2019 Participating Groups
 | | Frequency
Award-winning Frequency is a vocal band founded in 2009 and dedicated to performing songs from the 70s to today with a focus on the story in the music. Music is part of the living soundtrack of our lives-the music that plays in the background of important moments and that we associate with our most important memories. With a passionate and thoughtful delivery, we take the audience on a personal trip through music they know and grew up with, inviting them to remember the moments and experience the emotions all over again. Like the old analog radio frequencies that first delivered many of these songs, all-vocal Frequency brings the audience a reminder of some of their favorites.Members: Jessica Hayes
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The Funtones
The Funtones are a group of serious singers who are anything but serious. They love to laugh, and always endeavor to bring a smile to their audiences as they inspire them with fresh, original arrangements of songs with positive messages. Their repertoire incorporates music from many diverse styles and eras.Members: Jahna Perricone, Kim Van Hoven, Ken Busick, Brian Mescher
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 | | Gotta Sing!
We are (4) veterans of the barbershop art form. As members of the Santa Monica Chapter of Sweet Adelines we serve the chorus in numerous roles: Laura is the Director, Tove is the Associate Director and membership Chairperson, Jennifer is the Education Chair and Anna Pia is the Visual/Choreography Chair. To sing is not an option we Gotta Sing! Members: Laura Pallas Singer, Jennifer Febre, Tove Hoch, Anna Pia Hubacher
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The Over Tones
The Over Tones was founded in early 2015 in the San Fernando Valley. We perform a mixture of a cappella styles to fit all occasions. Ranging from arrangements of the latest hits, classic rock standards, upbeat jazz tunes, and even esoteric choir music, we adapt to our audience and have something fun for everyone. Our 40-person choir features both male and female vocalists whose ages span five decades! We perform all over Southern California and are excited to be returning to Harmony Sweepstakes!Members: Rachel Zumberge, Aaron Fish, Taylor Turner, Royce Nelson, Lisa Hill-Callaway, Erika Matricia, J Omer Shrem, Brian Sowell, Joey Kadin
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 | | Something Major A Cappella
Something Major A Cappella (SMAC) is the premiere a cappella group from the University of New Mexico. Made up of students with a diverse range of majors and backgrounds, we create unique spins on a variety of genres from contemporary to jazz. We enjoy performing original arrangements by many of our own members and seek to bring the a cappella sound to both the UNM and Albuquerque communities.Members: Justin Ludwig, Alexandra Truby, Kaitlyn Norman, Kyle Kennard, Dakson Byle, Branden McCurley, Chris Mather, Jerry Moyle, Emma Highland, Valeria De Lira Richards, Mary E. Martin, Maren Talbot
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The Sound of Musical
The Sound of Musical sings musical theatre songs from any era or genre a cappella. We bring character, story and emotional commitment to each song and craft our sets to take the audience on a journey. We join the passion and energy of musical theatre with the a cappella tradition. Our members are professional actors with great voices who love musical theatre.Members: Carrie Gibson, Alex Boling, Barbara Niles, Jessica Buda, Devin Collins
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 | | Top Shelf Vocal
Top Shelf Vocal is an award-winning, semi-professional a cappella choir in Los Angeles, California. Top Shelf members are from all different career fields brought together by a love for vocal music and performance. As a group, Top Shelf performs regularly around the Greater LA Area and continues to develop a diverse repertoire of off-the-beaten-path pop a cappella.Members: Caleb Kim, Kim Nguyen, Jeff Locker, Angela Huang, Anthony "ACE" Galang, Fabian Castro, Jackie Yanguyen, Kat Duarte, Lindsay Zana, Natasha Laraway, Sam Kotchmar, Topher Ngo
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The Velvet Frogs
The VELVET FROGS are an entertaining vaudeville barbershop quartet. We love singing the songs and doing the routines an audience eagerly anticipates, and we are proud to "look the part".
We are Far Western District (CA, AZ, NV, HI) Senior Quartet Champions and have been voted "audience favorite" at the past 5 district contests. It is toad-ally awesome that we are 2-time International Senior Medalists and have been named the "Top Performer" with booking agency GIG SALAD. NBC's sitcom "Superstore" featured the Frogs in an episode this season - type casted as a barbershop quartet delivering a singing valentine.
