Kali Caramia & Adrian Gimpel
Kali Caramia has been a member of Sweet Adelines International for 26 years. She is a graduate of the Perth Modern Music School and a student of a number of instruments over the years, (piano, clarinet, double bass and now cello). Kali ‘found’ barbershop in 1996 and went on to complete her Directors’ Certification in 2001; has won three regional quartet championships (and two silvers) with BlackJaQ quartet, sang bass and served as section leader in Perth Harmony Chorus from 2002 – 2013 earning 5 regional gold medals and one silver and has represented Australia internationally at a chorus and/or quartet level on five occasions. Also, in early 2018 she joined Lions Gate Chorus who are based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Travelling to Vancouver in September 2018 for 6 weeks and then again from May to September in 2019, Kali competed with Lions Gate in New Orleans in September earning a second-place International medal. She was able to continue her membership with them until 2022 and to share her learnings with Indian Blue over that time.
Kali has served as the Region 34 Team Coordinator (2012– 14), the Sweet Adeline International (SAI) Editorial Review Board, the Region 34 Bylaws and Standing Rules Committee, the Regional Management Team (RMT) Nominating Committee, and a second term on the RMT as the Region’s Directors’ Coordinator (2017-19). She has served as a member of the Regional Education Faculty (REF) since 2010 and was also one of the first Directors in Australia to be awarded the new Harmony 500 pin as part of the Sweet Adelines International Directors Certification Program. This happened when Indian Blue achieved over 500 points at competition, also winning their first medal, placing 3rd mid-size chorus at the Australian Sweet Adelines convention at the Perth Convention Centre in May 2017 with 48 singers on stage.
Kali enjoyed gaining knowledge by attending educational events at both men’s and women’s regional and international events until Covid hit and changed everyone’s world! IBC had some good opportunities to be together in 2020 with minimal disruptions, 2021 we were able to compete and gain our highest average score (74) with the Barbershop Harmony Australia Western Region contest at the Heath Ledger Theatre. 2022 is starting off a little rocky, but IBC continue to work hard to stay together and be ready to perform and sing again when the world reopens.
Adrian Gimpel found his start in a cappella in 1997 when he joined a barbershop quartet and soon after, the chorus Men In Harmony. In 2002 he became a foundation member of the Vocal Evolution chorus and was their first President, serving in that role for a number of years and subsequently in the membership and marketing portfolios, helping to guide them to four national Barbershop Harmony Australia (BHA) chorus gold medals. After developing his musical leadership skills with VE he took up the opportunity to become the Musical Director of Men In Harmony from 2015–2018. Most recently on the chorus front he sang with Boulevard Harmony who became the 2022 BHA Open Chorus gold medalists at their very first contest, after just 12 rehearsals.
He has always been active as a quartet singer and has achieved an enviable level of competitive success. He has been awarded four BHA national male quartet gold medals, three with Alliance and one with TLA, as well as Pan Pacific and BHA national mixed quartet gold medals with Twice On Sunday. He has represented Australia at six Barbershop Harmony Society International contests with choruses and quartets.
Adrian qualified as a barbershop judge within Australia/New Zealand when he was certified along with the inaugural group of candidates in 2004. He served for ten years on judging panels at many contests around Australia and New Zealand and had the opportunity to coach a variety of groups. He is currently working towards re-entering the judging world at the end of 2023 as a Singing category candidate at the BHA/NZABS category school to be held in Auckland NZ.
Indian Blue invited Adrian to become a Co-Director of the chorus in 2022 and are excited that he is adding his experience and enthusiasm to our team. We look forward to working with him for a long time to come!
