Deb Welton - Lead

Music is a source of enjoyment and life lessons streaming through my world. Instilled by my mother, who in her wisdom, knew that music and spirituality were enduring gifts, she encouraged a love of music in my childhood.

Four-part harmony became a passion since my first Grand Traverse Chorus (GTC) rehearsal. I was totally inspired by then director, Merilyn Bryan. A few months later at my first chorus show, I qualified on the entire chorus rep and sang in a quartet. The show was in a hotel banquet room and the ceiling was not very tall. I know I’m only 5’10” (short compared to our Baritone, Lori at 6’3.5”), but my new poofed-up hair piece kept catching in the ceiling tiles. Oh, the  Sweet Adeline life!

Years later, my chorus roles include Music Team Member, Performance Coordinator, Section Leader and Assistant Director. I study voice with our own Grand Diva, Dr. Diane Clark, GTCs current Director, a gift from the harmony gods. I attend regional events, IES, International Conventions and I’m in the Director’s Certification Program. If I can’t sleep I read the Judges Category Description Book (JCDB) or I watch recordings of the top ten finalists at International. I love perusing the scores to all the regional and international contests. I know, “Get a life Deb,” let’s sing and let go of the mechanics, but at 5:00 am, the JCDB is more conducive to family life.

I love singing with Sashay, a journey of music and relationships, how to balance and unify both has been an education on so many levels. Singing with these committed and talented women is a complete joy. Rewarded in 2006 as Region 2, Third Place Medalists after one year together was a rush!  Participating in the 2006 Buckeye Invitational was a barbershop extravaganza, and entertaining around Northern Michigan has been a thrill.

I am blessed by my family, husband Lars and twin sons Patrick and Andrew. Lars is self-employed and extremely talented. He remodeled our entire house (I love drywall dust, well, I love the outcome).  He’s an avid athlete, as engrossed in his passions as I am in mine, he telemark skis, rides his bicycle or BMW motorcycle.

I’ve harmonized my boys all the way into adulthood and they’ve endured years of me learning music in the car, in the kitchen, and in the shower. I’ve sung through every household chore imaginable from making dinner to vacuuming (you really can harmonize with appliances). Andrew recently completed his Certified Nurses Assistant training and works at our local hospital. Patrick is a junior in college, majoring in Construction Management. I’m very proud of them.

My career has taken me many places, from AT&T to Natural Gas Marketing, and Sales. Since 2000, I have been a Licensed Real Estate Assistant to successful and extremely busy Traverse City agent, Marsha Minervini, also my Sweet Adeline buddy and best friend.

I’ve decided that Sweet Adelines should come with a warning:

The Sweet Adeline harmony lifestyle is totally rewarding and consuming. It will change your life. It must be attempted with care and balance. Extreme cases could result in addictive behavior and denial.