Hello, A Cappella Groups!

Reminder: The deadline to apply to compete in the 2010 PNW Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival  is Friday, February 5th.

Don't miss out on the chance to perform for our fantastic 800+ audience of a wild cappella fans AND hear a special performance by our host group, REZONATE (PNW 2009 champs!).

Year after year we hear back from all our groups about what a fantastic venue AND friendly and helpful crew we have for this event.

Visit our webpage to download the application and the rulebook.

http://www.mce.org/pages/Harmony.htm 

Worried about meeting the deadline? Send your application and materials to me via email. You can give me a call about your group's application fee and we can take care of that over the phone.

Please help us get the word out by posting this announcement on any bulletin boards you are connected with and send it out to talented groups you know.

I hope to see you at the 2010 PNW Harmony Sweepstakes!

Gary Witley

Director

PNW Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival

Masterworks Choral Ensemble 

Tel: 360-264-8301

Fax: 360-264-8302

If you can walk, you can dance.

If you can talk, you can sing.

- a Zimbabwe saying

Hello A Cappella Fans!

What a great turnout for the 2010 PNW Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival!
We received 12 applications! On Monday, February 8th, I'll announce the 8 groups
chosen to compete in this year's contest!

Long live a cappella music!

Gary Witley
PNW Director
Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival

SHOWCASE FOR HAITI

Benefit Concert

When: February 21st 2009

Silent Auction 6 pm - 7 pm
Benefit Concert 7 pm - 9 pm

Where:

Meydenbauer Center
11100 NE 6th Street
Bellevue, WA 98004

Featuring:

Emcee John Silverman

Featuring the Northwest Sound Men's Chorus, EX Box Boys, Moon Valley Brass
Quintet, Lake Washington High School Jazz Ensemble, Studio East and more!

Tickets:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/98986

Contact:
Sue Heale
10243 NE 64th Street
Kirkland, WA 98033

425-828-2474 - Info Line

See you there!!!

THE BOBS
NORTHWEST TOUR
MARCH 2010
Port Townsend/Shoreline/Portland

HAPPY NEW YEAR, BOBS FANS!
The Bobs' first tour of 2010 stays close to home!   A special welcome to new fans
who caught The Bobs last December in Judith Owen & Harry Shearer's Holiday SingAlong
or The Bobs' After Christmas Holiday Show at the Triple Door.

The Bobs' 2010 tour will feature new charts from their upcoming album (in production
right now!) as well as perennial favorites.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Friday 3/12/10 - PORT TOWNSEND, WA - 8:00 pm show

THE UPSTAGE
923 Washington, Port Townsend, WA
(360) 385-2216
www.upstagerestaurant.com

A funky great club (sit behind The Bobs if you dare!) in a funky little town in 
the shadows of the Olympic Mountains on a funky Friday night!  Get up close and 
personal, and for Pete's sake, try the amazing pizza.

* * * * 

Saturday 3/13/10 - SHORELINE, WA - 7:30 pm show

SHORECREST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
15343 25TH Ave. Shoreline, WA
(206) 417-4645
http://shorelinearts.net/index.php/Arts-in-Culture-Series/arts-in-culture-series.html 

Presented by the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Arts Council.Just north of Seattle!
Come check out the non-holiday Bobs, new fans!

* * * *

Sunday 3/14/10 - PORTLAND, OR - 8:00 pm show

MISSISSIPPI STUDIOS
3939 N. Mississippi, Portland, OR
(503) 288-3895
www.mississippistudios.com 

One of the best acoustic venues in Portland, hands down. Make the drive, People of Hillsboro!



Obligatory Promotional Block
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SIGN MY SNARLING MOVIE (DVD, 2007)
A documentary about The Bobs' 25+ year history, featuring footage from their sold-out
2006 Reunion Concerts in Berkeley, goofy AND amazing music videos and mind-blowing
celebrity cameos.  CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 

SONGS AT ANY SPEED (CD, 2009)
New to The Bobs? This collection combines their two seminal cover albums from the
1990's, The Bobs Sing the Songs Of...and The Bobs Cover The Songs Of...  Both were
out of print until recently.
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ONLY - HERE 


TELL YOUR COASTAL PEEPS ABOUT THESE BOBS SHOWS:
4/28/10 - Vienna, VA - Barns of Wolf Trap
4/30/10 - Ardmore, PA - Milkboy
5/1/10 - Red Bank, NJ - Two Rivers Theater
5/2/10 - Pawling, NY - Towne Crier
5/4/10 - New York, NY - Iridium Jazz Club
5/7/10 - Santa Monica, CA - McCabes
5/9/10 - Redwood City, CA - Bell Theater @ Angelica's

Visit The Bobs on FACEBOOK !

