2005 Participating Groups
 | | Decibelles
The Decibelles perform both popular and rare Doo Wop gems for the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut crowds. Founded over eight years ago, they have made their New York theatrical debut in "The Frog Prince" as the Andrews Sisters (top favorable reviews from the New York Times and Baskstage) and released their album "Wish That You Were Here."
Members: Donna Coney Island, Cindy Taylor, Debbie Wilkinson, Kimberly Bowers
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F’loom
F'loom is an avant cappella vocal trio that presents cutting-edge programs of "language music" - original pieces that inhabit the fertile, mysterious realm that lies between pure language (speech) and pure music (song). F'loom performs original all-vocal compositions seething with satire, social commentary, pop diatribe, slap, zap, melody, poetry, and comedy.Members: Bess Phillips, Rick Scott, Robert Kulik
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| | The Georgians Vocal Ensemble
The Georgians Vocal Ensemble was first known as "Sixation" in Tbilisi, Georgia (Russia) in 1996. At first their program contained only jazz standards but later included folk and contemporary jazz. In 1997 the ensemble won the nomination "Best Vocal Group of the Year" on the Hit-Parade of National Radio in Georgia. In 1999 Sixation became the prize winner of the International Festival in Tampere, inland and won the grant of George Soros Foundation in the nomination "Modern Opinion of Folklore". In 2002 the sextet became a quartet, called "2x2" and won the New York regional Harmony Sweepstakes and went on to place second at the Nationals. The current group, with new members, is maintained under the direction Buka Kartozia. |
 | | Invisible Men
Invisible Men (IM) is a vocal band based in Manhattan, dedicated to performing tasty and propulsive arrangements of the choicest pop, rock and R-'n-B morsels.Coming out of the underground contemporary a-cappella scene, IM uses its voices-- including vocal percussion, well-amplified bass and the occasional audio effect-- to create performances as exciting and energetic as an instrumental combo. While most pop groups in the college a-cap scene (in which the IM guys honed their chops) are large and have the luxury of being able to literally recreate popular recordings using complex arrangements, IM and small bands like it are looking to create the excitement of popular music with efficient but powerful arrangements, so that while you know you're listening to voices, the sound is so full and convincing that you simply don't care. Invisible Men played its very first show on Feb. 26, 2005 at the New York Harmony Sweepstakes at Symphony Space, and took the metro vocal harmony scene by storm that night, winning Audience Favorite honors.
Members: Warren Bloom, Angelo Rufino, Tyler Pennock, Oliver Libby, Justin Blanding, David Fountain, Michael Birnbaum
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Mystery Date
Award-winning a cappella sensation Mystery Date sings to entertain and inspire. This gay male a cappella group has roots as diverse as rock and roll, classical music, musical theater, soul, and collegiate a cappella. They delight audiences with their jazzy sound and sweet, sassy ( and sometimes irreverent) stage presence. Their repertoire defies categorization, ranging from Spike Jones and Gershwin classics to the B52s and contemporary songwriters like Alanis Morrisette and Desiree. They have performed nationwide sharing stages with a cappella legends “The Bobs”, Sweet Honey and the Rock’s Y’saye Barnwell, Lea DeLaria, The Persuasions, Kate Clinton, and Naturally Seven, among others. From New York cabarets and concert halls to theaters and arenas across the country, their performances are fueled with uncompromising musicianship, explosive energy and offbeat humor.Members: Jeff Domoto, Joshua Koffman, Bill Poock, Ken Browne
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 | | Sound Celebration
Sound Celebration consists of two members of Sweet Adelines International and two members of SPEBSQSA, the Society for Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America. Formed in March of 2000, Sound Celebration has been entertaining the Southern Tier of New York at barbershop performances and shows, fundraisers, community concerts, corporate events, banquets, and private parties. Their repertoire includes country, blues, folk, spiritual, doo-wop and novelty selections. The quartet is a member of Mixed Harmony Barbershop Quartet Association, and in March of 2003 stretched their skills by competing in the Harmony Sweepstakes a cappella contest in Arlington, VA.Members: Marcia O’Neil, Sheryl Allyn, Gerry O’Neil, Jerry Schmidt
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Traces
With their expansive vocal range, vocal dynamics, tight harmonies, "female bass" and hard hitting percussion, this NY based group offers a variety of musical styles and continually push the envelope of female vocals. Their wide range of musical influences-Gospel, Contemporar, Christian, Pop, R&B, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Spirituals, Caribbean and African, just to name a few-has lead them to create a unique style all their own. Over the years, the group has had some amazing experiences including singing churches, colleges, prisons and festivals
Listen to:
Mary Don’t You Weep | Listen to:
Englishman In New York
Members: Keesha Gumbs, Tia Fields, Kimberly Robinson, Bianka Kotee, Tameeka Gumbs
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| | Uncle Baz and the Jive Street Five
Uncle Baz and the Jive Street Five is a six-piece a cappella group based in New York City. We formed in late 2004 to perform music covering the whole spectrum from Jazz to Rock with passion and enthusiasm. The group is diverse in age, nationality and musical preference, and the inevitable resulting turf wars find their release in the dynamism and energy of our performances. Uncle Baz is 72 and lives in Arkansas.Members: Amanda Durham, Xerxes Eclipse, Jane McIntosh, Sarah Corman, Andrew Ormson, Lehho Rebassoo
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 | | Yasna Voices Trio
Vlada Tomova, Corinna Snyder, and Kristin Espeland sing the close and ethereal harmonies of Bulgaria's traditional village and arranged styles. Tomova, Yasna's founder and director, is a Bulgarian national, a Berklee College of Music graduate, and full-time performer and arranger. Snyder, who holds a doctorate in anthropology and works for a multi-national consultancy, has been performing Balkan music for decades with Yasna and other ensembles. Espeland, a graduate student in journalism, has been performing with Yasna since its inception in 2003.Members: Corinna Snyder, Kristin Espeland, Vlada Tomova
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2005 Judges TBA
 
Complete list of 2005 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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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
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