2024 Participating Groups
 | | Emerald City Voices
Emerald City Voices is a Seattle-based a cappella ensemble whose members have been singing together since 2005. Originally started as a group of friends who met in a community choir, they now sing extensively during the holidays, at Mariners games, and around the Seattle area, as well as host multiple concerts benefiting local charities. The members of ECV are committed to high-quality a cappella music, entertaining performances, and having fun together!Members: Emma Volk, Shannon Ludeman, Pam Reich, Betsy Hall, Sarah Robinson, Jess Chung, Jason Fu, Matt Smith, Patrick Daly, Andrew Williams, Andy Robinson, Jared Blatterman
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J209
J209 is a contemporary Christian a cappella group with a mission to uplift the younger generations of today. Based out of South Jordan Utah, this brand new group is set to hit the ground running with covers of popular Christian rock songs. With powerful arrangements and compelling harmonies, J209's 7 mixed member group is sure to set hearts on fire. Members: Jarom Hess, Ethan Holliday, Jimmy Mohlman, Neal Stucki, Abi Urton, Kim Hess, Hailey Murphy
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 | | Minor Adjustment
Minor Adjustment is a contemporary co-ed a cappella group from Seattle. Catch them at various concerts in the area, or reach out for a private event!Members: Marissa Kranz, Mykhanh Pham, Ashley Watt, Emily Aoka Yamashita, Shreya Manjunath, Don Zheng, Neil Little, Kevin Zhao, Duncan Boehle
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Quayside Voices
Since 2014, Canadian Vocal Band Quayside has been entertaining audiences with their energizing a cappella take on their favourite pop hits. They ve been voted 'favourite local band', won the People s Choice at Vancouver s Yule Duel, and have been recipients of various grants and artist residencies.
Quayside is celebrating their 10th birthday in 2024, and you can follow their adventures on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok at @QuaysideV. Be sure to stream their content on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube.
Members: Stephanie Lam, Troy Martell, Danjel Young, Aerhyn Lau, Elyse Kantonen
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 | | Seatown Sound
Seatown Sound is a refuge for a cappella nerds for whom college is only a happy memory. Part social group, part professional chorus, our goal is to bring community members together to create and perform a unique variety of challenging choral pieces. Our group draws inspiration from independently-labeled artists, popular and traditional works, as well as the work of members and friends. United by our love of music, we've created a collaborative community of talented performers.Members: Aimee Rizzo, Katie Hall, Shelby Windom, Kate Brouns, Lauren DiRe, Kathleen Brasington, Alex Entrikin, Aaron Lichtner, Evan Kuykendall, Michael Latham, Mark Engelberg, Jon Courtney
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Sorella
Sorella is the contemporary vocal ensemble of Seattle Girls Choir. Directed by Lauren Kastanas, the high-school ensemble performs in pop, folk, and contemporary styles, with a focus on independent ensemble singing. Seattle Girls Choir, directed by Artistic Director Sarra Sharif Doyle, is a community that provides young singers with a high-quality music education and a place to belong. Founded in 1982, Seattle Girls Choir provides a comprehensive and progressive choral education with an emphasis on vocal technique, musical literacy, and ensemble performance. The organization provides six progressive levels of instruction for choristers in kindergarten through high school, and an elementary school training choir.Members: Addy Smith, Adele Shuman, Bryn Fleck, Julia Wright, Lilliana Wald, Makena Shephard, Sophia Nash
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 | | The Pillage People
Avast! Harken ta me as I tells ye about this here crew. We be The Pillage People, and we are of a mind to shanghai yer stage for a wee spot o' piratical caterwaulin', sure ta leave ye cheering and stomping yer feet (or pegs, as may be). We loves ta sing traditional shanties as well as parodys, or 'piratys' if ye will. We steal most of our songs, the ones we don't write ourselves.
We hails from the great Land of the Port, or just Portland, if ye prefers. I can't rightly remember how many times we've dropped anchor ta perform here in the past, but it's higher than I can count. 'Course that's a mightly low bar, truth be told.