Hello A Cappella Fans!

I am very excited to announce an amazing line-up for the PNW Harmony Sweepstakes
A Cappella Festival being held in Olympia, Washington on Saturday, March 13,
2010. We had a super turnout with twelve groups applying to compete.

Here (in alphabetical  order) is the strongest line-up we have had in recent
memory...

Absolute (Corvallis, Oregon)
The five women of Absolute believe in music with a message. In performance they
blend tight vocal harmonies reminiscent of the group Sweet Honey in the Rock.
Their music ranges from South African freedom songs to contemporary folk music,
from doo-wop to choral arrangements, as well as some original pieces. Their
performances take you from the familiar and silly to the poignant and soulful.

<http://www.baudboys.com/>The Baudboys (Redmond, Washington)
The Baudboys are an award-winning, all-male a cappella group composed entirely
of Microsoft employees. Risking the wrath of fellow employees by rehearsing in
on-campus conference rooms, The Baudboys sing a variety of popular and original
music. The Baudboys were the PNW Champions in 2008.

<http://www.westminster.org/connect/creative-arts/crosspoint/>Crosspoint
(Bellevue, Washington)
Crosspoint is a vocal ensemble made up of church members of Westminster Chapel
in Bellevue, WA. They are a diverse group of people but they are unified in the
vision of providing a musical experience that brings hope and encouragement.
Crosspoint sings intricate yet fun jazz and gospel arrangements of church music.

<http://www.realtimequartet.com/index.php>Realtime (Vancouver, BC)
Realtime is a four-part a cappella group from Vancouver, BC and Lynden, WA, that
has been singing their music all over the world since 2003.  The group includes
brothers Mark Metzger and Tom Metzger on baritone and bass, and father-and-son
Doug Broersma and Tim Broersma on lead and tenor.  They have previously won the
Northwest Sweeps, as well as the world championship of barbershop harmony in
2005.  They have recorded three award-winning CD's, Four Brothers in 2004, Ain't
That A Kick in 2006, and Take 5 in 2009.

Shadywood Boys (Victoria, BC)
The Shadywood Boys are four guys who get together to sing.  We like grazing
freely through the pasture of quartet styles: a little Jubilee Quartet here, a
little Doo-Wop there, maybe a bit of Barbershop.  Sometimes we wander into the
back forty and browse 19th century styles such as Antebellum Spirituals or even
some Shape-Note Singing.  But there is one patch of grass we keep coming back
to.  In the South Eastern United States during the 1930's and 40s, there
developed a style of singing that would later become known as Southern Gospel.
It's retro-phonic, and we like it.

<http://www.westminster.org/connect/creative-arts/six4one-vocal-band/>Six4One
(Bellevue, Washington)
Six4One Vocal Band is a group of five men from Westminster Chapel in Bellevue,
Washington, who love to sing and are highly committed to the choral music
program. Their underlying purpose is to joyfully express their faith in God
through music by blending a variety of worship songs, hymns, gospel, a cappella
and contemporary musical styles.

<http://www.strangersinharmony.com/>Strangers in Harmony (Portland, Oregon)
Strangers in Harmony is a quintet formed in 2009 when Eric Chung and Mike
Mendyke, newcomers to the Portland area, threw together a group to compete in
last year's PNW Harmony Sweepstakes. They were as surprised as anyone when the
group tied for second place their first time out! The Strangers had so much fun
they decided to come back for more. With a solid mix of original songs and
classic crowd-leasing covers, Strangers in Harmony is sure to entertain.

<http://www.vchords.com/>V-Chords (Greshman, Oregon)
V-Chords is an a cappella vocal band made up of six talented performers
performing
a wide variety of pop, rock, jazz, gospel and country accompanied by live vocal
percussion. Each member has significant performing experience and contributes to
the combined flare and flavor for which V-Chords has become known. In 2007,
V-Chords was proud to represent the Pacific Northwest Region at the National
Harmony Sweepstakes Competition in San Rafael, CA.


