2011 Participating Groups
 | | Empire
Empire was launched in September 2010, bringing powerful all-female a cappella to New York City and beyond! In addition to local performances, they have toured the US, participated in the Harmony Sweepstakes competition, VoCAL Nation, auditioned for NBC's The Sing-Off, and headlined a major fundraising event. Empire has garnered a large fan base throughout the Northeast, stretching out to small towns in Iowa, and as far as California. |
The Glue
For the past thirteen years the "Swiss band without instruments" has been enthusing their audience. These 5 young men have already produced four albums, a DVD, and have been on stage over six hundred times all over Europe. March 2011 marks their first trip to North America as they travel to the US and to Canada to perform their original compositions to enthusiastic audiences; whether it be country or latin, East-European gypsy tunes or african tribal sounds, there’s no genre they can't do!
In addition to original music, The Glue astounds with their unconventional performance and choreography in all types of settings, from Private and intimate in small theatres, to bombastic on the big stage. Notable highlights thus far have been as Swiss support at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany, being honored and performing live concerts on Swiss Radio DRS, and selling out concerts at the theater in Basel, Switzerland. In november 2010 they received the cultural award of the canton Basel-Landschaft and qualified out of 500 groups for the swiss finals of the Eurovision Song Contest, where they placed 5th. Currently touring Europe and North America with their current program, "Kin' de Lele", The Glue are charming crowds all over with their comical, unusual, yet always entertaining musical performances.Members: Michael Moor, Jonas Goettin, Tumasch Claluena, Oliver Rudin, Gregor Beermann
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 | | In Harmony
In Harmony is without a doubt New England's premier oldies vocal group. This sweet sounding vocal ensemble, comprised of two guys and three girls. has worked with such legendary Doo-Wop acts as Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge, The Drifters, The Platters, The Dimensions, The Dubs, The Tokens, Lou Christy, Randy and The Rainbows, and The Jive Five. With numerous radio shows and White House performance for President Bill Clinton under their belts, In Harmony are excited to bring their vocal stylings to the Harmony Sweepstakes stage!Members: Robin Miller, Adrienne Lisko, Scott Poarch, Lenny Seiter, Dee Heavrin
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Lai Skan
This vocal group from Latvia is an eclectic mix of friends ranging in age from 17 to 23, and each a musical instrumentalist as well as vocalist. Even so, they have different life styles, as some are still in school while others are graduated with interests in veterinary medicine and business management -- but music is the common thread that has kept them together for many years. Regarded as renowned vocalists in their native Latvia, and winners of many competitions in Europe, It has been their biggest dream to perform on an American stage. Lai Skan is excited to have their dream become reality at the 2011 Harmony Sweepstakes In NY!Members: Ginta, Arno, Gatis, Janis, Edgars, Anete
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 | | MetropoliTones
Founded in 2001, The MetropoliTones is a New York City based a cappella group composed of graduates from the Seven Sisters colleges. When not working our day jobs (running conferences, crunching numbers on Wall Street or digging for fossils), we can be found adding musical pizazz to corporate, private and sporting events in the tri- state area. The MetropoliTones have performed at Cipriani, The New York Athletic Club, The Bitter End, The Pierre Hotel, Ronald McDonald House, The Bronx Zoo, Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, Madison Square Garden, Prudential Center and Giants Stadium.Members: Christina Friberg, Carolyn Kiel, Allison Lee, Kate Marvin, Dana Van Brunt, Eliza Ruth Watson, Abigail Wolff, Lisa Bianco
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One Guy Upstate
One Guy Upstate is what happens when collegiate, frat-style a cappella guys grow up -- or, perhaps, refuse to. Individually, the members of this all-male vocal band have performed hundreds of shows, but first met back in the day at Binghamton University, where they made multiple visits to the ICCA Finals as members of the Crosbys. Still great friends and reunited a few years later for the sheer love of making great music together, they hope to acheive similar success on the professional stage at the Harmony Sweepstakes.Members: Mike Boxer, Brian Frankel, Al Orbinati, Angel Reynoso, John Soto, Di Zhang, Jesse Afriyie
