The Spirit of Syracuse, an all-women barbershop chorus, placed second in the annual Sweet Sounds of Sweet Adelines competition, which took place over the weekend at the Civic Center’s Crouse-Hinds Theater and saw participation from nearly 1,500 female singers. The local group was one of 28 competing in region 16, and was topped only to the first-place Canadian Showtime chorus.

The Spirit of Syracuse is directed by Kay Crawford and coached by the legendary “Awesome Joe” Connelly, who works with barbershop choruses around the world full-time.

Sweet Adelines International encompasses more than 1,200 registered quartets and 600 choruses worldwide.