It's going to be a fantastic show! Be sure to mark it on your calendar now so
you don't miss it: Saturday, March 13, 2010 at the Washington Center for the
Performing Arts, in Olympia, Washington, the 2010 Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella
Festival with our special hosts, Rezonate (2009 champs!).

Gary Witley
Director
PNW Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival
http://www.mce.org/index.htm

If you can walk, you can dance.
If you can talk, you can sing.
- a Zimbabwe saying

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday 3/12/10 - PORT TOWNSEND, WA - 8:00 pm show

THE UPSTAGE
923 Washington, Port Townsend, WA
(360) 385-2216
www.upstagerestaurant.com

* * * *

Saturday 3/13/10 - SHORELINE, WA - 7:30 pm show

SHORECREST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
15343 25TH Ave. Shoreline, WA
(206) 417-4645
http://shorelinearts.net/index.php/Arts-in-Culture-Series/arts-in-cul...

* * * *

Sunday 3/14/10 - PORTLAND, OR - 8:00 pm show

MISSISSIPPI STUDIOS
3939 N. Mississippi, Portland, OR
(503) 288-3895
www.mississippistudios.com

Visit The Bobs on FACEBOOK !

We have a coupplla of great shows this week!....

March 11, 5:30,  Seattle Art Museum - Earshot Jazz, Art of Jazz featuring Susan Pascal on Vibes

March 13, 7:30, West Seattle H.S. Performing Arts Center featuring the faboulous Stephanie Nakasian.  Tickets are 10.00 for pacificnorthwest-acappella members.  email bluestreetjazz@... for coupon code...

These are really goiong to be great shows.. we also have openings for singers... contact bluestreetjazz@...

Please visit www.bluestreetvoices.com for more information...

We would like to have the upcoming Pacific Northwest Harmony Sweepstakes
reviewed and are not sure whether somebody will post something on the newsgroup
this year or not.

We therefore offer a couple of tickets or a handful of a cappella CDs to anybody
who would like to write about the show.

We are looking more for a colorful, creative, informative, documentation of the
event rather than critiques but would welcome any and all comments and opinions.
It's a way of letting folks who didn't make it that evening to get the feel of
what it was like to be there.

Doesn't have to be very long and we can throw in some comps to the National
Finals.

Somebody has also suggested we should set up a Twitter hashtag where folks can
send "sweeps tweets". I have yet to venture on to Twitter but if some of you
think that you would tweet from the show then I'll gladly learn how to set that
up.

Anybody interested?

John Neal
415-455-8602
festival @ harmony-sweepstakes.com

PACIFIC NORTHWEST HARMONY SWEEPSTAKES A CAPPELLA FESTIVAL
Saturday March 13, Olympia WA
http://www.harmony-sweepstakes.com/pacificnw.html

The Olympian newspaper has an article in it's Friday issue about the Pacific
Northwest Harmony Sweepstakes.

Singers stretch their voices in a cappella contest

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/03/12/1169857/singers-stretch-their-voices-in.ht\
ml

John Neal

A clever person has contacted me and has set up Twitter feed for the Harmony
Sweepstakes. It is still a mystery to me..

This is what he says:-

Anyone may add to the feed by simply sending text messages to 40404 (Twitter)
with #baysweeps anywhere in their messages.

Anyone with a smartphone or PC may watch the hashtag
<http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23baysweeps>#baysweeps on Twitter, TweetDeck,
FriendFeed, or other client to view the message stream in real-time.


------------------------

We also just took delivery of the brand new Harmony Sweepstakes 25th Anniversary
double CD. Get your copy at the show.

http://www.singers.com/2009c/Various-Artists/Harmony-Sweepstakes-25th-Anniversar\
y/


John Neal

Great show at NW Harmony Sweeps in Olympia, WA tonight! I've been to almost all
of them in the past 25 years and from top to bottom this was one of the best.

Realtime, a 4-member group from Vancouver, BC and Lynden, BC took top honors and
will represent PNW at the nationals in San Rafael. They were super...whether it
was a kick-ass version of "Rocky Top" or a marvelous interpretation of Dave
Brubeck's Take 5.

