2012 Participating Groups
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Audiofeels is a group of friends, whose eight individual musical tastes unite in one fascination for the unique capacity of human voice. They represent Vocal Play, a style that uses human voice for making music in a way that transforms an a cappella performance into a rich vocal orchestra. Using only their vocal chords to replicate instruments, Audiofeels in fact become instruments to create an impression of an entire orchestra on stage. Their adventure began in the Adam Mickiewicz University Choir in Poznan, Poland where they met and where after years of singing together they decided to pursue their dreams in a different "direction". . Audiofeels gets its kick from performing and the group's concerts prove that their love of music, hard work and their creative development can attract a full house. Going from a small-scale debut at the Blue Note Poznam back in April 2008 to a full-blown performance at the Grand Theater in April 2011, with international accolades and awards galore in between, gives the group a reason to believe that the "direction" is worth walking.....
Members: Jaroslaw Weidner, Marek Lewandowski, Marcin Illukiewicz, Bartosz Michalak, Michal Szajkowski, Bartosz Lehmann, Michal Stec, Patryk Ingnaczak
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Cerise Quartet - Cerise is a new a cappella group composed of four femmes who found each other while gigging with the New York Philharmonic. We sing everything from classical to jazz and are happy to perform a cappella or with accompaniment.If you're from the future, you're familliar with our multi-platinum albums. If you're from the present, you've seen us on the Onion News Network, on Live From Lincoln Center, and possibly at the gym. Cerise has just been booked to sing the National Anthem at the NY Knicks game on March 16th and are stoked to be making their Harmony Sweepstakes debut!
Members: Esther David, Erin Kemp, Margarita Martinez, Helen Karloski
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Empire - One of New York City’s newest all-female contemporary a cappella groups, was launched in September 2010. Since then, these young women ranging in age from 22-27 haven’t wasted any time. In addition to singing their hearts out at several NYC bars, they have toured in Boston, recorded a demo CD, headlined a major fundraising event, and auditioned for NBC's hit show, The Sing-Off. Empire has garnered a large fan base throughout the Northeast, stretching out to small towns in Iowa, and as far as California. These 8 ladies are so excited to be back at the Harmony Sweeps for the second time!
Members: Holli Matze, Rachel Tombes, Erica Meyer, Anna Concepcion, Christie Steele, Madison McCollough, Meron Mogos, Cara Joyce
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Jazz Affair is a combination of six unique voices resulting in a colorful and dynamic sound. Members of the group hail from Quebec City and Montreal Canada. They met each other in 2009, while studying music at University. Since then, they have worked together, producing shows and participating in various events in Quebec. Jazz Affair sings an assortment of Jazz, Pop, and French songs. The group arranges most of the pieces they perform and the pleasure and fun the have when singing is - in their words - contagious.... Be warned!
Members: André Bean, Luce Bélanger, Christian B. Poulin, Camille Legault-Coulombe, Marie-Pier Deschênes, Louis Laprise
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Lustre started their musical adventure back in 2005, and what an adventure it has been! They met through and continue to sing with the Harbor City Music Company Show Chorus (HCMC), a chapter of Sweet Adelines International (SAI) out of Baltimore, Maryland. They can attribute their success and a few of their fabulous arrangements to their director there, Michael Gellert. In their time together they have garnered several SAI regional awards including Novice Quartet Award, Most Improved Quartet Awards, and 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd and most recently 1st place medals, becoming the 2011 SAI Region 19 Quartet Champions. While competition is fun, performing is more so, and they enjoy performances all around the Baltimore area, at private events, parties, community festivals, and barbershop chapter shows. You may have heard them on Baltimore’s country radio station during the holiday season singing their most requested song, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas”. Lustre says, "We love to share our music, and to perform at many special events, large and small, public and private! Can we sing for you?"
