Kansas City Chorus Leadership

The Kansas City Chorus thrives because of the women members who give of their talents, dedication and energy to lead the way.  Here are a few of the people that make our ensemble work:

 

Stacy Schumacher- Artistic Director

 

Stacy came to Sweet Adelines very "early on," and at the ripe young age of eleven became an official member of the JaCoMo chorus.  By fourteen, when she joined the Kansas City Chorus, she had already been a Board of Directors member.  As a music educator with a degree in Music Education from Northwest Missouri State University, Stacy brings to the Kansas City Chorus a special blend of leadership skills and experience teaching various age groups in choral music. Her enriched vocal background includes singing with several award winning quartets, the most recent is singing Lead in the Current Region 7 First Place Quartet, Legacy!  In 2009, Stacy co-directed the KC Chorus to another top ten placement at the International Competition in Nashville, TN.  As Artistic Director, her versatility in performance and visual interpretation gives Stacy a unique perspective in directing and maximizing the multiple talents of the Kansas City Chorus.  She is delighted with the opportunity to be a part of the bright future in store for this great group of women!                           

 

 

 

Pat Mikels - Leadership Team Coordinator  

 

Pat Mikels joined the Kansas City Chorus in 2004.  She quickly became part of the leadership as a board member in 2005, and went on to serve as Chorus President from 2007-2009.  The Kansas City Chorus moved from a Board of Directors form of governing to Team Management in 2011.  A natural leader, Pat threw her hat in the ring and was elected as the chorus's first Leadership Team Coordinator.  She has served on numerous committees and is always willing to help when it is needed.  Pat sings Lead, enjoys singing with "The Christmas Bells," and has been involved with several novice quartets. 

 

 

   

Carol Steel joined the Kansas City Chorus in 1985.  She feels being part of the chorus is a way to express ones self musically as well as being able to make new friends.  In 2008, Carol was elected as Corresponding Secretary to the Board of Directors for two years.  When asked if she would be willing to run for the new Leadership Teamas Team Secretary in 2011, she agreed.  Carol’s vision for the leadership team is to continuously move the KC Chorus forward and to help the chorus reach the goals that have been set forth.  Carol sings Lead and is also actively involved with her church choir. 

  

 

 

Peggy Sinden - Financial Manager

  

Fresh out of college in 1965, Peggy did not want to give up her love of singing.  When she found out about a chorus in Independence, MO that sang music in barbershop style she decided to visit just to see what that might be.  The first sounds she heard were 45 women from all walks of life taking a pitch and then singing “12 Street Rag” like she had never heard before.  The hook was in!  Now in her 46^th year she continues to learn, to sing with others and continually to gain pleasure in that art form of barbershop harmony.  Not only was Peggy able to blend into a chord, she found that on the administrative side there were opportunities to support others who were the leaders.  As a bass, Peggy has been there and done that for years and still looks forward to many more to come.   As Finance Manager Coordinator, Peggy keeps an eye on the monies we need, for whatever reason, and sees that we pay our bills on time as budgeted.

 

 

 

Sooz Combs - Communications Coordinator   

 

Sooz (Susan) Combs has been a Sweet Adeline since she joined the Kansas City Chorus in 2002.  She has served as Music Librarian for the chorus for several years, and was elected President in 2009, much to her surprise.  During her Presidential tenure 2009-2011, the chorus underwent a series of transformations, including: hiring our new director, the fabulous and talented Ms Stacy Schumacher; changing the form of governance from a Board of Directors to a Management Team; and not least, developing this awesome new website!  Sooz enjoys writing and schmoozing, and secretly would like to try to sing Baritone eventually.  In her day job, Sooz is a Network Administrator for the Social Security Administration where she has worked for almost 36 years.  So singing with her sistas relieves a lot of the stress of being the only woman at the office!

 

 

 

 
Pam Boyle - Events Coordinator

 

Pam joined the Kansas City Chorus in 2010.  She has been singing most of her life in one way or another.  Pam has been doing out Bazaar fundraisers this past year.  She decided that she want to be an intrigal part of the transition to Team Management and was on the committee to help the chorus in that transition.  Pam has always put both feet into any organization she has belonged to and Kansas City Chorus is no exception.  Pam sings Baritone and was in last years win at regional.  The regional contest was her first performance and she hopes to be in many more in the years to come.

