The Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival is the premier American showcase for vocal harmony music. The annual national competition draws from hundreds of vocal groups from around the country with regional competitions in eight cities. The winning group from each festival is flown to perform in front of celebrity judges and a sold out house of enthusiastic a cappella fans at the National Finals.

Toxic Audio is a 5-member theatrical mixed vocal band who combine popular and original songs, musical improvisation, and comedic sound effects in their high energy performances without the use of musical instruments. The Toxins create their unique sound by combining tight a cappella harmonies with vocal percussion and voice effects processors. Styles include contemporary pop, rock-n-roll, jazz, hip-hop, comedy, and improvisational songs. They've traveled across the country performing their concert show and opening for the likes of Tony Bennett, Ziggy Marley, The Rippingtons, and The Bobs. Their self-titled debut CD is a mix of original and cover tunes with unique twists. They've performed in a variety of venues across the country including New York, Las Vegas, Boston, Washington D.C. and Colorado as well as appearing for the past year at Walt Disney World."

Members: Rene Ruiz, Jeremy James, Paul Sperrazza, Shalisa James, Michelle Mailhot

2000 Results

+4db (Bay Area) is an a cappella quintet who's sound is as diverse as it is smooth. With a repertoire that ranges from jazz standards to contemporary pop, +4db straight-up swings and surprises. Formed in 1996, this award-winning ensemble makes its home in the San Francisco Bay Area. 1998 saw them champions of the Harmony Sweepstakes San Francisco Regionals, where they also earned Best Arrangement for the second year in a row. Their local success harbingered national accolades, with their memorable sound securing Second Place and Best Arrangement at the 1998 Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals. Judges aren't the only ones who dig the delicious harmony of these five voices. +4db has also won Audience Favorite each time they've participated in Harmony Sweepstakes regional and national competitions. +4db released their eponymous debut CD to much fanfare just this January.

Members: Paul Cingolani, Dave Duran, Juliet Green, Jay Quibodeaux, Michelle Ritchie

All-Star Vocal Band (Denver) In 1995 the All-Star Vocal Band began rebuilding their vocal ensemble around the talents of the two exceptional voices of Jackie Farrell and Rita Dean. With the addition of seasoned a cappellans, tenor, Jimi Alexander and, baritone, Tony Huerta and the continuing participation of, bass, Norm Silver, the All-Star Vocal Band has moved forward to bring a new style and a fresh perspective to the group's sound. Powerhouse percussionist, Zach Freeman, adds the drive and the beat to make the new All-Stars really rock.

Chapter 6. (Chicago) On the heals of their newly released CD Acappella 101:, Brian, A.D., Chuck, John, Luke and Jarrett are filled with high expectations of a successful future together. Founded in 1995 on the campus of Millikin University, Chapter 6 is a group that performs a variety of musical styles and displays endless versatility in their performances. As a group they believe in having fun and entertaining their audience while at the same time maintaining a high standard of class as well as a strong belief in God, trust in one another, and a love for the music that they create.

Exboyfriends. (New York) They are a seven member "alternative a cappella" group from New York City. Born out of an ad in The Village Voice, they have been performing together for over six years in New York City clubs, on cable television, and over national syndicated radio. The ExboyfriendsÕ first brush with fame came in December of 1997 when they were asked to perform on the Howard Stern Show as the Howard Stern Christmas Carolers. Making two appearances on the show, the Ex's won over the shock-jock and his fans with song parodies of popular Christmas Carols. The groupÕs songs can still be heard on the radio during the holiday season, as well as brand new carols they submit to the show each year. Their first big television break came in November of 1999 on the VH1 series "Rock of Ages." The Ex's were tapped to perform as the Country/Western version of The Backstreet Boys in a hidden camera segment taped in the Virgin Megastore in NYC. Teenyboppers listened at a phony listening station and their reactions ranging from hysteria to disbelief were captured on tape. More than a few attempts were made to buy the fake CDs! The Exboyfriends are proud back-to-back winners of the "Audiences Favorite Award" at the last two Harmony Sweepstakes here in New York.

Members: David Curry, Xerxes Eclipse, David Kern, Jeff Liebert, Jeremy Lipkin, Ari Picker, Brian Reichelt.

