Meet the Director - Derek Glenna!
Vallee de Croix is thrilled to have Derek Glenna as our director! Derek has a rich musical background. He began singing barbershop when he was just three years old! His mother sang in a women’s barbershop chorus and his grandfather sang in a quartet and directed a chorus for many years. As a child, he used to fall asleep to their rehearsal tapes, intrigued by the close harmonies. Derek hoped to grace the stage some day as his mother and grandfather did, performing in the barbershop style and bringing joy to others. Grace the stage, indeed!
In high school, Derek won two first place medals singing in two different quartets. In July, 2011, singing with the Great Northern Union, he earned a second place medal at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International competition in Kansas City. His quartet, Grand Design, won their way to the International quartet contest, also in July 2011, where they had a respectable finish among the top 50 quartets in the world.
Derek has coached many men’s and women’s quartets and choruses. His first real directing position was at the tender age of 17! He’s been a guest coach and director for the Youth in Harmony festival and guest choral conductor at Chisago Lakes High School. Only 27, Derek directed the Riverblenders, a men’s barbershop chorus out of Mankato. In the 2010 Southwest Division competition, the Riverblenders took first and most improved chorus, outscoring the 2nd place chorus by over 100 points!
Derek has been a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society for 17 years. In the fall of 2010 Derek completed the SAI Directors Certification Program and officially became a certified Sweet Adelines chorus director. He brings youthful energy, experience, talent, and humor to every rehearsal! His vision for the chorus is for members to expect 110% of themselves and of him, to sing well and to work hard reaching new heights!
What an exciting time to join VdC! If you’d like to be part of something great, join us!
Assistant Director - Lorraine Scherer
Lorraine has been involved in music in one form or another since she was five. In her youth, she sang solos, duets with her sister and trios with her mother and sister. She plays both piano and flute and directed her church choir for many years. Lorraine joined Sweet Adelines in 1971 and has been in several quartets over the years. She is a Certified Director and has continued her musical education by attending the many Sweet Adeline music schools that have been available over the years. She's attended Camp Rainbow for 10 years and taken most of the IES classes that were available. Singing in her current quartet, Sound Tradition, gives her the opportunity to continue her education with the wonderful coaching available through Sweet Adelines. In 2009, Sound Tradition, recieved the "most improved" award at the regional competition. She feels, the constant learning and testing of her abilities keeps her young and energized.
