Iris Gantz Tenor for "Sensation" |
I started in music by learning to play the flute in the fourth grade. After six months, my band instructor told my parents that I should give up the flute because I could hardly make a sound. I guess that's all I needed to hear, because after begging to continue, I played my heart out and became first chair in the band. I graduated from the University of Illinois where I majored in music history, continuing with both flute and voice lessons. After college, I began working as a secretary, and a friend of mine asked me to go with her to her women's barbershop chorus (which I had never heard of). The chorus was the Melodeersnow an international champion chorus. It was so much fun and I became the tenor section leader under the direction of Karen (Giallombardo) Breidert. I was also the tenor in a non-competing quartet called "Special Touch". I loved singing, but the rehearsals were an hour away from my home, and when I got married, I left the chorus. I moved to warm sunny Florida to get away from the harsh Chicago winters. After several years, my husband passed away and it was time for me to find my music once again. After a 15-year absence from Sweet Adelines, I joined the Harmony Harbor chorus under the direction of Denise Helbig where I once again found my love of singing and again became the tenor section leader. I learned a lot from Denise and after being approached by Lisa Williams to sing in a quartet, I finally decided I was ready. I sang tenor with "Twilite Zone" and we competed three times, improving greatly with every contest. I am now having a great time as the tenor for "Sensation" and hope to stay with this quartet for a long time to come! I am married to Ed, who I call my "movie man" because in reality, he is truly like the men you see in the movies. He's my biggest fan and the absolute love of my life. We live with our "boys", miniature Schnauzers, Tucker and Jake, and Siamese cats, Casey and Cody. |
