in exciting, fun and competitive performances.
Management Team
• Team Coordinator - Tammy Hirsch
• Events Coordinator - Dana McNeil
• Music Team Coordinator - Kristi Kelly
• Marketing/PR Coordinator - Carole Sauers
• Membership Coordinator - Laurie Maher
• Financial Coordinator - Shirley McDonough
• Administrative Coordinator - Audrey Szymansky
• Production Coordinator - Lyla Larson