About our Director, Candice Bassett
Candice first assumed director duties for Piney Hills Harmony in the fall of 2020 - as co-director. She became the chorus' full-time director in May 2021 and earned her director's certification from Sweet Adelines International in 2023.
Candice joined Piney Hills Harmony as a dual member and lead in 2018, with her membership becoming full-time in the summer of 2020. Other Sweet Adelines experience includes 12 years' membership with Monroe's Southern Acappella Sound Chorus, where she served as assistant director, treasurer and, at various times, either lead or baritone section leader. She has competed internationally with both Twin City Sensations of Texarkana and Top of the Rock in Little Rock. Currently she sings baritone in Forte! quartet.
Awards relating to Sweet Adelines include Sweet Adeline Extraordinaire for Southern Acappella Sound Chorus and Woman of Worth for PHHC in addition to being featured on the 2022 regional Wall of Fame. She regularly attends Sweet Adeline regional and international educational seminars.
Outside the chorus, Candice serves as bookkeeper/secretary for Caldwell Parish Schools in Columbia. She earned a bachelor's degree in business from Delta State University. In Grayson, Louisiana, which she and husband Herb call home, she serves as lay leader for the United Methodist Church.
About our Assistant Director, Lynette Murphy
Lynette Murphy became our assistant director for musical expression in 2022. She joined Piney Hills Harmony in the summer of 2017; by 2019 she was serving on the board; and in May 2020 in the midst of COVID-19 with uncertainty all around, she stepped into the presidency. As a result of this service – and more – in 2021 Lynette was chosen as the chorus's Wall of Fame winner, honored at the Great Gulf Coast Sweet Adelines regional meeting.
Lynette currently holds down the post of lead section leader on the Music Staff and sings tenor in Forte! quartet. She has also worked with almost every committee that exists in Piney Hills Harmony.
Lynette earned her bachelor of music degree in piano performance from Louisiana Tech and has 30+ graduate hours in piano pedagogy from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She works as a billing and coding specialist with Granberry Counseling Centers, a ministry of the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home and Family Ministries in Monroe. She serves as worship leader at First Baptist Church in Choudrant and has musically directed many shows with Strauss Youth Academy for the Arts and Strauss Main Stage in Monroe.
About our Assistant Director, Sallie Rose Hollis
Sallie Rose was appointed our assistant director for visual communication in 2013. She is the most veteran member of the chorus, having joined in 1989. In 2001 she was named the chapter's first Sweet Adeline of the Year, in 2015 chosen as Sweet Adeline Extraordinaire, and in 2023 was honored as the PHHC representative on the regional Wall of Fame.
