2026 Participating Groups
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5280 A Cappella
5280 A Cappella, named one of the Top Vocal Groups in Colorado are guaranteed to bring a burst of infectious energy to the stage. Their unique repertoire entertains audiences of all ages. They have graced large festivals to small ones. They have been featured on local TV stations throughout Colorado and can be seen performing for some great causes.
Members: Michelle D'Arcy, Kim Lotz, Jeremy Mullet, Brad Becker, Devin Ross, Kezia Dobson, Drew Jamrose, Kia Ranney
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Mid-Atlantic
The Bookmarks
The Bookmarks were formed in spring 2023, all of the members being finalists of the talent TV show “Ranina“, which also sends talents to participate in the youth Eurovision contest. The group sings compositions in jazz and folk style. The members of The Bookmarks include Anastasia Vasadze who represented Georgia at the 2023 Junior Eurovision in Nice. In June of 2025 the Bookmarks won 1st Place and audience award at Leipzig International A Cappella Festival. In July of 2025 the group won 1st place, Gold Diploma and Audience award at Vokal Total International A Cappella Festival in Graz, Austria.
Members: Marita Khvedelidze, Rati Gelovani, Soso Chachua, Kato Chkareuli, Barbare Imnadze, Anastasia Vasadze
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 | | Bay Area
Coda Conduct
SF Coda Conduct is a contemporary a cappella group that has delighted Bay Area audiences since 2024. Comprised of 12 experienced singers from diverse musical backgrounds, the group has grown into a tight-knit ensemble known for its dynamic sound and high energy arrangements. Performing everything from nostalgic classics to today's hits, Coda Conduct aims to bring fresh energy to the Bay Area vocal scene. We are proud to return to Harmony Sweepstakes for our second time! Follow our journey on Instagram @sfcodaconduct
Members: Caroline Meinhardt, Candice Yung, Rosie Bochenek, Laynee Daniels, Dhanya Jayagopal, Julia Rogers, Sam Joffe, Jonathan Bloom, Tyler Hedrick, Ben Alpers, Alex Bignell, Jon Abello
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Chicago
Linc 182
Linc 182 is a new and exciting acapella ensemble, mostly versed in the barbershop style of singing. They recently won the 2023 Illinois District State Barbershop Quartet Contest and qualified/competed at the 2024 International Quartet Contest. Although fairly new, this quartet is full of experienced musicians, well at least 3/4 full. The older members of the quartet have won multiple Illinois District quartet championships, competed Internationally, as well as won chorus championships with the award winning Sound of Illinois Chorus, located in Bloomington, Normal. The Linc part of the quartet is 14 year old tenor, Lincoln Beutel, who is the son of the baritone, Tim Beutel. We hope you enjoy the rich harmonies and spritely energy of Linc 182!
Members: Lincoln Beutel, Evan Patrick, Benjamin Light, Timothy Beutel
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 | | Los Angeles
The Seventh Variety
The Seventh Variety is an award winning barbershop quartet based in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. We specialize in fun and engaging acapella music that blends the classic barbershop style with an energetic and modern approach. We enjoy connecting with audiences through storytelling and try to make every performance personable, funny, and entertaining.
Members: Jacob Gonzalez, Michael Keleshian, Emilio Pichardo, Ross Valantine
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With Special Guests
One of California’s most exciting a cappella groups.
Outta the Vox
| Singing today’s hits and classics from decades past, we are Outta the Vox! OTV is Sacramento’s premiere a cappella ensemble, serving you fresh takes on some of your favorite tunes. Outta the Vox has spent the last decade redefining vocal music in the Capital City. You might have seen them commanding massive stages, such as when they were chosen as the opening act for Foreigner during their 2023 farewell tour, or placing second in their Bay Area Regional Harmony Sweepstakes debut. OTV’s mission to enhance and foster art and artistry within the local community is also evident in their numerous collaborations with Sacramento’s own K Street Orchestra. |
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Your Emcee for the Evening 
Paul Nathan
| You may have seen Paul on TV, films, or online and not even realized it. He has appeared on HBO, MTV, and even on Star Trek Voyager and Eddie Murphy’s film Dr. Dolittle. His work is smart, funny, irreverent, and unique. Paul's theater shows, Devil in the Deck and The I Hate Children Children's Show have won awards, critical acclaim, and sell out audiences in the UK, and the US. |
2026 Judges
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Bill Hare
Bill Hare has been a full-time recording engineer/producer for 35 years, and is recognized as a pioneer in bringing pop/rock production techniques to recorded contemporary a cappella.
