Velvet Hills Quartets
Want a Quartet to Sing For You?
Ember
Ember is an a cappella and barbershop quartet based in Denver, CO. Formed in December 2019, the foursome features Siobhan Drown (lead), Michelle Barnes (bass), Ashley Banks (baritone) and Mary Selano (tenor). Ember enjoys singing a variety of music styles and is honored to be a part of Sweet Adelines Region 8, representing both High Country Chorus and Velvet Hills Chorus. They’re also proud to be the first all-female quartet to represent the Rocky Mountain District of the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Contact Information: emberquartet@gmail.com also look us up on facebook @emberquartet
Contact Information: emberquartet@gmail.com also look us up on facebook @emberquartet
Free Time
FREE TIME Quartet has been singing together for about a year but each has many years of Chorus and quartetting experience. All have sung with Velvet Hills Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International for a combined 127 years. All are happily retired, thus the name, FREE TIME.
Denise Hainault, Tenor, has been a chorus director for 28 years. A 43 year chorus member, she is now Assistant Director and lead section leader of Velvet Hills chorus. Denise sang with many quartets. A music educator for 37 years and long time church choir director musician, she and her husband now share their music in the chapel at Penrose Hospital. She enjoys two grandkids and car rallies!
Marylee Shoback, Lead, and a member of the chorus for 44 years, and has served in many roles. She currently serves on the Visual team as makeup and costume co-chair and membership team. She has sung in several competing quartets. She taught at her own preschool and first graders for a total of 42 years. Marylee enjoys the grandkids, reading, gardening and helping others by volunteering.
Kristi Quinn, Bass, has sung with the chorus for 12 years. She competed with “Out & About” and “Talk of the Town” quartets. Kristi was an active duty Army nurse for 8 years and enjoys the benefits of being a Reserve officer. Kristi has been married 47 years and loves to travel, read, swim, hike, Pilates, and has participated in 3 triathlons. She loves spending time with her 4 precious grandchildren.
Bobbie Hoover, Baritone, is the chorus baritone section leader and has been a chorus member for 28 years. She sang with “Imagine That!” quartet for 12 years, and “VLOC” (Very Light Opera Company) a fan-favorite comedy quartet for 11 years. She has served the chorus in marketing and fundraising. Bobbie has taught vocal music all her life and sang solo professionally in the Black Hills area for years. Retired from music education and the Senior services field, she enjoys RV-ing, travel, competitive shooting, gardening and 5 grandkids!
Our music, old and new, is sung ACAPELLA in the barbershop style along with entertaining comedy.
Book us for a date for your event, large or small!
Denise Hainault, Tenor, has been a chorus director for 28 years. A 43 year chorus member, she is now Assistant Director and lead section leader of Velvet Hills chorus. Denise sang with many quartets. A music educator for 37 years and long time church choir director musician, she and her husband now share their music in the chapel at Penrose Hospital. She enjoys two grandkids and car rallies!
Marylee Shoback, Lead, and a member of the chorus for 44 years, and has served in many roles. She currently serves on the Visual team as makeup and costume co-chair and membership team. She has sung in several competing quartets. She taught at her own preschool and first graders for a total of 42 years. Marylee enjoys the grandkids, reading, gardening and helping others by volunteering.
Kristi Quinn, Bass, has sung with the chorus for 12 years. She competed with “Out & About” and “Talk of the Town” quartets. Kristi was an active duty Army nurse for 8 years and enjoys the benefits of being a Reserve officer. Kristi has been married 47 years and loves to travel, read, swim, hike, Pilates, and has participated in 3 triathlons. She loves spending time with her 4 precious grandchildren.
Bobbie Hoover, Baritone, is the chorus baritone section leader and has been a chorus member for 28 years. She sang with “Imagine That!” quartet for 12 years, and “VLOC” (Very Light Opera Company) a fan-favorite comedy quartet for 11 years. She has served the chorus in marketing and fundraising. Bobbie has taught vocal music all her life and sang solo professionally in the Black Hills area for years. Retired from music education and the Senior services field, she enjoys RV-ing, travel, competitive shooting, gardening and 5 grandkids!
Our music, old and new, is sung ACAPELLA in the barbershop style along with entertaining comedy.
Book us for a date for your event, large or small!
Marigold
In 2003, Storm Front Quartet competed at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International convention in Montreal. They took along a babysitter, a choir student of their baritone Darin Drown, to watch after their children during the contest.
That babysitter’s life would be forever changed by this decision.
It was then that Neyla Pekarek (the babysitter) would develop a lifelong love of Barbershop Quartet singing. What she didn’t know then, was a tiny Siobhan Drown, one of the kids she was babysitting, would become THE BARITONE in her future quartet, Marigold.
The following year, Neyla formed her own quartet with fellow choir comrades and students of Darin’s, one of which was Kaly Warner. They went on to sing in a YWIH quartet, Starlet who placed third at the Rising Star contest in 2006. Kaly later became the original tenor for an up-and-coming quartet, Ruby Blue.
Many years and quartets and life changes later, Neyla and a past quartet-mate, Ruthie Tabone were looking to form a new quartet. Neyla sought out her former tenor Kaly, who was now teaching Special Education at Rangeview High School, and their search for a bass began. They reached out to yet ANOTHER former student of Darin’s, Erin Eldridge, a brilliant engineer for the Department of Defense and mother of three (see, women can do it all!), who was the perfect fit.
After a year or so of trying to make a long distance quartet work, Ruthie unfortunately parted ways with Marigold; but as luck would have it, Siobhan, who didn’t need a babysitter anymore, was available and ready to step in, adding a wealth of knowledge and skill to the quartet.
Marigold is delighted to be part of Region 8, and looks forward to performing and competing in the future.
That babysitter’s life would be forever changed by this decision.
It was then that Neyla Pekarek (the babysitter) would develop a lifelong love of Barbershop Quartet singing. What she didn’t know then, was a tiny Siobhan Drown, one of the kids she was babysitting, would become THE BARITONE in her future quartet, Marigold.
The following year, Neyla formed her own quartet with fellow choir comrades and students of Darin’s, one of which was Kaly Warner. They went on to sing in a YWIH quartet, Starlet who placed third at the Rising Star contest in 2006. Kaly later became the original tenor for an up-and-coming quartet, Ruby Blue.
Many years and quartets and life changes later, Neyla and a past quartet-mate, Ruthie Tabone were looking to form a new quartet. Neyla sought out her former tenor Kaly, who was now teaching Special Education at Rangeview High School, and their search for a bass began. They reached out to yet ANOTHER former student of Darin’s, Erin Eldridge, a brilliant engineer for the Department of Defense and mother of three (see, women can do it all!), who was the perfect fit.
After a year or so of trying to make a long distance quartet work, Ruthie unfortunately parted ways with Marigold; but as luck would have it, Siobhan, who didn’t need a babysitter anymore, was available and ready to step in, adding a wealth of knowledge and skill to the quartet.
Marigold is delighted to be part of Region 8, and looks forward to performing and competing in the future.