16th Annual

1999 New York Champions

Seven

Seven young men late 20's/early 30's from New York Metro Area. With a unique blend of seven-part harmony blending jazz/gospel/R&B, and even classical styles.They mimic instruments from horns to guitar, which will make you find their music a pure delight. Their lyrical content is always inspirational stretching from their various church backgrounds. Although many members have sung in group for many years, Seven was created in September of 1998 and has already started to make waves.

Marcis Davis, Warren Thomas, Dwight Stewart, Roderick Eldridge, Roger Thomas, Garfield Buckley, David LaRoche.

Afterglow is a four-part jazz vocal group which began as an A Cappella group in 1993. They specialize in the Big Band sound of the 40s. They also perform the doo-wop, boogie, and the be-bop sounds of the 50s and 60s. They have entertained at numerous clubs, corporate, and private parties. Occasionally, you may see them performing with a full orchestra. They have appeared on local television and radio shows, and have been privileged to open shows for The Guy Lombardo Orchestra and Little Anthony & The Imperials. This quartet also records and performs various original material for noted songwriters. Afterglow will be appearing at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City this year.

Jim Beliveau, Janie Del, Lou Orrichio, Dan Rival.

The Back Seat Toys formed in January of this year at the insistence of a cappella guru Dave Kern. In fact, the Toys are a sub-group of the well-known West Side Sounds; Binghamton Universitys only post collegiate a cappella group.The varying interests and backgrounds of the group members range from pop, R&B, rock, and jazz. Although they sing a wide range of material, they often find themselves street singing in the tradition of barbershop and doo-wop. They are excited to perform with their counterparts in the Harmony Sweepstakes festival.

Jane McIntosh, Vanessa Manuel, Jeremy Fulton, Thea McCarter, Jessica Dolinger, Exexes Eclipse, Lehho Rebassoo.

Christ Sent is a gospel group consisting of four men; each possessing a rock solid foundation built on Jesus Christ, a unique gift of song and the calling to go forth and share His message of salvation. Over the years, Christ Sent has received countless blessings; one of which was to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York City as the featured artist for record company, Jackobs Ladder. The group was invited to open for Gladys Knight at the National Urban Leagues annual benefit in Indiana. At the Church Center for the United Nations in New York, the group was honored to sing during the memorial service of internationally known, fashion illustrator and artist, Harvey Thomas Boyd. Media credits include and interview and performance on Channel 2, The People, a special on up and coming Gospel groups hosted by J.J. Gonzalez. They have also been seen on Positively Black, Good Day, New York, and Gospel Today as well as local and national cable broadcasts.

Barry Addison, Richard Norman, Todd Brennan, Myron Williams

The Conn Artists is a highly acclaimed mens a cappella septet based in Fairfield, CT. Identifying the Conn Artists musical genre isn't easy - they obstinately refuse to be classified as belonging to one vocal style. Their goal is to revel in the variety of musical styles that can be performed a cappella. On occasion, they attempt to bring together conflicting styles, as is the case with their 3 Tenors rendition of Frank Leosser's Fugue For Tin Horns, or a church hymn approach to Boy George. The group draws upon the wide ranging vocal backgrounds of it's members, which include experience in choral conducting and solo baritone work, American classic jazz, musical theater, and traditional collegiate a cappella. The Conn Artists try equally as hard to diversify their audiences, although they have more than enough to do brightening the lives of the many movers and shakers in Fairfield county. Performance highlights include their annual fall show, Spooked on Harmony, and their participation in Harmonic Convergence, an a cappella jamboree involving a variety of groups in the New England and Mid Atlantic states. The Conn Artists can be reached at their web site www.papageno.com

Martin Brayboy, John Carlson, Dave Callahan, Mike Costantino, Charles Dear, Doug Rollins, Peter Sachner.

The members of Duwende (Doo-Wen-Day) recently discovered that their combined middle names are an anagram for A Cappella is both fun and cool. Duwende is a Tagalong word derived from the Spanish term duende. Non of Duwendes members speak Spanish, but they believe the term has something to do with either goblins or hypnotism. Or possibly cattle ranching. Duwende would like to dedicate this performance to Uncle Jack, but non of its members have an uncle named Jack.