Over the decades, Bill has recorded and/or mixed acclaimed albums for some of the best-known Contemporary A Cappella groups around the globe - from The Swingle Singers to The King’s Singers in the UK, Basix to Vocal Line in Denmark, Italy's Cluster, The Ghost Files, Alti & Bassi and Maybe6ix, German supergroups Wise Guys, Amarcord and Maybebop to name just a few, as well as artists from dozens of other countries from Australia to Zimbabwe.
Of course, at the same time he also covered the USA from his home base in California, working with top American acts including The House Jacks, m-pact, Pentatonix, Peter Hollens, Street Corner Symphony, NoTa, Duwende, The Backbeats, Brian Wilson/The Beach Boys as well as working on the hit NBC Television show The Sing- Off.
Bill’s story was also told in the original book version of Pitch Perfect, from which the popular movies were adapted. Bill is the world’s most awarded individual Contemporary A Cappella producer, including more than 70 appearances on BOCA, over 100 CARA nominations, nearly 40 albums in the RARB "Picks of the Year" lists, and 11 "DeeBee" awards since 1987 in the Vocal Jazz category from Downbeat Magazine. Numerous appearances at the top of Billboard, iTunes, and other major charts. Multiple Gold and Platinum record certifications, as well as multiple Grammy Awards and nominations. |
Daria
DARIA is a vocalist, recording artist and educator. She blends Jazz with Pop, Latin and Brazilian rhythms. An innovative singer with a beautiful, soulful voice and wide range, she has 3 critically acclaimed CDs. Her most recent, “Strawberry Fields Forever, Songs by the Beatles” was released on award-winning Origin Records. “Daria’s phrasing, gives a new perspective to the lyrics. When she purrs, “You can knit a sweater by the fireside,” it sounds like a sensual delight.” - Downbeat - ”She sings with unself-conscious abandon, extraordinary range, fearlessly reinventing tunes and melodies." – Paul Liberatore, Marin IJ
Daria has toured internationally, including Japan and Montreux. She has shared the stage and recorded with Bob Dorough, Ricki Lee Jones, Diana Krall, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello, Tuck and Patti, Dave Grisman, Maria Muldaur, Joe Sample, Harold Jones, Christian McBride, Abe Laboriel, Jose Neto, Lewis Nash, Marcos Silva, and Alex Acuna, among others. She’s a member of the a cappella trio, Dangerous Divas and conducts the Marin Harmony A Cappella Chorus. Daria toured with the legendary Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks/ for 10 years. The Hot Licks currently perform, carrying the torch for Dan’s music. |
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Aaron Director
Aaron Director has been involved in a cappella music since the late 1980s and for the past twelve years has been fully immersed as founder and executive director of Acaville, a nonprofit dedicated to a cappella, with streaming radio, a video channel, event coverage, and more. That role has enabled him to sit down with groups across the decades, coach, and teach. As a singer, he has performed with opera companies and jazz combos, and lots in between. When his headphones aren't on, he spends time with his family just outside of Portland, Oregon. |
Patty Hawley-Pennycook
The baritone of Sweet Adelines International 2003 Quartet Champions, Swinglish Mix, Patty Hawley-Pennycook grew up a barbershop brat who always attended barbershop rehearsals and conventions with her father, Charlie, a member of the 7-time International men’s chorus champions, The Louisville Thoroughbreds. Louisville had many men’s championship quartets, so she feels she got her barbershop “chops” singing tags with the guys from quartets like Bluegrass Student Union, Second Edition, Interstate Rivals, Revival, and Gas House Gang. After she joined the women to sing, it wasn’t long before the four girls of Swinglish Mix found each other and made their mark as part of Sweet Adelines International. They started singing together in 1995 and have performed all over the United States plus Canada, Sweden, and New Zealand.
Patty is a vocal coach and now directs two well-known barbershop choruses in the Bay Area. Ladies can visit with Patty at Sweet Adelines' Mid-Size Regional Champions in Petaluma, the Pacific Empire Chorus, where she enjoys bringing women of all ages together to have fun learning to sing and dance as one and to impact an audience with every performance! She also directs the men of the Barbershop Harmony Society's Napa Valley Harmonizers where she enjoys performing shows close to home and her family in Napa!
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Interested in Competing?
We are always seeking groups who would like to compete 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.
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