20th Annual

The Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival, the premier American showcase for vocal harmony music, celebrates its 20th year in 2004. 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.

2004 Mid-Atlantic Champions

Mosaic

Mosaic is a six-man a cappella group with an off-the wall style, intricate harmony, and a "get up out yo' seat" beat. They cover a wide range of popular music in new and exciting ways. Mosaic is a collaboration of minds and talents that form a truly unique show you don't want to miss.

2004 Contestants:

Almost Recess is a five-man vocal band from the DC area. Singing originals and covers, the group's mission is to bring great a cappella music to every single person in the world.

Blue Jupiter is a Contemporary Rock/Pop vocal quartet that tours nationally and has competed in the Chicago Sweeps, released two CD's and performed at both East and West Coast Summits.

Brylcream A Little dab of Doo-Wop is an acapella group that combines the slick harmonies of the 50's and 60's with light hearted fun. It's apparent that the performers enjoy themselves while entertaining with their unique innovations and arrangements while still remaining true to the "Doo-Wop" style. Brylcream's two CD's include original works; "Rockin' the Neighborhood" and "Ready to Go". The group has been performing for 12 years in the Southwest Florida area and they have shared the stage with many singing greats such as Three Dog Night, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Davy Jones, and many more.

Cartoon Johnny is an energetic vocal band that pushes limits of traditional a cappella. Drawing on influences from classic soul to modern alternative, they've crafted an exciting, _audibly-intoxicating sound, merging the power of the human voice with the versatility of modern technology. The band has built a loyal DC fan base performing at venues like the Clarendon Ballroom and Jammin' Java, and at events such as Celebrate Fairfax and First Night Alexandria. Cartoon Johnny was honored to perform at the 2003 Arlington A Cappella Festival with the Tone Rangers, Fourth Avenue, and Da Vinci's Notebook.

The Chromatics This group of techies (engineers, scientists, computer geeks, and NASA employees) performs pop and rock covers and original songs inspired by our modern world. The World Wide Web, television, and fast food - they're all subjects of Chromatics originals. The Chromies have also written astronomically-correct a cappella songs to be used in classrooms for a project called AstroCappella. The Chromatics have presented AstroCappella from Palm Springs, California to Orlando, Florida, from Las Vegas to Space Day on the Washington DC Mall, had their lyrics quoted in the New York Times and their CD has flown in space! And no, we're not kidding! The Chromatics have presented their "down-to-earth" repertoire at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, at First Night Annapolis, at the 1996, 1999, and 2002 Mid-Atlantic Region Harmony Sweepstakes (where they took 3rd place in 1999), the National Anthem for the Baltimore Orioles (1996 and 1997), and holiday music at the White House's candlelight tours (1996). They also provide entertainment at corporate events, festivals, and private parties.

Mosaic is a six-man a cappella group with an off-the wall style, intricate harmony, and a "get up out yo' seat" beat. They cover a wide range of popular music in new and exciting ways. Mosaic is a collaboration of minds and talents that form a truly unique show you don't want to miss.

Staticflow is a new D.C. vocal band with a mix pop, rock, world, and funk influences. ðThey perform original work penned by the group, as well as popular covers, and plan to release their first CD in the Spring of 2004.

2004 Judges: (more to come)

Richard Hsu is a founding member of Washington D.C.'s loud--and occasionally lauded--Da Vinci's Notebook. Known for their clever lyrics and madcap antics, the group has been heard and seen on NBC's Today Show, the Drew Carey Show, Comedy Central, NPR, and XM Satellite Radio, and were named A Cappella Group of the Year by the Washington Area Music Association in 2002 and 2003. Mr. Hsu is a graduate of the University of Maryland and a founder and director of the generics, the first men's a cappella ensemble there. He has studied voice, piano, and violin, but is only any good at two of them.

David Whitman: ÊFor a ten year span in the late 1980s and mid 1990s, David Whitman was the basso profundo of Brock & The Rockets. Brock & The Rockets were the first D.C.-area acappella group to headline at the Birchmere, were earlier winners of the Harmony Sweepstates eastern regional, and hosted the regional in D.C. in 1994. Prior to his stint with Brock & Rockets, Whitman bassed for six years for the Boston-based quintet, The Moving Violations. He last served as a judge at the D.C. regional in 2002.

Jordan Hirsch: ÊJordan is an accomplished arranger who competed in the 2003 Sweeps with Route 1, who tied for 2nd place. ÊJordan has also sung with dcVocals and The University of MD Generics

Complete list of 2004 national participants