LiveWire (Boston) is the pre-eminent vocal rock sensation out of Atlanta, GA. Since 1998, these seven talented musicians have been thrilling Atlanta TV, radio and live audiences with their unique "rock-band-without-the-band" sound: they perform musically accurate arrangements of rock songs with only one instrument -- the human voice. Their shows combine jaw-dropping musicality, contagious high energy, and a pinch or three of wackiness. They have entertained thousands of people around the Atlanta area, appeared all over the Atlanta media -- from morning news magazine appearances on the local NBC and FOX affiliates to news appearances on FOX, CBS, and ABC to radio appearances on 99X (WNNX FM - Atlanta's modern rock radio station) and Magic 96.7 (WMKJ-FM) --and are just as comfortable performing in a raucous club setting as they are in an intimate corporate cocktail party.

Members: Michelle Arrascue, Jennifer Bond, Carl Christie, Benjy Rose, Jordan Small, Rob Sylvester and Kris Walker.

Perfect Gentlemen. (Los Angeles) This talented quartet consists of: Mike Economou is a member of the Frank H. Thorne Chapter at Large of the SPEBSQSA. Mike works as an Insurance Claims Adjuster for UCI Medical Center in Irvine, California and previously sang tenor with Bumblebee Jive and The Dapper Dans of Disneyland. Mike is engaged to his sweetheart, Lori, and lives in Brea, California. Dan Jordan is a 26 year member of the barbershop society and holds membership with the South Bay Chapter of the SPEBSQSA. Dan is the lead of The New Tradition (1985 International Quartet Champions), and a multi-medalist with The Grand Tradition and The 139th Street Quartets, as well as the former full time baritone of The Dapper Dans of Disneyland. Dan owns Global Entertainment, is married, has three children, and lives in Glendale, California. Tim Reeder is a member of the Frank H. Thorne Chapter at Large with the SPEBSQSA and is the founder and alto with the popular swing group, Vocalworks. Tim is the current fulltime tenor with The Dapper Dans of Disneyland. Tim is married, has two children, and lives in Capistrano Beach, California. Jim Campbell is a member of the South Bay Chapter of the SPEBSQSA and is the fulltime bass of The Dapper Dans of Disneyland. Jim is a former member of the Louisville Thoroughbreds and former member of The Acafellas and Hot Pipes quartets. Jim is married and lives in North Hills, California.

Total Experience Gospel Choir, (Pacific NW) under the direction of its founder and director, Patrinell Wright, bursts with love, joy and enthusiasm humanity! It is hailed as one of the Paciifc Northwests finest and most soulful ensembles. The group began in 1973 in SE Seattle, the heart of one of the nations most diverse neighborhoods. TodayÕs choir is of all ages.

Toxic Audio (Mid-Atlantic) is a 5-member theatrical mixed vocal band who combine popular and original songs, musical improvisation, and comedic sound effects in their high energy performances without the use of musical instruments. The Toxins create their unique sound by combining tight a cappella harmonies with vocal percussion and voice effects processors. Styles include contemporary pop, rock-n-roll, jazz, hip-hop, comedy, and improvisational songs. They've traveled across the country performing their concert show and opening for the likes of Tony Bennett, Ziggy Marley, The Rippingtons, and The Bobs. Their self-titled debut CD is a mix of original and cover tunes with unique twists. They've performed in a variety of venues across the country including New York, Las Vegas, Boston, Washington D.C. and Colorado as well as appearing for the past year at Walt Disney World."

Members: RenË Ruiz, Jeremy James, Paul Sperrazza, Shalisa James, Michelle Mailhot

Phil Debar

Phil hosts CASA's monthly radio show "A Cappella Radio International" - heard on 35 statiions woldwide. He also hosts two local "Human Voice" radio shows: Tuesdays 7 - 10AM on KKUP 91.5 FM (San Jose - Monterey, CA) and Fridays 10 - midnight on KRCB 91.0 FM (Santa Rosa, CA). He has sung with Chanticleer, The Stanford Medicants, The Foothill Fanfares and the Bay Area Metro Chorus. Phil is an accredicated SPEBSQSA contest judge and has sung on five NorCal champion quartets including "The Usual Suspects" and "The Rad Dads". His current quartet is "Who Invited Them?".

Raz Kennedy

Raz Kennedy is a prominent vocalist, vocal coach, and vocal producer. He has performed as a singer nationally and internationally with Bobby McFerrin, Todd Rundgren, Mickey Hart, Al Jerreau, Rebeca Mauleon, George Coates, ODC, and June Watanabe to name a few. Raz vocals can also be heard on soundtracks for film, television and radio. Raz clients include award winning artists: Adam Duritx, and members of Counting Crows, Los Tigres Del Norte, Narada Michael Walden, Stroke 9, Shana Morrison, and members of the House Jacks. He currently serves as a Governor and Vice President of the San Francisco Chapter of The Recording Academy. Raz returns each year to teach voice at Grammy In The Schools, The East Bay Center for The Performing Arts in Richmond, and ODC/San Francisco summer program for kids.

