Laurel Strielkauskas
I have been in
Sweet Adelines since 1990. I began in a midsize chorus, Mt Laurel, where I
sang lead, then bari. I moved onto Sound of New England Chorus which had over
one hundred members, where I sang lead. I also quartetted at that time
with”Sneak Preview”. I am one of the charter members of Millennium Magic and
this small size chorus is an exciting experience for me. The intimacy and work
involved with singing in a small group brings on new challenges and rewards
each and every week. I love it! I presently sing bass, am a certified
director, on the audition team and the author of its process, on the rehearsal
team, on the music staff, and this year I’m proud to be Millennium Magic’s
paper director! I’ve been involved with the Young Women in Harmony program in
the past and have enjoyed doing school presentations educating teachers and
students in the joys of barbershop singing.
In my non-Sweet Adeline life, I am an OB nurse working the night shift – and
picking up extra shifts these days while putting two daughters through
college.
My daughter, Stacy, was in a YWIH quartet from 6th through 9th grades. She sang baritone.
She is in her 4th year of college in Waterville, Maine. She is majoring in psychology with hopes to continue on to get a masters in education. She’d like to teach or be a guidance counselor.
My other daughter, Abby, has been hearing harmonies since I heard her throwing in the baritone part of tags from her booster seat in the back of the van at 4 years old! Horses, however, are her passion. She enjoys western riding on her palomino mare, Shammy. She participates during the summer and early fall in gymkhana and barrel racing competitions. She has won numerous competitions and championships.
Last summer we took a great trip out west college hunting. We drove over 3000 miles through Missouri, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and the Dakotas. It was a fantastic trip!
She finally decided to attend Cazenovia College in upper New York state where
she’s in a yet undetermined major.
Both of my girls are wonderfully kind, generous, and supportive young people
as well as very good students. My husband, Tom, and I were married in 1983. He
has been a police officer for almost 30 years. Tom also supports me in my “one
night out a week” hobby! Our family is rounded out by a black lab, Kody, and
two ragdoll cats, Willie and Moose.
