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One of the newest foursomes in the Verdugo Hills Showtime
Chorus stable of talented quartets, What Four! quickly established
themselves as popular entertainers, having already appeared
at numerous community events, country clubs, local businesses
and private parties. As an indication of their fast rising
reputation, the group was recently invited to appear in the
Los Angeles region Harmony Sweepstakes, a gathering of talented
performers from throughout Southern California. At present
What Four! is focusing on the Sweet Adelines International
Region 11 Quartet Competition to be held in Bakersfield in
April, 2008.
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Catherine
Peters, lead, is an elementary school teacher by profession
and has spent the last eighteen years leading her students in
classroom sing-alongs. It was, therefore, only natural that
she opted to sing lead upon joining the Sweet Adelines. Her
clean, dynamic sound and engaging personality make her the ideal
front person for What Four!.
Catherine
began her Sweet Adelines "career" with the San Diego
Chorus where she helped secure an International Second Place
medal at the 1997 International Chorus Competition in Salt
Lake City. Catherine joined the Verdugo Hills Showtime Chorus
in 2006.
Rounding
out her musical talents, Catherine plays the autoharp, flute,
violin, recorder, and yes, the sousaphone!
Catherine
and husband, Tom, have an intense passion for dogs and are
active volunteers with a German Shepherd Rescue organization.
Catherine’s other interests include dog photography,
snake handling, hiking, cooking and annual trips to the Shakespeare
Festival in Ashland, Oregon.
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Ellen
Totleben, bass, is a true show business personality,
who brings an incredible list of singing and acting credits
to What Four!. Ellen began singing with barbershop quartets
starting in high school and continuing through college where
she majored in voice and theater. Ellen sang her way to local
stardom on the New York City Cabaret Circuit with "The
After Dinner Mints", an "Andrew Sisters" style
quartet that she formed. She has been in a variety of professional
musical productions, such as "Company," "Gypsy"
and "The Fantastics" to name a few. Ellen then transitioned
to the production side of the entertainment business. She has
achieved her greatest success as a set decorator for the film
and television industry where she won an Emmy for her body of
work on the "West Wing."
Ellen now resides
in the Pasadena area with husband David, and their two teenaged
children, where she owns and operates a "Curves"
fitness center. When she’s not in Hollywood or on one
of her weight machines, you’ll find Ellen playing French
horn with the South Pasadena Adult Concert Band, singing lead
with the Verdugo Hills Showtime Chorus, or, of course, producing
those creamy, rich bass tones for What Four!.
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Dee
Cardello, baritone, is a master of what are arguably
the most difficult harmony elements found in the world of barbershop.
Her success as a baritone has been no accident, having been
raised by her mother, Jeanette, who is a 27-year veteran of
the barbershop art form. The smooth, rich tonal quality of Dee’s
voice adds an exciting dimension to What Four!’s wonderful,
full-bodied sound and is key to the group’s success. As
any barbershop quartet will attest, talented baritones are a
rare commodity, and What Four! is extremely fortunate to have
found one of the best.
Dee’s
success is not limited to her vocal endeavors. Professionally,
Dee is a Financial Officer for a large construction company.
In her spare time she and her husband, Jim, raise guide dog
puppies, and enjoy various outdoor activities which usually
include their two Labrador Retrievers.
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Susan
Smith, tenor, brings a wealth of experience to What
Four!, having sung in several Sweet Adeline choruses and quartets
beginning with her days in high school. After taking time off
from singing to raise three children, she rejoined Sweet Adelines
in 1999, and quickly became a front row performer with the very
famous Harborlites Chorus. Moving from Harborlites in 2001,
Susan again found herself on the front row with the Sounds of
Harmony Chorus, helping them win three consecutive regional
championships in the small chorus division. Susan’s musical
credits also include the Cal-State Los Angeles concert choir
and two very successful quartets, "Five Foot Four"
and "The Music Peddlers". She has also had starring
roles in various theater productions including "Annie Get
Your Gun", "Guys and Dolls", and "The Music
Man".
Susan’s involvement with Sweet Adelines
provides a much needed stress release from her incredibly
busy professional life as Vice President of Philanthropy for
Saint Jude Medical Center. She resides in Fullerton, CA with
husband Gary, and her surrogate son, her Cockapoo, Cody. When
not working or singing, Susan enjoys playing golf and traveling.
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