29th Annual

Boston Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival acapella singing competition

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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.

2013 Boston Champions

Fermata Town

Founded in 2009, Fermata Town is now the newest member of the Contemporary A Cappella League (CAL). Inspired by the wealth of new talent in the a cappella world, we have worked hard to find our voice and put a unique stamp on the Boston a cappella scene. We pride ourselves in our original arrangements, the sound that we produce, and our ability to maintain a healthy balance between our music and active lifestyles.

Fermata Town was officially founded during the spring of 2009 stemming from the break up of the all male Boston based group The Testostertones (Boston). The founding duo of Dan Campagna and John Baptista recruited former Testostertones Dave Carr and Nathan Pierce to join forces and find other interested singers who shared the same passion for a cappella music. Be it through word or mouth, internet advertisements and craigslist posts - Fermata Town was able to quickly establish itself as one of Boston's freshest co-ed a cappella groups to hit the streets.

2013 Results

1st
Fermata Town
2nd
Showcase
3rd
The Metropolitones
Audience Favorite
The Metropolitones
Best Original Arrangement
Katya Dreyer-Oren & Philipp Walzer for "Starting Line"
Best Soloist
Chris Giordano and Katya Dreyer-Oren for "Circus"


2013 Participating Groups

Beast Mode
Beast Mode is a new vocal quartet from the Northeastern District of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Amongst the performers, they have 2 District Championships, 5 Division championships, and 10+ years of contest experience on the international BHS stage, including the international Collegiate Quartet championship in 2005. They are excited to take their boisterous vocal style into the Boston a cappella sceneMembers: Nick Ruiz, Brandon Youngblood, Rodrigo Alvarez, Rhett Roberts

Fermata Town
Founded in 2009, Fermata Town is now the newest member of the Contemporary A Cappella League (CAL). Inspired by the wealth of new talent in the a cappella world, we have worked hard to find our voice and put a unique stamp on the Boston a cappella scene. We pride ourselves in our original arrangements, the sound that we produce, and our ability to maintain a healthy balance between our music and active lifestyles.

Fermata Town was officially founded during the spring of 2009 stemming from the break up of the all male Boston based group The Testostertones (Boston). The founding duo of Dan Campagna and John Baptista recruited former Testostertones Dave Carr and Nathan Pierce to join forces and find other interested singers who shared the same passion for a cappella music. Be it through word or mouth, internet advertisements and craigslist posts - Fermata Town was able to quickly establish itself as one of Boston's freshest co-ed a cappella groups to hit the streets. Members: Katya Dreyer-Oren, Philipp Walzer, Chris Giordano, Dan Campagna

Funkin' A
Boston-based Funkin’ A! is seven voices of irreverence offering up an eclectic mix of tunes, including some you’re not sure you’ve ever heard, from six decades of (mostly) popular music. Covering Passion Pit to Michael Jackson to Blossom Dearie, their repertoire is sure to confuse DJs but please everyone else for at least three minutes. Over the past several years they’ve been proud to perform at Harvard Square’s massive Mayfair and Oktoberfest street festivals, WERS’s All A Cappella Live competition, Ball in the House’s A Cappella Concert Series, Boston’s AIDS walk, and the swank Liberty Hotel.Members: Mike Kadin, Kyle Lad, Mo Lotman, Nikole Luebbe, Joe Pierandozzi, Liz Vaughan, Dayna Brown

Grundy's Magic Shop
Welcome to the magic shop... That is Grundy's Magic Shop of course! We are an vocal quartet based in the Greater Boston Area bringing more than 25 years of combined experience to audiences of all ages. Even though Barbershop is where we all met and started singing together, we each bring our own style and unique vocal qualities to make music ring. We enjoy singing everything from Jazz and swing to classics and contemporary genres. Taking the Music to the top is our very own Jonathan Hinkle as Tenor, with the Leading role being played by Kadin-Seth Binkley. Laying down the foundation is Steve Moore as Bass and our mysterious guru of musical magic is Ben Brown, who occasionally doubles as a baritone. We look forward to seeing you soon and maybe singing a song with you or for you. Let the Show begin!Members: Kadin-Seth Binkley, Ben Brown, Steven Moore, Jonathan Hinkle

The 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.

Showcase
How fitting the name Showcase is for this foursome! They love to sing, to show their best to audiences, and to present special events (songs) in order to tug on the heart-strings of their listeners! Showcase, an a cappella quartet, started singing together in March 2007 and just two and a half years later became the 2009 International Championship Quartet of Harmony, Inc. All are members of New England Voices in Harmony, an Internationally ranked fourth place women's barbershop chorus from Nashua, New Hampshire. Showcase released their debut cd "Birds Gotta Fly" in November of 2012. An eclectic mix of jazz, blues, Broadway tunes all done in the barbershop a capella style.Members: Kathleen Macdonald, Renee Tramack, Kari-Lynn Knight, Katrine Dickaur

