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Growing Girls
Growing Girls formed on January 5th, 1979 in Ronninge, Sweden. All four girls were 11 years old at the time, hence the name Growing Girls. Anna's & Malin's mothers sang together in a quartet called "The Beautiful Screamers" and the young daughters thought it would be fun to start a quartet of their own. They asked their respective classmates, Naima & Suzanne if they would be interested in singing in a Barbershop quartet. Naima & Suzanne immediately replied: "Sure, but... what's Barbershop?" Anna's mother, Britt-Helene Bonnedahl, Master director of International medalist chorus Ronninge Show Chorus, became the quartet's coach and mentor. Since the girls started they have performed all over Sweden and the US, as well as in Germany and New Zealand. They all attended Adolf Fredriks Musikskola, a school for performing arts in Stockholm, and were encouraged by their music teacher, Bo Aurehl. In 1983 Britt-Helene started the Ronninge Show Chorus, and Growing Girls were welcome to join Sweet Adelines International at 14 (finally!), with sponsors. The quartet competed and won in the Area (Regional) contests in 1985, 1986 and 1988, and went on to compete at the International contest in Houston in 1988, to reach their dream of becoming Queens of Harmony, in Miami Beach in 1989.
Malin Palmqvist was born a tenor! She is a member of Ronninge Show Chorus (2005 International 4th place chorus). She has also sung in various quartets, such as Artistocats (Regional Champions), Ambush (Regional Champions) and Svenssons. Malin and Anna grew up listening to their parents sing Barbershop and they both therefore fit the description of "Barbershop Brat." Malin works as a nurse's aid and lives in Ronninge, Sweden with her beau, Micke, their newborn(!) daughter, Jessica, and Malin's older son, Karl (12).
Suzanne Harrington is the lead of Growing Girls and also of Swinglish Mix (2003 Queens of Harmony), who brought home the Gold in Nashville! Yee-haw! Suzanne is married to Doug, who sang baritone in Second Edition, 1989 SPEBSQSA champions from Louisville, KY. Doug recently started a new Mens' chorus - Zero8, who captured the SNOBS Gold medals their first time out! Suzanne and Doug have two sons, Jack (8), and Tom (3). The Harrington family lives in Ronninge, Sweden. Outside the Barbershop world Suzanne works as a travel agent and also sings(!) Ronninge Show Chorus.
Anna Ohman is the baritone of Growing Girls, and more recently the tenor(!) of SALT, 2007 SAI Queens of Harmony! She is her mother's protege and one of the dynamic leaders of Ronninge Show Chorus. In her "real" life Anna is an elementary school music teacher and lives in Huddinge, Sweden. She is the mother of Frida (15), and Arthur (11). Anna's husband, Richard is the lead of the SNOBS champion quartet Absolut. By the way, if you've logged onto Sweet Adelines International's web site you might have wondered who that beautiful face belongs to at the top left... Click here to find out!
Naima Meyer is the bass of Growing Girls and Swinglish Mix. She recently moved back to Ronninge, Sweden, all the way from from Fort Myers, Florida, (U.S.A.) with her husband Jamie (bass of Second Edition, 1989 SPEBSQSA Champions), their son Adam (13), and daughter Selma (7). Naima works in childcare and also sings with Ronninge Show Chorus.
Discography
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Review: The popularity of these four charming Swedish ladies remains unabated, though it's been over a decade since they won the Sweet Adelines crown. "All Grown Up" opens with a snippet from their first rehearsal, in 1979, when the four first began singing together. They were girls then, as the picture on the CD will prove, and that auspicious occasion led to a lifetime engagement! The interpretive skills, range and timbre that characterize their sound are partly learned, but also due in part to lucky happenstance - the kind that occurs when four voices complement each other, resulting in a lusciously full representation of the audio palette! This rainbow is at its most dazzling on "The Man I Love," "Deed I Do" and "Where Is Love," combining talent with arrangements tailor-made to show it at its best.
Songlist: Do Lord, This Could Be The Start Of Something Big, If You Had All The World And It's Gold, Anything Goes, I Only Have Eyes For You, Goodbye Goodbye, The Man I Love, For Once In My Life , The Churchbells Are Ringing For Mary, Deed I Do, Where Is Love, 60's Medley, Anthem
Review: The Growing Girls, 1989 Queens of Harmony, are from Ronninge, Sweden. First competing in International in 1988, where they placed sixth, they bounced into the top spot the following year! This 1999 release (though the songs were recorded in 1991 and 1995), takes a swipe at the pop oldies chart with Abba's "Dancing Queen," and the Beatles "With A Little Help From My Friends." Two arrangements are in their native tongue, with the balance divided between SAI stalwarts such as "Birth Of The Blues" and "That Old Quartet Of Mine," and standards such as an Andrew Sisters medley. Their blend is polished and warm, and their delivery is natural and unfazed. "Undecided" is a particularly engaging arrangement with all the "bells and whistles"!
Songlist: They Didn't Believe Me, Andrew Sisters Medley, Arvid, Birth of the Blues, Undecided, Jag nu den Parlan Funnit Har, Dancing Queen, That Old Quartet Of Mine, Let's Call The Whole Thing Off, Thank You For The Music, With A Little Help From My Friends
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