2010 Participating Groups
 | | Absoloute
The five women of Absolute believe in music with a message. Their tight vocal harmonies create an a cappella sound sometimes reminiscent of Sweet Honey in the Rock. From South African freedom songs to folk music, from doo-wop to choral arrangements, Absolute's performances take you from the familiar and silly to the poignant and soulful. Gigs at performance at issues-oriented events have included Calyx Publishing, Water For People, LunaFest, as well as shows for Amnesty International, OSU Brown Bag Lunch Series, and Da Vinci Dayus-Corvallis. For these five busy women, taking time out of the week to make music together is Absolute-ly what they want to do.Members: Micki Reaman, Julie Williams, Shelley Willis, Elizabeth Wyatt, Robin Patterson
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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: Ric Lewis, Graham Shelson, Owen Braun, Mark Adolph, Elliot Lewis, Dave McEwen, Paul Eng, Jonathan Schwartz
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 | | Crosspoint
Crosspoint is a vocal ensemble made up of church members of Westminster Chapel in Bellevue, WA. They are a diverse group of people, but are unified in the vision of providing a musical experience that brings hope and encouragement. Crosspoint was originally formed in 2003 but its current member lineup has been singing together for only a few months. They have performed in churches, malls, and other local venues, singing intricate and fun jazz and gospel arrangements of church music.
Members: Colleen Hickman, Drew House, Cindy Lucas, Arlene Madrid, Cheri McDonald, Dave McEwen, Jim Stocker, Tim Anderson
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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: Doug Broersma, Mark Metzger, Tom Metzger, Tim Broersma
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 | | Shadywood Boys
Shadywood Boys are four guys who get together to sing. We graze freely through the pasture of quartet styles: a little Jubilee Quartet here, a little Doo-Wop there, maybe a bit of Barbershop. Sometimes we wander into the back forty and browse 19th century styles such as Antebellum Spirituals - or even some Shape-Note Singing. But there is one patch of grass we keep coming back to: a style of singing that emerged from the Southeastern U.S. in the 1930's and 40s that would become known as Southern Gospel. This style carries through the early recordings of bands like The Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe, and Flatt and Scruggs. It's retro-phonic, and we like it.Members: Tim Cullen, David Brook, Phil Shaver, Larry Statland
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Six4One
Six4One is a group of five men from Westminster Chapel in Bellevue, Washington, who love to sing and are highly committed to the choral music program. Their underlying purpose is to joyfully express their faith in God through music by blending a variety of worship songs, hymns, gospel, a cappella and contemporary musical styles.
Members: Steve Howe, Dan North, Gerald Redding, Don Walkup, Laurey Berteig
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 | | Strangers In Harmony
Strangers in Harmony is a vocal quintet from Portland, Oregon. Since 2009 The Strangers have been delighting audiences all over greater Portland with their memorable original music and classic crowd-pleasing covers. In 2010 Strangers in Harmony took top honors in the prestigious "Portland's Got Talent" contest. Five guys from different musical and geographical backgrounds come together to make music. That's Strangers in Harmony.Members: Ramsay "RC" Cowlishaw, Shawn Dudley, Mike Mendyke, Roy Rasera, Eric Chung
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V-Chords
V-Chords is an a cappella vocal band made up of six talented performers performing a wide variety of pop, rock, jazz, gospel and country accompanied by live vocal percussion. Each member has significant performing experience and contributes to the combined flare and flavor for which V-Chords has become known. In 2007, V-Chords was proud to represent the Pacific Northwest Region at the National Harmony Sweepstakes Competition in San Rafael, CA.Members: Jeremy Miller, Chris Moore, Bryan Podwys, Dave Edwards, Darin Wirth, Mike Telfer
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2010 Judges
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Jamie Dieveney
Jamie Dieveney is an exceptional musical talent, has spent more than two decades entertaining and touring nationally as a singer/musical director with the critically acclaimed vocal group, The Coats. Best known for his unique, enthusiastic performing style and beat boxing, his vocal and arranging skills have brought great joy to hundreds of thousands of music lovers over the years. Jamie is the co-producer for 10 Coat's albums and has won several national awards for his writing and arranging. |
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. |
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Kevin Kunz
Kevin studied jazz piano and voice at Central Washington University and studied under nationally renowned director, John Mowad. After college, Kevin jumped into radio jingle and commercial singing, while playing jazz and pop keyboards and singing in clubs and lounges in the 80’s. Kevin joined with his brother in 2000 and formed Groove For Thought, which went on to win the coveted 2005 National Harmony Sweepstakes championship. Groove for Thought has gone on to star in NBC’s The Sing Off Season 2 and continues a very successful musical career.
With numerous songwriting awards, album credits for writing and arranging, including arranging for string ensembles and horn sections, 2 CARA Awards and 3 more nominations for 2107, he is very active in the local music scene.
Kevin formed Straighter Road in 2012. The 6 vocalists of SR come from very diverse vocal backgrounds and experiences and blending them together resulted in being named 2015 Pacific Northwest Harmony Sweepstakes Champions, their very first competition ever, and then on to with the National Harmony Sweepstakes Competition award 2 months later in SanFrancisco, competing against the very best groups from around the country, while also bring home the award for Best Arrangement! |
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. |
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Melanie Wroe
Melanie Wroe is an a cappella and choreography junkie. She began in a musical family with a barbershop mother and rock and roll brothers, sang and danced her way into adulthood, and eventually landed back in the world of barbershop. She has been active in Sweet Adelines for 27 years, participating in two internationally-acclaimed choruses and three regional championship quartets. Melanie is a Certified Showmanship Judge, and an educator/coach here and abroad specializing in visual presentation, show development and motivation. Her husband and two sons can't sing a note, but they make a fine audience. |
 
Complete list of 2010 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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