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 | | Perspective
The Perspective is a five-man vocal band, blending Pop, Rock and R&B on a daily basis, with absolutely no instruments. Bringing together the best traditions of the five-man sound, THE PERSPECTIVE builds a bridge from the classic sounds of the 50's and 60's to the modern era of rock and R&B. Formed in 2009, and proud to call New York City our home, THE PERSPECTIVE has performed at listening rooms around New York City including the legendary Bitter End, the National Underground, and Millesime Salon at the luxurious Carlton, NYC. We are stoked to make our debut at the Harmony Sweepstakes Competition! .Members: Jack Holahan, Doug Paulson, Joe Dunham, Aaron Belinfanti, Damon Maida
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Six13
Six-man vocal band Six13 brings an unprecedented style of Jewish music to the stage. With songs that range from hip-hop dance tracks to rock anthems, their albums have been the recipients of five Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards and selections to nine different "best of" compilations. This summer, they were chosen as finalists in the casting process for NBC's prime-time series The Sing-Off, and the group has also become an internet sensation, with over 500,000 views on YouTube.Members: Eric Dinowitz, Oren Malka, Robert Operman, Justin Rosenblum, Alan Zeitlin, Mike Boxer
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 | | State of Mind
State of Mind is a subset of NYC's recently formed Empire A Cappella. Since September these young women have focused on combining their musical abilities with a bit of style and sass. Having just completed a Boston winter tour filled with joint gigs, collegiate appearances, and some aca-bonding, State of Mind is happy to be back in NYC, much looking forward to their spring line-up, and of course, participating in their first Harmony Sweepstakes Festival!Members: Sonia Ahuja, Jenn McCarthy, Anna Smith, Erica Meyer, Holli Matze, Rachel Tombes, Cara Joyce, Cecilia Kelly
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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 festivalsMembers: Keesha Gumbs, Sherene Campbell, Gbianka Kotee, Tamika Gumbs, Cindy Valerus
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Your Emcee for the Evening 
Jeff Lagraca
| Jeff Lagraca is a writer, director, actor and improviser residing in New York City. He has studied and worked with Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Jeff Richmond, Adam McKay, and several other entertainment notables while honing his theatre, comedic and musical skills. He is a writer/creator of “Minimum Wage,” a musical which made it’s Off Broadway debut in New York City at the Bleecker Street theater at 45 Bleecker in 2007. Minimum Wage was also presented at the 2002 & 2006 FringeNYC festals where it received the Producer’s Award and “Outstanding Musical Comedy " by BackStage magazine. Jeff is a huge fan of acappella music and continues to write music and play with his own Nerd Punk band, H2Awesome." |
2011 Judges
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Debbi Burdett
As a director, performing artist, and professional consultant through her company, DB Creative Consulting, Debbi Burdett recently completed a marketing and website design for NOT YOUR TIME, a short film featured a numerous film festivals, and a similar project with A JOURNEY TO JOY, a CD of spiritually engaging songs. Her directorial credits include - The Dysfuncational Pianist; Three Guys, Three Girls, and A Diva; Take Five; and Take Five More and numerous cabaret and nightclub acts. She has been the director of The WestSide Youth Choir, which was heard in the feature film HOUSEHOLD SAINTS. She has been featured in numerous musicals and plays, most notably as Cleo in THE MOST HAPPY FELLA, the Soprano in Terrance McNally's PRELUDES, Ruth in THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE and Katisha in THE MIKADO. Additionally, Debbi is very proud to have coached NY Harmony Sweeps competitors, Dobsonfly, and Stay Tuned, who placed 3rd at the 1999 competition. Her company plans and consults for weddings and corporate events and Debbi has performed to wildly enthusiastic crowds in her one woman show throughout the United States. Her work continues to be a dedication to her late husband David Schaefer and to Bob and Eugene: "They continue to teach me all I know." |
Gerard Brown III
