1996 Los Angeles Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival

12th Annual

The Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival is the premier American showcase for vocal harmony music. The annual national competition draws from hundreds of vocal groups from around the country with regional competitions in eight cities. The winning group from each festival is flown to perform in front of celebrity judges and a sold out house of enthusiastic a cappella fans at the National Finals.

1996 Los Angeles Champions

Kaleidoscope

Kaleioscope, a Sweet Adelines International quartet, was awarded first prize at the organization's 1990 Region 11 novice quartet contest. The quartet has done a wide variety of performances around southern California, including Disneyland and on the Queen Mary. Kaleidoscope was the featured quartet in a July 1991 Chaannelaire Chorus concert tour of Great Britain, performing to enthusiastic audiences in England, Scotland, and Wales. The quartet has performed for the Doo-Wop Society of Southern California, at The Hop in Lakewood, at the Ventura County Fair, and at the annual 1993 through 1996 KVEN "Dave and Bob Talent Shows" raising funds for special Olympics.

1996 Results
1st	Kaleidoscope
2nd	This Side Up
3rd	Yer Father’s Mustache

1996 Participating Groups

Alley Cats
By bringing their own contemporary style to tunes from the 1950s and 60s, The Alley Cats appeal to fans of all ages, breathing new life into everyone's favorite doo-wop classics. The four members of The Alley Cats are a perfect blend both vocally and personally. More than a decade after they began, Royce Reynolds, whose solid bass vocals create the Cats' musical foundation, and Mando Fonseca, the second tenor always ready with a pun or quick quip, have the ease of familiarity which make their camaraderie and vocal play radiate from the stage. Baritone Sean Devine, whose smooth vocals melt hearts the world over, and newest member Juan Del Castillo, re-creator of all of those soaring 50s first tenor lines, bring their freshness and talent to an already solid foundation of a cappella tradition. Together they are truly the Cat's meow!

Car Pool Folk Quartet

Diva Complex
What do you do with four women who crave constant attention? Diva Complex started in 1995 when these not-exactly-demure women realized the mere adulation they received as professional choral conductors was not sufficient - they wished to be revered as singers also. (And to be perfectly honest, they wanted to spend more quality time together discussing men, massages and M&Ms.) From the moment the Divas take the stage, audiences realize this is no typical girl group. With repertoire ranging from Renaissance to rock and roll, the controlled chaos of the show swings from sensuous to sublime to saucy. You wouldn't expect a group like this to agree on everything; however, they do confess a collective susceptibility to gorgeous harmony, and have been known to weep ecstatically at a really good chord progression (a highly technical phrase learned in their many years of schooling). Diva Complex's exuberant appearances on radio, TV and in sold-out concerts continue to amaze and delight audiences all over California. As expressed by one audience member, "This group brings impeccable musicianship and an irreverent sense of humor together in a performance which can't be missed! Wait a minute? that's the King Singers. Well, Diva Complex is pretty good, too. Great dresses!"Members: Ruth Ballenger, Amy Fogerson, Alison, Lori

Insomniacs

Kaleidoscope
Kaleioscope, a Sweet Adelines International quartet, was awarded first prize at the organization's 1990 Region 11 novice quartet contest. The quartet has done a wide variety of performances around southern California, including Disneyland and on the Queen Mary. Kaleidoscope was the featured quartet in a July 1991 Chaannelaire Chorus concert tour of Great Britain, performing to enthusiastic audiences in England, Scotland, and Wales. The quartet has performed for the Doo-Wop Society of Southern California, at The Hop in Lakewood, at the Ventura County Fair, and at the annual 1993 through 1996 KVEN "Dave and Bob Talent Shows" raising funds for special Olympics.
Listen to: Liar Medley | Listen to: Someone To Watch Over Me

Members: Linda Ragsdale, Bron Latta, Peggy Hels, Theresa Carey

Penticle

Quadraphonics

Somewhare in Time

Tag

This Side Up

Vocalmotive

Yer Father’s Mustache

1996 Judges TBA

Complete list of 1996 participants

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 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 :

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

Our Hall of Fame - The Harmony Sweepstakes National Champions