15th Annual

Boston Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival acapella singing competition

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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.

1999 Boston Champions

Pickup 6

At the crossroads between swinging jazz, sultry soul, and upbeat pop, Pickup 6 delights and entertains audiences with a high-energy a cappella sound. Since 1996, we have journeyed down the musical highway, constantly straddling the double- yellow line between sophistication and fun. Most of our arrangements are by members of the sextet, including standards like "Route 66," blustery, heated ballads like "Fever," or more off-beat fare like "You Never Give Me Your Money" and "Cool" from West Side Story. Performing at jazz clubs and private parties, or spending long nights rehearsing or producing new arrangements, we find joy, challenge, companionship and inspiration in our singing.

1999 Results

1st
Pickup 6
2nd
SoRare
3rd
Faith in Action
Audience Favorite
After Eight


1999 Participating Groups

6 Day Week
6 Day Week is a six-man contemporary, a cappella band hailing from Portland, Maine. The guys first sang together in the Maine Steiners, the premiere a cappella group at the University of Maine at Orono. Wanting to continue singing together as the end of college crept near, the began the transition to the semi-professional a cappella scene. Since then, they have shared the stage with Five O'Clock Shadow, the House Jacks, and tonight's hosts, Ball In The House.Members: Jonathan Goodine, Patrick McCarthy, Jonathan Gallant, Matt Murray, Jeff Sewell, Sterling Shepperd

After Eight
After Eight is a male a cappella group based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is comprised of graduates from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, ranging from the Class of 1990 to the Class of 1996. After Eight's members all sang in a 50+ year tradition at Colby - the male a cappella group on campus called the Colby Eight. After Eight's membership has changed over its four and a half years. However, this current group has been singing together for over two years. Our set lists consist of varied styles from classic barbershop to contemporary hits, and from doo-wop to spirituals. This variety of styles allows us to perform at various venues. We have enjoyed singing at the Comedy Connection in Faneuil Hall; the Keene Pumpkin Festival, with over 30,000 people in attendance; First Night Annapolis; First Night Providence; the National Anthem at Fenway Park and the Fleet Center; and many private parties, weddings, and other functions. Holding down professional day jobs, we look forward to weekly rehearsals to add to our growing repertoire - and probably more likely - to hang, eat pizza and drink some cold beverages.Members: Jonathan Frothingham, Jonathan Howe, Peter Caruso, Mark Longsjo, David O'Shea, Jun Shirahama, Marc Winiecki

Faith in Action
Faith in Action is a women's a cappella group, combining gospel and jazz with a variety of musical backgrounds and intricate original arrangements. Founded in March, 1996, the ad hoc group sang the same song (Sweet Honey in the Rock's, "We Are") over several months for church-related events, culminating in a performance at Madison Square Garden in August, 1996 for church members from the District of Columbia to Maine. After Madison Square Garden, they decided maybe God had a plan for the group, and maybe it was time to learn more than one song. They chose a name, added another member, and learned some original tunes. In the Spring of 1997, Faith in Action started getting connected with the Boston a cappella community, and joined other groups in local performances, including a cappella showcases, clubs (Johnny D's and Ryles), and the 1997 East Coast A Cappella Summit.Members: Sharon Belville, Suzanne Clark, Janet Appleby, Toni Franklin, Maureen Griffis, Rebecca Harrold, Julie Kinscheck

House Blend
HouseBlend is an a cappella male quartet performing its own pop, jazz, seasonal, folk, country, gospel and other assorted musical genres. The members of the group met through the music ministry at Concord United Methodist Church. As they sang together, they realized something special was developing. In 1998, HouseBlend was born. Almost immediately, they were in demand to sing at various occasions in the area. Their repertoire expanded with each performance, their style emerged and their sleek presentation unfolded.Members: Elisa Catalano, Colleen Flannery, Allison Berger, Christian Force, Erin O'Connor, Stephanie Pappas

