About Our Chorus
The Seneca Soundwaves Chorus is a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, the largest women’s singing organization in the world! Our mission is to learn and share the art of singing four-part a cappella harmony in barbershop style. The chorus is part of Lake Ontario Region 16 which is the largest Region in Sweet Adelines International, made up of over 30 choruses from New York State and Ontario, Canada.
Holiday Harmony concert at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Our chapter was formed in 1995 by four women who loved to sing and decided to start a new Sweet Adelines chorus in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region. Today, Seneca Soundwaves has members hailing from all over the Finger Lakes as well as Monroe, Livingston and Wayne County. Our chorus membership includes women of all ages and backgrounds from 13 years to our senior member who prefers not to divulge her age. All of our singers love the opportunity to improve our singing skills, perform in the community and at regional competitions, and enjoy the fun and fellowship of learning together.
Under the direction of Kathy Wakeman, we are very active performing in the community for all sorts of events including the moonlight strolls at Sonnenberg Gardens to Singing Valentine Greetings to Holiday concerts. We also sponsor an annual Young Women in Harmony Workshop for budding young singers.
We welcome women who love to sing at our regular rehearsals any Wednesday evening at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 320 S. Pearl St., Canandaigua, NY at 7 PM for an evening of fun, fellowship and song! Bring your friend, your sister or your cousin! Enjoy a night out! Let your voice be heard! Catch our Wave!
Our Director
Kathy Wakeman, Director
We are so fortunate to have Kathy Wakeman as our director since our beginning in 1995. She is an extremely talented musician and shares her 29 years of Sweet Adeline musical experience with us every week.
Kathy sang with Rochester Chorus, Buffalo Gateway Chorus and was lead singer in the award winning quartets VIVA! and A Touch of Class. She is a recent graduate in music education from Nazareth College and is beginning her teaching career.
Under Kathy’s direction the Seneca Soundwaves Chorus has flourished winning Most Improved Chorus awards at competition in 2000 and 2004 and the 3rd place Small Chorus award in 2005. The chorus benefits greatly from her musical expertise in our pursuit of musical knowledge. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, she is an inspiration to us each and every week as we gather to pursue our goals.