2003 National Finals Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival

19th Annual

The Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival is the premier American showcase for vocal harmony music. 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.

2003 National Finals Champions

The Idea of North

The Idea of North defies categorisation. As a quartet of musicians, their voices are their instruments: soprano, alto, tenor and bass, with a bit of vocal percussion thrown in. Their sound and style is distinct, yet they cross many musical genres: jazz, pop, folk, gospel, even comedy.

Their arrangements are extraordinary. They take songs you know and songs you don't and create songs you'll love. But it's not just about the music:

"A pitch-perfect ensemble negotiating complex modulations with ease, constant seamless transition between lead and accompaniment parts, and the whole thing strung together by low-key, humorous conversational patter..." The Courier-Mail

2003 Results
1st	The Idea of North
2nd	Moosebutter
3rd	Cadence
Audience Favorite	The Idea of North
Best Original Arrangement	"Mas Que Nada" Andrew Piper
Best Original Song	"Psycho: The Musical"

Listen to CD on Spotify: Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals 2003

2003 Participating Groups

TBA

2003 Judges

Robin Cohn

President of City Hall Records. City Hall began in Robin's San Francisco garage in 1973, expanding steadily to become the leading national independent wholesale distributor of hundreds of specialty labels, both domestic and international. From blues, jazz, urban, nostalgia, world, and yes, a cappella - including artists such as the Swingle Singers, the Bobs and SoVoSo - City Hall has built its success and reputation through supporting independent music.

Maxine Jones

Maxine Jones is an American singer–songwriter, and actress. Jones is best known as a founding member of the R&B/Pop vocal group En Vogue, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. The R&B quartet redefined the girl group for the '90's. Their first CD, "Born to Sing", featured three number one R&B hits. The follow up, "Funky Divas", contained the hugely popular and still memorable "My Lovin' (Never Gonna Get It)", selling three million copies

Throughout a career spanning 25 years, Jones has sold over 20 million records with En Vogue. Jones has recorded four albums with En Vogue. Her work has earned her several awards and nominations, including 5 Grammy nominations, two American Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award, four MTV Video Music Awards, and four Soul Train Music Awards.

Louise Robinson

Louise Robinson, a native New Yorker, studied concert bass for six years and attended the High School of Music and Art. A graduate of Howard University with a BFA, her professional career began at Washington, D.C.’s Arena Stage. Louise accepted Robert Hooks’ invitation to become a member of the new, D.C. Black Repertory Company Acting Ensemble. It was out of this theatre company that Louise, along with Carol Maillard. Bernice Johnson Reagon, and Mie, formed the a cappella quartet, Sweet Honey In The Rock.

Louise’s colorful career has taken her up many paths, including performances, both on and off-Broadway, and in film and studio recording. She has also worn the producer’s hat as she, along with Maillard and Smokey Ronald Stevens, produced A Sho Nuff Variety Revue, a series of performances showcasing some of New York’s finest talent, including Adolph Casear, Sandra Reeves Phillips, and legendary tap dancers Gregory Hines, Avon Long, and Joe Attles.

Louise was the founding director of the Bay Area a cappella quintet, Street Sounds, taking their music around the country and the world for 14 years. Louise returned to Sweet Honey In The Rock in 2004, and combines her experience in theatre and music to offer a workshop that explores the creative freedom in us all.

Merl Saunders Jr.

Merl Saunders Jr.- San Francisco Chapter Executive Director, NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences)- began performing with the San Francisco Youth Symphony and grew up in the heart of the San Francisco music scene, hanging with such musical families as the Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Saul Zaentz's Fantasy Records. He learned the business and production end of the industry working with such diverse artists as Michael Jackson, Frank Zappa, David Crosby and Robert Cray. Saunders' career led him to Marketing Director for Gibson Guitars and Dean Markley Strings, where he arranged benefits for many philanthropic causes. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for Music in Schools Today, Taylor Family Foundation (pediatric AIDS).

Complete list of 2003 participants

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 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 :

Our Hall of Fame - The Harmony Sweepstakes National Champions