Lori Jo has been a member of Sweet Adelines International since 1978, singing first with the Greater Harrisburg Chorus and then beginning her partnership with the Red Rose City Chorus in 1994. Her commitment, talent, and enthusiasm for women’s barbershop harmony have been instrumental in ensuring that the Red Rose City Chorus is sought after as high quality entertainment in the Lancaster area and to the competition stage in our regional, five-state area.
Lori Jo is a Certified Director, Regional Faculty member, and has served on many committees and boards both at the regional and international levels of our organization. She continues to coach choruses and quartets in Region 19 and has sung Bass with several quartets including her current quartet, Act 4. She is also the Director of the Red Rose Chorus of the Barbershop Harmony Society.
During the school year, Lori Jo teaches English Language Acquisition in the Harrisburg School District to both middle school and high school students. She is a member of the Hummelstown United Church of Christ, where she serves as the Choir Director.
As if singing isn’t enough, Lori Jo is the organizational leader of Dauphin County’s Fur & Feathers 4-H Club to be with her daughters in their hobby. While Tori recently graduated from Delaware Valley College with a degree in Animal Biotechnology, Julie attends Lower Dauphin High School and continues to show rabbits and guinea pigs. Lori Jo is also the president of the Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeders Association which coordinates the activities of the rabbit department at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show in January.
Tom and Lori Jo Whitehaus are the fourth generation to own their pre-Civil War log farmhouse just outside of Hummelstown. Having been in the Whitehaus family since 1940, they have restored and renovated the property inside and out. Tom is in the Lancaster area daily as a Regional Team Manager for Clipper Magazine.
Red Rose City is fortunate indeed to have this multi-talented woman to direct and educate us in the craft of barbershop harmony.
Our Associate Director, Laurie (Wood) Smith, has been a Sweet Adeline since 1982 and a member of the Red Rose City Chorus since 2004. Laurie is vocally talented and can sing all four parts as evidenced by her MacTracks Learning Track business where she makes recordings to assist singers in learning new music.
Laurie started her barbershop career with the Diamond State Chorus, where she sang Lead, was the Lead Section Leader and assistant director for over ten years, and then became the chorus director for another ten years. She was a member of the Region 19 Faculty for over twenty years, and has served the region in many leadership roles. She also spent several years singing with A Cappella Pops, where she met her husband, Dan. A talented coach, Laurie is sought out by many quartets and choruses. She has been in several quartets and is currently singing baritone in Act 4.
She has a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Delaware where she is currently employed in the Payroll and HR Systems Administration department. She has two children, Kathy and Brian, who share their mother’s musical talent (though not her obsession for barbershop.) Laurie and Dan recently bought a home in southern Lancaster County, which they share with their two adopted four-legged “children”, Shelbie and William.
Laurie’s musical gifts are appreciated by all singers in Red Rose City Chorus!
Irene Hershey
Page Hesser
Mary Sexton
