Scioto Valley Chorus

SVC - 2009 Harmony Classic Champions

About SVC

The Dublin, Ohio, based Scioto Valley Chorus (SVC) is a member of Sweet Adelines International and Region 4 (East Central). Chartered in 1988, the chorus now boasts members of all ages, interests, and occupations. The tie that binds us is a love of four part harmony, a desire to be an entertaining and exciting chorus, and a love and support for each other as a "family" of singers. The chorus meets every Monday night at 7 PM at Northwest Presbyterian Church, 6400 Post Road, Dublin, Ohio.

SVC competes annually against choruses in Region 4, an area that encompasses Kentucky, West Virginia, and parts of Ohio and Indiana. The first time the chorus competed was in 1988, the year SVC was founded. The chorus was awarded Novice Champion and came in sixth place overall. Since that time, the chorus has never placed lower than fifth overall.

In 1999, Sweet Adelines International began dividing the competition by chorus size, with recognition going to small, midsize, and large choruses. Until recently, SVC was a midsize (AA) chorus. SVC has been the Region 4 AA Division Champion eight times since 1999 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009.)

In 2001, SAI established the Harmony Classic, an international competition for the five small and midsize choruses who had the highest scores at their respective regional competitions. Scioto Valley has qualified for the Harmony Classic four times (2001, 2002, 2005, and 2009) and was crowned the International AA Champion in 2005 and 2009. In 2005, the chorus was also invited to participate in the Buckeye Invitational, a competition of the leading men's and women's choruses from all over the world. The chorus was named the Grand Champion Chorus at that event.

In 2010, SVC was named 2nd place in Region 4 and scored high enough to earn a wild card spot in the 2011 International Chorus Competition in Houston, Texas.

Our Directors

SVC is privileged to be under the musical direction of a dynamic mother-daughter duo.

Char Gurney

Char Gurney has many titles. In her family life, she is the mother of Kerry Denino and the grandmother of Amanda and Nicholas. In her professional life, Char is the Infusion Billing Supervisor at HomeReach, a subsidiary of OhioHealth and their 2006 "Prism Award for Integrity" winner. In her musical life, Char is the Master Director of the Scioto Valley Chorus. She is a Certified Judge in the expression category for Sweet Adelines International and judged both the 2006 International Chorus Competition and the 2007 International Quartet Competition.

It has been said that Char is the heart and soul of the Scioto Valley Chorus. She's much more than that. She's also the "Queen of the Mixed Metaphor." Sweet Adelines International recently asked Char to contribute an article for their magazine, The Pitch Pipe, on the subject "my director's always saying." Char requested the chorus' input. She may have expected responses like "if you hold it, it has to grow" or "keep the energy flowing in the soft passages of the song." But when she sent an email asking "what do you remember me saying in rehearsal?" she received responses such as "we can kill two stones with one bird" and the ever-popular "it's not rocket surgery!"

Char has been a great inspiration to our chorus and many other choruses and quartets as well. Char is often called upon to help other directors develop their choruses. Also, Char is the coach for many talented quartets. She has held several leadership positions within the Sweet Adelines organization. Because of her hard work and dedication to her craft, she has earned one of the organization's most prestigious director awards: Master Director.

Kerry Denino

In 2008, SVC opened an exciting new chapter in the future of the chorus when we welcomed Kerry Denino as our chorus co-director. A founding member of the chorus, she is the perfect person to join her mother Char at the helm.

Kerry lives in Grove City, Ohio with her husband Steve and their two children, Amanda and Nick. She is a teacher at WeJoySing, an early childhood development program based on music and movement. Kerry comes from a barbershop family and has extensive experience with Sweet Adelines. She joined SVC at the age of 13 and competed and earned International Top 10 honors with Success Express quartet. Ultimately, Kerry achieved one of SAI's highest honors when she was crowned a Queen of Harmony as the baritone of SPOTLIGHT, 2006 Sweet Adelines International Quartet Champions.

Kerry's high energy and extensive knowledge helped lead the chorus to the AA championship in the 2008 Region 4 competition. The next year, in only her second competition on the front line, Kerry earned the title of Master Director when the chorus scored its highest point total ever - 635. The chorus looks forward to continued musical growth, success, and fun under the direction of our mother-daughter duo in the years to come.

Contest Placement

International

2011
4th

Harmony Classic

2001	2002	2005	2009
3rd	2nd	1st	1st

Buckeye Invitational

2005 Grand Champion Chorus

Regional (4)

Overall

1988 - 6th Place Overall, Novice Champions

1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
3rd	3rd	3rd	5th	4th	2nd	3rd	4th	2nd	4th	2nd

AA - Midsize

1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
1st	1st	1st	3rd	2nd	1st	1st	2nd	1st	1st	1st

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