Piney Hills Harmony Chorus has appointed a new full-time director, announced its local Wall of Fame winner, and elected officers and board members.
Candice Bassett, of Grayson, has become the full-time front-line director after serving as a co-director with Sheila Nugent, of Ruston, since September 2020. Nugent stepped down from directorship to join her singing sisters on the risers.
Bassett joined Piney Hills Harmony as a dual member 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.
"Candice brings such a love for barbershop harmony to our chorus," President Lynette Murphy, of Choudrant, said. "She is going to be an amazing front-line director, leading us to another level in singing. I cannot wait to see where Piney Hills Harmony will go."
In other news, Murphy was chosen as the chorus' Wall of Fame winner, to be honored at the Great Gulf Coast Sweet Adelines upcoming regional meeting in Houston.
Murphy 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.
In addition, Murphy serves on the Music Staff as tenor section leader and sings tenor in Forte!. Additional chorus service includes time on the Rookie and Sunshine committees. She was named a regional 110% designee in both 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.
On the administrative side, Murphy has been re-elected chorus president. Other officers are Sallie Rose Hollis, Ruston; vice president; Bre Ausbun, Ruston, treasurer; and Judy Sisson, Monroe, secretary. Additional board members are Rebecca McNeill, Winnfield; Mary Helen Tschabold, Ruston; and Bassett.
Sisson, a past president, said, "As our chorus emerges from the throes of the pandemic, we are thankful to have Lynette as our president. She exhibits outstanding leadership ability to take us into a new future. She is highly qualified and very deserving of the Wall of Fame award. Combined with Candice as our director, Piney Hills Harmony is truly in good hands."
