2025 Participating Groups
 | | Flannel Folk
Flannel Folk is a contemporary a cappella group based in Cedarburg, WI. Since its founding in 2018, Flannel Folk has gone on to become a household name in the greater Milwaukee area through their unique arrangements of fun and energetic music. Flannel Folk prides itself on singing many genres, including 80's Rock, Modern Hits, Barbershop, and Originals. Flannel Folk's impressive resume of performances includes the AHOU International Conference, Harley Davidson s 120th Anniversary Festival, the Wisconsin Center, Taste of Highland Park, the Bitter Jester Music Festival, and countless local venues.
Members: Edward Sherman, John Sherman, Robert Danner, Claudia Levens, Liv Miller
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Gold ‘n Blues
The Gold n Blues are Marquette University s first and premier Co-Ed A Cappella group. Based in Milwaukee, WI, GnB was founded in 2008 and entered the competitive scene in 2022. The group has competed in ICCA twice, and most recently Acapocalypse. This is their first time competing in Harmony Sweepstakes. The group consists of 19 undergraduate and graduate students, focused on creating intricate and breathtaking music while simultaneously establishing meaningful connections with each other and the entire A Cappella community.
Members: Charlie O Neill, McKinnley Marks, Abby Doria, Andrew McDonald, Jonah Zhungu, Tim Gnorski, Maggie Gnorski, Maddie Lee, Hailey Woerdeman, Ford McDonnell, Bea Cavour, Megan Kruse, Moira Sagon, Timmy Melfi, Max Creager-Roberts, Bennett Chapman
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NexDetour
NexDetour is an a cappella power trio based in Dayton, OH. Jim Brown, Scott Dawson, and Ryan Holway have been singing a cappella together for 25 years and have shared the stage with The Beach Boys, The Temptations, and Styx.
Members: Jim Brown, Scott Dawson, Ryan Holway
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 | | The Peppermint Patties
The Peppermint Patties are close-harmony vocal group based in Chicago, IL. The Patties sing a wide variety of genres including songs made popular by the Andrews Sisters, jazz standards, golden age musical theater songs, a cappella, pop music and quirky covers.
Members: Anna Caldwell, Daina Fischer, Nikki Krzebiot, Laura Smalley
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Vocalight
Vocalight is a 5 member a cappella group based out of Dayton, Ohio. All five members are former alumni of the High School A Cappella group, Forte. Vocalight started in 2017 and then broke up before coming back together in 2024 with 5 all new members and a completely updated sound. They look forward to continuing the legacy of the original group while also creating their very own brand new a cappella style.
Members: Natalie DiPietro, Cara DiPietro, Sydney Korpusik, Sammy Villalva, Joel Korpusik
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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. |
2025 Judges
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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. |
Tina Jenkins Crawley
Award-winning vocalist Tina Jenkins Crawley was named Chicago’s Best Gospel Entertainer! Tina was a featured artist on FOX TV’s hit show Empire, had a #1 charting soul hit in the U.K., and most recently was seen starring as Madame ZinZanni in the hit show Teatro ZinZanni Chicago. A national television commercial vocalist and vocal performance coach, Tina is the owner of TJC Music Inc. and is the founder of TJC Choral Group |
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Daniel Tatar
Daniel Tatar is an actor and musician who gained worldwide exposure for his work on television (Grey’s Anatomy, CSI:NY, 90210, This Is Us). He created and sang with The Company Men, “America’s favorite mashup group,” including a residency in Los Angeles, venues such as Nokia LIVE and Jazz at Lincoln Center, and morning TV appearances nationwide such as Hallmark Channel’s Home and Family. Regional stage credits include Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s premiere of The Ballad of Little Jo, Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Fervio in the Carnegie Hall concert of Eric Whitacre’s Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings. It all started in a cappella, with the University of Illinois Xtension Chords! |
Morgen Briana Hare
Morgen Briana is a one-of-a-kind show-stopping performer guaranteed to spark passion and joy in all who watch her in her element. Having been enrolled in dance lessons by the age of five, piano lessons by six, and voice lessons by seven, she has over 25 years of experience mastering the art of music, dance, and performance. Originally from Minnesota, Morgen chose to make Chicago her home and graduated from Columbia College Chicago with honors and a concentration in vocal performance. Morgen has performed at prestigious venues/fests such as Carnegie Hall in NY, Summerfest in Milwaukee, the Vic Theater, Aragon Theater, and House of Blues in Chicago, just to name a few. As a sought-after and trusted vocalist of Chicago, she has had the honor of sharing the stage alongside artists such as Koko Taylor, Louisiana Red, Buddy Guy, Styx, Everclear, Steve Augeri of Journey, Rusted Root, and Randall Hall of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Morgen is currently the bandleader and lead singer of Spoken Four, the internationally traveled, award-winning cover band. She is also the proud owner of ChiVibe Inc. which offers marketing consulting, coaching, and more. |
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Complete list of 2025 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 :
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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
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