We are happy to introduce Melanie Mcguire, our Director!

When our long-time Director, Nancy Kurth decided to retire from the front line and join us on the risers, we were lucky to find Melanie.

Although she has been singing and harmonizing her whole life, she says her life changed the night a stranger approached her at a karaoke bar and asked if she’d ever considered singing barbershop. It was the tight harmonies that sold her on the idea, and she was hooked after her first visit to the Olympia Chorus.

“I wasn’t a melody singer, ever,” she says. “Harmony came easily to me. Singing the lead line is a lot of responsibility.” Turns out she was a natural. Songburst Quartet went on to place as high as fifth regionally. Two additional fifth place quartet medals with different groups followed, and her quartet, Nitelife, landed as high as fourth in 2013.

During this time, McGuire was also learning more about the barbershop art form. She enrolled in a Director Certification Program within the organization and became an assistant director of the Olympia Chorus and the Seattle Seachordsmen. 

Fast forward to the present, Melanie is the lead of Region 13's Champion Quartet "Wink".

With over 25 years of Barbershop experience, we are excited to discover what this new relationship and Melanie's energy will bring to Northwest harmony Chorus.