Fox Valley’s front line
director is Heather
Johnston.
Heather has been a Sweet Adeline since 1986. A
co-worker invited her to attend a local choruses annual show. Having been very
musical all her life, she was anxious to learn more about barbershop harmony and
attended the guest night they had the following week. She was hooked the first
night and quickly became part of both the music team and administrative
leadership. Heather transferred to the Crosstown Harmony chorus in 1995 and
continued to perfect her skills in the musical leadership of the chorus. Heather
was blessed with the opportunity to become the front line director of the Fox
Valley Chorus in January of 2005.
Heather has achieved the status of Master Director within the Sweet Adelines
Int'l Director Certification Program. She currently serves as the Education
Coordinator for MidAmerica Region 22.
Heather has sung in several quartets and has won Regional quartet
championships as the baritone in Outrageous and NRG! Heather provides personal
vocal instruction in addition to coaching quartets and choruses.
Heather resides in Milwaukee, WI, where she was born and raised. She shares
her home with her feline friend, Mr. Bill. To help support this wonderfully
addictive hobby, Heather is employed as a Sales Support Specialist and Office
Manager for Lachat Instruments, a Hach Company Brand. She is an avid reader
although lately she doesn’t find much time for it. When the Wisconsin weather
allows, she tries to find time for golf.
Fox Valley's Assistant Director is Sheila Koplitz This energetic lady takes the
Fox Valley Chorus through warm-ups each week and takes the helm for many show
songs and church singouts. Sheila has been a member of Sweet Adelines since 1977
and her enthusiasm and knowledge of barbershop helps bring vitality to the
group. She’s always encouraging others to ‘find the music within’.
She began her barbershop life
with the Green Bay Chapter, where she accepted the assistant director position
and subsequently the directorship for 12 years. Reaching the level of Certified
Director. She also sang with the successful quartet, “Encore Four” during nine
of those years.
She retired June of 2006 having taught for 34 years in the Green
Bay school system.
She was honored by the Sweet
Adelines organization, with the MENC award given to her at the International
Convention in Calgary Ontario, Canada in 2007.
Sheila has attended many directors’ seminars and
regional schools offered by Sweet Adelines. She has taught classes on directing
vocal warm-ups and has served as Regional Quartet Coordinator, Young Women in
Harmony Coordinator and was Director Coordinator on the Region 22 Team for one
term.