Gerard Brown III is a screenwriter and former writer in residence with the New York Shakespeare Festival. He has written a number of screenplays and teleplays for the likes of Paramount Pictures and HBO among others. However, his most gratifying artistic accomplishment was PBS's Spike & Co: Do it A Cappella which he conceived, wrote, and co-executive produced and shot at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. |
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Jonathan Minkoff
Jonathan Minkoff is the Founder and Executive Producer for the Public Charity, SingStrong (SingStrong.org) and its International A cappella Festivals in NY, DC and Chicago. He performs world-wide and on TV with the award-winning a cappella quartet, Blue Jupiter. Minkoff holds a Bachelors in Music Ed. from Northwestern U., a certificate in voice study from the Boston U. Tanglewood Institute, and a JD from Boston U. School of Law. Minkoff won the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes 1st place and audience favorite and the Chicago & National Sweeps' "Best Original Composition" and "Best Arrangement Awards", shared a "WAMMY" nomination for "Best Album", a CARA nomination for "Best Jazz Album" and a WAMMY win for "Best A cappella Album". Most recently, Minkoff coached Stiletta, the current National Harmony Sweeps champions, and the only group to ever win every possible award at nationals. He has over 300 published a cappella reviews at RARB.org and his articles at ACAPPELLA101.com have thousands of views monthly. After teaching, performing, emceeing and judging at over 40 a cappella festivals worldwide, Minkoff now coaches, composes, records and produces for various a cappella groups in his New York City recording studio. |
Mark Paul
Mark Paul is an accomplished a cappella performer, music director, vocal coach, and lifelong musician. A 45-year member of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS), he's currently the bass of the a cappella barbershop group The Square Route, specializing in digging out old, forgotten barbershop songs and re-introducing those harmonies to both young and old alike. The Square Route holds a quartet championship in the BHS US & Canada Northeastern District. Formerly the bass singer of a top-20 international-level a cappella barbershop quartet, Reveille; they regularly entertained audiences across the United States and internationally. Reveille holds a quartet championship in the BHS six-state Mid- Atlantic District. Mark served for seventeen years in top musical leadership positions for gold and silver medal internationally competitive BHS choruses, and was the front-line musical director of a BHS District level chorus. He performed in a cool a cappella documentary film about barbershop singing and is on two music albums. An a cappella vocal coach for 39 years, Mark works with individuals and groups of all sizes and has served as faculty on several exciting a cappella music education programs, both domestically and abroad. Whatever level the individual/group is at, he elevates them, instilling higher levels of awareness, alignment, confidence, commitment and fun. Mark is an Executive Leadership Development Coach and a Reiki Master. Mark's favorite downtime activities are surffishing, photography and camping. |
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Diana Preisler
Diana Preisler is a Singer, Voice-Over Actress, and Performance Coach. As Blue Jupiter’s resident a cappella rockstar, her voice defies categorization, spanning Broadway, jazz and pop. As a prolific voice actress, her voice is heard on national commercials and TV shows. And, as a performance coach, her voice is a call to action, encouraging and inspiring the next generation of performers to greatness.
Diana tours the world as Blue Jupiter’s fearless female lead. More than just a powerful voice on stage, Diana also manages and coaches her professional a cappella band. Her leadership spear-headed Blue Jupiter’s rise to fame by winning the Oreo Cookie commercial contest, produced by American Idol’s Randy Jackson. Diana’s management led Blue Jupiter to six tours in Asia, including a 3-month headlining spot at the Sands Casino in Macau China, a residency at the Shanghai American School, and a celebration of Independence Day by singing for 10,000 US soldiers in Okinawa Japan, on July 4th. Thanks to Diana’s guidance, Blue Jupiter has thrived as headliners at corporate and private events, fairs, music festivals, universities and recurring headliners for Royal Caribbean. |
 
Complete list of 2011 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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