Members: Kate Morrical, Lori Crouter, Lori Dreyer, Jenny Harris
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Revive is a five member male A Capella group originating in Philadelphia PA, the city of brotherly love and sisterly affection. The group has been singing and writing songs together for the past year. their niche in music is based on the R&B groups of the 90s,, such as Boys II Men and Dru Hill, where timeless music was created; and as their name suggests, they are here to 'Revive' the legacy, and beyond. They have the diversity of our melting pot country; and they harmonize beautifully, involuntarily. Revive is a group not to be missed!,
Members: Derek Anthony, Sage Bleakney, Anthony Pompey, Andrew Segan, Brett Kahn
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The Barkers were formed in 2011 with the idea of singing the music of the longest running game show and putting it on "Youtube". Truth is, that was just an excuse to get old friends together to write & perform some cool charts. What could be more fun!
Members: Marcus Smith, Craig Eckhardt, John McMahon, Warren Bloom, Jonathan Hampton, Nick Fox
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The Perspective is a five-man vocal band, blending Pop, Rock and R&B on a daily basis, with absolutely no instruments. Bringing together the best traditions of the five-man sound, THE PERSPECTIVE builds a bridge from the classic sounds of the 50's and 60's to the modern era of rock and R&B. Formed in 2009, and proud to call New York City our home, THE PERSPECTIVE has performed at listening rooms around New York City including the legendary Bitter End, the National Underground, and Millesime Salon at the luxurious Carlton, NYC. We are excited to appear in the Harmony Sweeps once again.
Members: Damon Maida, Jack Holahan, Doug Paulson , Joe Dunham and Aaron "AB" Belinfanti
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The Tee-Tones - With their brand of R&B soul, The Tee-Tones are quickly making a name for themselves in the NYC tri-state area, The Tee-Tones are an amazing a cappella singing group from Brooklyn, NY who combine soulful, group harmony with passionate vocal performances in the classic Doowop, RnB and Motown genres everyone loves.,
Members: Scout Xavier, George Ellington, Jerome Cohen, Gerard Gittens, Bernard Taylor
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Westside 5 is a vocal jazz quintet based in New York, NY. Influenced by vocal jazz ensemble greats like the Real Group, Manhattan Transfer and the New York Voices, West Side 5 performs original interpretations of jazz, pop, and bossa nova standards at various venues in the New York/New Jersey area. Lara, Eric, John and Sara first met through their membership in a singing group at Harvard College, VoxJazz, where they were members of various generations of the group. Steven was a member of the famous group the Whiffenpoofs at Yale at the time. They found each other again in New York and each member brings a unique voice and specialty to the group’s complex sound. The 2010 Harmony Sweepstakes mid-Atlantic regional winners have proven themselves, whether traveling the world with various ensembles, recording a dozen or so CDs amongst them, or performing on some of the world’s most recognizable cities and stages: Carnegie Hall, L’Opera Garnier, Notre Dame, and more.
Members: Eric Hughes, David McIntosh, John Shumway, Sara Wajnberg, Lara Hirner
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After Party! - Join us after the show at Haakon's Hall restaurant for drinks, food and plenty of spontaneous singing. If you have a group then come on over. Located on the edge of Columbia University at 1187 Amsterdam Avenue - just one block from the venue. Google Map |
Your Emcee
The Judges
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Gerard Brown III is a screenwriter and former writer in residence with the New York Shakespeare Festival. He has written a number of screenplays and teleplays for the likes of Paramount Pictures and HBO among others. However, his most gratifying artistic accomplishment was PBS's Spike & Co: Do it A Cappella which he conceived, wrote, and co-executive produced and shot at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Gerard Brown III is a screenwriter and former writer in residence with the New York Shakespeare Festival. He has written a number of screenplays and teleplays for the likes of Paramount Pictures and HBO among others. |
| Jim Diego is a current and founding member of the New York City-based award-winning co-ed a cappella group, “The Red States,” and the current Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA) Ambassador for the New York City metro area. Since moving to New York over five years ago, Jim has been heavily involved with the global a cappella community, becoming a sought-after clinician and adjudicator at a cappella festivals around the country and on a consultant basis, particularly in the fields of visual performance, stage presence, and movement; and as a judge for the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) and the International Championships for Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA). In college, Jim went to the University of Michigan, where he sang for four years with the co-ed group, Gimble. In addition to a cappella, Jim has a background in hip hop and street jazz dance, having been trained by several top NYC-based instructors. This year, Jim is nearing completion of a multi-track solo recording of Whitney Houston covers, The Whitney Project, which will be released this spring to major digital retail stores worldwide. |
