a gathering hall with big windows in concave shape
The Administration Building of the Mount Vernon Developmental Center is located at 1250 Vernonview Drive in Mount Vernon.

MOUNT VERNON — Knox County’s chapter of Sweet Adelines International has a new location for its weekly rehearsals.

On Tuesday, Feb. 6, the Dogwood Blossoms, an all-female barbershop singing group, moved its practice site to the Administration Building of the Mount Vernon Developmental Center located at 1250 Vernonview Drive in Mount Vernon.

“We have been blessed by the opportunity to meet at the Central Christian Church for the past several years,” said the chorus’ president, Barb Blaschke.

“But our membership is growing, which is a wonderful thing, and when we learned we could move to a bigger room at the Developmental Center for practices, we decided to go in that direction.”

The Dogwood Blossoms chapter formed in 1980 and since then has been performing its unique harmony of acapella vocals in area concerts, festivals, and other public events.

Another experience for the singers is the annual Sweet Adelines Regional Competition each May, where 22 choruses and numerous quartets meet for a weekend of judged performances.

Top picks advance to the international competition each fall.

“The COVID pandemic kept us from competing for three years,” Blaschke said. “But this year we are headed back, and we could not be more excited.”

With new members, a new location, and a new director (professional singer and choral director, Jeff Dolan, joined the group last April), the Dogwood Blossoms are poised for a successful 2024. 

Women and girls are invited to join the chorus to sing, compete, perform, and make lifelong friends.

The chorus meets every Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 9 p.m. 

Guests are welcome any time to sit in at practices to see what being a Dogwood Blossom is all about.

Information can be found by visiting their Facebook page: @Dogwood Blossoms Chorus, their website page at www.dogwoodblossoms.org, or by calling 740-324-5229.