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Sweet Adeline of the Year

 

Awarded to Karen Canonica

2025 Sweet Adeline of the Year: Karen Canonica
Karen Canonica truly embodies the heart of Shades of Harmony. From the moment she joined, Karen has stepped up again and again—leading physical warmups, contributing to choreography, serving on the Management and Vision Teams, and playing a central role in our shows as a writer, chair, performer, and emcee. She even switched voice parts for the good of the chorus, singing both Lead and Bass with dedication and skill.

Karen’s impact goes far beyond the risers. She has secured rehearsal space when we needed it most, revived and led fundraising efforts, supported countless behind-the-scenes needs, and brought clarity and confidence to rehearsals with her thoughtful questions and infectious enthusiasm.

What makes Karen especially deserving of this honor is not just how much she does, but how she does it—with grace, positivity, and an unwavering willingness to help. Her talent, leadership, and joyful spirit lift us all, and Shades of Harmony is better because of her.

 

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About the Sweet Adeline of the Year (SAY) Award

Each year the chorus selects a member to be Sweet Adeline of the Year. The SAY is the member who has done the most to help the chorus in the past year. The nominee must have been a member of the chorus for a full year, and cannot have received the award in the past.

Past winners include:
2007 Terry Scaruzzi and Chris Foley
2008 Sandy Biggs
2009 Betty Haynie
2010 Lori Ludlum
2011 Lynne Richardson
2012 Evelyn Donnachie
2013 Joanne Miksit
2014 Sandra Smith
2015 Karen Bonin
2016 Maureen Wynkoop
2017 Linda Ewing
2018 Melissa Guzman
2019 Carole Michaels
2020 Jeanne Cekala
2021 Nancy Burns
2022 Teresa Siwak
2023 Wendy Lombardi
2024 Mickey Mears