The Exboyfriends have been performing together for over five years. Their greatest personal accomplishment came in December of 1997 when they were asked to perform on the Howard Stern Show as the Howard Stern Christmas Carolers. To date, the Exboyfriends have recorded nearly a dozen jingles and promos for Nickelodeon including Halloween Fright Fest, Rupert ear, and the Cable Ace Awards nominated short film, Ted The Head. For the past six months, they have been hard at work on their first full length CD, due out next month. This will be The Exboyfriends second appearance at the Harmony Sweepstakes. For news on upcoming performances, please check www.theexboyfriends.com.

David Curry, Rex Eclipse, Jeremy Lipkin, Lehhop Rebaso, David Kern, Brian Reichelt, Jeff Liebert.

Full House was born three years ago when, at a choral rehearsal for a P.D.Q. Bach concert in Carnegie Hall, Michelle approached Mark and asked him if he was interested in putting together a vocal jazz ensemble. Mark jumped at the idea and the two of them hand picked their favorite singers to join them. They are newcomers to the Harmony Sweepstakes, but not to a cappella music: all of the members of Full House have extensive classical training and have sung with the premier vocal ensembles in New York Collegium, Canticum Novum, and Voices of Ascension. Their professional activities also include composing, teaching, and research, but they all make time in their busy schedules to rehearse. Because two of its members are also arrangers, Full House has several original pieces, and the group is proud to be presenting two of them in tonights performance.

Elizabeth Farnum, Michael Steinberger, Mark Johnson.

Seven young men late 20's/early 30's from New York Metro Area. With a unique blend of seven-part harmony blending jazz/gospel/R&B, and even classical styles.They mimic instruments from horns to guitar, which will make you find their music a pure delight. Their lyrical content is always inspirational stretching from their various church backgrounds. Although many members have sung in group for many years, Seven was created in September of 1998 and has already started to make waves.

Marcis Davis, Warren Thomas, Dwight Stewart, Roderick Eldridge, Roger Thomas, Garfield Buckley, David LaRoche

Sons & Lovers has been delighting audiences for nearly six years with their sophisticated a cappella music and warm, inviting stage presence. Their musical style is fresh and lively with a repertoire that defies categorization. Sons & Lovers performs regularly in New York City and throughout the New England area. They have participated in New York City programs that include the Metropolitan Transportation Authorities "Music Under New York" program and "A Day At the Movies" where they performed their a cappella rendition of Bernstein's "New York, New York" with new lyrics by the award winning team of Comden & Green. Sons & Lovers has appeared on television, on radio, an in numerous publications including Today in New York, New York 1 News, Party Talk, Alternating Currents, Igny, HX, New York Blade, Bay Windows, New York Newsday, and In the Life.

Joshua Koffman, Ken Browne, Bob Stern, John Whitley.

Stay Tuned was born in 1991, with little more than a pitch pipe and a dream. A handful of Penn alumni - for years of a cappella singing were obviously not enough - had been gathering each Christmas to sing carols at Rockefeller Center. Each occasion reminded them how much they missed the thrill of naked voices blending in harmony. Over the last seven years, the group has gone through various stages of change and growth; what began as a 24 (!!) member club with a swing jazz repertoire, has evolved into a tight configuration of seven musicians who eagerly experiment with pop, rock, jazz, kitsch, and classical. Stay Tuned performs steadily throughout Manhattan for corporate events, conventions, private parties, weddings, and proposals of marriage; at downtown clubs like Duplex, and uptown clubs, like Triad. At the slightest provocation, any member would be happy to tell you about the impromptu jam session with Bill Joel in the lobby of the St. Regis Hotel and/or (depending on how much time you have) the RC Cola radio commercial that ran for four months in three major Eastern markets. Go ahead, make their day.

Donna Eng, Collette Thompson, Indu Viswanathan, Eric Chung, Jonathan Bennet, Mark Shone, Scott Paley.

10 FM has undergone two years of metamorphosis since it was founded in June 1996. From a traditional nine-woman lineup to the tight, six-voice female group to today, the funky, fearless, 10 FM femmes have been blowing audiences away with their like buttah voices, innovative arrangements, and penchant for bringing a little extra glamour, as well as more irreverence, to the world of female a cappella. These self proclaimed Velveeta Divas will take on anything from R&B to eighties rock - even a showtune originated by a drag queen. They have trashed the upright reputation of no boys allowed a cappella and have proven that an all-woman group can sound gorgeous, get in the groove, and be goofy too. Just imagine the damage they could do if they quit their day jobs...

Kelly Armstrong, Teru Bower, Alicia Hutchison, Kelly McCann, Shoshand Silverman, Donna Winnicki.