2013 Judges

Mike Gabriella   

Mike Gabriella is a long time fan, performer and coach of a capella style music. He has been a member of several Northeastern District Quartet Championship groups in addition to International Quartet Qualifiers, sharing the stage with some of the world’s best a capella talent . Mike’s most recent quartet, Road Show, was a 2-time Boston Regional Harmony Sweeps Champion and National Sweeps Finalist. He has coached groups all along the eastern seaboard and as a result of this “hobby,” had the opportunity to meet and become friends with wonderful people from all over the world. In his spare time, Mike dabbles in project studio work, most recently completing the audio for your current Harmony Sweeps Champs, Foreign Exchange! Be sure to pick up a copy

Michael Klein   

Michael Klein is a 30 year member of The Barbershop Harmony Society. While an avid A Cappella fan of all genres, he has served in almost every seat of the Northeastern District of the BHS, representing 60 Chapters from Southern Connecticut to New Foundland. He is a Past President of the Boston, Lowell and Beverly, MA Chapters and currently sings with The Essex County 4 men's quartet and Dudes N' Dolls. His former quartet Eastern Standard Time are past champions of the Allston Brighton Kiwanis Idol contest. He is amazed by the places music has taken him including the honor of having a judge's seat at this contest and is looking forward to a great show from all of the performers.

Amy Malkoff   

Involved in a cappella since college (Kenyon College), Amy Malkoff was a founding member and bandleader of the award-winning groups All About Buford and Deadline Poet, and she has appeared on stage and in the studio with such luminaries as Wayne Brady, Jonatha Brooke, The Persuasions, Ellis Paul, Vance Gilbert, GrooveLily, Patty Griffin, and Dar Williams. She has a degree in music from Kenyon College, with music studies at Youngstown State University and masters-level coursework at the New England Conservatory of Music. She is currently Media Director for the Women's A Cappella Association, as well as being on the board, and the Marketing Director for the A Cappella Education Association (presenting the first National A Cappella Convention in Memphis next week!). Amy served on the board and was the Web Content Director for CASA (Contemporary A Cappella Society) and is a longtime judge for the International Championships of Collegiate and High School A Cappella. She is a writer, designer and runner of social media campaigns (www.amymalkoff.com), as well as a singer/songwriter. Amy's music has appeared on both the Rounder Records and Hear Music/Starbucks labels. @amalkoff

Brian O’Connell   

At UMass/Lowell Brian directs the Chamber Singers, University Choir, and teaches Voice and Conducting. Brian teaches Secondary Choral Methods in the graduate program at The Boston Conservatory and for 12 years has been the director of the Sarteano Chamber Choral Conducting Workshop in Tuscany. He has been on the faculties of Berklee College, Tufts University, Boston University, New England Conservatory and Northeastern. In 2005 he was the first recipient of the Massachusetts ADCA Award for Choral Excellence.

Brian is an accomplished contemporary a cappella singer, having performed for many years with the Boston based professional group No Strings Attached. He also currently adjudicates both collegiate and professional a cappella competitions throughout New England. In 2010, Brian joined the panel of judges for choral performance, voice & conducting for the national competition, The American Prize.

Christopher Scranton   

Christopher Scranton sang with the nationally-known Beelzebubs during his time at Tufts University, which included the the award-winning "Infinity" album and the group's first network television appearance, on "The Late Show with David Letterman". He began performing a cappella in high school, as part of a group directed by one of the founders of the Vineyard Sound, and continues to support a cappella music to this day with his work as President of the Bubs Foundation.


Complete list of 2013 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 :

Dan Campagna (Boston) has been a part of the a cappella community for over 10 years and is the co-founder and business manager of the Boston-based group, Fermata Town. Behind his leadership, Fermata Town has released two award-winning albums, performed at international festivals and appeared on network TV. In 2013, Fermata Town captured the Boston Harmony Sweepstakes championship before placing third overall at Nationals where they took home "Best Original Song" honors. He is a founding board member of the Contemporary A Cappella League and voluteer program manager for the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA). An active member in the Boston a cappella community, Dan enjoys attending local shows and volunteering for Varsity Vocals during ICCA season.

Prior to Fermata Town, Dan sang collegiate a cappella at Emmanuel College in Encore!, the college’s first-ever coed group which later changed its name to In Good Company.

Outside of a cappella, Dan works fulltime at Emmanuel College as the Director of Athletic Communications. Dan is also an Assistant Coach to the University of Massachusetts Boston Women’s Soccer Team and an adjunct professor at Lasell College where he teaches a sports journalism course.


860-874-5191
FermataTown@gmail.com


Our Hall of Fame - The Harmony Sweepstakes National Champions

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Cohen Auditorium, Tufts University

Cohen Auditorium is the largest auditorium/lecture hall on the Medford Campus at Tufts University. The house seats 616 with 486 seats in the orchestra and 130 seats in the balcony. Located in the Aidekman Arts Center, it is a multi-use facility serving as a classroom from morning through mid-evening, Monday through Thursdays, and a performance or conference space on weeknights and weekends. Cohen Auditorium is located on the Medford campus at Tufts University, Cohen Auditorium is inside the Aidekman Arts Center on Talbot Avenue, near College Ave. There is plenty of free parking.Directions -


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COHEN AUDITORIUM, TUFTS UNIVERSITY

40 Talbot Ave, Medford, MA 02155



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