We are proud to be a part of Sweet Adelines International, the premier women’s barbershop organization in the world.
Lehigh Valley Chorus aims to transform lives and create lifetime friendships through singing the uniquely American art form of Barbershop Harmony. We aspire, and are inspired, to be the best we can be through education, community performance and competition.
We celebrate our diverse and cultural differences as essential to the rich harmony that unites us. We unwaveringly strive towards greater awareness, openness, understanding and acceptance of the many types of women who love to sing a cappella barbershop harmony.
Meet our director, Debbie Keretz
Debbie comes to the Lehigh Valley Chorus of Sweet Adelines International (LVC) with a rich background in music and singing a cappella barbershop harmony. She has sung three different voice parts in multiple quartets, and was a Regional Champion Quartet singer several times, as both a baritone and a bass. She has competed at the international level many times, placing 12th in the world with her quartet B.A.D.D. Company.
Debbie directed LVC from 1980-1995 when they placed perennially in the Top 5 Regionally and has re-joined as Director in November 2022. At this past year’s Regional Competition (2023), under her guidance, the chorus placed 6th Place Overall and 3rd Place Small Chorus.
She recently gained the title of Certified Director. She has also been the Director of the Award-Winning Young Women In Harmony Chorus (YWIH) from Phillipsburg (NJ) High School, “Pieces of Eight”, for the past 31 years.
She is a prolific arranger of Barbershop Music and has over a dozen published arrangements with many more in progress. She was an Assistant Director of Musical Activities for Region #19 for several years and is a chorus and quartet coach. She was previously an Approved Candidate Judge in the Sound Category. She is a private voice teacher. She was the producer of the local talent show troupe “All-Star Revue” for 5 years. She is recently retired and now spending ALL of her time with her music!!
And our assistant directors, Cheri Bowers and Lynette Romig
Cheri has been a member of Sweet Adelines International since 1995, singing first with the Lehigh Valley Chapter and then with the Greater Harrisburg Chapter starting in 1998. Her commitment, talent, and enthusiasm for women’s barbershop harmony have been a driving force in supporting the Chorus Directors and working to improve the chorus.
Cheri is a Certified Director, Regional Convention Stage Manager, and has served on many committees and boards in both Choruses and at the Regional level of our organization.
Outside of chorus life, Cheri is the Facility Leader for Paychex in Allentown for the past 20 years. Her unique position has help her be agile in the demands that are made as a section leader and assistant director. Cheri has 40 years of classical piano training and plays multiple other instruments.
