About our Director, Candice Bassett
Candi
ce 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.
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. 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, Rebecca McNeill
Rebecca became our assistant director for sound and musical expression in the summer of 2017. Another honor occurred in the spring of '17: She was spotlighted on the regional Wall of Fame. Before then, Rebecca already held multiple chorus posts – lead section leader and Showmanship Team member.
Rebecca brings a musical background of band and church choirs and ensembles to the assistant directorship. She has been a member of Piney Hills Harmony for 14 years and served many of those on the board of directors and as chorus treasurer. She is currently enrolled in the Sweet Adelines' Director Certification Program and also furthers her musical education by attending regional and international SAI events.
The musical gene definitely runs in the McNeill family. All three of Rebecca's daughters have been Piney Hills Harmony members at one time – Keera, Alanna and Caitlyn. Husband Michael is also a loyal PHHC supporter. Her dedication to the chorus is also seen in the fact that she lives in Winnfield and makes a 90-mile round trip to come to chorus each week.
About our Assistant Director, Sallie Rose Hollis
Sallie Rose is our assistant director for showmanship and visual expression. 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 and in 2015 chosen as Sweet Adeline Extraordinaire.
Through the years Sallie Rose has served as PHHC president, Visual Team coordinator, baritone section leader, co-marketing director and Script Committee chair. She has sung in multiple quartets; previous musical experience includes playing the flute, plus decades of a cappella singing. Other activities include membership in Epsilon Sigma Alpha service group and teaching for World English Institute. She has a biweekly column in the Ruston Daily Leader and the Farmerville Gazette.
Sallie Rose and her husband Hooshang Khorasani live in Ruston. She retired from Louisiana Tech in 2008 as an associate professor of journalism and assistant director of the News Bureau; she worked there 34 years.
