Ellie Batchelor was born in Plainfield, New Jersey where she lived until her family moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland, when Ellie was in the second grade. Ellie is one of eight siblings — five girls and three boys. The girls have always sung at the drop of a hat and still do sing at get-togethers.

The five sisters have been known to do five-part harmony at times on rare occasions when they were able to get all five of them together. Ellie’s sister, Alice, is a baritone in the Pacific Horizon Sweet Adeline’s Chorus in San Luis Obispo, California. The Gallahers (maiden name) are a musical bunch!

Ellie sang in the children’s choir at Grace Methodist Church in Gaithersburg; then, she sang in the junior choir and later, the adult choir. In high school, Ellie was active in the girls three-part harmony chorus as well as the glee club. She was also a member of a trio and a mixed quartet. A couple of years, Ellie was sent to Baltimore to participate in the All Maryland High School Chorus.

Ellie has sung in a number of church choirs over the years and has even done a little solo work, a couple of weddings, etc. Additionally, she has made at least five CD’s/cassettes of her organ music. Ellie has written over forty parodies to well known songs. Most of these have been written for special occasions, like family reunion, birthday, retirement, moving, new job, new millennium, etc. Ellie has always desired to play the guitar, but that has never happened; rather, she picks up a harmonica on occasion and “fiddles” with that. It’s fun!

In college (Towson State), Ellie’s favorite organization was the SCA Choir (Student Christian Association). This was an a cappella choir of about twenty-six girls. We sang beautiful music all over the area. Her sister Mary, who attended Towson ahead of Ellie, also sang in the SCA Choir. SCA Choir was truly special. Ellie took various music courses in college — sight singing and conducting and music appreciation, for example. Ellie’s graduate work was done at the University of Maryland. She earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration/ Curriculum. She taught school, junior and senior high, for about twenty years, the last ten of which were done at Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville, Maryland. Her major was English.

Since moving to Western Maryland, Ellie has branched out in her musical interests. She now teaches organ lessons to senior citizens at the Keyboard World Music Store in LaVale, Maryland. Also, she founded a group known as The Notables Organ Club which travels around to various places to entertain – nursing homes, church groups, business groups, reunions, etc. The programs performed by The Notables include organ selections played by various members and a sing along, conducted by Ellie.

In 1997, Ellie joined the Ladybirds Barbershop Harmony Singers in LaVale, Maryland and currently is serving as the director of the group. She sings tenor in the chorus and is a member of the Afternoon Delight Quartet in which she also sings tenor. Music, indeed, plays a big part in Ellie’s life.