2001 Participating Groups
| | 'Round Midnight
'Round Midnight is an award-winning "a cappella" quartet of music educators from the Long Island/Manhattan area of New York. While they sing primarily in the barbershop style, their eclectic influences range from jazz to classical and everything in between. The group is a two-time Semi-Finalist in the Barbershop Harmony Society's (BHS) International Barbershop Quartet Contest and they are also the BHS 2010 Mid-Atlantic District Quartet Champions. In addition, the foursome won the New York City Harmony Sweepstakes Championship and was bestowed with the coveted "Audience Favorite" award by overwhelming crowd vote. The quartet has received praise for their self-titled debut recording too, receiving a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) nomination in the category of "Best Barbershop Song" for their rendition of "Try A Little Tenderness". 'Round Midnight has been featured in an array of showcases, contests, and educational workshops spanning the United States from New York to California.
Members: Matthew, Joshua, Ian, Jason, Jim
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| | Delusions of Grandeur
Delusions of Grandeur is a semi-professional a cappella group from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Since its inception in 1995, D.O.G. has competed both on the collegiate and professional level, always putting the audience above all else. D.O.G. has competed in the National Championship of Collegiate A cappella, and has hosted the semi-finals for the past two years. Delusions was named crowd favorite at the 1998 and 1999 Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes. With a repertoire ranging from N'Sync to Kenny Loggins, Delusions of Grandeur performs with a combination of comedy and musicality that will leave any audience smiling.
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 | | elmoTHUMM
Who is elmoTHUMM? elmoTHUMM is a group of contemporary a cappella musicians based in Michigan. Now a quintet, including Greg Vaden, Jason Miller, Adam Westmoreland, Ed Pendleton & new-comer Paul Ellinger, elmoTHUMM is ready to take its show on the road in 2001. Perfect for school events, corporate functions, fairs, festivals, & anywhere there is a need for great a cappella entertainment, elmoTHUMM is sure to please. This will be elmoTHUMM‚s fourth appearance at the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes and as always look forward to having a great time.
Members: Jason Miller, Adam Westmoreland, Greg Vaden, Ed Pendleton, Paul Ellinger
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Fifth Element
Fifth Element is a six-man vocal band from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Since their start in 1998, 5E has performed their eclectic mix of cover tunes and award-winning original material all over the Midwest, twice advancing to the semifinals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. Their debut CD, "Plead the Fifth," was released in spring 2000. Fifth Element brings together the soaring vocal firepower of Nathan Cummings, the silky smoothness of Joe Turba, the vast stage experience of Brandon Richards, the thundering bass of Steve Clarke and Matthew Steiner, and what more than one ICCA judge has called "professional quality vocal percussion" from the vocal apparati of Tom Anderson, melding six young men into the sound, look, and feel of what some people insist on calling a "real band."
Members: Tom Anderson
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Prime Vocal Jazz
Prime Vocal Jazz is one of the leading exponents of American vocal jazz in the Detroit area. The ensemble of three men and three women performs a wide variety of audience-pleasing music, ranging from jazz to pop/rock to classical. PRime has recorded two CDs, toured Russia, and recently performed by invitation at the North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands) and Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland). The group gigs regularly in the metro Detroit and tri-state area for private parties, concerts and festivals and conducts student workshops.
Members: Ginny Lundquist, Gwen Jacques, Cat Hadrian, Steve SeGraves, Carl Rinne, Mike Begian
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Route 66
Route 66 made its spectacular debut in 1994 in The Netherlands under the direction of Leslie Gray and proved to be a success in a wide variety of venues all over Europe, performing to a 'standing room only' audience in the 9,000 seat AHOY amphitheatre in Rotterdam, as well as intimate dinner parties, trade shows and corporate events. Leslie returned to the United States in 1996 and recreated this successful group here in Chicago.
ROUTE 66 sings popular hits from nostalgic Swing to contemporary Rock 'n Roll, and everything in between. Enjoy the best of the Beatles, Queen, Tina Turner, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, and many more, all in fabulous four-part a cappella harmony! Audiences nation-wide enjoy traveling on America's musical highway with these four talented ladies!
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Three Men and A Tenor
For 19 years, Paul, Chuck, Mark and Glenn, have been winning over audiences in so many ways. With almost 2.500 performances, including sharing the stage with American legends like Chuck Berry, Dionne Warwick, Bob Newhart, Peter Cetera, Pat Boone, Lee Greenwood and The Beach Boys, 3MT has also been featured national entertainment for corporate conventions and conferences, as well as major festivals and fairs.
Paul, Chuck, Mark and Glenn formed a vocal group expecting to sing only one song together at Michigan State University to help fill concert time in a men's chorus concert. Since that very humble beginning over 18 years ago, these guys have had some amazing musical moments. In 2006, Three Men and a Tenor was voted the "Best Entertainment in Michigan", and the group is loved all over the world.
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 | | Voice Trek
Voice Trek has been thrilling listeners with their impeccable vocal skills since 1987. Their astonishing adaptability and inventive arrangements have defined this vocal quintet as one of the topmost in their genre. Based in Minnesota, the all-original members of Voice Trek are Shelley, Vicki, and Rae Plaster - three sisters who are known for their dazzling vocal mix; the group's tenor, Denis Allaire, specialist in vocal percussion and vocal instrumental sounds; and bringing up the bass is the dynamic Kevin Smith - the irreplaceable bottom line.
A multitalented and prolific group with numerous CD's in their catalog, Voice Trek has appeared in performance venues around the globe. Voice Trek's newly released CD "An A cappella Trek" is already receiving enthusiastic reviews from fans and critics alike.
Members: Vicki Plaster, Rae Plaster, Denis Allaire, Shelley Plaster, Kevin Smith
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2001 Judges TBA
 
Complete list of 2001 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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David Wilner (Chicago)
David Wilner competed in the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes with Blind Man’s Bluff and Fiveplay, winning First Place, Audience Favorite, and Best Original Song with each group. During his six years in Blind Man’s Bluff, David toured nationally and recorded five albums. He also spent seven years with the classic rock quartet Ac•Rock, recording two albums. Today, David emcees events throughout the Chicagoland area and performs in the band The Four C Notes. He has been the regional producer of the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes since 2017.
P.O. Box 4502, Naperville, IL 60567
847-226-3366
david@davidwilner.com
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