2024 Participating Groups
 | | Capital Blend
Capital Blend formed in the spring of 2008 when several coworkers learned they shared a common interest in singing. Now, consisting of women from a wide variety of professions, Capital Blend is mostly comprised of former college a cappella performers and other musically inclined individuals. Capital Blend performs in and around the DC Metro area at venues ranging from the Washington Nationals Stadium to retirement communities and corporate events. The group's repertoire includes popular music, oldies but goodies, international hits, and original compositions.Members: Zoe Bluffstone, Caity Gillooley , Alea Bell, Skylar Hamblen, Anya Kaszubowski, Sadie Aram, Julia Clunn, Liz Mueller, Cristina Watson, Brandi Rose, Mandy McHale
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Chord of Appeals
A group of all ages and all genders, singing A Cappella renditions of traditional to modern songs. Auditions every late summer/early fall and occasionally as needed. Members: Mariah Lancaster, Dani Advani, Tori Roth, Anna Hagstrom, Amanda Mundell, Lexi Schorr, Zahra Jilani, Josh Abraham, Julian Ring, Patrick Bryant, Will Slack, Aaron Conrado
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 | | SolFire
SolFire is a barbershop quartet comprised of members of Harmony, Inc., International second place winners Bella Nova Chorus. Coming together in 2022 out of the foursome s longing to re-engage with our love of barbershop and singing after the isolation of the pandemic, Allyn, Erin, Rachael, and Emily spent time talking about their desires as a group, agreeing to be first and foremost musically entertaining, to sing a fun mix of genres, and possibly earn a medal in competition. They collectively bring many years of music experience and creativity to the stage, will always add their own particular spice to a song arrangement, and also love to delight audiences with some original songs and arrangements. SōlFire rehearses together as often as they can and has a future so bright, they ve gotta wear shades!Members: Allyn Lloyd, Erin Cassidy-Whong, Rachael Storey-Chase, Emily Faalasli
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Step4
After more than 30 years in the business, STEP4 are still performing before adoring fans and sellout crowds. STEP4 was formed in 1983 at a house party in ALEXANDRIA Va. The original members of the group are STEVN THURMAN KEVIN THURMAN ANTWAN DRAYTON REGINALD FLOOD. STEP4,s first tasted success in 1983 with the release of its first album entitled SHADYGROOVE ON THE MOVE This album produced local favorites " like LONG WAY UP & FORTUNE & SOONER OR LATER The release propelled them into the national limelight, producing several connoisseurs of falsetto based soul music of the mid 80, s Dazzling hooks and a solid false tenor propelled My Soul" STEP4 received both national and international notoriety for its tight harmony and the impeccable falsetto of lead singers,. To this day, STEP4 would not be complete without an audience singing along to "YOU REALLY NEEDED ME!! & THE WAY TOO MY HEART AND SOONER OR LATER
Over the course of their more than 30 years of performing STEP4 have shared the stage with legendary and a virtual who's who of nationally acclaimed acts. Members: Steven Thurman, Kebin Thurman, Antwan Drayton, Reginald Flood
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 | | Up All Night Quartet
Up All Night Quartet is based in the DC area. While barbershop is the main style of music that they sing, they enjoy singing a wide variety of songs and genres. Up All Night enjoys having fun and spending time together outside of rehearsal with good food and good wine. They have represented Sweet Adelines Heart of the Blue Ridge Region 14 at International Competition in 2017, 2018, and 2019. They placed in the top 15 at the Sweet Adelines International competition in 2018. Most recently, Up All Night won Sweet Adelines Heart of the Blue Ridge Region 14's contest and will be representing the region at International in Louisville in 2023. Up All Night has also competed in the National Finals for the Harmony Sweepstakes placing 3rd in 2018 and 2022. They have been singing and competing together for six years. Members: Allison Lynskey, Sara Duffy, Heidi Wilson, Kristen Thomas
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With Special Guests
Exciting new mixed quartet.
