A cappella group's ‘Singing Valentines’ make for uniquely tuneful gifts

A quartet from the Sound of New England Chorus delivering a ‘Singing Valentine’ on Valentine’s Day last year. Courtesy photo.

On Valentine’s Day, giving your loved one a card, candy or flowers may be the traditional way to say you care, but those less-than-memorable gifts all tend to blend together year to year, and often lack a personal or thoughtful touch. That is why the Sound of New England Chorus – an award-winning chapter of Sweet Adelines International’s North Atlantic Region – is sending out quartets of performers to deliver “Singing Valentines” on Tuesday, Feb. 14.

“It’s such a different, personal gift; it’s really unique,” said Jen Ludgin, a chorus member who is also a member of the group’s marketing team and Singing Valentines team.

The chorus is preparing to send quartets of singers on the road throughout Greater Hartford and surrounding towns to deliver a cappella musical messages of love and friendship. “We go to workplaces, into private homes, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, restaurants, hospitals, stores or schools,” Ludgin said. The songs are often sent as gifts to spouses, parents, children and friends, Ludgin said, but can be ordered for anybody - even bosses.

“Most people completely embrace it, or occasionally people are completely embarrassed, but even those people love it,” Ludgin said of the recipients’ reactions. “Some people are blindsided or shocked by it. We get terrific feedback from people who ordered or received the songs.”

The basic Singing Valentines package is two songs for $35, but more songs can be ordered. “The recipient also gets a small plush teddy bear, as well as a personalized card,” Ludgin said. You can also choose to send one song by phone anywhere in the country for $20. A portion of the proceeds raised through this program will benefit My Sisters’ Place in Hartford.

For its Singing Valentines, the Sound of New England Chorus has chosen a special romantic repertoire: “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” an Elvis Presley song called “Loving You,” “Ain’t Behavin,’” the Nat King Cole hit “Orange-Colored Sky,” “Side by Side,” and 1950s pop song “Crazy ‘Bout You Baby.” “People can choose from that list when they order, if they like,” Ludgin said.

The non-profit Sound of New England Chorus formed about 18 years ago, and many charter members have been in the chorus since its inception, Ludgin said. The Singing Valentines program is one that this chapter has offered since it formed, and is something that has a long history with Sweet Adelines groups nationwide.

“The chorus itself has about 70 members. It’s one of the bigger choruses in New England,” Ludgin said. “Our organization is barber-shop based. Our chorus is all female, and all a cappella. We do have some modern songs, but mostly we do a lot of show tunes, and also lots of songs from the ’40s and ’50s, even the ’60s and ’70s.”

Last year, about 115 orders were handled by six quartets. This year, Ludgin said the group is hoping to have even more performers on the road.

The Singing Valentines can be scheduled on Feb. 14 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., but can only be delivered to private homes until 6 p.m. To order, call 1-877-LUV-2-SING ext. 5, or e-mail Valentines@SoundofNewEngland.org by Feb. 7. For more information about the chorus, visit www.SoundofNewEngland.org.