Running With Scissors competed in the Sweet Adelines International’s quartet competition in Honolulu in November 2013. Their performance at the regional contest in Syracuse in mid-April earned them a wildcard position.
“We really didn’t expect to be going to Honolulu!” says Leila Brown, the quartet’s bass. “As a relatively new foursome, we were just looking to have fun and bring our best performance to the stage.” A score of 604, however, immediately put second-place winners Running With Scissors high on the possible wildcard list that changed and evolved while the regional competition schedule played out over many weeks on five continents. “There was never any question that we would accept the invitation if it came,” says Brown. “How could we turn down an opportunity like this?” In the regional competition round, Running With Scissors ranked 20th out of 467 competing quartets in Sweet Adelines competitions around the world.
Following the round of regional contests, the top 10 non-winning quartets were offered wildcard spots at the international competition - Running With Scissors earned wildcard position #4. They joined the 28 region-winning quartets and the 2nd- to 15th-place quartets from last year’s international competition (given a bye into this year’s contest). That added up to 52 quartets in the semi-final contest, which ran over a 12-hour stretch on November 6. The top ten quartets then moved on to the competition finals held two days later. 
The Sweet Adelines International competitions were webcasted from Honolulu. Members of the Orangeville Chorus, family and friends gathered at the Horizon Event Centre to view the webcast that evening and cheer on the quartet! Running With Scissors performed a highly-entertaining package, including a fun rendition of the uptune, You Made Me Love You, and a wonderful, heart-breaking ballad, I’ve Lost All My Love For You. The members of Running With Scissors live some distance from each other and bring significant experience to the group. The lead, Claire McMartin, lives in Sudbury and sings with Nickel City Sound, a chorus that is part of another barbershop organization, Harmony Inc.
A highly-experienced musician, Molly Rowland, the tenor, is former Master Director of Buffalo Gateway Chorus and a lifetime member, and a highly-regarded arranger. She has competed in International-level quartet competitions covering five decades, twice ranking top 10.
Sue Melvin directs both the Rochester Chorus (Sweet Adelines) and Rochester Rhapsody Chorus (Harmony Inc.). While she sings baritone in Running With Scissors, Melvin sings bass in Fusion, 5-time Harmony Inc. international medalists. She is a full-time coach of women’s and men’s barbershop choruses and quartets.
Leila Brown is Assistant Director and bass section leader with the Orangeville Chorus and has recently been granted the Certified Director designation through Sweet Adelines International's Director Certification Program.
While members of Running With Scissors cover as much quartet business as they can by email and conference call, there is no substitute for live rehearsal. They meet either in Orangeville or Buffalo, depending upon schedules, and usually for full weekends. “We have so much fun when we get together,” claims Brown. “We work hard, yes, but we love our time together!”
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