Congratulations to Bernadette Takacs - Sweet Adelines New Zealand Service to Young Women in Harmony Award recipient for 2023!
Hailing from a very musical family, Bernadette has a rich history of singing…in church choirs, musical theatre, jazz bands, and for the past 25 years in barbershop singing with Sweet Adelines.
Soon after joining Sweet Adelines 25 years ago, Bernadette was invited to judge the young women’s contests, and she started coaching a girls’ chorus soon after that.
On a totally voluntary basis, she continues to coach barbershop choruses and quartets. This involves weekly coaching at her old school St Catherine’s College, as well as preparing the chorus and numerous quartets over the years for the regional YWIH contests. The school has had many successes including regional and national medals over the years.
Bernadette is a born teacher. Her energy and enthusiasm, along with her enjoyment of the barbershop craft, shines through in all the groups of young women she has brought to contest-readiness over the years. When asked what her motivation was, she said “I just wanted to help them and help them improve”.
Congratulations Bernadette!
