2004 Rocky Mountain 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

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!

2004 Rocky Mountain Champions

Inpulse

Based in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, InPulse is a rocking vocal band whose five members are all classically trained vocalists. They entertain all kinds of audiences with an energetic concert performance that includes famous vocal percussionist Paul Donnelly. The ensemble has won the National Harmony Sweepstakes Denver competition. InPulse also endeavors to advance the art of a cappella through original music, and the education of young singers. The group has worked with nearly 3,000 students in the past year with its educational outreach clinic to teach and promote the art of vocal music through hands-on experience.

2004 Results
1st	Inpulse
2nd	Raging Harmonies
Audience Favorite	Face
Best Original Arrangement	"Obsession" Arr. by Marcus Hanson
Best Original Song	"Hazy Shade" by Carleen Michaud

2004 Participating Groups

Curious Gage
One of Colorado's newest contemporary vocal bands, 'Curious Gage' from Fort Collins has a unique blend of rock, jazz, pop and soul. Using only the instruments they were born with, these five guys capture the intensity and energy of today's rock bands.

Members: Justin Curtis Adams, Christian Nielsen, Nic Widhalm, Ryan Smykil, Tom Miles, Nic Widhalm

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: Cody Qualls, Ryan Driver, Ben Lunstad, Forest Kelly, Joseph DiMasi, Mark Megibow, Ben Lunstad

Inpulse
Based in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, InPulse is a rocking vocal band whose five members are all classically trained vocalists. They entertain all kinds of audiences with an energetic concert performance that includes famous vocal percussionist Paul Donnelly. The ensemble has won the National Harmony Sweepstakes Denver competition. InPulse also endeavors to advance the art of a cappella through original music, and the education of young singers. The group has worked with nearly 3,000 students in the past year with its educational outreach clinic to teach and promote the art of vocal music through hands-on experience.

Listen to: Kiss From A Rose | Listen to: Obsession

Members: Gabe Koxlien, Matt McDonald, Michael Espinoza, Paul Donnelly, Marcus Hanson, Michael Espinoza

LoDo Air Band
Since 1996, Denver's LoDo Air Band has sung only original arrangements along with many original tunes, delivered with non-stop high energy. Prepare for a wild ride through a cappella hilarium with the six-voice group's renditions of Classic Rock and R&B.

Members: Kristen Brown, Art Ortega, Kelly Hays, Christine Young, Jonathan Smith, Doug Tisdale, Kelly Hays

moosebutter
Moosebutter is a four-man comedy a cappella group. They have won awards from the Contemporary A Cappella Society(Best Comedy Song, 2004), The Harmony Sweepstakes (2003 International Finals runners-up), had their music included on compilation albums (Doctor Demento Basement Tapes 2005, Sing II 2005) and played live shows in front of audiences around the United States. Their tight harmony and eclectic humor have charmed audiences through two albums and countless live performances.

To handle all the performance requests they receive, moosebutter has several casts of performers. They perform with three, four, or five singers, depending on the show, and have done just about every kind of show you can imagine (Punk rock show? Check. National television? Check. Wedding reception? Check.).

Members: Chris Hallis, Weston Wride, Tim Y. Jones, Glen Sawyer, Tim Y. Jones

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, Adam McCarville, Zakk Wooten, Zack Bjornsen, Nate Kellison

Raging Harmonies
These seven teens are all students at Colorado's Westminster High School. The young men and women of 'Raging Harmonies' strive to share the spotlight fairly and comprise the only high school-aged a cappella group to appear in the Harmony Sweepstakes.

Members: Jessican Israel, Denine Lopez, Lisa Baer, Chris Vasquez, Tez Diaz, Mike Ladner, Derik Padilla Rojas, Lisa Baer

Transformed
Since 1996, Transformed of Littleton, Colorado has performed mainly for women's conferences, special events and fundraisers in the area, and as far as Kyiv in the European Ukraine. The group's four female songsters use their God-given talents to encourage others.

Members: Rita Robbins, Kathy Spencer, Laura Gournie, Lisa Welsh, Laura Gournie

2004 Judges TBA

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 :

Tyler Wigginton (Rocky Mountain) Tyler Wigginton is a nonprofit fundraising professional, choral leader, and composer based in Denver, Colorado. He serves as a Philanthropy Officer with the Barbershop Harmony Society and is the Artistic/Musical Director of the fifth place medalist chorus Sound of the Rockies, while also singing bass in the internationally competitive quartet Sunday Night Social. A certified BHS Musicality Judge and sought-after coach for choruses and quartets, Tyler has taught at Harmony University, BinG! Harmony College, Rocky Mountain Harmony College, and multiple leadership summits. He holds a B.A. in Musical Composition from Metropolitan State University of Denver and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Musical Composition at Berklee College of Music. When not musicking he enjoys rock climbing, reading, tabletop games, and spending time with his family.

sundaynightsocialqt at gmail.com

Our Hall of Fame - The Harmony Sweepstakes National Champions

The Harmony Sweepstakes National Audience Favorites

Other Year's Results - 2026 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999
1995 - 1994

Primarily A Cappella - Your Source For Vocal Harmony Music

Browse

20th Annual

Hosted by

2004 Results

Interested in Performing?

Find a Harmony Sweepstakes Group

Find a Harmony Sweepstakes Singer

Primarily A Cappella - Your Source For Vocal Harmony Music