2007 Participating Groups
 | | The Baudboys
Back around 1990, a couple of the founding members of the coed Microtones decided that they wanted to form a men's a cappella group at Microsoft so that they could sing the charts from their college groups. The original quartet consisted John Rae-Grant, bass and musical director, Bill Pope, baritone, Bob Gunderson, 2nd tenor, and David Olsen, 1st tenor. True to their profession, the group's chosen name, The Baudboys, referred to the method by which modem speeds were rated. The group performed only a few times in its first years of existence, doing lunch time gigs on the Microsoft campus.
As members left Microsoft over the years, they would also leave the Baudboys, prompting natural turnover in the membership. During the 1990's, the group expanded it's membership, aiming to have two full quartets within the group. Since that time, the group has remained at 7-9 members, but the expanded membership has allowed the group to sing more complex arrangements than the 4-part charts that the founders envisioned.Members: Graham Sheldon, Jon Schwartz, Owen Braun, Elliot Lewis, Mark Adolph, Dave McEwen, Paul Eng, Leonard Chung
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Bella
is three women who sing every kind of music under the sun-a cappella, of course. Their voices and their musical influences are equally diverse, and their repertoire includes gospel, folk, pop, jazz, 1920s dancehall numbers, and original works. They consider their arrangements to be some of their strongest assets. Bella takes advantage of their different vocal qualities by trading and interweaving parts, striving for harmonies that are surprising and exhilarating. They are all solo performers as well as members of Bella, have known each other for years, and had their first concert as a group in October 2004.
Members: Susan Welch, Emily Groff, Georgia Browne
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 | | Detour
Detour is made of four women who have sung for years with Green Heart Chorus, a local chapter of Sweet Adelines International in Abbotsford, BC. After a few years of good intentions and excellent excuses, their love of music and fun finally brought them together two years ago to form a quartet. Now they sing to anyone who will listen, and have been known to crash anniversary parties and birthday get-togethers. They even deliver singing telegrams for no particular reason. In May they will be competing at the Sweet Adeline Regional Convention in Regina, Saskatchewan.Members: Roxane Carlisle, Deb Young, Deb Williams, Deb Williams
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Double Deuce
Double Deuce was formed in early 1998, and each of the members brought years of singing experience to the quartet. In the beginning they concentrated on barbershop, but as time went on, they incorporated contemporary harmonies from groups like the Four Freshman and the gospel sounds of the Gaither Quartet. Working exclusively a cappella, Double Deuce has entertained audiences throughout the Northwest and the lower mainland performing virtually everywhere from concert stage to small coffee houses to private homes. Rick Smith, Jerry Potter and Matt Yorkston are from Bellingham, and Dan Evans is from White Rock, BC.Members: Dan Evans, Rick Smith, Jerry Potter, Matt Yorkston
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 | | Four Real
Four Real is a women's a cappella quartet from Abbotsford, British Columbia. They are also members of Green Heart Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International. Four Real started singing as a quartet in the Fall of 2004 and have developed a harmonious friendship over and above the music they make together. They have had a busy year with several local performances, from singing Christmas carols in the mall to private engagements. Four Real's biggest achievement to date was competing in their first regional competition last spring in Edmonton, Alberta and placing in the top ten.
Four Real:
Members: Erin Toews, Cindy Rintoul, Linda Dickinson, Leigh Fadden
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Realtime
Realtime has been together since March of 2003, when John Newell arrived in Canada and mutual friends helped bring the group together. Since then it's been a musical whirlwind of activity, with three recordings, hundreds of shows and a world championship and a whole lot of fun under their belt.
