Ms. Senior Pasadena 2013 Crowned!

PASADENA, Calif. - May 6, 2013 - PRLog -- Alise Richel-Adler from west Los Angeles was crowned Ms. Senior Pasadena 2013 at the fifth of eight preliminary pageants for the Ms. Senior California Pageant held Saturday, May 4, 2013 at the Pasadena Senior Center.  Richel-Adler will now advance to the State Pageant to compete for the title of Ms. Senior California in August, along with first runner up Barbara Sheahan from Sun Lakes.  The Ms. Senior California State Pageant will be at the Rose Center Theater in Westminster on Saturday, August 31, 2013.  Second runner-up went to Jeri Carr-Benson from Northridge.   Winner Richel-Adler also took home the top talent award with her breathtaking rendition of Granada.  She chose this song because it is “an exciting song and I have a lot of fun playing with it.  The audience shares my enthusiasm for the song.”    Richel-Adler also sings opera and loves the American Songbook, the ballads of the 40’s and today’s music of a similar genre.    She’s also a jazz enthusiast; and appreciates great jazz singers and jazz pianists.     Professionally, she is a voice teacher….from opera to pop and favorites from the American Songbook.    She is also a pianist.

Throughout the competition, the contestants competed in four categories including: Personal Interview, Evening Gown, Philosophy of Life and Talent.  Richel-Adler’s walk across the stage to accept the sash and trophy marked her first steps on a journey that will take her from spotlight to spotlight representing the American woman 60 years of age and up who has reached the ‘age of elegance’.  

Richel-Adler was born in Brooklyn, New York and studied with great conductors from the Metropolitan Opera, the Vienna State Opera as well as conductors from LaScala.  For two summers, she studied in the Opera Department at Tanglewood under the auspices of Leonard Bernstein.   She also studied in the Opera Workshop at Columbia University.  While studying at Columbia, her rehearsal pianist was John Kander who went on to write greats such as “New York, New York.”    She married and then raised two children and continued singing, but did not pursue her career.  She later moved to Florida and lived in Boca Raton and while there, she sang with large Florida symphonies and appeared on numerous large stages in South Florida.   Years later she moved to Los Angeles to be near her son who was then living in Los Angeles.  Richel-Adler continues singing and is now teaching vocal students on a part time basis.  She met the “love of her life” in Los Angeles, and married him in May of 2012.  Currently, she’s writing a book based on her approach to the art of singing.

The Ms. Senior America Pageant is the world's first and foremost pageant to emphasize and give honor to women who have reached the ‘Age of Elegance’.  It is a search for the gracious lady who best exemplifies the dignity, maturity and inner beauty of all Baby Boomer and Senior women. The Ms. Senior America philosophy is based upon the belief that Baby Boomers and seniors are the foundation of America, and one of our country’s most valuable resources.  Women and men alike of these generations inspire their peers and younger generations to stay vital and connected to life!  It is also upon their knowledge, wisdom and experience that younger generations have the opportunity to build a better society.

The next preliminary pageant will be the Ms. Senior Conjejo Pageant on May 19, 2013 at the Conejo Valley Goebel Senior Center, 1385 East Janss Road in Thousand Oaks (http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&a...).  If you are interested in being a contestant, please contact Conejo Valley Pageant Director, Marilyn McCabe Kohler at (949) 830-4187 or email MsSrCaDirector@aol.com.

Sponsors of the Ms. Senior California Pageant include:   Emeritus Senior Living, Kaiser Permanente – Medicare & State Programs, Aetna West Region-Medicare Supplement Plans, and CareMore Health Plan.  For more information on becoming a sponsor of the Ms. Senior California Pageant Program, contact Pamela Wheeler, California State Pageant Director and CEO of the Ms. Senior California 501(c)3 organization at pwheeler94@cox.net.

Dr. Al Mott, in the state of New Jersey in 1972, started the Senior America Pageant Program. In 1986, the California Chapter was created under the leadership of Ms. Elda Barry of Long Beach. She led the chapter until her retirement in 1999. In 2000, Marilyn McCabe Kohler accepted the position of Director of Ms. Senior California. Since that time, the program has grown from one pageant to eight Preliminary Pageants and one Annual State Pageant. Upon Kohler’s retirement in 2012, leadership of the California Program is now under the direction of Wheeler.