2019 Participating Groups
 | | Capital Blend
Capital Blend formed in the spring of 2008 when several coworkers learned they shared a common interest in singing. Now, consisting of women from a wide variety of professions, Capital Blend is mostly comprised of former college a cappella performers and other musically inclined individuals. Capital Blend performs in and around the DC Metro area at venues ranging from the Washington Nationals Stadium to retirement communities and corporate events. The group's repertoire includes popular music, oldies but goodies, international hits, and original compositions.Members: Brandi Rose, Caity Gillooley, Cristina Watson, Erika Cogliani, Jessica Maloney, Kelsey Carroll, Miriam Abaya, Elisa Talmage, Elizabeth Bassen, Julia Clune
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The District
The District was formed in Washington, D.C. in late 2012. A contemporary all-female a cappella group, The District embodies an empowered, energetic, and versatile sound through an array of pop, rock, country, and R&B covers. Characterized by complex arrangements, tight harmonies, fierce soloists, and crisp vocal percussion, The District performs throughout the DMV area at fundraisers, community and corporate events, and regional competitions. Most recently, The District performed at legendary music hall, The Birchmere, where they placed second and won "Audience Favorite" at the 2018 Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival.Members: Nicole Gilmore, Campbell Keyser, Melissa Canu, Mallory McKenzie, Natalie Walden, Elizabeth Bundy, Laura Fender, Hannah Donnelly, Michelle Gahagan, Charnice Frazier, Charlotte Cummins, Hannah Montanez
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 | | Ember
ember is a 6-piece vocal band from Baltimore, MD. They seek to create energetic live performances with the combination of dynamic vocalists, an internationally-ranked beatboxer, and a high-class blend. In the past year, ember competed at Carnegie Hall during the Varsity Vocals Open finals, debuted their original single "Bad Romantic", and have performed around the country from L.A. to North Carolina, to Boston, and their home of Baltimore. You can find more of them everywhere online, @embervocals!Members: Alyce McNulty, Michael Wingate, Lauren Redditt, Marcella Astore, Winston Harris, Lamont Pierce
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Forecast
Forecast is a men's a cappella quartet singing together since 2014. Mike, Tyler, Travis, and Kevin travel from North Carolina to Virginia to put their 4 voices together. Their unique "feel-good" repertoire of songs spanns from traditional early American vocal standards in the barbershop style all the way to four-part harmony versions of contemporary hits by Michael Buble, Big Bad VooDoo Daddy, and the Jive Aces! Competitive success for the quartet includes Southern Division Champions of the Mid-Atlantic District in 2016, Second Place M-AD District Finalist in 2017, and Quarterfinalists at the international Barbershop Harmony Society contests in 2017 and 2018.Members: Mike Fitch, Tyler Rackley, Kevin Jones, Travis Murray
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 | | Hall Pass
Hi! We're a middle school a cappella group at A. Mario Loiederman Middle School. Don't let our age or energy fool you into thinking we don't work hard! We come from a diverse background of people that are dancers, singers, actors, instrumentalist, artist, gymnast, sportist... wait... would it be sporters and not sportist if we play sports? Oh well, it actually doesn't matter: we have a Hall Pass to say it however we want. We love meeting new people, going to other venues to sing, and if you ever need a hall pass for anything, we're your tribe!Members: Owaine Achiume Holdway, Via Coffey, Hiwan Desta, Esther Dzinedza, Aura Gallanar, Kaiya Gilgeous, Isabel Hook, Beze Nkemanjong, Seger Ott-Rudolph, Aria Princivil, Chiebuka Soribe, Mackenzie Taylor
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Mix It Up
Mix It Up is a Barbershop quartet, initially formed as a Valentines quartet. Its members are all Sweet Adelines, and are members of Harbor City Music Company, an international level Sweet Adelines Chorus.Members: Ericka McLeod, Angel Kidwell, Amy Kinder, Natalie McIntyre
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 | | Supreme Chord
Supreme Chord is a DC-area based a cappella group made up of young professionals who have a love of singing and come from all walks of life. We are a diverse group of people that span the realm of arts, medicine, technology, and more in our "real" lives. Many of us sang in college a cappella groups all over the country before finding each other in DC. Our repertoire includes alternative, pop, and R&B music, and is always expanding.Members: Ryan Ong, Barbara Pando-Behnke, Shivangi Moghe, Julia Clunn, Alejandra Rodriguez-Gitler, Bonnie Pancoast, Brad Edelman, Marc Yudson
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2019 Judges
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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. |
Kris Adams
Kris Adams got her Music education degree from Indiana State University but started her A capella musical adventures LONG before that. After her parents married at a barbershop singing convention, Kris’s life was destined to be filled with right harmony and an amazing extended singing family! She has two international barbershop gold medals with Harmony Queens Hot Topic, 2003 and Epic 2012 along with various other area and international awards. Most recently her quartet Rogue placed 8th in Harmony Incorporated’s 59th international competition. Kris also serves as the assistant director of the top ranking barbershop chorus Bella Nova out of Ashburn Virginia. She spends the rest her time teaching music privately, performing around the country and caring for her two beautiful children. She is happily married and living in Leesburg, VA with her amazing husband Rob. |
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Mike Rowan
Mike Rowan is the Communications Manager for Chorus America and a veteran of the choral world with diverse experiences in nonprofit arts administration, communications, and education. He is deeply involved in vocal ensembles locally, singing with The Capital Hearings, where he serves as the assistant music director; and the 18th Street Singers, where he was previously the communications director. He was a co-producer on The Capital Hearings' first two albums, When The Night Is New (2017) and Opening Statement (2013). Mike is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he earned a bachelor's degree in organizational studies. He is a former music director of the UMich Dicks & Janes, and an alumnus of the Michigan Men’s Glee Club. |
 
Complete list of 2019 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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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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