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Jimmy Hayes is a founding member of the legendary Persuasions. Dubbed the "godfathers of a cappella" the group has been performing for almost 50 years and Jimmy has been singing bass with them the whole time. |
Mark Paul is an accomplished a cappella singer, vocal coach and lifelong musician. Mark is a 35-year member of the Barbershop Harmony Society. As the former bass of a top-20 international-level a cappella barbershop quartet for nine years, he regularly entertained audiences across the United States and internationally. He holds a championship in quartet competition in the six-state Mid-Atlantic District. He served for seventeen years as the bass section leader for two gold and silver internationally competitive choruses. Mark has been a vocal coach for 29 years, working with individuals, quartets and choruses. He is also the front-line Director of an a cappella barbershop chorus. He applies an exceptional sensitivity and passion to guide others to reach higher levels of musical awareness and achievement. He has served as faculty on several a cappella music education programs. In his spare time, he is a Reiki healer for both people and pets, is an Executive Coach for individuals, and is a camper and fisherman. He lives on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, NY.
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Dave Revels has been an entertainer for over 40 years, performing all over the world. He has worked in several genres of music from Reggae, Country, Rock and Roll, Soul to Calypso, where he recorded for several years with calypso legend The Mighty Sparrow. In the U.S., he was a member of the The Drifters during the 1980’s and He also wrote the music for a musical “Love Potion #10" which was showcased in Las Vegas. Dave is presently a member of the legendary a cappella group, The Persuasions; he is the group's arranger and producer on several of their record releases which include the music of The Grateful Dead, U2, Blues legend J.J. Cale and their latest CD release, “Knockin’ On Bob’s Door,” featuring the works of Bob Dylan. He is also the composer of a nationally acclaimed patriotic song, Stand Up America, which is performed nationwide by his Stand Up America “One World” Children Chorus. Mr. Revels is also the founder and director for the Stand Up America Goodwill tour which has performed free concerts across America for our troops and their families. Mr. Revels is also an author, having written a book entitled “Mastering the Art of Life Entertainment.” The book is a valuable tool to young people or anyone interested in learning about the skills necessary to establishing a rapport with an audience. |
 
Complete list of 2012 national participants
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National Finals Recordings
Interested in Competing?
We are always seeking groups who would like to compete 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
Please send tapes and photos to the regional director:-
Colette Thompson has directed or performed in over eleven vocal ensembles, with her group, Stay Tuned, placing 3rd in the 1998 New York Regional of the Harmony Sweepstakes; Colette has performed/recorded with Lukas Foss, Leonard Bernstein, Jesse Norman, Peter, Paul & Mary, and James Levine A billboard-ranked singer/songwriter, she has also managed several events, including, Christmas at NYU, Complex at the Duplex, and An Evening with The Real Group at NYC's Symphony Space. With performances televised via major news programs including Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN, and NY1, she is a promoter, producer, adjudicator and an ambassador of vocal music worldwide.
Thompson Consulting
128 Fort Greene Place, Suite 1B
Brooklyn, NY 11217
917-442-2011
newyork (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
Previous New York results - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999 - 1998
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Miller Theatre at Columbia University is a performing arts producer dedicated to developing and presenting new work from world-class artists. Acclaimed for its innovative programming, Miller Theatre provides an intimate exploration of the creative process and a look into the personalities and emerging trends in contemporary classical music, opera, dance, and film. Its adventuresome performances and elevation of advanced ideas have established Miller Theatre as a nationally recognized cultural center for artistic discovery.
Established in 1988 with funding from the Kathryn Bache Miller Fund, Brooke Astor, and John Goelet, Miller Theatre is located on the Columbia University campus in New York City. Yahoo map - Google map - Directions
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