Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Pallas.
Laura, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The four of us make up a barbershop quartet known as GOTTA SING. Barbershop is a challenging form of close-harmony a cappella singing, in which the lead vocal sits in the middle of the chording. The close harmonies, balance and blend of the barbershop style make it a difficult but incredibly rewarding art form at its championship levels. We love the challenge and the opportunity to continue to work our individual and ensemble skills.
Collectively, we have well over a century of vocal experience (we tell you this, so, when you see us, you’ll think, “they don’t look that old”). We are all members of the Championship Sweet Adeline’s Santa Monica Chorus, of which Laura, our Lead, is Master Director. Tove, our Baritone, is the chorus assistant Director; Anna Pia, Tenor, is one of our visual leaders, and Jennifer, our extraordinary Bass, serves as our Music Education chair and in addition is an outstanding bagpiper. Ask how we work it into the act!
We are all within three years of one another in age, which suggests that we like to sing the same songs. We primarily feature music from our kickin’ era –the 70’s and 80’s. Some of our favorites include an ABBA medley, “Crazy Little thing Called Love”, “Send in the Clowns”, and Carol King’s “I Feel the Earth Move”. In addition to the 70-80’s repertoire, we feature music from multiple generations, including barbershop standards like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Sweet Adeline.”
We’re afraid our name gives us away–when we get together, we just GOTTA SING! We love performing for an audience, and because we always carry our instruments with us, we can perform just about anywhere–literally, at the drop of a pitch! May we suggest a little barbershop as novel entertainment for your next function.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
When asking about obstacles in our Qrt’s experience, I would say there has been nothing more detrimental to our singing efforts than the Covid-19 pandemic. Singers are considered “Super Spreaders” so we can not sing together in person. Like all singers, we lost many opportunities to compete, perform and host events that have been canceled because of the pandemic.
Gotta Sing! Barbershop Quartet – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The trait that makes Gotta Sing! Quartet stands out is our strong work ethic. We work hard as individuals to bring our personal best to every rehearsal and performance. And as a Quartet, we hire coaches for our musical product, rent mirrored dance studios for our visual product and look for cool arrangements of songs we loved when we were growing up so we have a real connection to the music we perform.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Although the event can influence what we considered success, if we are able to move an audience – we have been successful. We still strive to win every contest we enter, reach every student we work with, and with every performance aim to expand the love and appreciation for 4 part a cappella music in the barbershop style.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4076 Minerva Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
90066 - Phone: 3104638870
- Email: laura.pallas@verizon.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GottaSing/
Image Credit:
Gotta Sing! Quartet
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