Date: Fri 15-Sep-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Illustration: C

Location: A-9

Quick Words:

Foxfire-Schneider-quartet

Full Text:

Foxfire Strives To Be Their Best

(with photo)

By Shannon Hicks

As president of the Welcome Wagon of Newtown, Susan Schneider works with

members of the group in offering friendship and support to new families in

town through activities such as coffee socials for new members, monthly

luncheons, couples' socials and other activities.

It is as tenor of Foxfire, a women's a cappella Sweet Adeline quartet that

performs "sophisticated renditions of both old and new songs in the barbershop

style," that Susan's voice is a welcome addition for three friends in other

parts of Connecticut. Susan is a resident of Sandy Hook, while lead Anne

Herold resides in Hamden, baritone Debbie Ingves in Hebron, and Barbara West

is from West Simsbury.

Foxfire has been in existence since 1990. The ladies meet at a member's home

once a week for rehearsals, and no one complains about having to drive for an

hour to get to any member's house these days. When Foxfire first formed five

years ago, its baritone, Barbara Jamison, lived in Danbury, so rehearsals were

not too difficult to arrange. But then Jamison moved to Colorado and in came

Joan Homikay, who lived halfway across the country , so Susan, Anne and

Barbara would get into a car and drive to New Jersey or Maryland twice a month

to rehearse. The group has gone through three previous baritones (Debbie

Ingves is No. 4), but it looks like the formula has been solved with the

addition of Ingves.

A 60-minute drive these days once a week for rehearsals by the award-winning

singers is worth the effort, considering the talent involved and the growing

reputation the quartet is gaining from its efforts. Foxfire formed as a

women's barbershop quartet in 1990, when Barbara West was director of the

Farmington Valley Chorus (a member of Sweet Adelines International). Susan was

also a member of the Chorus, and when Anne Herold's previous quartet

disbanded, Barbara approached Anne with the invitation to join the forming

Foxfire. Today, all members of Foxfire are also members of the Farmington

Valley Chorus.

During its first year as a quartet, Foxfire did not compete, opting instead to

concentrate on rehearsing. The first time they competed at the North Atlantic

Region I in Springfield, always held in the spring, the group finished in

fifth place. The group has now competed for four years at the Regionals and

has medaled or ribboned each time. Last year, Foxfire was the first place

winner, which qualified the ladies to advance to the international level of

competition. This year Foxfire placed second, but confidence is not lacking

between members.

"We sing together and are confident each of us will do her job," Susan

Schneider recently said. "You know you're going to go your own job.

"It almost becomes a sisterhood after awhile," she continued. "By the time you

are on the competition stage, you have sung these songs quite a bit, but the

lights are bright, and there are four judges..." Each member knows she can

count on herself and other members to perform magnificently.

Foxfire remains busy throughout the year. The weekly rehearsal sessions are

not just for the spring Regionals, but performances the group puts in

throughout the state. Appearances start lining up in September for the

Christmas season, the busiest time of year. The group appears at parties or

public functions, and in the past have appeared for events at Lexington

Gardens in Newtown, The Hartford Club, the Salvation Army, Price-Waterhouse,

and, of course, at countless Barbershop & Sweet Adeline shows.

The ladies are excited about a big event this weekend, when Foxfire will be

the featured performers Saturday on the Essex Train. The well-known steamer

locomotive, with its festive dining cars, will have cooks from Brannigan's

Restaurants preparing dinner. While the passengers are waiting for their

meals, Foxfire will be busy singing in different cars.

"We don't use instruments, just our voices," Susan said recently. "We really

don't need that much. A mike system is nice, but we can also wander around and

perform."

Foxfire is already preparing for next April's Regionals. Susan, Anne, Debbie

and Barbara are taking singing lessons and working with a voice coach, all in

anticipation for the spring trip to Springfield. If they win, the

international competition is next, and it will be in Florida next year. As far

as Susan is concerned, there is just one thing for Foxfire to concentrate on

right now.

"We're out to win first place this year," she says.