1999 Bay Area Regional Winners: EuphoricsThe Euphorics (U4X) are a joyous, energetic a cappella quartet, who, since 1983, have been delighting audiences internationally on radio, television, and concert stages, at schools, festivals, and special events of all kinds. Individually, members of the Euphories are powerful lead singers. Joani Bye (alto), fronts her own band, the Homewreckers, and her voice has graced countless albums (including those of Bon Jovi, David Bowie, INXS, and Cher). Helen Davis (soprano) leads her own jazz quartet and has backed up Doug and She Slugs, and Kathi Hof Donald. Nathen Aswell (tenor) is a free-lance vocalist/bassist and works with a wide variety of people (including artists Susan Crowe and Gary Fjellguard. The CARAS award for Best Children's Album of 1993 and the West Coast Music Award for Best Children's Album in 1998. Together, they create a rich and soulful blend with a repertoire of top-notch originals and innovative arrangements of covers in a wide variety of styles. The Euphorics celebrate their passion for music with plenty of humor and dynamic audience interaction. 1999 Bay Area Regional: Second Place FreestyleFreestyle is an energetic barbershop quartet that goes out of its way to provide beautiful music and memorable entertainment. They burst onto the music scene in 1996 by winning the Northern California Divisional Contest in their first public performance. Since then, they have entertained audiences throughout the country. They are the current and three-time Northern California Division Quartet Champions and were International Semi-Finalists this year at the International Barbershop Quartet Championships in Atlanta, Georgia. 1999 Bay Area Regional: Third PlaceKinsey SicksKinsey Sicks launched their career as hair and makeup consultants for Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. After completing the Sally Struthers Correspondence Course in Musical Performance in five short years, the Kinsey Sicks captivated audiences in cabarets, crowded subway cars, and "accidentally" stalled elevators. The Sicks have performed to standing-room-only crowds in sitting rooms across the country. Their previous theatrical productions have included: Sicks-Tease, Sicks Appeal, Everything But the Kitsch 'n' Synch, The Kinsey Sicks, Back Despite Popular Demand, The Balled Sopranos: At Home with the Kinsey Sicks, and this year's Kinsey Sicks: GreatesTits. Their debut CD is available through Primarily A Cappella. The Kinsey Sicks wish to remind you that anything else you may have heard about them is a vicious lie. Other 1999 Bay Area Regional CompetitorsCopper WimminCopper Wimmin is a trio of outstanding vocalists from Sonoma County who blend intricate rhythms and harmony together with fearless lyrics, creating a stunning and uplifting performance. Influenced by the soulfulness of Sweet Honey in the Rock and the powerhouse rage of Ani Difranco, the group has inspired audiences from coffee houses to concert halls. The members of Copperwimmin' became inseparable after singing together in a center of the Santa Rosa children's chorus. This childhood synergy has forged a body of original music and a unique style that is at once worldly and innocent. These elements combine to create a sound that is much bigger than a sum of its parts, a sound that enraptures and inspires transcendence. They are a cappella as a voice for truth. Moe CappellaMoe Cappella has never met a style of music they can't take the instruments out of. From pop to classical, jazz to reggae, tear-jerking ballad to high-energy rocker, Moe Cappella does it all - or at least some of it. At festivals, coffee houses and private parties, the band has been delighting audiences of all ages since 1995 with an eclectic blend of familiar - and a few not so familiar-tunes in a contemporary a cappella style. As arrangers, they put their unique signature on each song they perform (and they fight a lot over who gets to sing the melody). Their goal is to bring peace and harmony to the world. Press Any KeyPress Any Key is a mixed a cappella sextet based in Emeryville, California, a suburb of San Francisco. They specialize in performing original songs and arrangements written by their members. Diverse audiences around the Bay have enjoyed the group's performances in many public and private venues. Press Any Key has performed in the San Francisco Regional Harmony Sweepstakes, the East Bay Pride Festival, and A Cappella Against Aids V. They were founded in 1995 by the brother-sister team of Paul & Barbara Sinasohn. The group has gained fans among both a cappella aficionados and first-time listeners. Ro Sham BoTight harmonies, original songs, soulful ballads, explosive percussion. The Oakland based Ro-Sham-Bo provides an unforgettable auditory adventure. This six-voice mixed a cappella group draws its influences from a wide variety of musical genres, from jazz to classical, gospel to pop, and has appeared at venues throughout the Bay Area. Til DawnTil Dawn is a co-ed, teen a cappella group that comprises the musical performing arts portion of Youth in Arts. Since 1997, 'Til Dawn has appeared before over thirty thousand people at over sixty events. The nine members of 'Til Dawn have developed a repertoire that breaks down the boundaries between rock, pop, jazz and soul. They feature pieces from Sheryl Crow, the Pointer Sisters, Neil Young and Willie Dixon in addition to original songs written by the group members. 'Til Dawn performs regularly at a variety of community events, benefits and schools where they serve as a harmonious illustration of the Youth in Arts mission, to expand the minds and open the hearts of children in Marin. 'Til Dawn provides an outlet for young people to celebrate the value of the arts and inspires children of all ages to dream, create and reach out to others. VocamotionVoices to move the spirit"-VocaMotion is a contemporary upbeat a cappella quartet from Santa Cruz. Their eclectic repertoire of rock, folk, soul, blues, doo-wop and original tunes, along with their friendly on-stage chemistry will lift your spirits, have you tapping your feet, clapping along and laughing out laud. They can rock, reflect, inspire, and get silly. They love what they do, and you will too. They are bound together by their joyful commitment to the positive power of music to touch our hearts. They feel privileged to be able to offer their voices, and join with their with their audiences in the service of lifting the human spirit and having a good time. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