The Agency
| The Agency is a new mixed barbershop quartet in the DC Area featuring members of Bella Nova Chorus, Snowday, and Euphonism. They feature both a two time harmony queen and a trained opera singer who is completely new to barbershop. |
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Your Emcee for the Evening 
Amanda Cornaglia
| Amanda Cornaglia is the manager for Acaville Radio,
a 24/7 streaming service for a cappella music. Amanda is also co-owner of Clear Harmonies, a full service studio and management company for a cappella groups. She got her start in contemporary a cappella with Special K, an all-female ensemble at Hamilton College. She has since performed and directed groups around the globe. She is business director and primary arranger of the multiple CARA nominated group Euphonism. She
also founded Snowday, a professional quintet that incorporates contemporary vocal music into education, visiting close to 100 schools each year. She has served in various capacities at the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA) & turned the Contemporary A Cappella League into its own non-profit organization. Amanda has been a CARA nominator and judge since 2010. |
2024 Judges
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Kris Adams
Kris Adams got her Music education degree from Indiana State University but started her A capella musical adventures LONG before that. After her parents married at a barbershop singing convention, Kris’s life was destined to be filled with right harmony and an amazing extended singing family! She has two international barbershop gold medals with Harmony Queens Hot Topic, 2003 and Epic 2012 along with various other area and international awards. Most recently her quartet Rogue placed 8th in Harmony Incorporated’s 59th international competition. Kris also serves as the assistant director of the top ranking barbershop chorus Bella Nova out of Ashburn Virginia. She spends the rest her time teaching music privately, performing around the country and caring for her two beautiful children. She is happily married and living in Leesburg, VA with her amazing husband Rob. |
Reggie Moore
Reggie Moore, member of a cappella legends The Persuasions, is a native Washingtonian who began his long singing career in the DC area. Moore has performed at every cultural institution in our Nation's Capitol, including The White House, The Kennedy Center, The Smithsonian Institution, The Library of Congress, The Shakespeare Theatre and The Corcoran Gallery of Art Music Series. He has also been a featured performer at The National Folklife Festival of American Music, on Black Entertainment Television (BET) and has traveled internationally with several music ensembles. Charged with holding the musical torch of The Persuasions, Moore continues the a cappella/eclectic tradition that has made the group one of the most beloved in the industry. |
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Pam Rogers
Pam Rogers is a DC singer, songwriter, leader/member of In Process... (an African American Woman a cappella ensemble), former music director of Wesley UMC in DC for 15 years, a member of the DC Labor Chorus, and the founder of Jazz@wesley, a monthly community Jazz program in Chevy Chase, DC. Pam joined the In Process... a cappella workshop in 1980 shortly after it was organized by the world renowned Sweet Honey in the Rock, to connect with women in their home community. In 1984, the women moved on their own, with Pam as one of the leaders, to continue their social justice work in the DC community and beyond. They began to sing and tour as In Process..., creating their own repertoire of songs about Civil rights and freedom songs, HIV/AIDS, the South Africa Freedom Movement, Women's rights and other community issues. 40 plus years later, with over 50 women in the group, they are still singing about fighting for social justice in their community and beyond. |
Jen Hayman
Music maker, dynamic leader, curious creator, relationship builder, professional rapscallion. Experienced Director of Music and Arts with a demonstrated history of working with churches, schools, non-profits and communities. Skilled in working with a variety of age groups and differing musical experiences and abilities. |
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Bill Colosimo
Bill Colosimo is a passionate and experienced vocal music performer, educator, coach, clinician, and choral director with over 50 years of active professional engagement in the vocal arts. Trained at Cranbrook (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan) and Brandeis University in vocal music and choral direction, Bill has produced, performed in, or directed over 350 vocal music programs and workshops all over the East Coast, particularly in the Washington, DC area.
Having achieved regional and international recognition as an award-winning quartet and chorus singer in the Barbershop Harmony Society, Bill most recently sang baritone in Serendipity, the Mid-Atlantic District’s 2017 MBHA Mixed Quartet Champion. He is currently Music Director of the exciting 80-voice mixed-gender pops chorus, The Alexandria Singers. From 1991 to 2017, he was Music Director of the award-winning Barbershop Harmony Society’s Singing Capital Chorus. He is founder and Artistic Director of the Choral Foundation of Northern Virginia, dedicated to providing vocal music educational and performance opportunities to young people. |
 
Complete list of 2024 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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Amanda Cornaglia (Mid-Atlantic)
Amanda Cornaglia is the manager for Acaville Radio,
a 24/7 streaming service for a cappella music. Amanda is also co-owner of Clear Harmonies, a full service studio and management company for a cappella groups. She got her start in contemporary a cappella with Special K, an all-female ensemble at Hamilton College. She has since performed and directed groups around the globe. She is business director and primary arranger of the multiple CARA nominated group Euphonism. She
also founded Snowday, a professional quintet that incorporates contemporary vocal music into education, visiting close to 100 schools each year. She has served in various capacities at the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA) & turned the Contemporary A Cappella League into its own non-profit organization. Amanda has been a CARA nominator and judge since 2010.
amanda (at) clearharmonies.com
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