The members of RiverSong Chorus have a new slogan: "Real women. Real harmony. Real fun." And they're living by it.

RiverSong Chorus is a Sweet Adelines International Chorus based in St. Joseph made up of 40 women from throughout Northwest Missouri. What sets RiverSong apart from other choirs in the area is that the group sings every song in four-part a capella (barbershop quartet style). And the current members and alums have had a blast doing it for 50 years.

"I love the friendships, I love the challenge and I love the opportunities," says Leslie Galbreath, RiverSong's management team coordinator.

RiverSong Chorus will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a concert at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Missouri Theater.

The theme for the show is "River Rising." The body of the concert will relate the stages in a woman's life to the long life of a river. Numbers will include "The River" by Garth Brooks, Andy Williams' "Moon River," "Let the River Run" by Carly Simon and Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move."

According to RiverSong director Kim Kraut, the concert not only will feature familiar tunes, but outstanding visual elements as well.

"We are not on risers in robes, and we don't hold music," Kraut laughs. "The show is very symbolic and we'll make it lots of fun for the eyes and the ears."

The ladies of RiverSong rehearse for three hours every Thursday night at Wyatt Park Baptist Church, but Kraut and Galbreath admit the group has been putting in a little extra work the past few weeks. As an a capella group, each singer has a key role in keeping the harmony, and it's something they are still trying to perfect.

"Singing in tune is very hard when you don't have an instrument playing with you," Kraut says. "You have to keep that tune in your head. You have to have an innate sense of rhythm."

Despite the difficulties, RiverSong has done outstanding at competitions. In 2008, the chorus won its division at the Regional Chorus and Quartet Competition. RiverSong also won the Ruby Pike Award for Musical Excellence last year. The women of the group hope to wow the audience Saturday the way they've wowed many judges over the years.

"I think that (the audience is) going to be surprised and amazed," Kraut says. "If they don't know about RiverSong or a capella singing, they will be surprised."

Also performing at the concert will be Florida's Jackpot! Quartet and the St. Joseph Sweet Adelines Alumni Chorus. Any St. Joseph Sweet Adelines alums who would like to perform should contact RiverSongchorus@hotmail.com. Tickets for the show are $15 each and can be purchased at the Allied Arts Council office, 118 S. Eighth St. in St. Joseph.For more information, visit www.riversongchorus.com.

SHEA CONNer | Stjoelive staff