2000 Mid-Atlantic Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival

16th Annual

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.

2000 Mid-Atlantic Champions

Toxic Audio

In 1998, Toxic Audio launched its quirky show in an abandoned storefront at the Orlando International Fringe Festival. To their amazement, people began cramming into that storefront to see them. The show caught the attention of Disney executives who hired them as featured performers at the Disney/MGM Studios. Soon after, the group was crowned champion at the National Harmony Sweepstakes in California.

In the year 2003, Toxic Audio's album, Chemistry was named "Album of the Year" by the Contemporary Acappella Society of America. The group has made national TV appearances with Ed McMahon and Wayne Brady, and even got to sing a reggae-style weather report on ESPN2's morning show "Cold Pizza". Toxic Audio won the 2004 Drama Desk Award for "Unique Theatrical Experience" for their Off-Broadway Show in New York's John Houseman Theatre where they continue to electrify audiences by exploring the boundaries of the human voice.

2000 Results
1st	Toxic Audio
2nd	Midnight Voices
3rd	Crossroads
Best Original Arrangement	"Cheek to Cheek" Brian Lewis

2000 Participating Groups

4real
Since 1992 4real has been wowing crowds of all ages with their exciting and unique sound. These four male singers from western Pennsylvania use a variety of styles ranging from doo-wop to country to swing and just about anything in between. Coming from different parts of the country, with varied interests and fields of study, they combine high-energy harmonics with on-stage antics to create a show everyone will love. Members: Chris Murphy, Devon Lippmann, Richard Beaulè, Sean Moran

BlueLine
BlueLine is an award-winning, mixed quintet that performs jazz, gospel and pop a cappella music from the DC Area. Started in the fall of 1999 by friends whose day jobs weren't providing enough time on stage, the group has achieved a tight blend and performed at competitions, music festivals and private events. Washington City Paper called BlueLine "exciting" and "exhilarating." BlueLine gets its name from the subway line and is a tribute to the great Duke Ellington's "Take the 'A' Train" - the kind of bluesy jazz that the group loves to singMembers: Ashley Burt, Kakki Reynolds, Brian Lewis, J. P. Vidas, Anita Willis, Jeff Knishkowy

Crossroads
Crossroads is the new "superquartet" on the Barbershop Block, formed of four singers who are former BHS International Gold medalists in their own right, tenor Fred Farrell, lead Mike Slamka, bass Jim Henry and baritone Brandon Guyton. Henry won Gold in 1993 as a founding member and arranger of the legendary Gas House Gang, and is currently musical and artistic director of the 160-voice Ambassadors of Harmony. Guyton pocketed Gold in 2002 with Four Voices, Slamka sang his way to Gold with 2003 champs Power Play, and Farrell wore Gold with 1989 Quartet champs Second Edition. With this much vocal and arranging talent and experience, it came as no great surprise that newly-formed Crossroads struck Gold again in Anaheim, CA in 2009!Members: Anne Willis, Bob Schellhamer, Tom Felgen, Linda Beaver

Humbuckers
This 5-man vocal band that performs contemporary rock and pop songs throughout the Washington metro area. They pride themselves on unorthodox cooking techniques, obsolete geographical trivia-and they song too. The name, the Humbuckers, refers to a coil in microphones used to warm and smooth out the sound-it is also a sure deal for an Internet domain name. Members: Adrian Collazo, Eric Olsen, David Lieber, Dave Trendler, Larry France

Midnight Voices
A male group of seven that started in 1996 when a bunch of guys got together to serenade their "female friends" the night before high school graduation in Bucks County, PA. They specialize in classical, pop-contemporary, doo-wop, and barbershop. What is amazing about this group right now is that they all attend different colleges.Members: Justin Guarini, Cole Simcox, Kevin Powell, Paul Griffin, Michael Leach, Nick Cisik, Jay Herbert

