2013 Participants
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Avante Vocal Jazz is eight accomplished singers, based in Raleigh, NC with a truly unique contemporary style. A bold fusion of jazz and contemporary a cappella singing, Avante performs repertoire paying tribute to the great masters of vocal jazz, while adding a new twist to many familiar standards. Their repertoire ranges from contemporary choral works to cutting edge jazz with a modern flair. Routinely praised for its high standard of musicianship and unique arrangements, Avante tours the United States, appearing in concert, corporate venues and on college campuses. Avante’s educational outreach provides workshops to students of all ages and boasts two nationally regarded clinicians within its membership.
Members: Kevin Badanes, Brad Yoder, Lacey Burt, Bill AdamsKimberly Slentz-Kesler,, Bob Slentz-Kesler, Rachel Fitzsimons, Jenn Myers,
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Bling! is an award winning south Florida-based quartet affiliated with Sweet Adelines. Formed in 2009, this talented and beautiful quartet won first regional competition in 2010, and most recently placed 2nd in the 2012 international Sweet Adelines competition. They sing a wide variety of music including barbershop, contemporary, and show tunes. Brought together by their love of harmony and singing , the natural blend of their voices and infectious enthusiasm, has lead audiences to say “Bling! Baby, Bling!.
Members: Kim Elger-Griffin, Angie Love-Callahan, Deanna Kastler, Kim Elger-Griffin
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BlueLine is an award-winning, mixed quintet that performs jazz, gospel and pop a cappella music from the DC Area. Started in the fall of 1999 by friends whose day jobs weren’t providing enough time on stage, the group has achieved a tight blend and performed at competitions, music festivals and private events. Washington City Paper called BlueLine “exciting” and “exhilarating.” BlueLine gets its name from the subway line and is a tribute to the great Duke Ellington’s “Take the ‘A’ Train” — the kind of bluesy jazz that the group loves to sing.
Members: Jocelyn Ulrich, Ashley Mattison, Katherine Reynolds Lewis, Brian Lewis, Joel Schneider
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Breath of Soul is a Nashville-based vocal group that has been bringing their cutting edge arrangements and tight vocal percussion to concert settings, festivals, corporate events and school audiences throughout the United States since 2006. This talented group has received numerous accolades for their stellar arrangements, sheer talent, harmonic blend, strong lead vocals and their original percussive style. They are the winners of the 2008 Chicago Regional Harmony Sweepstakes and recipient of recent awards for Audience Favorite, Best Original Arrangement, and Best Original Song. All the members all have music degrees and bring a dynamic, energy packed show with impressive originals and great covers, reimagining hits ranging from Stevie Wonders “Superstition” to Foster the People’s “Pumped up Kicks”
Members: Tony Marx, David Kempton, Jesse Upah, Jake Black
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Lake Effect is an award winning group of 5 men unified in one common goal; the promotion and performance of all-male a cappella music. The Lake Effect is the next step in the evolutionary process of a cappella music in the Western New York region. The group's focus is new, intricate a cappella songs of both original & popular tunes that can be appreciated by people of all ages.
Members: Ron Veiders, Jeff Trenchard, Lou Shafer, Matthew Sciara, Jamie Holden
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Lustre is a lovely award winning quartet out of the Baltimore area. Lustre’s musical adventures began in 2005, and what a journey it has been! Kate, Lori, Lori, and Jenny met through Harbor City Music Company Show Chorus, and have been ringing chords together ever since. They have wowed their audiences at performances and contests around the country, from shows in Maryland, DC, and Pennsylvania to international competitions in Houston and Denver. You may even have seen them singing at a Baltimore Orioles game or two! Lustre is proud to be the 2013 Sweet Adeline’s International 7th Place Quartet Finalist
Members: Lori Crouter, Lori Dreyer, Jenny Harris, Kate Morrical.
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Sfourzando (S4Z) formed in 2012, after years of singing together with The Maryland State Boychoir. The members of this Baltimore-based quartet are tied together by a common love for music, the bring many years of singing experience, including choral, theatrical, operatic and barbershop. S4Z’s repertoire spans from traditional barbershop to pop, jazz, and classical music. Their chilling harmonies and youthful energy always produce show-stopping performances
Members: Vince Sandroni, Ben Hawker, Christian Hoff, Nunzio Cicone
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Your Emcee for the Evening
Sara Rasmussen
Sara Sara Rasmussen has been a member of the Mid-Atlantic Regional production team for several years and a supporter of the Sweeps long before that. This year, she is stepping into the producer role. Sara enjoys many styles of music and was drawn to the Sweeps because it includes such a diversity of genres. Sara has been a member of Sweet Adelines for over a decade, has competed in numerous competitions both as a member of the Potomac Harmony Chorus and as a "baritone" in various quartets. In recent years she has been performing in the Washington, DC area with the Capitol Swing Quartet. In addition to helping out with production of various Sweet Adeline events, Sara has also been involved in the programing and production for several large DC area music festivals.