We're right glad ta be here, anyway, and look forward ta a night ta remember! Yar!Members: Roy Rasera, RC Cowlishaw, Mike Haines, Mike Mendyke, Shawn Dudley
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Verdant
Verdant is an award-winning professional a cappella group located in Eugene, Oregon. Established in 2016, our name is inspired by the lush greens of our home state. From our 2nd place win at Harmony Sweepstakes 2022, to creating our recent EP Daybreak, we imbue everything we do with our unique style and flair. Together we shape dynamic, compelling arrangements of songs from a variety of genres, including Top-40, indie pop, classic rock, and more.Members: Cameron Graham-Mask, Cassidy Finch, Chad Lowe, Connor Eyler, David Fowler, Chloe Scheid, Esack Grueskin
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2024 Judges
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Deborah Vinsel
Deborah Vinsel has worked in nonprofit community media for more than 30 years. She has been the CEO at Thurston Community Media since 1990. She currently serves on the boards of directors for Washington Center for the Performing Arts and the Alliance for Community Media NW Region.
Vinsel’s decision to make media her career was an extension of her love for theater, dance and music. Her parents supported her passion for the performing arts with training in music and dance throughout her school years. By the time she reached her early 20s she was a proficient musician playing flute, oboe and piano but her plans for a professional dance career were sidelined by a knee injury when she was in college.
Vinsel found a performing home in community theater until the siren song of television pulled her into a career both in front and behind the camera. She still enjoys singing and dancing for an audience and has never met a microphone she didn’t love or stage that didn’t beckon. Vinsel often says “the arts shaped my life.”
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Jennifer Hermann
Jennifer Hermann is the Executive Director of the Olympia Symphony Orchestra in Olympia, WA,. She is highly regarded as a community leader, educator, musician, administrator, and advocate for the arts. A native of Tacoma, WA, Jennifer is a graduate of Florida State University (MM Piano Performance & Pedagogy) and Washington State University (BM Piano Performance). She has enjoyed an accomplished performance career which includes concerto engagements with the Olympia Symphony Orchestra and SPSCC Symphony Orchestra, and varied solo, chamber, and choral accompaniment appearances throughout the Pacific Northwest. Jennifer’s educational accomplishments include a robust private teaching studio and a decade-long appointment as Associate Professor of Music at South Puget Sound Community College, where she taught courses in music theory, music appreciation, and piano. She continues to be in high demand as an adjudicator, clinician, and collaborative pianist. |
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Debra Brown
When she’s not leading the team as president of Forterra, Inc. and its affiliate ProPoint LLC, Debra can be found playing her bass guitar and writing music with her husband Craig. She and Craig have had the honor of studying with Maestro David Kyle and their band Blue Ringer has played numerous festivals and venues across the state, including opening for double-platinum artist Tracy Lawrence at the 7th Street Theatre. Over the years, Debra has been active in the Grammy association, including being a voting member of the Pacific Northwest chapter. She is also a member of the Americana Music Association in Nashville. |
Darrell Born
Darrell Born is thrilled to be a judge at the Harmony Sweepstake A Cappella Festival this year. Darrell is the Chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Department at Saint Martin's University where he directs Saint Martin's University Chorale and maintains a successful voice studio. He is an active clinician and adjudicator in the PNW. Darrell is a firm believer in the power that choral music has to heal the wounded, build community, save the hurting and overcome cultural and social boundaries. A certified yoga instructor his current research combines the science of yoga with the practice of singing in exploration of how the practice of yoga can enhance singing and performance. |
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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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Victoria Montrose (Pacific Northwest)
The Pacific Northwest Regional Festival is sponsored and produced by Masterworks Choral Ensemble (MCE). Victoria is the Business Manager of MCE, as well as a board member and proud tenor. MCE is a Southwestern Washington community chorus dedicated to performance, community service, music education and leadership in the arts. Their mission is to perform sacred and secular choral, orchestral and newly commissioned works; to participate in community service activities and to provide a leadership role in developing, sponsoring and broadening the vocal arts.
PO Box 1091, Olympia, WA 98501-1090
360-491-3305 x5
masterworkschoral (at) gmail.com
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