1996 New York 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 New York Champions

All So Jimmy

All So Jimmy is a rock band without the band, founded by former Tufts University a cappella heads. All So Jimmy finds a large following in both the Boston area and New York City. Its members bring to the group a wealth of musical experience including a combined 17 years of a cappella singing, arranging and directing. They have performed at New York City's The Bitter End, guest starred on WERS, Boston, and opened for the House Jacks. Their first full-length CD will be released in early summer.

1996 Results
1st	All So Jimmy
Audience Favorite	Minimum Wage
Best Original Arrangement	Harmonytryx

1996 Participating Groups

All So Jimmy
All So Jimmy is a rock band without the band, founded by former Tufts University a cappella heads. All So Jimmy finds a large following in both the Boston area and New York City. Its members bring to the group a wealth of musical experience including a combined 17 years of a cappella singing, arranging and directing. They have performed at New York City's The Bitter End, guest starred on WERS, Boston, and opened for the House Jacks. Their first full-length CD will be released in early summer.
Listen to: Brothersister | Listen to: Ladder

Harmonytryx
In the world of a cappella music, Harmonytryx (Har-mo-NEE-trix) is a breath of fresh air! Self-managed and independent, these women entertain audiences with an eclectic mix of pop, folk and world music that ranges from sexy and provocative to soulful and spiritual. Their unique combination of tightly-crafted vocal harmonies, powerful solos, funky vocal percussion and lively humor has captivated audiences throughout the NYC metropolitan area and beyond.Members: Erica Cohn, Janet Crowley, Joia Ladd, Elena LaRoca, Jenifer Starr, Anne Walsh

Minimum Wage
Minimum Wage is a group that can only be described as inventive, insane and delightful! Picture the Marx Brothers, Forever Plaid and the Flying Karamozov Brothers rolled into one. Por example, one might witness a lecture on Spatula techniques that goes hilariously awry. Or a capricious, musical history lesson about the "'Histoire du le Burger." Or even a rap number with wildly eclectic choreography. They won a Bistro award for Outstanding Musical Comedy Act by BackStage Magazine and in 1999 they were chosen as the Mid Atlantic Harmony Sweepstakes Champions and went on to win "Audience Favorite" in the National Finals. They can be seen pseudo- regularly on the Food Network's, Doorknock Dinners and other TV appearances include The Fox Network, Comedy Central, Good Day New York, The Veronica Network and America's Funniest People(Grand Prize Winners).

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 :

Colette Thompson (New York) Colette Thompson has directed or performed in over eleven vocal ensembles, with her group, Stay Tuned, placing 3rd in the 1998 New York Regional of the Harmony Sweepstakes; Colette has performed/recorded with Lukas Foss, Leonard Bernstein, Jesse Norman, Peter, Paul & Mary, and James Levine A billboard-ranked singer/songwriter, she has also managed several events, including, Christmas at NYU, Complex at the Duplex, and An Evening with The Real Group at NYC's Symphony Space. With performances televised via major news programs including Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN, and NY1, she is a promoter, producer, adjudicator and an ambassador of vocal music worldwide.

128 Fort Greene Place, Suite 1B, Brooklyn, NY 11217
917-442-2011
colette.thompson (at) mac.com

Our Hall of Fame - The Harmony Sweepstakes National Champions