19th Annual

2003 Los Angeles Champions

Undivided Musical Group

Undivided Musical Group was formed, in their eyes, as an accident, but later they realized that God had led them to become one in Christ through a cappella music, and has continued to lead them into this world that needs Jesus, giving people hope and a greater understanding about the wonderful Gospel. Hence, the name Undivided which they felt well suited for what they are and what Christianity should be.
Members - Greg Gordon, Ruben Aponte, David Cortes, Hector Sanchez, Richard Aponte, Mel Ramirez.

Special guest performers The Vantastics starring Mr Dick Van Dyke

2003 Participating Groups:

Grace is a Los Angeles based a cappella group of four women who are not actually named Grace - although their “Grace nicknames” have evolved over time. Lisa (alias “Baby Grace”) is the youngest and newest member of the group, and serves as their chief financial officer. Jeanette (alias “Crazy Grace”), groomed in Germany, provides on-going psychiatric evaluations (for free) as need arises. Paula (alias “Angst Grace”) serves as spiritual advisor and dutifully informs the group when the glass is twice as large as it needs to be. Marta (alias “Sassy Grace”) is their resident expert on feng-shui - despite the fact that, although close, they do not live together. Grace delivers tight harmonies, vibrant energy and an imaginatively reinvented mix of music from the 1920’s to the present. This group of seasoned performers shares a unique brand of blending that demonstrates the voice as an instrument like no other.
Members - Lisa Linehan, Jeanette Meyer, Paula McMath, Marta Weisskopf

The Liquid Hotplates are in their third year of existence. Comprised of current and former students from the University of California at Davis, their repertoire extends throughout the pop music universe, including songs originally performed by Faith Hill, Metallica, Cake, Cher, Stevie Ray Vaughn, the Brian Seltzer Orchestra and others, and they have recently begun to venture into performing group members’s original compositions. Their performance venues have included the 2002 California State Fair, shows in Berkeley, Sacramento, and Napa, and several prominent events in Davis. The Liquid Hotplates proudly recorded their first CD last spring, entitled “Told It Equals Hip”
Members - Steve Geller, Anna Brink, Sabrina Fong, Chris Nucho, Keith Rode, Jeremy Borum, Katy Williams

Social Experiment - Probing the no-man's land between conventional hard rock and contemporary a cappella, Social Experiment rips through a wide range of rock music -- from classics like Van Halen and Pat Benatar to alternative and modern styles like Linkin Park and Ben Folds Five. Their contagious intensity combines with a playful, tongue-in-cheek style to make for a compelling stage show.
Members - Jill Burke, Patty Lund, Paul Vigil, Joe Cook, Scott Van Essen, Evan Dorn

Undivided Musical Group was formed, in their eyes, as an accident, but later they realized that God had led them to become one in Christ through a cappella music, and has continued to lead them into this world that needs Jesus, giving people hope and a greater understanding about the wonderful Gospel. Hence, the name Undivided which they felt well suited for what they are and what Christianity should be.
Members - Greg Gordon, Ruben Aponte, David Cortes, Hector Sanchez, Richard Aponte, Mel Ramirez

The Funk Divas are an a cappella force to be reckoned with. Hailing from all over the world, (Sweden, Chile, Russia, New Caledonia, and the United States) these five women are blending their voices as one with a fresh, contemporary sound. Each a dynamic soloist in her own right, these five artists represent the best vocal talent that Musicianis Institute has to offer. With custom tailored arrangements by Douglas Wood (formerly of the award-winning Chicago Voice Exchange) the Funk Divas will rock the house with soul, passion & air-tight harmonies.
Members - Shawna Basick, Natacha Volk, Maiya Sykes, Sonia Baicheva, Mini Neufeld

Reverse Osmosis, in only it’s third year of existence, has quickly become the hottest co-ed a cappella group at the University of Southern California. The group normally features sixteen of the top singers at USC and tonight will perform with less than half of their normal personnel. Following their appearance at last year’s International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, RO hurried into the recording studio to lay down tracks for what would become their premiere album, “Aural Pleasure”.
Members - Jon Byron, Ryan Chun, Sue Connors, Hillary Fraser-Thompson, Brendan Jennings, Kathryn McGowan, Jason Monma

Triage - The Garage Trio. Can a computing journal editor, a physics journal publisher, and a Unix systems administrator harmonize without re-creating the Big Bang? Bring duct tape & plastic sheeting just in case.
Members - Daryl Lubinsky, Sheila Coyazo, Stacey Morse

Swing Shift - This stylish SSATB quintet was formed in Santa Monica in 2002. Swing Shift has performed at private parties, churches, and appeared as one of the featured a cappella groups on KLSC’s television series “Mosaic”. They specialize in jazz standards from the 30’s on, with special attention to the richly harmonic songs of the stage and screen hits of the era
Members - Lisa Clark, Courtney Lemmon, Arlene Evans, Macain Treat, Richard Gilinsky

Complete list of 2003 national participants