Members: Craig Ewing, David Livingston, CJ Sams, Bill Wilson
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 | | Voxy
Voxy is a San Diego vocal group, created to deliver a fun a cappella vibe to the SoCal region. We like to perform funky fresh jams - songs to entertain for a good time and get you singing and dancing along with us. Members: Jessica Gottdank, Jenna Jones, Emily Liu, Karen Lindenberg, Laura Todd
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2019 Judges
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Colleen Keene
Colleen Keene has a Bachelor’s of Music Degree from CSU Northridge and a Master’s of Music from CSU Long Beach, both in the lucrative field of vocal jazz. She is the lead soprano and primary arranger for Down 4 The Count, the a cappella quintet that won the 2012 Los Angeles Harmony Sweepstakes, and which has been awarded “Best Arrangement” by this organization multiple times. In addition to running the holiday caroling company “The Other Reindeer,” she works as a freelance singer in Los Angeles. Although she has a number of projects going at any time, the one she is most excited about currently is "The Other Reindeer SCAROLERS,” which involves dressing up as a zombie and singing “scarodies” of popular Christmas Carols in 4-part harmony. More about Colleen and about her projects is available at www.colleenkeene.net. |
David Sager
Whether as a beatboxer, arranger, singer, or producer, David has been involved in the a cappella community for over 10 years. Currently David can be found singing with Downtown Disney's a cappella group WestBeat as a beatboxer. When not a performing, you can find David doing analytics for ad agency David&Goliath in El Segundo. |
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Christina Wilson
Southern California native Christina Wilson is a vocalist, arranger, and educator. Christina performs with LA based vocal trio Honey Whiskey Trio, west coast based group HIVE, and is part of the newest line up for The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers. As an educator, Christina teaches private lessons and singing ensembles at Hills Academy of Music, Art & Dance, and teaches in the LAUSD on behalf of the non-profit organization Musical Miracles. |
Eric Bradley
Eric Bradley moved to Los Angeles in 1999 and joined Sixth Wave which would go on to win the 2001 Los Angeles and National Harmony Sweepstakes. He also joined another startup group with the legendary Dick Van Dyke called The Vantastix who are still going strong after 19 years. Along the way he’s sung in numerous a cappella groups on and off screen including How I Met Your Mother (“The Shagarats”), The Break-Up (“The Tone Rangers”), The Office (“Here Comes Treble”), Brooklyn 99, Fresh Off the Boat, New Girl, About a Boy, Silicon Valley, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and brief stints with live groups The Bobs and M-Pact. As a session singer he’s lent his voice (and whistle) to hundreds of films, television shows, albums, commercials, and video games. See more info at ericbradley.info and ericwhistles.com. |
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Amy Engelhardt
From 1998-2011, AMY ENGELHARDT was the sole female vocalist/writer/arranger for Grammy-nominated, genre-busting legendary a cappella quartet The Bobs. A session and concert singer of everything from Bach to rock, Amy has shared the stage or studio with a wide range of artists from Barbra Streisand to "Weird" Al Yankovic. Last summer, Amy made her Off-Broadway debut as composer/lyricist of the rock musical BASTARD JONES (“Smartly plotted and irrepressible, with hummable pop music to match.” - TimeOutNY ). Winner of the Burman Award for Songwriting from the Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC), Amy co-created and was Artistic Producer of TUNE IN TIME - New York’s Musical Theater Game Show (“A hilarious romp!”- StageBuddy). When not musical theatre-ing it up in NYC or LA, Amy performs house concerts all over the country and coaches all levels and types of vocal ensembles. |
 
Complete list of 2019 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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Tom Keyes (Los Angeles)
Tom is a passionate and dedicated a cappella facilitator, event producer, and music director. He is the Director of Operations for A Cappella Academy, and previously has served as the exec. producer of the Los Angeles A Cappella Festival, and as director of the Contemporary A Cappella League (while still part of the Contemporary A cappella Society: CASA.org). With a considerable background in performance, vocal, and instrumental music, Tom was bitten by the a cappella bug in 2009 when he decided to create and direct his own group, the award-winning Frequency, and has been a strong advocate of all-vocal music ever since. Still music directing Frequency (vocalfreqs.com) as well as a spiritual center, he balances music, work, and family, and lives with his wife and three children in South OC.
tom.keyes@vocalfreqs.com
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