CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The Cedar Rapids Tourism Office is pleased to announce that Cedar Rapids is once again hosting the Sweet Adelines International Region 5: Spirit of the Midwest Competition & Convention at the Paramount Theatre April 7-10, 2022.
After a 2-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Spirit of the Midwest will be taking the stage for their annual chorus and quartet competition featuring participants from Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. The event typically features around 600 female singers of all ages and walks of life. The event winners qualify to compete in upcoming International Competitions. The first place quartet will qualify to compete in Phoenix, AZ in September 2022 and the first place chorus will qualify to compete in Louisville, KY in October 2023.
“We are thrilled to be back on stage in Iowa. The Cedar Rapids community has welcomed us back with open arms. We have reconnected with our event partners at the DoubleTree Hotel and the Paramount Theater and everyone is poised and ready to go in a few days. Anyone in Cedar Rapids this weekend will surely feel the excitement and the sound of hundreds of women singing joyfully will be unavoidable!” says Kim Webster, Spirit of the Midwest Region 5 Events Coordinator.
In compliance with COVID-19 precautions, this year’s competition will be closed to the public. However, the two-day event will generate an estimated economic impact nearing $300,000 to the Cedar Rapids area. “We’re excited to welcome the Spirit of the Midwest Region 5 to Cedar Rapids. Sweet Adelines International has a longstanding history in Cedar Rapids and we can’t wait to once again have them perform on stage at The Paramount Theatre,” says Julie Stow, Associate Executive Director of the Cedar Rapids Tourism Office.
