2026 Participating Groups
 | | 4O6
4O6--pronounced four-oh-six--is the competitive sub-group of Bradley University's Dynamix A Cappella club. They are a co-ed, student-run group that performs throughout their home campus and the greater Peoria area, singing a variety of genres including pop, rock, jazz, and a cappella classics. Their 11 members range from music majors to first-time performers. This will be their first time competing in an a cappella competition, as their group was just recently formed last year, though you might recognize them from their guest performance at the 2025 Harmony Sweepstakes competition. 4O6 is thrilled to be back, and they wish all the competing groups the best of luck.
Members: Mars Heath, Grace Leonard, Olivia Williams, Kaitlyn Bell, Audrey Drake, Diamanda Vavilis, Shelcy Altis, Bruce Smolucha, Christopher Leatherwood, Casper Chhe, Sean Crawford
|
Linc 182
Linc 182 is a new and exciting acapella ensemble, mostly versed in the barbershop style of singing. They recently won the 2023 Illinois District State Barbershop Quartet Contest and qualified/competed at the 2024 International Quartet Contest. Although fairly new, this quartet is full of experienced musicians, well at least 3/4 full. The older members of the quartet have won multiple Illinois District quartet championships, competed Internationally, as well as won chorus championships with the award winning Sound of Illinois Chorus, located in Bloomington, Normal. The Linc part of the quartet is 14 year old tenor, Lincoln Beutel, who is the son of the baritone, Tim Beutel. We hope you enjoy the rich harmonies and spritely energy of Linc 182!
Members: Lincoln Beutel, Evan Patrick, Benjamin Light, Timothy Beutel
  |  | |
 | | Outbound A Cappella
Outbound A Cappella is a contemporary a cappella group based out of the Chicago suburbs. Founded in 2023, they are known to perform a diverse set of music, spanning various genres and decades.
Members: Megan Ryan, Sabra Gerber, Ilana Bley, Marissa Buchan, Kendall Bregenzer, Courtney Tedesco, Anish Parikh, Jake Scheuring, Michael Severino, Scott Spector
|
The Peppermint Patties
The Peppermint Patties is a Chicago-based vocal group founded in 2018 by Anna Caldwell, Laura Emery, and Daina Fischer, with Nikki Krzebiot joining in 2023. The group specializes in close-harmony jazz and musical theater, with a dash of pop and classical music. All of the Patties are professionally trained musicians with degrees in vocal performance and music education.
They perform across Chicagoland and the Midwest as both a trio and a quartet, appearing at private events and headlining shows at venues such as Venus Cabaret and Hey Nonny. In 2025, The Peppermint Patties won third place at the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival.
Members: Anna Caldwell, Daina Fischer, Nikki Krzebiot
|  | |
 | | THUMMp
Once upon a time, one of the greatest acappella groups in the Midwest was a buzz in the ears of Milford, MI. From 1998 - 2010, elmoTHUMM wowed audiences with their aggressive sound, rich arrangements, and boundless energy. They won countless contests, accepted awards, played for Presidents and royalty, filled TV screens, and worked their way into the hearts of kids and parents throughout the country. Now THUMMp, they look forward to bringing Chicago more great music as only THUMMp can.
Members: Greg Vaden, Jason Miller, Ed Pendleton, Tre Cruz
|
Your Emcee for the Evening 
David Wilner
| David Wilner competed in the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes with Blind Man’s Bluff and Fiveplay, winning First Place, Audience Favorite, and Best Original Song with each group. During his six years in Blind Man’s Bluff, David toured nationally and recorded five albums. He also spent seven years with the classic rock quartet Ac•Rock, recording two albums. Today, David emcees events throughout the Chicagoland area and performs in the band The Four C Notes. He has been the regional producer of the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes since 2017. |
2026 Judges
 |
|
Randy Stine
After graduating from Indiana University in 2000 and a career working in information technology, Randy was called back to the world of music in 2008 when he posted a video to YouTube. The video, shot in 1998, was of he and his college friends in Straight No Chaser, singing the “12 Days of Christmas.” It became the most viral video of 2007, which led the CEO of Atlantic Records to call Randy and reunite the group. Over ten years later, the group has performed thousands of concerts across 48 states and 20 countries, performed on television shows such as TODAY and Jimmy Fallon, sold over one million albums, and has over 100 million YouTube views. Randy and his wife, Lindsey, reside in his hometown of Naperville, IL, along with their son, Henry. |
Carrie Marcotte
Carrie Marcotte is the Director of the West Towns (Men’s) Barbershop Chorus, and has led them to the District Barbershop Contest’s “Most Improved Chorus” award (2016), “Most Entertaining Chorus” award (2015), and District Championship (2014). In addition to directing, Carrie sings in a Sweet Adelines women’s quartet, Cantina Vocal Project. A graduate of Western Michigan University, Carrie sang for two years in the award winning vocal jazz group, Gold Company, under the direction of the late Dr. Steve Zegree, and had the opportunity to share the stage with guest artists such as Don Shelton, Darmon Meader, and Bonnie Herman. Carrie sang for 10 years with (the now retired) Route 66, Chicago’s favorite female a cappella quartet and has performed on the Spirit of Chicago and at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg. Carrie is Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Scholastica Parish in Woodridge and serves as an accompanist at North Central College in Naperville, as well as for singers and instrumentalists in the Chicagoland area. |
|
 |
 |
|
Mike Ferguson
Mike Ferguson is a lifelong Fox Valley resident who has dedicated more than three decades to music education. He has taught chorus at Bloomington High School, Oswego High School, and Traughber Jr. High, and currently is Choral Director at Scullen Middle School in Naperville, Illinois, where he has taught since 2013. In September 2025, Mike was named the third Artistic Director of the Naperville Men’s Glee Club. He earned both his B.S. in Music Education and M.A. in Choral Music Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he sang with the Varsity Men’s Glee Club and directed The Other Guys, an a cappella Octet. Mike has also served as a church music director, published children’s music through Big Idea Productions, adjudicated for Varsity Vocals and ICCA competitions, and served as an ILMEA chairperson at both the high school and middle school levels.
|
Morgan Briana Hare
Morgen Briana Hare is a professional musician with over 15 years in the Chicago market, and collaborations through LA, Atlanta, and New York. Morgen has over 25 years of combined training and experience. Whether working as a studio vocalist, recording for TV and radio commercials, or live shows, Morgen can fulfill any performance need. She is currently the bandleader and lead singer of Entourage, the internationally traveled, award-winning cover band, and the proud owner of ChiVibe Inc.(pronounced SHY-vibe), which offers marketing consulting, coaching, and more. To say this woman is driven is an understatement. You can find her on FB/IG @morgen.briana.hare and on her site |
|
 |
 
Complete list of 2026 participants
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 :
|
David Wilner (Chicago)
David Wilner competed in the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes with Blind Man’s Bluff and Fiveplay, winning First Place, Audience Favorite, and Best Original Song with each group. During his six years in Blind Man’s Bluff, David toured nationally and recorded five albums. He also spent seven years with the classic rock quartet Ac•Rock, recording two albums. Today, David emcees events throughout the Chicagoland area and performs in the band The Four C Notes. He has been the regional producer of the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes since 2017.
P.O. Box 4502, Naperville, IL 60567
847-226-3366
david@davidwilner.com
|
|
|
|