2013 Judges
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Ted Donat - The Mid-Atlantic Sweeps welcomes Ted Donat as a judge this year. Ted produced the last ten years of the Mid-Atlantic regional, and we are happy to have him participating in this year's event. Ted has been singing, writing, arranging, directing and producing music for over 30 years. His a cappella experience began with the award-winning Amherst College Zumbyes in the mid '80's. After graduating from Amherst in 1986, Ted moved to New York City, where he sang with several groups including Uptown Sounds and Downtown Vocals, which he also directed. The highlight of this period was performing at Alice Tully Hall at the Advertising One Awards. Ted received his MBA from Columbia University in 1997, and in 1999 he joined the coed a cappella group dcVocals, assuming the musical director mantle from 2000 to 2004. In 2004, Ted left dcVocals to found a rock band (the kind with instruments) called The Slow Burn. |
Benjamin Olinsky has conducted the 18th Street Singers, DC's premiere young professional choir, since the ensemble's fall 2004 inception. He is a graduate of Yale University, where he conducted the Bach Society Chorus, served as the assistant director of the Yale Summer Chorus, and directed Out of the Blue, an award-winning pop/rock a cappella group that tours all over the world.
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Carolyn Sexton has been a judge at several Harmony Sweepstakes competitions. For most of her adult life, she has been a proud member of Sweet Adelines International where she is an International Quartet Champion. Carolyn has served as an award winning International Chorus Director, Expression Judge, Education Faculty member and Coach of many outstanding choruses & quartets from all over the U. S. & Canada. She now sings bass and is actively looking for a new quartet in the PA area. Her latest passion is singing in a new Sweet Adeline chorus in Philadelphia, known as Philadelphia Freedom Chorus for Extreme Sweet Adelines, which recently won first place in the Small Chorus division in Region #19.
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Flawn Williams made his recording debut at age four on a now-lost acetate disc, covering Patti Page’s “Cross Over The Bridge”. His Carnegie Hall singing debut came at age 17. He’s led workshops in shape note singing, vocal improvisation, doowop, and gospel singing around the country and is the coordinator of Augusta’s Vocal Week program every August. His singing credits include harmony vocals on CDs by Bryan Bowers, John McCutcheon, Madeline MacNeil, Pete Kennedy, Jennifer Armstrong, Ginny Hawker & Kay Justice, Ann Porcella and others. After many years as an award-winning recording engineer and producer for National Public Radio, Flawn is now a professor at Georgetown University’s Department of Performing Arts where he teaches music recording. He also produces independent audio and video projects from his home base in Hyattsville.
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National Finals Recordings
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 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
Sara Rasmussen has been a member of the Mid-Atlantic Regional production team for several years and a supporter of the Sweeps long before that. This year, she is stepping into the producer role. Sara appreciates many styles of cappella and was drawn to the Sweeps because it includes such a diversity of genres. On the singing front, Sara has been a member of Sweet Adelines for over a decade, has competed herself in numerous barbershop competitions both as a member of the Potomac Harmony Chorus and as a "baritone" in various quartets. In recent years she has been performing in the Washington, DC area with the Capitol Swing Quartet. On the production side, in addition to helping out with production of various Sweet Adeline events, Sara has also been involved in the programing and production for several large aDC area music festivals.
Sara Rasmussen midatlantic (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
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Complete List of Mid-Atlantic Champions
Previous Mid-Atlantic Results :- 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999 - 1
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Many careers have been launched from this internationally recognized music hall. On any given night, a star may be born. Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, Jerry Jeff Walker, Dave Matthews, Vince Gill, John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and k.d. Lang are just a few of the artists counted as good friends of the Birchmere. The Birchmere is committed to the presentation of the highest quality music in a comfortable and intimate atmosphere.
The Birchmere Music Hall is located at 3701 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305. There is plenty of free parking. Yahoo map - Google map
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