In 2008, Doug Broersma became the official lead singer, when John retired. Realtime became the 2005 International Quartet Champions of the Barbershop Harmony Society in Salt Lake City. So having reached the pinnacle of the barbershop contest world, they have sung in their last contest, and received their final score in the barbershop genre.Members: Mark Metzger, Tom Metzger, John Newell, Tim Broersma
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 | | Rezonate
The premiere a cappella group from the Willamette Valley, Oregon, the gentlemen of Rezonate sing R&B, Gospel, Pop, Soul, Jazz, Funk, and even some Hard Rock, including deftly arranged covers and original songs. The group started singing together as Rezonate in December 2004, and have sung at many venues since. At the Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals in May of 2009, Rezonate won both Third Place and the coveted award for Best Original Arrangement. With thick, lush, true six and seven part harmonies and a difficulty level second to none, Rezonate can evoke the smooth sounds of the Four Freshman, the Funk flavor of Rare Earth, or the pop excitement of acts like Bruno Mars and Kelly Clarkson.Members: Chris Dobson, Aaron Matthew, David Fertal, Tyson Biggerstaff, Jason Caffarella, Justin Diller
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V-Chords
V-Chords is a high-energy sextet based in Portland, Oregon. Established as a four-man group in early 2006, the ensemble increased its membership to five several months later and began performing at parties, outdoor summer festivals, and weddings. Recently V-Chords added a sixth voice in order to expand their hamonic textures to the rich, full sound they bring you today. V-Chords takes pride in the wide breadth of their musical offering - from pop/rock to jazz to country to funk to doo-wop - and is very excited to perform in the 2007 NW Harmony Sweepstakes competition.
Listen to:
Dont Worry Bout A Thing | Listen to:
Sold
Members: Jeremy Miller, Chris Moore, Bryan Podwys, Rick Pullen, Scott Townsend, Darin Wirth
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2007 Judges
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Scott Farrell
Scott Farrell, A Northwest native, has been a professional actor, singer, music director and teacher for over 40 years. As a featured singer he has appeared in theatres and nightclubs around this world, including New York City, Miami, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Philadelphia, Atlantic City, London and Bermuda, For sixteen years he was music director for Greg Thompson Productions, one of the largest producers of staged revue shows in the world, where he arranged and directed over 50 world-class productions He is a former music faculty member at The Evergreen State college, where he directed the college’s choral group, The Evergreen Singers. Based out of Seattle, with an additional studio in Olympia, Scott currently provides private and group vocal experiences through his company, Harmonic Oasis LLC, helping people connect more deeply with their vocal selves. |
Bill Gibson
Bill Gibson, President of Northwest Music and Recording, has spent the last 30 years writing, recording, producing, and teaching music. As demonstrated in his new series of six books and DVDs (The Hal Leonard Recording Method) Bill has developed unique insights into the techniques and procedures that produce extremely high-quality audio. Keep an eye out for Bill's new book with Quincy Jones, titled Q on Producing Music. |
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Joan Levitin
Joan Levitin is an active member and one of the Musical Leaders of the award-winning Pacific Sound Chorus. As a member of Sweet Adelines International, she is a Certified Director, a Certified Expression Judge and a Panel Chair. Joan was the front-line director of Jet Cities Chorus for over seven years and was the lead in eight regional medalist quartets. She presently serves on the Education Direction Team for her region and is an active coach and faculty representative as well. |
Dan Schumacher
Dan Schumacher is a member of The Bobs, an accappella group based in San Francisco, California. The tallest Bob to date, Dan was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and studied vocal jazz and opera. He sang with vocal groups Monkey Puzzle and Kickshaw (with Blake Lewis) before joining the Bobs, with whom he often sings his socks off (apologies for the smell). He doesn’t fit in most rental cars. |
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Beth Smith
Beth Smith is a member of Pacific Sound Chorus in the Seattle area, and is the tenor of AirWave Quartet. As a Certified Sound Judge and vocal production specialist, Beth travels where called to coach individuals and ensembles, or to teach workshops. She has judged a cappella competitions for various organizations, including Harmony Sweepstakes, and is delighted to be here again this year. |
 
Complete list of 2007 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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Victoria Montrose (Pacific Northwest)
The Pacific Northwest Regional Festival is sponsored and produced by Masterworks Choral Ensemble (MCE). Victoria is the Business Manager of MCE, as well as a board member and proud tenor. MCE is a Southwestern Washington community chorus dedicated to performance, community service, music education and leadership in the arts. Their mission is to perform sacred and secular choral, orchestral and newly commissioned works; to participate in community service activities and to provide a leadership role in developing, sponsoring and broadening the vocal arts.
PO Box 1091, Olympia, WA 98501-1090
360-491-3305 x5
masterworkschoral (at) gmail.com
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