2020 Participating Groups
 | | Counterpoint Loyola
Counterpoint is Loyola University Chicago's premier competitive co-ed acapella group! They personally arrange and energetically perform a diverse range of music to feature at concerts, competitions, and on albums! Counterpoint provides not only a creative musical outlet for members and listeners, but take pride in sharing themselves with Chicago!
Beginning as a conversation about the musical opportunities for Loyola University Chicago, a small group of students already involved in the acapella scene at Loyola found that the community was missing one component...competition! Counterpoint was born out of a call for musical excellence, a competitive atmosphere, and a performance like none before it. After hand selecting founding members and an amazing turnout of auditions for new members, Counterpoint fought for and won recoginition with the Student Activities and Greek Affairs board. Now, they are on a mission to continue the momentum they started with and provide a great experience for audiences and members. They have lofty goals that will most definitely be met with a "Get It Done" attitude for competition, recording, and arranging like never before.
Members: Reese Bailey, Adeline Azungue, Michael Ghuneim, Lia Monroy, Kaitlyn Wacker, Rachel Groth, Leah Tan, Camille Neuman
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Flux Vocals
We are an 8 part mixed, semi professional group composed of members from former collegiate groups all over Michigan. We strive to make music that will both have everyone on their feet, but also music that everyone is able to relate to, and feel, as we find that most important. This is such an incredible creative outlet, and we feel as though we have so much to show the world, as we're just getting our story started!Members: Brian Jones, Joshua Raiford, Daniel Dade, Nicholas Borchardt, Nick Boyd, Svenja Penic, Kaley Mayrose, Carly Westcott
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 | | Impromptu
Impromptu is an 8 member contemporary a cappella group based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in May of 2017, several members met at Ball State University or were good friends who wanted to come together, hang out and make music. Their unique sound is the result of a tight and soulful blend, some R&B and Jazz influences and a little sensuality.Members: Andrea Greene, Jasmine Rowsey, Samantha Doub, Edric Mitchell, Kaleem McGill, Trevor Barnes, Johnnie Taylor, Derek Hutchinson
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Panorama
Panorama is a barbershop quartet comprised of four men who, from other quartets, have a total of nine Illinois District Quartet Championships, and numerous International Competition appearances, resulting in high honors. Since our formation in January of 2019, Panorama has become an Illinois state top-three competing quartet, taking every opportunity to present a wide variety of American musical favorites, and establish a special connection with you, our audience. Sit back, and enjoy: Panorama!Members: Tim Carter, Mike Woods, Dennis Stern, Doug Smith
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 | | Remedy
Remedy comes from different ends of Ohio to form the University of Dayton's first a cappella group. When they are not captivating their audience, Remedy enjoys spending time together as a group. From many walks of life and representing a vast number of majors, the group discovered camaraderie and harmony instantly. Remedy hopes to entertain and captivate the audience with their memorable performances.Members: Kim Tielemans, Alex Golzynski, Katie Breslin, Alexis Taylor, Kat Smith, Sarah Yelsik, Cameron Page, Andy Villasenor, Angelo Knight, Chris Hemsath
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Take 4
Take 4 is an a cappella and barbershop quartet from Kansas City, MO and West Palm Beach, FL. Members include: Wendy Spilker, Kristin Drummond-Mance, Chacey Steen and Melissa VanHousen. The quartet formed in January of 2014 and proudly represents Sweet Adelines International, Harmony Incorporated and the Barbershop Harmony Society. They currently hold the ranking of Harmony Incorporated International 2nd Place Silver Medalists and SAI Region 5 Champions. Take 4 enjoys performing a diverse repertoire including barbershop, broadway, jazz and pop.Members: Chacey Steen, Melissa VanHousen, Wendy Spilker, Kristin Drummond-Mance
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 | | UT Noteworthy
is a co-ed A Cappella group from The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 2014. What originally started as a group of strangers who shared the same interest for music, became a family of best friends who pour their heart and soul into each piece originally crafted by current members of the group. This year marks the very first for Noteworthy to begin the competition season, with Texas Revue and ICCA Southwest Quarterfinals already under their belt. We hope you have a Noteworthy experience with us tonight!Members: Irene Lee, Ella Moody, Mayson OBrien, Vidya Rajan, Sheena Nguyen, Joshua Oh, Neel Gopal, Obinna Okorie, Carlos Cisneros, Bryce Freund, Joshua Mathew
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Vocal Chaos
Vocal Chaos is in its 22nd year as a Chicagoland a cappella staple. This rotating cast of characters enjoys using the gift of song to force themselves out of the house at least once a week through the 8 month Chicago winter, and has been known to occasionally enjoy a post rehearsal, or mid-rehearsal drink. They may not be in college anymore, but at least they're trying to hang on to their glory days like a high school football player from Texas! Please enjoy the men of Vocal Chaos.
