Barbershop QuartetGet to Know Viva!
LEAD: Jeanette Rehrig
Jeanette is the resident "Night Owl" and official "Northerner" of Viva! Tired of attempting to sing whistle tone harmonies in their music, the group has removed her as "Picker of Pitches"! Jeanette has been singing "since forever," and has dabbled in many facets of vocal music including madrigal/choral, classical, big band, & pop. Born in New Jersey, restless Latin roots have carried her to several states mostly along the east coast with a small hiatus in California. Since that 1997 fateful day of "visiting" a barbershop chorus in San Francisco (it's only one night a week!), Jeanette has been hooked on barbershop- hook, line, and sinker! Having quarteted nearly from her Barbershop birth, her very first regional medal was champion gold with Swing Shift (2000, 2002). Jeanette is excited to be part of Viva and is sooo enjoying the journey! Jeanette has made the Charleston, South Carolina area her home and hopes to qualify as a native Carolinian in the year 2045! Hubby Jeff and two lovely preschoolers, Jena and Zak, keep her happy - and busy!
TENOR: Mercedes Maglin
Recently dubbed "Cookie" by an admiring fan (Zak, age 2), she is the quartet's secret weapon-- sweet, hot, and fresh out of the sizzling Barbershop oven! Mercedes discovered Barbershop in 2005, when she auditioned as a tenor for the Toast of Tampa Show chorus- and has been in love with the craft ever since! Barbershop "baptism by fire" suited the new front row diva just fine, as Mercedes earned both a regional gold medal and a 5th place International medal with the Tampa chorus.
Quarteting quickly became her dream, and a move for a new career opportunity paved the way for her meeting the three wonderful gals from the "real" south....The rest is Viva history! With roots in South America, Mercedes lives in St Augustine, FL with husband Mike and daughter Emily and sings with the Jacksonville Harmony Show chorus.
BARI: Leah Christian Moody
Although she is the "official" Baritone and "obsessive dominatrix" of Viva, Leah frequently must share the title with the rest of the group! Leah joined Sweet Adelines 16 years ago and quickly developed "chord addiction" and has never looked back! She has a BA in Vocal Performance and enjoys singing and teaching opera, musical theater, and jazz- but her first love is Barbershop! After medaling at regional the past few years with Carolina Gold quartet, Leah is proud to show off her very first Regional Champion medal with Viva! With southern roots in Kentucky and Florida, Leah now calls South Carolina her home. She lives in Folly Beach with her beau, Mike, her 100 pound "lapdog" Ralphie, and a menagerie of crazy cats. Leah routinely enjoys and continues to seek regional barbershop education duties, functions, and teaching.
BASS: Peggy Jones
Peggy is Viva's official "southern belle" (y'all jist need more "deepthongs" !) and resides in Holly Springs, NC. She grew up as a barbershop brat- immersed in barbershop in both Alabama and North Carolina. Peggy has more than a few quartet medals, while singing both lead and bass. Winning the 2007 regional with Viva! was her second 1st place quartet medal, the first having been earned singing with 14 Karat in 1999. With the kids grown, Peggy shares her home with husband Tom (voted most fabulous qtet concierge/chef- August 2007!), great golden retriever Rusty, and two frisky felines. Peggy sings with the Carolina Harmony Chorus.
