2003 Rocky Mountain Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival

19th 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.

2003 Rocky Mountain Champions

Groove Society

Groove Society, formed by Bianca Herbert & Joe Herbert, is an award winning vocal jazz sextet that is among the top rising stars on the world a cappella scene. In 2006, the group was named "Vocal Group of the Year" by the JPF International Music Awards, as well as being honored for "Best A Cappella Album", and "Best A Cappella Song". And in 2007, Groove Society received the prestigious "IAJE Award for Outstanding Service to Jazz Education" at the International Association for Jazz Education convention in New York City.

With the release of their critically acclaimed debut CD, Groove Society is receiving airplay on major-market jazz and NPR stations from coast to coast and around the world. They have appeared at international jazz festivals across the Mainland U.S., Hawaii, and Canada, sharing the billing with, and/or opening for top artists including Bonnie Raitt, Herbie Hancock, Bobby McFerrin, The Neville Brothers, Eddie Palmieri, Paquito D'Rivera, Freddy Cole, Patty Austin, The Rippingtons, Bobby Hutcherson, Jimmy Heath, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dr. John, The Bad Plus, Paul Taylor, Nelson Rangell, Soulive, Styx, and many more!

2003 Results
1st	Groove Society
2nd	Face
Audience Favorite	Face
Best Original Song	"The Run" - Luke Kellison

2003 Participating Groups

4Ever Young
4Ever Young is an all woman quartet that has been together for two years; although the newest member, soprano Lisa Capano has been with the group for three weeks. They have performed at the Boulder County Fair, Longmont Art Walks and for private functions. The majority of songs are standards from the 1920's through the 1960's and are arranged by Marilyn Penn.

Face
Face is a nationally recognized all-vocal rock band from Boulder, Colorado, bringing a new edge and attitude to the human voice. Using just five voices and a vocal drummer, or "beat-boxer," Face creates a rock-music phenomenon that has to be seen to be believed. No other instruments or special effects - just six guys. Considered "among the top 10 singing groups in the country," (Norm Johnson, Las Vegas Leisure Guide) they regularly wow sold-out audiences throughout Colorado, including such classic venues as Boulder Theater and The Soiled Dove.

Face was recently named "Best Local Musician/Group" by Boulder Weekly's 2009 Best of Boulder Reader Survey. In addition, Face is a two-time winner of the National Audience Favorite Award at the Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals, as well as National Runner-Up in 2005 and 2007. Face was also runner-up for Favorite Pop/Rock Group in the 2007 Contemporary A Cappella Society's Community Awards. Face has been headlining in Las Vegas periodically since 2007 to rave reviews, paving the way for even more national attention.

Members: Forest Kelly, John Lawrence, Joseph DiMasi, Ben Lumstad, Mark Megibow, Cody Qualls

Groove Society
Groove Society, formed by Bianca Herbert & Joe Herbert, is an award winning vocal jazz sextet that is among the top rising stars on the world a cappella scene. In 2006, the group was named "Vocal Group of the Year" by the JPF International Music Awards, as well as being honored for "Best A Cappella Album", and "Best A Cappella Song". And in 2007, Groove Society received the prestigious "IAJE Award for Outstanding Service to Jazz Education" at the International Association for Jazz Education convention in New York City.

With the release of their critically acclaimed debut CD, Groove Society is receiving airplay on major-market jazz and NPR stations from coast to coast and around the world. They have appeared at international jazz festivals across the Mainland U.S., Hawaii, and Canada, sharing the billing with, and/or opening for top artists including Bonnie Raitt, Herbie Hancock, Bobby McFerrin, The Neville Brothers, Eddie Palmieri, Paquito D'Rivera, Freddy Cole, Patty Austin, The Rippingtons, Bobby Hutcherson, Jimmy Heath, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dr. John, The Bad Plus, Paul Taylor, Nelson Rangell, Soulive, Styx, and many more!

Listen to: Listen To The Music | Listen to: You’re No Good

Members: Jeremy Ruff, Cameron Chinatti, Joe Herbert, Damion Massey, Bianca Herbert, Dave Sheehan

No Better Cause
No Better Cause is an award winning pop/soul/funk vocal band hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska. Through a combination of jaw-dropping performances and innovative studio musicianship, their music has put them on a national platform since their humble beginnings in 2002. With a unique assortment of both original songs and uniquely arranged covers, No Better Cause is guaranteed to deliver a show that people of all ages can appreciate and enjoy, whether it be of a rock, pop, funk, soul, jazz or gospel influence... and it's all done using NOTHING but their voices!

Whether it's the rumbling resonance of the bass, the spectacularly soaring high tenors, or the bold beatboxing of the incredible vocal percussion, No Better Cause is sure to catch your eyes and ears, as each unique component of this seasoned a cappella sensation works together to make their harmonized sound a sonic movement. As the group continues to perform, they have made tremendous strides with each new member, demonstrating that the current lineup is one that can be mentioned with the a cappella elites.

Members: Luke Kellison, Justin Runge, Nate Kellison, Drew Hoffman, Adam McCarville, Zakk Wooten

Proof Positive
Proof Positive is a five woman a cappella group. They have performed at the Botanic Gardens Festival of Lights, Annual plant Sale, and Birdhouse Bash Silent Auction. Other venues have included: Birthdays, Weddings, Open Houses and other Celebrations. They have also been featured on Channel 58, the local DCTV. Their music is diverse and ranges from contemporary to doo-op. Several of their members have been performing for years together as a group and have been a contestant in the Regional Harmony Sweepstakes a cappella competition.

Members: Karen Kinner, Elizabeth Holman, Cecily Barnard, Peg Thompson, Dee Marcotte

Raging Harmonies
Under the direction of Lois Peterson, Raging Harmonies is from Westminster High School where they blend their unique personalities and styles to create their own a cappella arrangements. They have opened for such groups as Graffiti Tribe, M-PACT, and Toxic Audio. They’ve performed at the Soiled Dove, Governor Owens’ Summer Job Hunt, Colorado ADAD conference, Colorado Music Educators Association, the Boulder Kinetics Parade as well as for many local organizations. They have placed in the top three groups at the CHSAA Jazz Festival several years in a row.

Members: Denine Lopez, Danielle Martinez, Winston King, Shaun Nelson, Meggi Price, Chris Vasquez, Derrick Williams

2003 Judges TBA

Complete list of 2003 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 :

Our Hall of Fame - The Harmony Sweepstakes National Champions