Pickup 6
At the crossroads between swinging jazz, sultry soul, and upbeat pop, Pickup 6 delights and entertains audiences with a high-energy a cappella sound. Since 1996, we have journeyed down the musical highway, constantly straddling the double- yellow line between sophistication and fun. Most of our arrangements are by members of the sextet, including standards like "Route 66," blustery, heated ballads like "Fever," or more off-beat fare like "You Never Give Me Your Money" and "Cool" from West Side Story. Performing at jazz clubs and private parties, or spending long nights rehearsing or producing new arrangements, we find joy, challenge, companionship and inspiration in our singing.
Listen to: Route 66 | Listen to: Beatles Medley

Members: Adam Scotville, Valery Northrop, Kirsten Findell, Lisa MacAlaster, Christian Nolen, John Paquette

Random Association
Formed in November of 1997. Founders Joe Antonioli and John Hadden had worked together in preceeding years, John recording and producing several recordings for the UVM Top Cats of which Joe was the Musical Director. Both boys were aching to start up a professional group, so, when the time was ripe, they did! True to its name, RA found its musicians in a rather random way--through want ads in local Burlington, Vermont papers and via word of mouth. We think we lucked-out, finding us some very fine musicians!Members: Meg Chambers, Sharon Dorsey, Joe Antonioli, Leigh Guptill, John Hadden, Jill O'Brien, Rich Redmond

Similar Jones
Similar Jones is a vocal band with a combined sound that's bigger than their 7 voices. With a heavy focus on blues and rock, the vocal band uses a powerful rhythm section to get things pumping and tight, and bright background vocals to build the foundation for a wide variety of songs, including favorite covers and their own original tunes. SJ has been gigging around Boston for ... holy crap has it really been 15 years? ... at venues large and small. The current lineup features an opera singer, an astrophysicist, and one original member. Can you guess who they are?Members: Mike LeBlanc, Tom Reid, Heath Dill, Jeremy Sacco, Mike Schwartz, Judd Tomaselli

SoRare
SoRare is thrilled to be performing once again in the Harmony Sweepstakes! Since last year's performance here at Tufts University. We have had the pleasure of appearing at various venues throughout New England. Some of our engagements included: Boston's Hampshire House (water glasses on a silver tray), many restrooms and stairwells (great acoustics), various restaurants (a quartet has to eat), and Bridgewater's Fourth of July celebration (a guaranteed standing ovation). Having seen too many Hollywood musicals as children, we keep waiting for passersby to burst into song and follow us dancing through the streets, but, as of this date, we have attracted only one cat in heat and several howling dogs. Nevertheless, SoRare's Karen Christofi, Jannis Moylan, Donna Manoogian and Arlene Isaac will continue to sing wherever and whenever the opportunity arises and we look forward to sharing our "joyful noise" with you this evening.Members: Arlene Isaac, Donna Manoogian, Karen Christofi, Jannis Moylan

1999 Judges TBA



Complete list of 1999 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 :

Dan Campagna (Boston) has been a part of the a cappella community for over 10 years and is the co-founder and business manager of the Boston-based group, Fermata Town. Behind his leadership, Fermata Town has released two award-winning albums, performed at international festivals and appeared on network TV. In 2013, Fermata Town captured the Boston Harmony Sweepstakes championship before placing third overall at Nationals where they took home "Best Original Song" honors. He is a founding board member of the Contemporary A Cappella League and voluteer program manager for the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA). An active member in the Boston a cappella community, Dan enjoys attending local shows and volunteering for Varsity Vocals during ICCA season.

Prior to Fermata Town, Dan sang collegiate a cappella at Emmanuel College in Encore!, the college’s first-ever coed group which later changed its name to In Good Company.

Outside of a cappella, Dan works fulltime at Emmanuel College as the Director of Athletic Communications. Dan is also an Assistant Coach to the University of Massachusetts Boston Women’s Soccer Team and an adjunct professor at Lasell College where he teaches a sports journalism course.


860-874-5191
FermataTown@gmail.com


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