by Sequim Gazette staff

Four Olympic Peninsula women sang their way to the top four in the Sweet Adelines International Region 13 quartet competition April 1 in Spokane.

Linda Muldowney, baritone, of Sequim; Connie Alward, lead, of Port Angeles; Mary Ellen Bartholomew, bass, of Port Angeles; and Lindy McLaine, tenor, of Sequim, won fourth place overall as well as the Best Novice Quartet trophy for their performance as Aspire! Quartet.

Seventeen quartets competed in the event.

“We aimed for the best novice trophy and overshot,” Muldowney said. “While Connie and I have been competing for years, Mary Ellen and Lindy were first-timers, which qualified us for the novice award.”

Aspire! has performed the past two years in the annual concerts of both the men’s and women’s barbershop choruses on the peninsula.

Bartholomew said community support was key in the quartet’s success at the competition, through a quilt raffle held last October to fund the trip.

The support and encouragement given by the choruses, by Grand Olympics Chorus director Judie Sharpe, by audience members and by families meant the world to them, said Bartholomew.

The quartet can be booked for events by calling Mary Ellen Bartholomew, 477-5471.

To learn more about the Grand Olympics Chorus of Sweet Adelines, go to www.grandolympicschorus.org.