Kirby Shaw has made a major impact in vocal music education and has shared his musical expertise in 44 states, Canada, Australia, the Bahamas, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

A scholar, Dr. Shaw has a BA degree in Music Education and an MA degree in Choral Composition from San Jose State University an DMA degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington. A teacher, Shaw taught in the Mt. Shasta public school system before joining the music faculty at College of the Siskiyous in California where he founded/directed the innovative and highly acclaimed COS Vocal Jazz Ensemble. He also directed similar groups at Colorado State University and The University of Missouri-Kansas City. Dr. Shaw's teaching is infused with a sense of humor and breadth of knowledge that is transmitted in an exciting and highly contagious manner.

As a performer, Dr. Shaw has sung with such notables as Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Jon Hendricks, and Mark Murphy. He is a member/chief arranger of Just 4 Kicks, a 4 man a cappella ensemble of west-coast vocal jazz educators/performers whose first album "Just 4 Kicks" was nominated for best jazz album for 1998 by CARA (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards). Other CD's include a solo jazz album "The Other Side" and duo album with legendary vocal jazz guru Phil Mattson. Shaw also directs Encore!, a 3 woman-2 man a cappella ensemble that specializes in a wide variety of American popular music, and is the trumpet player for Journey's End Jazz Band, a Dixieland band in Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley where he and his wife Markita reside. Dr. Shaw' compositions/arrangements are sung around the world and have sold millions of copies. This prolific output has resulted in numerous ASCAP awards.

Dr. Shaw's skills a composer/arranger, teacher, conductor, and performer truly make him a leading force in choral music education.

Michele Weir

Michele is an extremely versatile musician. She recently served as music supervisor for the foreign language dubs of the Dreamworks film, Prince of Egypt in Mexico, Greece, Portugal, Denmark, Thailand and Japan. As a performer, Michele has toured as pianist and vocalist with singer Bobby Vinton and the New Deal Rhythm Band as well as serving as guest artist at numerous festivals. Michele was vocalist and arranger for Grammy-nominated Phil Mattson and the PM Singers. As a writer, Michele's arrangements and compositions have been performed by the Buffalo and Long Beach Symphonies, Disneyworld's live performing group, American Vibe, the Holland America Cruise Line, the HR Radio Big Band of Frankfurt and numerous vocal groups including Chanticleer, Beachfront Property and M-Pact. Other arrangements or compositions have been featured on Disney's 101 Dalmatians Sing-along CD, the Shari Lewis television show, and the C.B.S. TV movie, The Patty Duke Show Revisited. Her published vocal arrangements are issued by Hal Leonard, Aberdeen and the U.N.C. Jazz Press.

Michele is currently a faculty member at U.C.L.A. and previously taught at U.S.C., C.S.U. Long Beach and the Phil Mattson School. In demand internationally as jazz clinician/adjudicator, recent notable presentations include the World Choral Symposium in the Netherlands, the National ACDA Conference and the IAJE National Convention. Michele recently served as co-chair of vocal jazz for I.A.J.E. and as an ARTS panelist for National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. She is a member of S.A.G., A.F.T.R.A., A.S.C.A.P. and N.A.R.A.S.

Marco Cassone

Marco Cassone brings a colorful palette of talent and experience to the judges table. A renaissance man at heart, this Seattle-ite has appeared in numerous theatrical and television productions and has been featured on dozens of studio and commercial radio recordings. Marco's professional career as an entertainer took off when he started his own Children's Entertainment business while juggling his degree in the Psychology of Music. In between magic shows, balloon sculptures, and Power Ranger impersonations that eventually took him across Europe, this Los Angeles native found a passion for jazz and classical vocal performance and studied theory and arranging with Grammy nominees, Phil Mattson and Roger Treece. Marco is most proud of his role as a founding member of m-pact (1996 National Harmony Sweepstakes Champions). In addition to maintaining a year-round, international touring and recording schedule, Marco acts as Business Director for the band and offers his consulting services to a cappella groups of every level (contact business@m-pact.com for more information). This year, Marco will celebrate his 1,000th performance with m-pact.