2026 Participating Groups
 | | Chromatic Convergence
Chromatic Convergence is an all-gender contemporary a cappella group that provides an engaging experience through unique arrangements of today s popular music. including pop, jazz, R&B, rock, hip-hop, soul, gospel, and musical theater. The group is conducted by Dario Johnson, who is also credited with a number of the group s musical arrangements.
Members: Lofn Young, Jo Basile, Karter Ruud, Claire Yackley, Nao Hartwig, Ivan Vielma, Truesten Tautolo, Kevin Schoenfeld, Noah Rulison, Brandon Park
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Coda Conduct
SF Coda Conduct is a contemporary a cappella group that has delighted Bay Area audiences since 2024. Comprised of 12 experienced singers from diverse musical backgrounds, the group has grown into a tight-knit ensemble known for its dynamic sound and high energy arrangements. Performing everything from nostalgic classics to today's hits, Coda Conduct aims to bring fresh energy to the Bay Area vocal scene. We are proud to return to Harmony Sweepstakes for our second time! Follow our journey on Instagram @sfcodaconduct
Members: Caroline Meinhardt, Candice Yung, Rosie Bochenek, Laynee Daniels, Dhanya Jayagopal, Julia Rogers, Sam Joffe, Jonathan Bloom, Tyler Hedrick, Ben Alpers, Alex Bignell, Jon Abello
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 | | Find A Capella
We are a group of vocal singers, music lovers, and young professionals based in the Bay Area. We held our first concert on Oct 15, 2022, a few days past our first anniversary. We hosted 200 people and sang 14 songs throughout the concert. We found in music not only friendship, excitement, emotional support, but also most importantly, each other. We work on pop songs and musicals, and we also love jazz, folk, and church songs. We hope to deliver our good vibes to our audience and the community. We are 'Find A Cappella'.
Members: Shuting Fu, Caiwei He, Rui Yang, Jeffrey Wang, Yulou Zhou, Yunfei Song, Yichao Wu, Zhihao Li, Sunny Li, Maogeng Qin, Di Zha
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HOUSE//MIX
HOUSE//MIX is a collaborative project that bridges a cappella and EDM into unforgettable and electric live performances. Powered by next-level beatboxing, lip bass, synth sounds, and other vocal effects, HOUSE//MIX strives to push the musical boundaries of what a cappella can really do. The group brings together singers from all corners of the Bay Area s vibrant a cappella scene including members of A Cappella Collective, Business Casual, Loop Buddies, and Offbook.
Members: Connie Chang, Janelle Tong, Cassie Greene Chamoun, Danny Olefsky, Michael Eng Hoe Khor, Kunwoo Hong, Danny Cavero
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 | | Outta the Vox
Singing today's hits and classics from decades past, we are Outta the Vox! OTV is one of Sacramento's premiere a cappella ensembles, serving you fresh takes on some of your favorite tunes.
Members: Genessee Tudino, Louis Moreno, Allison Johansen, Justin Hampel, Justin Pratt, Justin Vaughn, Parker Mitchell
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Ro Sham Bo
Ro Sham Bo brings a surprising and exciting spark to the Bay Area vocal music scene. Ro Sham Bo's roots are steeped in jazz and funk, and their performances deliver an inspired blend of complexity and ease. Most group members are music educators or music educated, arrange, perform, and direct not only for Ro Sham Bo but for groups from San Jose to Black Rock City, and have taught students from Stanford University Jazz Workshop to Jazz Camp West to Blue Bear School of Music.
Members: Michael Eng Hoe Khor, Sam Kim, Robert Lee, Amy Lin, Amie Shapiro, Rick Wood
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 | | Twilight Quartet
Twilight is the current Sweet Adelines International Region 12 champion quartet
Members: Anna-Pia Hubacher, Kristi Penelton, Bridget Barrett, Lysanda Lee
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Vocal Music Workshop
Vocal Music workshop has gone through many changes over the years. Originally a show choir (with full band and choreography), Vocal is at present a 12-member a cappella sensation, exploring the music of all genres and time periods. Year-round they are called upon to entertain and inspire the community, performing at sports events and private special events. Over the years Vocal has been fortunate to share the stage with amazing performers such as Bobby McFerrin, Dick Van Dyke, The House Jacks, The EDLOS, OC Times, Straight No Chaser, Rockapella, The Exchange, VoicePlay, The Philharmonic and SixAppeal.
Members: Bella Storms, Paige Arie, Miel McGrath, Yadhira Torres, Andrea Barrera, Giovanna Flores, Harper Britton, Alan Danel, Will Vance, Niko Tavakoli, Dio Hansen, Olivia Bui, Everett Butler, Paxton Fisher, Adan Solis
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Your Emcee for the Evening 
Paul Nathan
| You may have seen Paul on TV, films, or online and not even realized it. He has appeared on HBO, MTV, and even on Star Trek Voyager and Eddie Murphy’s film Dr. Dolittle. His work is smart, funny, irreverent, and unique. Paul's theater shows, Devil in the Deck and The I Hate Children Children's Show have won awards, critical acclaim, and sell out audiences in the UK, and the US. |
2026 Judges
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Tracy Cruz
Born in Quezon City on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, Bay Area–based recording artist Tracy Cruz captivates audiences with her soulful, spirit-filled, richly textured vocals. An R&B/Soul singer, songwriter, and vocal coach, she has earned over 40 prestigious music awards and more than 80 nominations across her career.