Westminster Chapel in Bellevue contributed two groups to the competition, an
8-member mixed ensemble called Crosspoint,who I thought had a couple of ladies
who lead voices were superb. Add to that , the five men who make up six4one,
whose gospel interpretations were full and inspiring and finished their set with
the Star Spangled Banner.

The Baudboys, the all-male group composed entirely of Microsoft employees, have
won the PNW competition before and were tough competition again with their
performance which mixes excellent vocals and gut-splitting comedy. They took the
Audience Favorite award and for their encore performed on of my favorites from
them, a boy-band type ode where the lead is telling his girlfriend that
"tonight's the night", oh....after he finishes his computer game.... The
Baudboys came in second for the evening.

Aside from last year's winner Rezonate, which hosted the show this year, there
were several other Oregon groups--The V-Chords provided their usual flair, and
Strangers in Harmony, who performed my favorite original for the evening, I
think called "Memories a Minefield"

The five women of Absolute also provided a strong st including "got to Get You
into My Life."

The group I found most refreshing for the evening was The Shadywood Boys out of
Victoria, BC. Singing old-time Southern Gospel, they kept it very 30's
retro--singing around a single microphone reminicent of Flatt & Scruggs, and
other groups of that era. I loved it. My personal favorite.

Realtime will be a great representative of the PNW in San Rafael in May. I
wouldn't be surprised to see them bring home the prize.

Saturday afternoon, June 12, 2010, from 2-4 p.m., the Seattle SeaChordsmen
present their spring show: It Ain't Your Daddy's Barbershop. Joining the
SeaChordsmen will be a quartet from the Seattle Shores Sweet Adelines women's
barbershop chorus and an a cappella barbershop quartet from Kamiak High School
of Mukilteo (Blackbeard's Delight). The afternoon begins with old-time
Barbershop Harmony favorites done by the Seattle SeaChordsmen barbershop chorus,
quartets of the chorus and the Seattle Shores' quartet. The afternoon continues
with the chorus and the quartets, joined by the Kamiak High quartet, performing
newer a cappella arrangements from the more recent decades, mostly in the
barbershop harmony style. And, you might be pleasantly surprised at how newer
songs adapt so well to this unique American art form. All in all, a wonderful
afternoon of harmony and an opportunity to hear songs of both past and newer
generations. We might even a a suprise or too as well!

When: June 12th, 2010 2 pm to 4 pm

Where:
Little Theater at Shoreline Community College
16101 Greenwood Avenue N.
Shoreline, WA 98133

Tickets:

Price Free - $17.00

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/106188

Info Line 206-370-4085
Website http://www.seachordsmen.org

Contact Bill Bush
660 W. Lee St.
Seattle, WA 98119

206-282-3914
whbush@...

Come enjoy an afternoon of barbershop quartet singing and bring yourself and a
friend too!

Northwest Sound 25th Spectacular Summer Show!

Northwest Sound, FastTrack and the Senataires!
June 5th - 3:00 and 7:30pm!

Bellevue Interlake HS Performance Center, South of Microsoft's main campus

Interlake Performance Center, Bellevue High School
16245 NE 24th St
Bellevue, WA 98008

Tickets are now on sale for the summer show! Featuring the award winning
Northwest Sound Men's Chorus with special guest group FastTrack, the current
Evergreen District Champions.
Special guests are the fabulous Salem Senataires from Salem Oregon and the
Division IV quartet champions RingTones.

Show Times: June 5th, 3:00pm and 7:30pm

Ticket Prices: Adult $22, Senior $18, Child $10

Group discounts of $3 off per ticket are available for groups of ten or more.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/104760

http://www.nwsound.org

Bring a friend, your family for a evening of fun and great music.

Hope to see you all there!!

Hi folks,

Groupanizer has been growing leaps and bounds.  On the heels of our partnership
with the BHS, we recently signed on a whole district!  I guess more and more
people are seeing the value of using an online management system to run their
chorus or quartet.

Anyway we're trying to figure out what features are most important to add in the
next few months, and your opinion matters!