Southbound
A male trio from Ohio that has been performing together since 1983. The style of music they perform is as diverse as their voices; they sing country, doo-wop, gospel, and rhythm and blues. The group sings on a weekly basis taking their unique brand of humor and harmony on the road wherever opportunity takes them.Members: Bob MacLeod, David Beck, Doug Miller

Toxic Audio
In 1998, Toxic Audio launched its quirky show in an abandoned storefront at the Orlando International Fringe Festival. To their amazement, people began cramming into that storefront to see them. The show caught the attention of Disney executives who hired them as featured performers at the Disney/MGM Studios. Soon after, the group was crowned champion at the National Harmony Sweepstakes in California.

In the year 2003, Toxic Audio's album, Chemistry was named "Album of the Year" by the Contemporary Acappella Society of America. The group has made national TV appearances with Ed McMahon and Wayne Brady, and even got to sing a reggae-style weather report on ESPN2's morning show "Cold Pizza". Toxic Audio won the 2004 Drama Desk Award for "Unique Theatrical Experience" for their Off-Broadway Show in New York's John Houseman Theatre where they continue to electrify audiences by exploring the boundaries of the human voice.
Listen to: Route 66 | Listen to: The Water Is Wide

Members: Jeremy James, Shalisa Sloan, Michelle Mailhot, Paul Sperrazza, Rene Ruiz

Vocal Tonic
This 6-man vocal band is based in Atlanta, which is rapidly becoming THE a cappella hub of the nation... well, at least in the South. Their repertoire is mainly progressive pop/rock, with a touch of jazz and R&B thrown in for good measure. Their recent recording garnered a CARA nomination for Best Original Song. Members: Graham Kuhn, Dave Gilbert, Dave Sperandio, Paul Tate, Paul Collar, Joey Chen

2000 Judges TBA

Complete list of 2000 participants

National Finals Recordings

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 :

Amanda Cornaglia (Mid-Atlantic) Amanda Cornaglia is the manager for Acaville Radio, a 24/7 streaming service for a cappella music. Amanda is also co-owner of Clear Harmonies, a full service studio and management company for a cappella groups. She got her start in contemporary a cappella with Special K, an all-female ensemble at Hamilton College. She has since performed and directed groups around the globe. She is business director and primary arranger of the multiple CARA nominated group Euphonism. She also founded Snowday, a professional quintet that incorporates contemporary vocal music into education, visiting close to 100 schools each year. She has served in various capacities at the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA) & turned the Contemporary A Cappella League into its own non-profit organization. Amanda has been a CARA nominator and judge since 2010.

amanda (at) clearharmonies.com

Our Hall of Fame - The Harmony Sweepstakes National Champions

The Harmony Sweepstakes National Audience Favorites

Other Year's Results - 2023 - 2022 - 2020 - 2019 - 2018 - 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010
2009 - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 1999 - 1998 - 1997 - 1995

The Birchmere

Many careers have been launched from this internationally recognized music hall. On any given night, a star may be born. Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, Jerry Jeff Walker, Dave Matthews, Vince Gill, John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and k.d. Lang are just a few of the artists counted as good friends of the Birchmere. The Birchmere is committed to the presentation of the highest quality music in a comfortable and intimate atmosphere. Directions -Yelp reviews -Photos

16th Annual

2000 Results

Interested in Performing?

The Birchmere

THE BIRCHMERE

3701 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305

Hear about Local A Cappella Events and Auditions

Find a Harmony Sweepstakes Group

Find a Harmony Sweepstakes Singer

Primarily A Cappella - Your Source For Vocal Harmony Music

Thanks to our Sponsor

16th Annual

2000 Results

Interested in Performing?

The Birchmere

THE BIRCHMERE

3701 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305

Hear about Local A Cappella Events and Auditions

Find a Harmony Sweepstakes Group

Find a Harmony Sweepstakes Singer

Primarily A Cappella - Your Source For Vocal Harmony Music

Browse By

Thanks to our Sponsor