With 25+ years in the industry, she has opened for and shared the stage with acclaimed artists including Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas, Kenny Lattimore, Pete Escovedo, Miki Howard, Keke Wyatt, Sy Smith, Moonchild, Slim of 112, Barrington “Bo” Henderson (formerly of The Temptations), Bilal, Jeff Bradshaw, Rahsaan Patterson, Anthony David, Raheem DeVaughn, Wes Felton, Derrick Hodge, Christopher Williams, Dee Dee Simon, Kanetic Source, and more. She has performed at premier venues and events such as Yoshi’s, SFJAZZ, Blue Note Napa, Chase Center Thrive City, Oracle Park Cloud Club, Harlow’s, Tempe Center for the Arts, Bump City Winery, the San Jose Jazz Festival, the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, SF Giants Filipino Heritage Night, and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
Deeply rooted in her community, Tracy serves as Chapter Governor of the San Francisco Chapter of the Recording Academy, Co-Chair of the Songwriters & Composers Committee, GRAMMY U Mentor, voting member of the Recording Academy, and CTE Advisory Board member for Oakland School for the Arts. She also leads Tracy Cruz Vocal Studio, mentoring the next generation of artists. www.tracycruzmusic.com |
Annabelle Marie
Annabelle Marie is a globally recognized artistic director, Jefferson Award recipient, and founder of VOENA (Voices in Motion!). Her work has taken the stage at Carnegie Hall, the Olympics, and the White House, redefining what youth voices can achieve.
Her original composition Voices Dream was selected for a global cultural initiative in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of the Crown Prince, further amplifying her international impact. Ms Marie received her Bachelors degree in Violin Performance, her Masters degree in Music Education with Kodaly emphasis, and trained for 4 years under the renowned vocal coach to Barbra Streisand, shaping her distinctive artistic approach. Known for her bold vision and innovative Physical Singing method, she brings precision, power, and authority to the Harmony Sweepstakes as a judge. |
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Walter Zelnick
Vice-President of the legendary City Hall Records -- one of the last truly independent music distributors in the nation and distributor of the Primarily A Cappella imprint-- has been a pillar of the Bay Area music scene for the last thirty five years. During his tenure, Mr. Zelnick has overseen the distribution of a wide variety of talent across the musical spectrum, from Bay Area Rap legends, Too Short, MC Hammer and the late Mac Dre to such artists as Paula West, The Two Live Crew, NWA, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Salt-N-Pepa, Lavay Smith, Charo, Doris Day, The Jingle Cats and many more. He has witnessed the evolution of the music delivery system from LP to cassette to CD to digital to LP. One of his proudest achievements is his unsought credit as a background vocalist on the 1995 recording, "Christmas Unleashed" by the Jingle Dogs (actual dogs). |
Diane Myrick
Diane Myrick has enjoyed singing with the San Francisco Sound Wave since 1997. The Sound Wave is a women’s A Cappella chorus of 35 members, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International.
Diane earned an MFA in Music Therapy from the University of the Pacific in 1982. She enrolled in the Sweet Adeline Directors Certification Program in 1999 and completed the series in 2004. She became an assistant director of SF Sound Wave upon completion of that program and has been the director since 2013.
“I just love working in front of a group of singers. I really get a thrill hearing the whole sound and how the parts fit together. It is so much like putting together a puzzle where each part needs to be the correct shape and in the correct spot for the whole to come together, and when it all works…it is FAB!” |
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Complete list of 2026 participants
Interested
in
Performing?
We are always seeking groups who would like to participate
in our events.
Groups of any style are welcome, but you must have between
3 and 12 members. We have a rule book which explains many of the
details of the event, which you can see by clicking here. All groups must audition in
order to compete. Generally this is done by sending a current tape
and photo, although live auditions are sometimes arranged. The
purpose of the audition is to make sure the group is appropriate for
the Festival and to help the Director determine the performance
order. If a group has competed previously, the audition process may
be waived.
How to enter
Please send music and photos to the
regional director :
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John Neal (Bay Area)
Beginning as a local event the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival, under Neal’s guidance, has grown to become the most significant live showcase for a cappella music in the nation and attracts hundreds of groups and thousands of audience members every year. The Harmony Sweepstakes was the original inspiration for the NBC prime time series The Sing-Off and Neal was hired as a consultant to the series. Neal is president of Primarily A Cappella - (www.singers.com) which is the nation’s leading vendor of a cappella music including recordings, arrangements, DVDs, songbooks and instructional material for singers. Neal writes the informative blog at www.acappellanews.com which has a large and loyal readership.
PO Box D, San Anselmo, CA 94979
415-455-8602
festival (at) harmony-sweepstakes.com
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