 

 

Dee Ann Gaskins - Marketing Coordinator

 

 Dee Ann Gaskins grew up in barbershop and joined her first Sweet Adeline chorus in 1969.   Over the years, she has served the organization as chorus president, assistant director, education team member, baritone section leader and has conducted PVIs for countless women.   She was a co-founder of the City Voices Chorus in Region 5 and has sung Lead and Baritone (preferably baritone) in several regional quartets.  Dee Ann has been involved with Harmony, Inc. as a chorus director, coach and quartet Lead.  She is also an associate member of the Barbershop Harmony Society.   A member when the KC Chorus received their very first international medal, she recently returned to the KC Chorus after singing in Region 5 (St. Louis) for 20 years.  Dee Ann is an administrative assistant for Liberty Public Schools and shares her apartment with her toy Schnauzer, Ella Mae.

Linda Schumacher - Membership Coordinator 

 

Linda Schumacher has been a Sweet Adeline since 1976 and joined the Kansas City Chorus in 1986.  She has taken at least one turn of chairing most committees  and has served many terms on the Board of Directors, serving as president for 7 terms.  Currently, Linda is not only the Membership Coordinator but is also the Property Chair (a position she has held off and on for 25 years) and is the editor of the KC Chorus' monthly newsletter, Harmony Happenings.  Linda enjoys singing tenor in both the Kansas City Chorus and From the Heart quartet.

 

 

Barb Patton - Competition Coordinator

 

Barb joined the Wamego Dutch Mill Chorus in 1982.  Her husband transferred back to the Kansas City area where she became a member of the Blue Valley Chorus in Blue Springs, MO, serving on their Board of Directors.   In 1986, Barb was able to join the Kansas City Chorus and what an adventure that has been.  After becoming a member of the Kansas City Chorus, in 1991, she was able to represent the Kansas City Chorus on the Regional Competition Steering Committee, serving as the Chair of the Regional Steering Committee for several years after.  After her time on the Steering Committee, she served for 5 years on the Regional Management Team as the Communications/Technology Coordinator and the Events Coordinator.  Barb has been very involved in KC Chorus administration serving on the Board of Directors many times, most recently helping the chorus move from Board of Directors to Team Management and serving as the International Contest Coordinator.  She is the 2011 Garee Rogers Memorial Award recipient. 

 

 

 

Sheila Martinez - Education Coordinator  

 

 Sheila Martinez was a member of the Kansas City Chorus 1968 - 1971, and after founding one and directing two perspective choruses, earning a doctorate in  Curriculum and Instruction at The University of Kansas, and singing 15 years with Sunflower Harmony Chorus, she rejoined KCC in 1991. She has held numerous chorus, regional, and international administrative positions including chorus president, Club 7 president, Regent #7, Competition Coordinator #7, international membership and nominating committees, Panel Secretary, president of the Coronet Club, and Event Coordinator for Queens' Colleges 2004, 2008, and 2012. Sheila has sung baritone with several regional champion quartets and most notably with CLASSIC EDITION, 1998 International Champion Quartet. She is the recipient of the 2007 Garee Rogers Memorial Award.  

 

 

 

Carol Schumacher - Performance Coordinator

 

Carol Schumacher joined her first Sweet Adeline chorus, the JaCoMo Chorus, as a high school student in 1974 and immediately knew barbershop would be in her life forever!  With the dissolution of that chorus and subsequently the Twin Heritage Chorus, Carol joined the Kansas City Chorus in 1985. Over the years, she has immersed herself in both the music and business administration aspects of the chorus, including lead section leader, show chair, retreat chair, and board of directors.  She experienced quartet singing even before joining her first chorus and sang lead in 7th Heaven, a quartet that sang competitvely and performed together for 15 years.  Carol currently serves the chorus as performance coordinator, which involves pursuing and booking performance opportunities.  In her other life, Carol is an Executive Assistant at a large engineering company in Kansas City.