2018 Participating Groups
 | | Business Casual
Business Casual is an a cappella band based out of the San Francisco Bay Area. Combining elements of pop, jazz, and other genres, this young all-vocal group puts a fresh spin on vintage chart toppers and today's hits. Winners of the National Harmony Sweepstakes a cappella competition in 2018, Business Casual has performed at weddings, corporate events, and live public shows throughout the Bay Area since 2012.Members: Roshun Alur, Cassie Greene, Leslie Baker, Michael Wang, Jacob Chamoun
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Coast Vocal Collective
Coast Vocal Collective is an eclectic group of singers ranging in age from 17 to 50. Group members met at Coast Music in Hermosa Beach. Each singer brings individual style along with the ability to blend together to create one collective voice.Members: Beth Rohde, Sawyer Fuller, Soprano, Max Rohde, Kira Levin, DJ Stanfill, Jeremy Adler
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 | | Have Pitchpipe, Will Travel
Have Pitchpipe, Will Travel, comprises twelve women, all members of the locally acclaimed and award-winning L.A. South Towns Show Chorus. This fun-loving a cappella group entertains audiences throughout the South Bay and beyond with its signature close harmonies, upbeat repertoire and colorful style.Members: Connie Weintraub, Marta Bailey, Susie Cox, Lynn Iosty, Sharon Savene, Donna Lawrence, Janet Reid, Linda Borg, Caroline McLean, Debbie Smith, Diana Barber, Allison Tsukimura
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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: Lisa Hill-Callaway, Lauren Talaga, Amanda Chitarra, Mark Henkin, J Omer Shrem, Aaron Fish, Joey Kadin, Andrew Borchert-Isaacs, Taylor Turner
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 | | Swing Shift
Swing Shift is a vocal jazz mixed ensemble. The group's signature sound is heard in their rich harmonic treatment of pop, jazz, and Broadway standards. Over the years the group has drawn on local resources like the SMC Vocal Jazz Ensemble from which five of Swing Shift's present roster are current or past members. We are proud that many of Swing Shift's alumni have gone on to advance their careers in prestigious ensembles like the LA Master Chorale and LA Choral Lab. If you love lush sounds, complex harmonies, and creamy-smooth blend, you'll love hearing this group.Members: Galoran Amos, Anne Palmer, Mackynze Roten, Brittany Mellini, Allan Vasquez, Phil Azelton, Richard Gilinsky
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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, Laura Todd, Emily Liu
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2018 Judges
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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. |
Ben Lowe
Ben Lowe, received his Masters of Music at UCLA studying Operatic Vocal Performance under Vladimir Chernov and opera with Peter Kazaras. Mr. Lowe is a graduate of Cal State Dominguez Hills where he received his BA in music. He has been a featured soloist across the west coast and has sung recitals for organizations in the US. While at UCLA he participated in West Coast premieres and multiple workshops of new operatic works. Mr. Lowe spent two summers working with Marilyn Horne at the Music Academy of the West where he was selected as the winner of the 2016 Marilyn Horne Song Competition. Mr. Lowe represented the Music Academy of the West on a national tour. Mr. Lowe has been an adamant barbershopper for over the last 10 years and has competed in both chorus and quartet competitions as a member/director of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Mr. Lowe is a sought after singing and music coach and clinician. Lowe has continued to be an ambassador for Classical and A cappella music. |
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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. |
Laura Pallas
Laura Pallas has a Bachelor of Music, vocal performance from the University of the Pacific and a Masters of Fine Arts, vocal performance from the University of California, Irvine. Laura has had many years of solo work with various churches in the LA area. Laura is an accomplished musician, performer, and regional and international competitor in the Sweet Adelines International arena. She is a member of the Sweet Adelines regional and International Faculty, and was awarded the title of "Master Director" in 2009 for scoring 620 points at the Region 11 Contest. In addition to directing the women’s Santa Monica Chorus, Laura also directs the award-winning men's Oceanaires Chorus. She coaches quartets and choruses around the country specializing in vocal production and technique. Laura also sang lead in the internationally competitive quartet, Naturally, Region 11 Quartet Champions in 2005. |
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Complete list of 2018 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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