2004 Mid-Atlantic Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival

20th 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.

Hosted by

The Idea of North

The Idea of North defies categorisation. As a quartet of musicians, their voices are their instruments: soprano, alto, tenor and bass, with a bit of vocal percussion thrown in. Their sound and style is distinct, yet they cross many musical genres: jazz, pop, folk, gospel, even comedy.

Their arrangements are extraordinary. They take songs you know and songs you don't and create songs you'll love. But it's not just about the music:

"A pitch-perfect ensemble negotiating complex modulations with ease, constant seamless transition between lead and accompaniment parts, and the whole thing strung together by low-key, humorous conversational patter..." The Courier-Mail

Members: Nick Begbie, Naomi Crellin, Luke Thompson

2004 Mid-Atlantic Champions

Mosaic

Mosaic is a six-man a cappella group with an off-the wall style, intricate harmony, and a "get up out yo' seat" beat. They cover a wide range of popular music in new and exciting ways. Mosaic is a collaboration of minds and talents that form a truly unique show you don't want to miss.

2004 Results
1st	Mosaic
2nd	Blue Jupiter
3rd	Almost Recess
Best Original Arrangement	Flip, Flop, Fly
Best Original Song	Eliza

2004 Participating Groups

Almost Recess
Almost Recess is a five-man vocal band from the Washington, DC area whose mission is to bring kickin' a cappella music to every single person in the world. This is Almost Recess's second time around at the Mid-Atlantic and we are happy to have them back, and not just because they are going to videotape the performance!

Blue Jupiter
Blue Jupiter's all-vocal performance is nothing short of explosive! The world-touring a cappella quartet has been described as "The real deal," by rock legend, Gene Simmons; "Simply terrific" by Scott Conant of Food Network, "Incredible!" by Jane Pauly from NBC; "Nothing short of magic," by the Sands Casino Entertainment Department, and "Simply the best music act we've ever had at our schools," by the Connecticut Public Schools Board. Blue Jupiter's energetic blend of pop lead vocals, jazzy a cappella harmony and funky beatbox has garnered standing ovations in over 40 states and around the world.

Members: Chris Chatham, Toby Donnelly, Chris Thomas, Marty Gasper, Marty Gasper

Brylcream
Brylcream got it1s start in 1992 with Tommy "Cool T" Welter, John "Wopp" Mina, Richard "Richie" Beattie, Gary "G Man" Groneman, and Roy "Wolfman" Conklin. Since thier beginnings, Brylcream has graced the stages across the Southeast with many ledgendary performers such as The Coasters, Joey D and The Startlighers, Davey Jones and The Monkees, Johnny Maestro and his Brooklyn Bridge, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and many more. Today, Cool T, Wopp, and Richie join Jason "Jay Bird" Sullivan and Billy "Billy D" Louth, to form one of Southwest Florida's most requested Doo Wop Groups.

Cartoon Johnny
Cartoon Johnny is an energetic vocal band that pushes the limits of traditional a cappella. Drawing on influences from classic soul to modern alternative, they've crafted an exciting sound that is often mistaken for an instrumental band - but it's all vocal.

Based in the Washington DC area, Cartoon Johnny performs a variety of sure-fire audience favorites and their own original music, bringing audiences to their feet show after show. They are two-time National Harmony Sweepstakes finalsists, winning the title for the Mid-Atlantic Region in 2005, and in New York in 2009.

Cartoon Johnny has shared the stage with some of the best in a cappella and beyond. Highlights include headlining ACappellaFest Detroit in 2010, and performing with Marvin Hamlisch in his Christmas special at the Kennedy Center in 2008. Hamlisch invited the group to join him for his July 4th concerts in San Diego in 2009.

Members: Kevin Dixon, Ben Feeney, Mike Henrickson, Darcy Romano, Kieran Daly, Mike Webb, Kieran Daly

The Chromatics
People often ask us how the Chromatics got started. It's a complicated story, but here's a brief summary:

Back in 1993, a group called the OK Chorale was formed at NASA'S Goddard Space Flight Center by Anne Raugh and Steve Leete. The OK Chorale was 12 members strong and sang mostly doo-wop tunes, standards, and classics from Sesame Street. None of the current Chromatics were in the group at its inception, but Padi Boyd and Karen Smale joined in 1993, followed by Alan Smale and Deb Nixon in 1994.

After numerous further changes in personnel, including the departure of co-founder Anne Raugh, the group decided to refocus and reinvent itself as The Chromatics. The Chromatics were incorporated in 1995, and have been performing continuously under that name ever since.

Mosaic
Mosaic is a six-man a cappella group with an off-the wall style, intricate harmony, and a "get up out yo' seat" beat. They cover a wide range of popular music in new and exciting ways. Mosaic is a collaboration of minds and talents that form a truly unique show you don't want to miss.

Listen to: Take 5 | Listen to: Shining Star

Members: Josh, Sean, Corwyn, John, Troy, Andrew, Corwyn

Staticflow
Staticflow is a band with a unique, vocally-generated sound. The group focuses on creating original music filled with passion, drive, and soul, but also performs a number of popular covers. Each singer in the group brings their own influences to bear on the sound, filling the music with rich vocal textures, soaring leads, and thumping bass and vocal percussion. This will be Staticflow’s first appearance at the Mid-Atlantic Regional.

2004 Judges

Jordan Hirsch

Jordan is an accomplished arranger who competed in the 2003 Sweeps with Route 1, who tied for 2nd place. Jordan has also sung with dcVocals and The University of MD Generics

Richard Hsu

Richard Hsu has been part of the Washington D.C. music scene for over 20 years as a chorister and soloist, a clinician, a producer, and a business manager. He is known most notoriously as a member of Da Vinci's Notebook, who have graced stages from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles, including right here at the Birchmere.

DVN's music has appeared on NBC's "Today Show", the "Drew Carey Show", and "Despicable Me 2", and appears to be popular with his kids' middle school friends. He recommends you Google it without young children in the room.

David Whitman

For a ten year span in the late 1980s and mid 1990s, David Whitman was the basso profundo of Brock & The Rockets. Brock & The Rockets were the first D.C.-area acappella group to headline at the Birchmere, were earlier winners of the Harmony Sweepstates eastern regional, and hosted the regional in D.C. in 1994. Prior to his stint with Brock & Rockets, Whitman bassed for six years for the Boston-based quintet, The Moving Violations. He last served as a judge at the D.C. regional in 2002.

Complete list of 2004 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

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