2004 Los Angeles Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival

20th 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.

2004 Los Angeles Champions

Alpha

Back in the early 90s, Alpha brought imagination, determination, and integrity to their artistry when the model for groups of their kind was a safe commercial blend. Their superiority in every aspect of vocal arranging and performing began to get them known in Puerto Rico and Latin America. Their performances in major sporting events, as background vocalist with award winning vocalist and bands, and several appearances on entertainment TV programs has earned them their place as one of the most enduring and best-loved vocal groups in Puerto Rico. Truly inspired by groups like Boyzz to Men, Glad, and Take 6, Alpha fashioned their own a cappella style: „a Latin Jazz Gospel vocal band where ALL the instruments are sung instead of played¾. Get ready to have the most fun you can legally have while listening a cappella. Que sabor!

2004 Results
1st	Alpha
2nd	Down 4 The Count
3rd	Vocal Ease
Audience Favorite	Alpha
Best Original Arrangement	Where is Love
Best Original Arrangement	"I Believe in a Thing Called Love" Arr. Alison Davis

2004 Participating Groups

Alpha
Back in the early 90s, Alpha brought imagination, determination, and integrity to their artistry when the model for groups of their kind was a safe commercial blend. Their superiority in every aspect of vocal arranging and performing began to get them known in Puerto Rico and Latin America. Their performances in major sporting events, as background vocalist with award winning vocalist and bands, and several appearances on entertainment TV programs has earned them their place as one of the most enduring and best-loved vocal groups in Puerto Rico. Truly inspired by groups like Boyzz to Men, Glad, and Take 6, Alpha fashioned their own a cappella style: „a Latin Jazz Gospel vocal band where ALL the instruments are sung instead of played¾. Get ready to have the most fun you can legally have while listening a cappella. Que sabor!
Listen to: Cree (Believe) | Listen to: Happy Birthday

Members: Abel Martinez, Abi Hernandez, Edgar Rios, Ludwig Henderson, Sonlys Andino, Shalom Rodriguez, Johnny Davis Figueroa

Down 4 The Count
Down 4 The Count began in 2003, when six CSU Northridge students in the University's vocal jazz ensemble found they shared a common interest: wanting to sing ensemble vocal jazz without those pesky instrumentalists: in other words, A Cappella! Since that time, Down 4 The Count has won multiple awards (including three song-arrangement awards and 1st place at the 2009 San Diego A Cappella Competition) and they have performed at venues all over the greater Los Angeles and San Diego area, including the Jazz Bakery, The Coach House, The Coffee Gallery Backstage, San Diego IndieFest, and many more.Members: Francesca Delfin, Genevieve Artadi, Andreas Preponis, Colleen Keene, Tara Romine, Matt Reynolds

Funk Divas
The Funk Divas are an a cappella force to be reckoned with. Hailing from all over the world, (Sweden, Chile, Russia, New Caledonia, and the United States) these five women are blending their voices as one with a fresh, contemporary sound. Each a dynamic soloist in her own right, these five artists represent the best vocal talent that Musicianis Institute has to offer. With custom tailored arrangements by Douglas Wood (formerly of the award-winning Chicago Voice Exchange) the Funk Divas will rock the house with soul, passion & air-tight harmonies.Members: Sonia Baicheva, Maiya Sykes, Natacha Volk, Mini Neufeld, Shawna Basick

Paradigm 7
Started off as members of an adult church choir based in Lakewood, CA. There, they developed an appreciation and love for harmony that would lead them to venture into other categories of music from jazz to R&B, to Broadway tunes. Aside from performing at numerous business functions and private gatherings, this quintet plans to focus more on developing their original arrangements in the coming year.Members: Adrian Martin, Kristian Martin, Melissa Martin, Hau'oli Guerrero, Elena Zamuner

Starstruck
Bringing a fresh and exciting style to barbershop music, Starstruck are a treat for the ears - and the eyes. These sparkling 15 years old are the 2002 Sweet Adelines Region 11 Young Women in Harmony quartet champions, and they'll show you what it's all about. Ventura County favorites Starstruck recently appeared (for the third year) with Dick Van Dyke and his Vantastix on the 7th Annual Ventura County High School Choral Benefit ShowMembers: Erin Cardin, Tracey Tipton, Alison Wilkinson, Joanna Wilkinson

