2012 Participants
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Epic formed when two barbershop a cappella harmony singers, a jazz singer and an opera singer found they discovered a common love of ringing chords, fun rehearsals and fantastic shoes. The foursome hails from Virginia and Maryland and is proudly affiliated with the Harmony, Inc., a premier international organization of women barbershop harmony singers. Epic is a vibrant quartet filled with an impressive blend musical and life experiences.
Members: Christina Lewellen, Anne Albright, Shana Oshiro, Kristina Adams
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Faithful - We are Faithful, a group of singers meeting the challenge of working together in spite of living in two different parts of the country. We come from both Richmond, VA and the Washington, DC metropolitan areas. We are members of diverse churches and spiritual persuasions. In our number are several composers, arrangers, lyricists and instrumentalists, and we sing gospel music with a jazz influence, endeavoring to minister to the hearts and minds of all kinds of people. It is our desire to exhibit a level of excellence in leadership which will serve as an example to young aspiring singers in our churches and communities, and as a part of our legacy we hope to release a CD in the near future.
Members: Richard D'Abreau, Freddie Fields, Larry Fields, Rejeanna Foster, Gwendolyn Jenifer, Gwendolyn Ward, Andrea Wimbush, Geraldine Wrig
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Glorious has been together since 1997. During this time they have become a group of tight knit, polished and professional performers. Their unique A Cappella style leaves very little room for imperfections. Drawing from their individual spiritual backgrounds, and combining tried and true spirituals with an upbeat tempo, they create a memorable listening experience. Worship, Punctuality and Professionalism are the cornerstones of their organization.
Members: Larry Arrington, Barry (Boonie) Fleming, Eugene (Nick) Gleaton, Ricky Hawkins, Michael Lemon
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GQ - This group began in the summer of 2011, bringing together different musical backgrounds: jazz, pop, barbershop and musical theater. Things seemed to click so easily, they all knew that they could do great things. GQ brings some new repertoire to the a cappella scene, featuring material by some of their favorite artists you may not have heard, and exploring other possibilities outside of the norm. But most of all they have become really good friends who have a passion and drive for singing and who try to create something special each time they perform.
Members: Katie Gillis, Katie Macdonald, Amanda McNutt, Ali Hauger
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Keystone - A brand new group of a cappella veterans, KeyStone strives to present innovative, original arrangements of pop and rock tunes both familiar and obscure. Based in southeastern Pennsylvania, the group is comprised of current and former members of The A Cappella Project – Philadelphia. KeyStone has recently begun recording their first album.
Members: Joe Gooch, Amy Howe, Tom West, Jennifer Steinberg, Josh Schrager, Jamie Howe
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Loose Interpretations is an all female contemporary a cappella group who proudly call New York City home. The group was originally formed by several women who were recent college grads, who craved the fun and excitement of college a cappella. That experience inspired them to create a post-collegiate group for like minded young women...and Loose Interpretations was born. Loose Interpretations performs everything from 80's pop, to the Beatles, country, and rock, and have several members who keep their repertoire constantly growing with amazing original arrangements (winning best original arrangement last year at the Birchmere!). They keep it simple by recording their tracks live, keeping the focus on the voices, with no extras...just the way they like it.
Members: Jen Kipley, Erin Byram, Stacia Woodcock, Willa Cochran, Heather Glotzer, Reynetta Sampson, Laura Campbell, and Jenn Wexler.
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TBD is the contemporary a cappella subgroup of the Alexandria Harmonizers Barbershop Chorus. Formed by alums of many collegiate a cappella groups to sing more popular music as part of the Harmonizers, TBD also is also involved with the Harmonizers Youth Harmony Outreach Program getting younger generations excited about singing a cappella music in their school and community.
Members: Thomas Kraus, Noah Van Gilder, Scipio Garling,Chris Clark,Terry Reynolds, Jeremy Richardson, Josh Roots, Ken Rub
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Your Emcee for the Evening
Sara Rasmussen
Sara Rasmussen has been a member of the Mid-Atlantic Regional production team for several years and a supporter of the Sweeps long before that. This year, she is stepping into the producer role. Sara enjoys many styles of music and was drawn to the Sweeps because it includes such a diversity of genres. Sara has been a member of Sweet Adelines for over a decade, has competed in numerous competitions both as a member of the Potomac Harmony Chorus and as a "baritone" in various quartets. In recent years she has been performing in the Washington, DC area with the Capitol Swing Quartet. In addition to helping out with production of various Sweet Adeline events, Sara has also been involved in the programing and production for several large DC area music festivals.
