We are thrilled to nominate Sarah Dodwell as our Unsung Champion for this year. Affectionately known as ‘Dodders’ in the chorus, Sarah epitomises the very best of what it means to be a Sweet Adeline and a leader.
Sarah has been involved with the operational running of the Surrey Harmony since she joined us. For almost a decade she has led our successful marketing and media team. Under her guidance the team has constantly created striking artwork for shows and recruitment campaigns, and produced innovative and engaging social media content. Our postings are funny when appropriate, concise and always on message. The videos created in-house for our 30th anniversary celebrations reached thousands of viewers across the world.
Sarah has overseen revisions to the Surrey Harmony website keeping it fresh and up to date. When changes have resulted in the private members portion of the website, she has always been willing to guide singers through any problems and to make sure they can access music and learning tracks. She’s fielded many a cry for help about forgotten passwords and downloads that won’t work.
Sarah’s gentle patience has again been in evidence during the coronavirus pandemic. She quickly helped to move Surrey Harmony online to Zoom rehearsals, sorting out the technical aspects, helping the music and management teams discover the best ways to run rehearsals. She regularly helps people out of technical trouble and back on track. Her reassuring calmness sharing the screen is preceded by her new catch phrase, “I’ll just mute everyone first!”
Sarah’s organisational skills are second to none. We had a party in 2020 for our 30th anniversary. Sarah was there to make sure all our video contributions were played for everyone to enjoy. Management Team Coordinator, Rachel Starling, says “Sarah is a fabulous member of our team, always contributing wisely and positively to our decision making.”
All of the attributes outlined are typical of many a Sweet Adeline leader. But Sarah has continued to work tirelessly for Surrey Harmony at the same time as fighting breast cancer. She was first diagnosed six years ago, and has maintained a constant presence on the risers throughout her treatment and surgeries. In late 2020, she was diagnosed with advanced secondary cancer. But she has retained her impeccable positive attitude and not once has she dropped her energy, for example, overseeing our lockdown video project for the 2021 convention. When we return to in-person rehearsals and the riser chatter gets out of hand, we may still be wishing Sarah had her mute button!
Sarah is not unsung by Surrey Harmony in any way, she is indeed one of our true Champions and we couldn’t be happier than to be able to nominate her for this award.
About Sarah
Sarah’s recruitment to Surrey Harmony was textbook. Not having sung since school choir days, she was hooked from the moment a friend took her a rehearsal in 2008. She joined the tenor section, and has been part of the backbone of the chorus ever since. First, she got involved in organising travel and hotels for two Internationals as well as retreat accommodation and was part of the PR team. She became PR Lead in 2012 which has meant the chorus has been able to benefit greatly from her many years’ experience in sales and marketing. She has been the creativity behind our artwork for the best part of a decade. In her non-chorus time, Sarah works as a marketing and business development consultant.
Married to Adrian and the mother of adult twin girls, Abi and Jess, Sarah has living as a breast cancer survivor for the past six years. She credits Surrey Harmony with helping her to cope, most recently with a diagnosis of advanced secondary cancer. “The world would be a lonelier place without the support of my Surrey Harmony friends,” she says. “Overseeing our social media accounts, and technical aspects of Zoom rehearsals has given me a wonderful happy focus to get me through some dark days.”
Sarah is also the tenor in Hot Flush quartet.