Singing Women of Texas provides a ministry opportunity for women who are committed to musical excellence and who are currently serving the Lord through their local church music ministries. SWOT is comprised of professional and nonprofessional singers and instrumentalists. The organization began in 1994 with a debut concert at Church MusiConference in Waco, Texas, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Church Music in Texas. North Central Chapter is one of seven groups who are active in ministry and missions throughout the state, nationally and internationally. The music of Singing Women includes contemporary, southern gospel, hymn arrangements and patriotic selections. Five of the seven chapters were featured at the 2006 SBC Music conference in Nashville. Other joint efforts have included mission trips to other states and joint concerts in Waco and Dallas.
North Central Chapter, serving the Metroplex and surrounding counties, typically meets the third Saturday of each month, August through May. Usually we do not schedule a concert in December. Most months we meet for rehearsal at the church or location where we are scheduled for a concert. A typical schedule is rehearsal at 11:00 a.m. with a short lunch break, rehearsal from 1:30 until 4:30 with a break for supper—usually provided by the host church or organization scheduling the concert. Our venues vary from churches to Retirement Centers, to Prisons, to Conferences, to Special Events. Our concerts are typically about one hour in length and include all types of music: anthems, hymn arrangements, gospel, contemporary and spirituals.
Megan Smallwood has served as director for our chapter for the last six years. She teaches music and history at a private Christian High School in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford area. Megan also serves her church as Organist/Pianist and directs several singing groups. Deanne Stroope, our accompanist, teaches at a Christian school in Grapevine. She also serves her church as pianist/keyboardist.