Vox Bop is a mixed a cappella quartet that performs a variety of musical styles from the lyrical beauty of the Renaissance to the lush harmonies of the Jazz Erato eclectic arrangements of pop classics. Founded in 1995 by David Deschamps, who also does the arranging, Vox Bop has performed at St. Luke in the Fields and Rudin Managements" Mostly A Cappella Festival" as well as Old South Church and The French Library, both in Boston. Jazzy Holiday repertoire has become a specialty of Vox Bop and their many clients range from Bloomingdales and Borders to J.P. Morgan and the Brooklyn Museum. They have also started to attract a devoted following which includes Liesl Schillinger of the New Republic who wrote in the December 16, 1996 issue: There are a few groups that I like, and I trail them around the city worshipfully...[among them is] Vox Bop.

David Deschamps, Maura May, Jennifer Nelson, Jeffrey Sprugeon.

Sean Altman

As the former lead singer and founder of the vocal group Rockapella, Sean released nine albums, and appeared on 195 episodes of the Emmy-winning PBS-TV series "Where In the World Is Carmen Sandiego?" for which Sean composed the theme song. He is the only three-time winner of the Contemporary A Cappella Society's Original Song of the Year award, and took home Best Male Vocalists honors in 1996. Sean hosted the 1998 East Coast A Cappella Summit in Boston, hosts frequent a cappella events at NYC's The Bottom Line club, and regularly gives seminars on vocal arranging and song writing. Sean currently performs a cappella with The Groove Barbers and guitar power-pop with his own band. His first solo album, a collection of all-vocal and guitar-backed originals entitled seanDEMOnium, is available through his web site, www.bigsean.com, and (800) 711-3627. He resides in the East Village and is mysteriously single.

 

 

Scott Brannon

Scott is the musical director of the Big Apple Chorus in Manhattan, an award winning barbershop chorus with appearances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall and throughout the US and Canada. He also coaches and advises vocal groups throughout the country.

 

 

Jimmy Hayes

Original bass singer of the legendary a cappella group from Brooklyn, The Persuasions, Jimmy continues as bass of the Persuasions in their 38th year, with 23 CDs recorded to date. The Persuasions new CD is anticipated to be released by May 1st of 1999. Its on the Earth Beat Label, For Children, entitled Good Ship Lollpop. The Persuasions have performed From Manhattan to New Zealand and every country in-between! To contact Persuasions for bookings call Bart Fisher (212) 541-2244.

 

 

Claudia Marx

With more than twenty years in the record industry, Claudia Marx began her career at Connoisseur Society Records, a small classical label where she was in charge of production. In 1979, she accepted a position at RCA as an assistant in the publicity department, where she worked alongside well-known jazz publicist Elliott Horne who opened her eyes to jazz. She later moved to Vanguard Records where, as head of production, she was responsible for pressing and record jacket production. She completed her industry education during a stint at NewYork Digital Recording, where she learned bout the technical aspects of the recording business. She launched Town Crier Recordings in 1986, aspiring to make it the Rolls Royce of jazz labels. The personal attention she was able to give her artists and the high audio standards she set for her recordings put Claudia in a league of her own - head and shoulders above the big record companies. When Sir Roland Hanna first heard his finished Round Midnight recording he remarked that it is the best album he ever made. Paquito D'Rivera said the same thing about the album he made for Town Crier. Since 1991, Ms Marx has been the Director of a jazz-oriented vocal group called the Lance Hayward Singers. The 18-voice ensemble sings unusual arrangements of jazz compositions, standards Negro Sprituals and some classical music. The group has been working since 1984. Town Crier Recordings is the American record label for the high level a cappella groups The Real Group and most recently, Vox P.

 

 

Jack Scandura

Jack comes from a musical family. His Dad was a musician with prominent big bands during the 40s and the 50s. Jack grew up in Queens, in the 1950s, acquired his interest in vocal groups singing with friends on the local street corners. To his credit are numerous recordings with groups such as the Blend-Aires, Blue Stars (LP on Clifton in 1990), and most recently the Five Discs. Jack has been a member of this legendary street corner group, the Five Discs, for the last few years traveling the country with the group of the 50's,
60's revival concerts. Musician, lead singer, harmony sing, arranger, musical director, vocal teacher, all facets of Jacks love, interest and knowledge of vocal harmony. He is currently working as an arranger, lead and background vocals on a couple of CD projects for Clifton Records.