Members: Nik Eden, Shak Bhamani, Zachary Watts, Laz Estrada, Ryan Naimy, Trent Synder
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2020 Judges
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Randy Stine
After graduating from Indiana University in 2000 and a career working in information technology, Randy was called back to the world of music in 2008 when he posted a video to YouTube. The video, shot in 1998, was of he and his college friends in Straight No Chaser, singing the “12 Days of Christmas.” It became the most viral video of 2007, which led the CEO of Atlantic Records to call Randy and reunite the group. Over ten years later, the group has performed thousands of concerts across 48 states and 20 countries, performed on television shows such as TODAY and Jimmy Fallon, sold over one million albums, and has over 100 million YouTube views. Randy and his wife, Lindsey, reside in his hometown of Naperville, IL, along with their son, Henry. |
Carrie Marcotte
Carrie Marcotte is the Director of the West Towns (Men’s) Barbershop Chorus, and has led them to the District Barbershop Contest’s “Most Improved Chorus” award (2016), “Most Entertaining Chorus” award (2015), and District Championship (2014). In addition to directing, Carrie sings in a Sweet Adelines women’s quartet, Cantina Vocal Project. A graduate of Western Michigan University, Carrie sang for two years in the award winning vocal jazz group, Gold Company, under the direction of the late Dr. Steve Zegree, and had the opportunity to share the stage with guest artists such as Don Shelton, Darmon Meader, and Bonnie Herman. Carrie sang for 10 years with (the now retired) Route 66, Chicago’s favorite female a cappella quartet and has performed on the Spirit of Chicago and at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg. Carrie is Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Scholastica Parish in Woodridge and serves as an accompanist at North Central College in Naperville, as well as for singers and instrumentalists in the Chicagoland area. |
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Loren Shevitz
Loren Shevitz is well-versed (and well-chorused?) in several styles of a cappella music. He has served as the director, producer, and primary arranger for Chicago’s premier Jewish a cappella ensemble Shircago, which was selected to appear on the first-ever Best of Jewish A Cappella album. He is also assistant director of the gold-winning men’s chorus New Tradition. Additionally, Loren and his father Henry operate the music arranging and transcribing company Cameo Lake Music, which has produced dozens of arrangements over the years. Their works have been performed by the Michigan Opera Theater, Fish N Chips A Cappella, and the internationally-renowned cantor Alberto Mizrahi. Outside of the a cappella world, he has been music director and pianist for the Young Actors Ensemble 2012 and 2013 productions of “The Music Man” and “Once Upon a Mattress”. Loren has also served in the professional High Holy Day choir at Anshe Emet since 2008. Loren earned his bachelor’s at the University of Michigan, where he was a founding member of the a cappella group Kol HaKavod, and his master’s at the University of Chicago, where he was a co-founder of the nationally-recognized a cappella group Voices In Your Head and the Russian folk choir Golosá. |
Chris Brown
Chris Brown is one of the most popular a cappella singers in the Chicagoland area. Best known as the baritone (aka “Blue Guy”) of the colorful Chicago-based classic rock quartet Ac•Rock, Chris has recorded eight a cappella albums and performed thousands of shows. Ac•Rock disbanded in 2017 after an amazing 24 year run. Today, Chris serves as the contemporary worship music director at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Naperville, sings bass in The Caroling Party, and is the lead singer of the band Mixtape Junkies.
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Eric “Buegs” Buegler
Eric “Buegs” Buegler hails from the tundra of Baudette, MN. He started singing and entertaining the family when he was very young and they haven’t been able to shut him up since! He studied at the University of Minnesota Duluth. While there, he sang with the award winning vocal jazz group, “Lake Effect.” Since 2014, Buegs has been the loveable front man for one of the country’s premier a cappella groups: The Sound Exchange. In 2017, Buegs and The Sound Exchange won first place and audience favorite at the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes and again at the National Finals. Buegs loves his time with friends and family, and LOVES making people laugh! |
 
Complete list of 2020 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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David Wilner (Chicago)
David Wilner competed in the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes with Blind Man’s Bluff and Fiveplay, winning First Place, Audience Favorite, and Best Original Song with each group. During his six years in Blind Man’s Bluff, David toured nationally and recorded five albums. He also spent seven years with the classic rock quartet Ac•Rock, recording two albums. Today, David emcees events throughout the Chicagoland area and performs in the band The Four C Notes. He has been the regional producer of the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes since 2017.
P.O. Box 4502, Naperville, IL 60567
847-226-3366
david@davidwilner.com
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