16th Annual

2000 Boston Champions

Live Wire

LiveWire 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.

After Eight is a male a cappella group comprised of graduates from Colby College in Waterville, Maine. The guys range from the class of Õ90 to the class of Õ96, and they all sang in the male a cappella group on campus called The Colby Eight. Now all living in the Boston area and holding onto day jobs, they get together weekly to rehearse and enjoy this chance to continue to sing together. They have had a variety of performance venues around New England and beyond over the past five years, including First Night Annapolis (MD), First Night Providence (RI), shows in Brattleboro, VT, Worcester, MA, Cape Cod, and Ð of course Ð central Maine. They are happy to be returning to the Harmony Sweepstakes and look forward to another fun evening of a cappella music.

Members: Kris Boynton, Peter Caruso, Jonathan Frothingham, Jonathan Howe, Mark Longsjo, Jun Shirahama and Marc Winiecki.

Flashback has been performing a cappella music throughout New England for over a decade. The group first gained notoriety as street performers in Harvard Square before honing their act for clubs, concert series, and special events. Their Swing Hits Radio Hour is an annual Boston theater event. Critically acclaimed for their Happy Holidays Radio Show and recording "Swinging On a Star," Flashback is delighted to strut their non-holiday stuff for Boston area audiences this March 17th, 18th, and 28th. On a personal note, they have three husbands (thereÕll be a fourth this May), four children, three dogs and two cats among them.

Members: Debba Andree, Laurel Browne, Kit Emory and Kathryn Feinmann.

LiveWire 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.

The NeighborÕs Kid is a new all-male vocal band composed of members of Brandeis UniversityÕs Voicemale from its 1997-1998 year. That year helped propel Voicemale onto the national scene. WeÕre very proud of the fact that we finished as runner-up in the semi-final round of the NCCAÕs; we also won best arrangement and runner-up awards for two of our arrangements that year. We had such a good time singing together that weÕve gotten together numerous times since then to meet and perform around Boston (of course, it helps that everyone who graduated is still in the area!). WeÕve added some new tunes, and have been performing locally as The NeighborÕs Kid over the past year. While we have a varied repertoire, our style is best classified as 70s and 90s rock & soul; in our performance and in our arrangements, we like to emphasize energy, rhythm, and groove. WeÕre looking forward to performing for you tonight, and hope you enjoy the show.

Members: Keith Berman, Bill Folman, Nate Merrill, Sam Meyrowitz, Mike Schwartz and Jason Taylor.

Random Association is a contemporary a cappella vocal band. Formed in 1997, this dynamic septet of three women and four men bring infectious energy and fine musicianship to their repertoire of jazz, rock, pop, R&B, and funk classics and originals Ð a mingling of styles, decades and influences boiling down to an edgy brew fit to be tied in the new millennium. This is Random AssociationÕs second appearance at the Boston Regional Harmony Sweepstakes, and they hope you enjoy them as much as they enjoy coming back for more!

Members: Joe Antonioli, Anne Cameron, Heather Finley, Leigh Guptill, John Hadden, Susannah Magee and Rich Redmond.

Realia Take 6 alluring young women, give them each a killer set of pipes, a passion for good music, and regularly scheduled pizza breaks, and you have Realia, one of the most up-and-coming vocal bands from Boston. Formed in 1997 and ever-evolving, Realia primarily performs contemporary pop, funk and R&B, with a delectable power that is anything but your typical female a cappella. The premier national publication of a cappella has described Realia as "a group to watch, maybe the first all-womenÕs group to become really big, like Rockapella and M-Pact!" Flattering, of course Ð although weÕve been trying to master that cool M-Pact! disco-arm-swing-thing, and it just ainÕt happening. Still, a girl can dream.

Members: Kirsten Chidley, Emily Fisher, Val Hildebrant, Christy Maver, Evie Nagy and Courtney Wheaton.

Serious Fun: began in the fall of 1993, under the oft-misspelled and incorrectly remembered name of Vocomotive. In 1998, the group produced its first CD ("Serious Fun") which features its broad range of material: from popular music to jazz standards to TV theme songs to traditional folk, with a few original tunes thrown in for good measure. When assuming their not-so-secret identities, the groupÕs members work as a romance writer, a teacher, a real estate agent, lawyers, computer analysts, actors and folk rock musicians. For booking and other information, please call Ed Gaffney at (508) 358-4119, or e-mail him at EBGaffney@aol.com.

Members: Suz Brockmann (Director), Deede Bergeron, Brice Buchanan, Ed Gaffney, Bill Kuhlman, Kathy Lague and Eric Ruben.

SoRare is thrilled to be competing once again in the Harmony Sweepstakes! Since last yearÕs competition, weÕve had the pleasure of appearing at various venues throughout New England including: Stellar A Cappella, A Cappella Gold, BridgewaterÕs 4th of July Celebration and several area shows. WeÕve added some cool modern arrangements to our repertoire and look forward to sharing them with you. For more information about SoRare!, please contact Jannis Moylan at (508) 428-1129. Or check out our web site at www.geocities.com/Broadway/Lobby/4026.

Members: Karen Christofi, Jannis Moylan, Donna Manoogian and Arlene Isaac.