Swing Shift
Swing Shift is a vocal jazz mixed ensemble. The group's signature sound is heard in their rich harmonic treatment of pop, jazz, and Broadway standards. Over the years the group has drawn on local resources like the SMC Vocal Jazz Ensemble from which five of Swing Shift's present roster are current or past members. We are proud that many of Swing Shift's alumni have gone on to advance their careers in prestigious ensembles like the LA Master Chorale and LA Choral Lab. If you love lush sounds, complex harmonies, and creamy-smooth blend, you'll love hearing this group.Members: Arlene Evans, Macain Treat, Lisa Dunn, Lisa Clark, Richard Gilinsky, Joe Obermueller

Triage
1. A system of prioritizing need to ensure the most efficient use of facilities (i.e.: notes). 2. A system used to allocate a scarce commodity (notes) to those capable of deriving the greatest benefit. Formed in 2002, the musical group Triage is a mix of eclectic backgrounds and a shared love of harmony. They arrange and perform a cappella and accompanied music in a wide range of styles, including classical, jazz, and rock-and-roll. Never have so few done so much with three little notes (apologies to Winston Churchill).Members: Sheila Coyazo, Stacey Morse, Daryl Lubinsky

Vocal Ease
Blended harmonies filling the hall with symmetry of sound, that's Vocal Ease, University of Arizona's premier, female, a cappella vocal ensemble. From being featured artists at the Tucson Jazz Society's Primavera concert in Spring 2001 to providing music while customers enjoy a cup of java, this versatile performing group is in their third season of performing.Members: Tamara Bill, Kim Henry, Carolyn Johnston, Katherine Byrnes, Eliza Tebo, Julia Higgins

Vocal Muse
Five women, all creative, all unique, in a group that strives to reinvent itself with each performance. Vocal Muse is part jazz, part R&B and part rock - all arranged by members of the group and reformulated through the lens of our own musical tastes. Good songs performed in a new way - that is what inspires us.Members: Lynn Kowal, Kris Matheny, Kendra Lavon, Julie Delgado, Amalia Stephenson

2004 Judges TBA

Complete list of 2004 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 :

Tom Keyes (Los Angeles) Tom is a passionate and dedicated a cappella facilitator, event producer, and music director. He is the Director of Operations for A Cappella Academy, and previously has served as the exec. producer of the Los Angeles A Cappella Festival, and as director of the Contemporary A Cappella League (while still part of the Contemporary A cappella Society: CASA.org). With a considerable background in performance, vocal, and instrumental music, Tom was bitten by the a cappella bug in 2009 when he decided to create and direct his own group, the award-winning Frequency, and has been a strong advocate of all-vocal music ever since. Still music directing Frequency (vocalfreqs.com) as well as a spiritual center, he balances music, work, and family, and lives with his wife and three children in South OC.

tom.keyes@vocalfreqs.com

Our Hall of Fame - The Harmony Sweepstakes National Champions

The Harmony Sweepstakes National Audience Favorites

Other Year's Results - 2023 - 2020 - 2019 - 2018 - 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009
2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999 - 1998 - 1997 - 1996 - 1994

Hermosa Beach Theater

The Hermosa Beach Playhouse is a division of the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities. Created for the greater South Bay area to expand the availability of programming by providing a more intimate setting. This beautifully appointed 474-seat venue enables us to present a new catalog of production of straight plays as well as musicals. Performances are presented at The Hermosa Beach Playhouse located on the southwest corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach. There is plenty of free parking.Directions -

20th Annual

2004 Results

Interested in Performing?

Hermosa Beach Theater

HERMOSA BEACH THEATER

710 Pier Ave (At Pacific Coast Highway), Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Hear about Local A Cappella Events and Auditions

Find a Harmony Sweepstakes Group

Find a Harmony Sweepstakes Singer

Primarily A Cappella - Your Source For Vocal Harmony Music

Thanks to our Sponsor

20th Annual

2004 Results

Interested in Performing?

Hermosa Beach Theater

HERMOSA BEACH THEATER

710 Pier Ave (At Pacific Coast Highway), Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Hear about Local A Cappella Events and Auditions

Find a Harmony Sweepstakes Group

Find a Harmony Sweepstakes Singer

Primarily A Cappella - Your Source For Vocal Harmony Music

Browse By

Thanks to our Sponsor