1997 Los Angeles Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival

13th 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.

1997 Los Angeles Champions

This Side Up

1997 Results
1st	This Side Up
2nd	JA'A
3rd	Awaken A Cappella

1997 Participating Groups

Awaken A Cappella

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: Amy Fogerson, Ruth Ballenger, Alison, Lori

JA'A

Main Street
Mike McGee, Myron Whittlesey, Tony DeRosa and Roger Ross bring a combined 100+ years of barbershop experience to the stage. Notable past quartets include Keepsake, Max Q, Metropolis, Platinum and Rounders. While their involvement within the Barbershop Harmony Society is impressive, all four members have been or currently are performers at Walt Disney World with the Dapper Dans of Main St. USA and/or the Voices of Liberty. Entertaining audiences outside of barbershop venues include performances in film, television, radio and musical theater.

This Side Up

Listen to: Hush | Listen to: Nothing Is Written

1997 Judges TBA

Complete list of 1997 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