OUR DIRECTORS

Mary Ann Wert began singing wtih Northern Blend in 1985.  In 1995 we were fortunate to have her step forward and become our director.  She has a wealth of musical talent  and can always be found humming a barbershop tune! 

Mary Ann's life is filled with barbershop.  She and her husband Chuck own a restaurant that is extremely barbershop friendly. Why you ask?   Well, she is not the only barbershopper in her family.  Her husband sings Bass in Cornerstone, a well-known Society comedy quartet, and their daughters Katie (Wert) Taylor and Lorie (Wert) Autote , both joined Northern Blend when they turned 12.  This family combination sings together whenever possible as "Compound W"!

As if that weren't enough for one person, Mary Ann, along with her two daughters and her best friend, Laurie Shepherd, were thrilled to become the 1996 International Quartet Champions of Harmony, Incorporated. For Heaven's Sake has traveled extensively, sharing their love of each other and barbershop with everyone. In addition to performing, Mary Ann also dabbles in arranging and coaches quartets and choruses throughout both Harmony Inc. and the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Katie Taylor became a Co-Director with her mother in April of 2003. This made Mary Ann very happy because she missed singing IN the chorus, and now she can! The chorus is thrilled to be on the receiving end of the vast wealth of musical knowledge and talents that Katie has to offer. Her talents are surpassed (only slightly) by the way she teaches her craft and her zestful personality!

Katie is a K-12 Vocal Music Teacher and also directs the annual musicals at her school. In 2007 she was awarded "Music Teacher of the Year" by the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra with nominations by her principal, peers, and students of past and present. Katie also recieved the "Kay DeLong Award" at Area 3's AC&C in 2008 for her service to her chapter, her Area, and to Harmony, Inc. as a whole. Katie also acts as Youth Coordinator for Area 3 and loves to work with young ladies who may become members of our organization in the future!

In 2008, Katie competed in her new quartet, U4X, on the International stage and took her 2nd gold - only this time in tenor instead of bass! She continues to sing with both For Heaven's Sake and U4X and is thrilled to once again be representing HI as reigning queens!

Katie, like her mother, loves to coach quartets and choruses in both HI and the BHS. She also makes learning trax - www.TaylorTrax.homestead.com - that she happily uses to help quartets and choruses learn their new music!

                

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Northern Blend feels blessed to have such wonderful women leading them forward!

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             Below: Northern Blend all "Dressed to the Nines", the theme of Area 3 AC&C                         We are SO PROUD to be the new Area 3 Chorus Champions!

Katie and Mary Ann, pictured above, holding the Area 3 Chorus Champion Trophy which the chorus won at the 2009 AC&C in Batavia, NY.  Awesome!

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