Director- Barbara Sampson
Hi, I'm Barb Sampson, Director of Panama City A Cappella Chorus! Music has always played a big part in my life, from the time I was a child and my parents would stand me on the table and have me sing for their friends. However, once I was out of school, music was the one thing missing in my life. Over the years I tried to find something to fill that void. I had heard about women's singing organizations for many years,but was never able to find much information about them (that was long before the internet!).
However, a few years after moving to Panama City, Florida, the local paper ran a feature about Harmony Shores Chorus, the local chapter of Sweet Adelines International. I decided I'd go to a rehearsal and check it out. Well, that was all it took - I was hooked! I joined the organization in August of 2003, and music was back in my life!! Within six months I was assigned as Lead Co-Section Leader, and was elected to the management team a few months after that. I served as the Assistant Director for nearly five years before taking over as the Director in May of 2010, a title I am very proud and humbled to bear.
Due to various reasons, our chorus has evolved, and collectively we decided to go in a new direction. We still wanted to be a barbershop chorus, however we felt we were more in tune (pardon the pun) with a different organization - Harmony, Inc. - which is also an international barbershop organization. So, in March 2019 we changed our affiliation to become a chapter of Harmony, Inc. What an exciting adventure this has been so far!! And the best is yet to come!
In addition to being the Director of Panama City A Cappella Chorus, I recently retired after 35+ years of federal service which gives me more time to devote to music. I also lead the singing at my church, and as a hobby, I use a torch and glass rods to make handmade glass beads which are incorporated into one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. I'm the mother of three awesome grown children, and a son-in-law, and I also have two fantastic grandsons. I recently married a wonderful man, Doug, who is my best friend, confidente, and a huge supporter of PCA! And he has brought a beautiful daughter and loving son-in-law into my family. My life is very busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way!
Assistant Directors - Anne Collier and Lisa Morris
Anne Collier- Piano lessons started for me at an early age. My older sister would come home from her lessons and teach me what she had learned. When she grew tired of taking piano lessons I was able to start lessons. I had a total of 3 teachers and each pushed me a little more.
The last 2 years of high school I also took pipe organ lessons and substituted at church some. Band came and I played the clarinet and to my surprise and others I wrote my high school graduation song.
I entered Huntingdon College with a major in music but learned my second year, there was no money in music so I changed to business much to my mother’s disapproval.
Fifty seven years ago I met the love of my life, moved to Ft Walton Beach and finished a degree in Systems Science at UWF. I started working at Beneficial in FWB and Tallahassee, then HFC and retired from HSBC as a senior auditor for consumer loan companies traveling all over the South. I retired with 34 years.
My love for music was still a drive, and I was introduced to barbershop with a group of 8 ladies who met in the back of a beauty shop and practiced weekly. We made our own outfits and sang wherever we could. Sweet Adelines was formed in 1993 and I joined singing Bass. When I was promoted from work and lived in Tallahassee I continued with Sweet Adelines there for a short time and then I was traveling every week so had to quit singing for a while.
I retired in 1993 and sang with Sugar Beach Chorus in FWB but they were not a member of Sweet Adelines. They eventually dissolved, and a group of us got together and reunited to start Sugar Beach. They had no director and I became the director for 5 years and we grew from 8 to 30. I officially resigned and Jeff Buehler was hired and became the director . I think I have been in 6-7 quartets, but I felt I was at a standstill and joined Panama City 3 years ago and have enjoyed every rehearsal and sing out. Singing is a passion and love working with such a great group of ladies!