2012 Judges
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Ted Donat - The Mid-Atlantic Sweeps welcomes Ted Donat as a judge this year. Ted produced the last ten years of the Mid-Atlantic regional, and we are happy to have him participating in this year's event. Ted has been singing, writing, arranging, directing and producing music for over 30 years. His a cappella experience began with the award-winning Amherst College Zumbyes in the mid '80's. After graduating from Amherst in 1986, Ted moved to New York City, where he sang with several groups including Uptown Sounds and Downtown Vocals, which he also directed. The highlight of this period was performing at Alice Tully Hall at the Advertising One Awards. Ted received his MBA from Columbia University in 1997, and in 1999 he joined the coed a cappella group dcVocals, assuming the musical director mantle from 2000 to 2004. In 2004, Ted left dcVocals to found a rock band (the kind with instruments) called The Slow Burn. |
| Claire Gardiner joined the Fairfax,-based Vienna-Falls Chorus of Sweet Adelines International in 1984, began directing the chorus in 1993, and has led Vienna-Falls to five Regional Championships. She has sung in many Quartets, one of which won the Regional Championship in 1989. Claire is a faculty member within her Sweet Adeline Region, where she teaches arranging classes, teaches voice lessons and coaches many choruses and quartets. In her 'day job', she is a Supervisory Registration Specialist in the Performing Arts Division of the Copyright Office here in D.C. This is one of only a few jobs in the Federal Government, which requires a music degree. Claire has judged the competition in several times in the past. |
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Mike Yanchak has served as the rhythm section of Pittsburgh's All-Vocal Band, DoubleShot!, since founding that act in 2006. In that time he has competed in Sweeps in four cities and garnered nine honors from the Harmony Sweepstakes including a sweep of the Mid-Atlantic honors in 2007 and appearance at the National Finals as well as a second place finish in Pittsburgh's "SING! 2011" bands competition as the only a cappella act in a field comprised entirely of instrumental bands. In his capacities as a producer for the International Championship for Collegiate A Cappella, an ambassador for the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America, and an adjudicator for the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards, he is a torchbearer for a cappella music locally and nationally. Mike debuted his one man all vocal live looping act, "Mike Why: One Man Band Without the Band", in August 2010 and is excited to make his first ever OFFSTAGE appearance in the Harmony Sweepstakes. |
| Jonathan Minkoff his the Executive Producer for SingStrong.org, a weekend-long a cappella festival in DC, being held March 23-25, 2012. Formed in 2009, SingStrong's profits support the Alzheimer's Association. The event features over two dozen groups from across the world for four concerts and 20 masterclasses. Minkoff began directing a cappella groups in 1984 and currently performs with the vocal band, Blue Jupiter. Minkoff holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Northwestern University, a certificate in voice study from the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and a Juris Doctorate, with honors from Boston University School of Law. Minkoff has won the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes, the National Sweeps Best Original and Best Arrangement Awards, been nominated for a CARA and has lectured and coached at more than 20 a cappella festivals. He produced the the East Coast A cappella Summit for 5 years, served as President of CASA for 3 years and has over 250 published a cappella reviews on RARB.org. Minkoff coaches, records, writes and produces for various a cappella groups in his 42nd Street recording studio or on location. |
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National Finals Recordings
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 8 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
Sara Rasmussen has been a member of the Mid-Atlantic Regional production team for several years and a supporter of the Sweeps long before that. This year, she is stepping into the producer role. Sara appreciates many styles of cappella and was drawn to the Sweeps because it includes such a diversity of genres. On the singing front, Sara has been a member of Sweet Adelines for over a decade, has competed herself in numerous barbershop competitions both as a member of the Potomac Harmony Chorus and as a "baritone" in various quartets. In recent years she has been performing in the Washington, DC area with the Capitol Swing Quartet. On the production side, in addition to helping out with production of various Sweet Adeline events, Sara has also been involved in the programing and production for several large aDC area music festivals.
Sara Rasmussen midatlantic (at) harmony-sweepstakes.com
The Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival
PO Box D
San Anselmo, CA 94979
(415) 455-8602
festival (at) harmony-sweepstakes
Prizes
- Regional winners win roundtrip airfare plus two nights accommodation in the San Francisco Bay Area to compete in the Harmony Sweepstakes National A Cappella Festival
- A selection of compact discs from the Primarily A Cappella catalog
- A $250 coupon from Discmakers
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Complete List of Mid-Atlantic Champions
Previous Mid-Atlantic Results :- 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999 - 1
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Many careers have been launched from this internationally recognized music hall. On any given night, a star may be born. Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, Jerry Jeff Walker, Dave Matthews, Vince Gill, John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and k.d. Lang are just a few of the artists counted as good friends of the Birchmere. The Birchmere is committed to the presentation of the highest quality music in a comfortable and intimate atmosphere.
The Birchmere Music Hall is located at 3701 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305. There is plenty of free parking. Yahoo map - Google map
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