BARBERSHOP harmony is not something many people are too familiar with, and is generally performed by men, but for Dianne James it’s her salvation.
Dianne discovered her passion for the a capella style originating from the United States in 1995 while living in Redland Bay.
“I am the founding member of Redland Rhapsody Chorus. I thought I had joined a newly formed choir and discovered that I had joined a Barbershop Chorus,” she laughed.
When she and husband, Alan, moved to Tamborine Mountain ten years ago, she began looking for a singing group, but couldn’t find one.
She connected with five other women, taught them to sing, which she said she didn’t think she was capable of, and ended up establishing Bella Acapella nine years ago.
The all-female group now has a solid group of 30 members, ranging in age from 50 to about 87, who meet weekly at Dianne’s house to practice.
They’re well known on the mountain for their regular performances at the Tamborine Mountain Show, the Artisan Fayre and bringing joy to residents at Roslyn Lodge and Community Care.
Recently they performed their first friends and family concert at Capo di Monte community hall, which Dianne said was a huge success.
She said the ringing chords and the challenge of getting it to sound so good it gives her goosebumps, and is what attracts her to the barbershop style.
“It’s quite a challenging style of singing. We have to work quite hard to get it right. It’s the challenge and detail that makes it so interesting and fun.”
And surrounded by so many wonderful women in the Bella Acapellas makes it all the more special.
“The women themselves are wonderful. They have made friends by coming to the group,” she said.
“It has made a huge difference in my life. Alan, has severe Parkinson’s, making it harder to get out and do things. Having the women come to my house is an important part of my life.
“I’ve got myself and instant group of friends. It has helped me become a part of the community faster than I might have. Coming here to Tamborine Mountain I found my tribe.”
The couple moved from Redland Bay seeking a lifestyle based around a close community.
“I wanted somewhere more supportive. I felt isolated in the Redlands, and I had always yearned to live in a smaller community,” Dianne revealed.
“It is an amazing community. I’ve met people who are so friendly and supportive. The tornado and cyclone showed how connected we are to each other.”
“Having come from the huge community in the Redlands I hadn’t experienced anything like I get here.”
“It’s a beautiful place to live, the environment and people are the two things are that very different.”
She admits that between being a carer for Alan and her singing there isn’t much time for anything else, but gardening is also a passion and her sun-drenched garden is filled with flourishing citrus trees and vegetables.
Dianne also manages to volunteer with Mountain Mates and has run singing workshops for them for the past four years.
Now she’s gearing up for a big trip to Ohio in October where she will compete with the Redlands Rapsody Chorus in the Barbershop Harmony Society International contest.
“I’m excited; very fortunate. It goes to show you we are ordinary people in our chorus getting the opportunity to do extraordinary things together,” she gushed.
Dianne will also join the Australian second place winners from Sydney in the competition.
In the meantime, she’s completing a director’s certification program through Sweet Adelines, a global organisation of female barbershop singers.
“I’m always interested in getting better at what I do,” she said.