Please participate in this poll and tell us what you think: 
http://groupanizer.com/feature-poll-201005

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,
Tom

The Seattle SeaChordsmen is seeking a part-time Assistant Artistic Director. We
are a 60 year-old 25-30 person all male Barbershop Chorus meeting Monday nights
in Seattle. This person would help lead, teach and direct the summer rehearsals,
splitting time with our Artistic Director. The Assistant Director would
collaborate with the Director in the music sung and agree on the particular
rehearsals and singouts that he or she would be present. This is a great
learning opportunity to work under the tutelage of an excellent director of our
Award Winning "Most Improved Chorus". It is our desire that this opportunity
would create an ongoing relationship with the Chorus throughout the year and
into the future.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your CV or
resume to President of the Seattle SeaChordsmen at president@.... 
Follow up contact will be made and a request for one Letter of Recommendation
asked for.

The process will include receipt and sorting of the applications by the
President, Interviews by the Artistic Director and final selection by the
Artistic Director with input by the Music Committee and Chorus Manager.

Since time is of the essence, please reply by June Saturday, June 19.

Thanks for your interest in furthering the work of Barbershop Singing.

In Harmony,

Bob Woodruff
President
Seattle SeaChordsmen
president@...

Please join BlueStreet Jazz Voices at The Triple Door June 12th...

BlueStreet Jazz voices has openings for its 2010/2011 season.  Auditions will be
held on June 29th.  Please visit www.bluestreetvoices.com for audition
information, then email bluestreetjazz@... to secure your
appointment...hope to see you soon!!

SINGERS WANTED. Do you love Christmas?  Singing in harmony?  Getting paid? 
We're looking for good people to join us.

The Dickens Carolers has been auditioning, training, costuming and booking 
acappella, SATB Christmas caroling quartets since 1978. Every year we hold
auditions in early-mid August and rehearsals Sept thru Nov, then you perform
throughout the Puget Sound from Thanksgiving thru Christmas. We generally have
40-50 singers making $25-35/hr.  Someone in a full-time quartet makes
~$1750-2500 for the season.  Part-time makes ~$750-1500.  You set your schedule
and we'll do our best to fill it with gigs.

Visit our website (www.dickenscarolers.com) for more info about us.  Make sure
to read the "Auditions" page. Then, if you're still interested, or have other
questions, call us at 206-320-7007 to set up an audition appointment ASAP.

SOUNDS OF SWEDEN - Sunday, October 17, 5:00 PM at the Benaroya Hall in Seattle,
Washington. Kick off the International Convention with riveting performances by
Sweden's "crown jewels" of barbershop harmony: Stockholm City Voices, Pearls of
the Sound Chorus, Remix, Vocality, and Off the Record. Enjoy the dynamic sights
and sounds of a cappella harmony, presented in Seattle's finest musical venue.
Also featuring the 2010 International Quartet Champions, Zing! Plus local
favorite Seattle jazz musician, Hans Brehmer. Contact the Benaroya Hall Ticket
Office after July 1 at 206.215.4747 or 1.866.833.4747.
http://www.seattlesymphony.org/benaroya/guide/ticket_office.aspx

BlueStreet will be holding auditions on September 7th for all voices its
2010/2011 season.  Please visit www.bluestreetvoices.com for audition info. 
Please send us an email at bluestreetjazz@... to secure your slot.

BlueStreet Jazz Voices is made up of 25 singers and a rhythm section of piano
bass and drums.  BlueStreet is known for singing tight harmonies, energetic
rhythms and lush ballads, the ensemble's repertoire includes: traditional jazz
arrangements, arrangements by some of today's leading jazz artists and
contemporary jazz settings of today's popular music.   The ensemble sings to
enthusiastic and ever-growing audiences, receiving standing ovations and rave
reviews from all who attend the shows.

BlueStreet Jazz Voices has been featured at The Triple Door,  Earshot Art of
Jazz Series, Kirkland Performing Arts Concert Series, Seattle Art Museum, Jazz
Vespers at Seattle First Baptist Church.  Blue Street Voices has produced
workshops and performances at local high schools and colleges and has performed
at fundraising activities for non-profit organizations like Goodwill Industries.
The group has been honored by Northwest Music Educator's National Conference for
its uniqueness and its excellence.

Greetings!
My name is Legend Ackley and I am a 36 year old Tenor looking to join a small to
medium size group.
I sang with the Angeles Chorale under the direction of John Alexander, and The
Santa Clarita Master Chorale under the direction of Allen Pavane (both in the
Los Angeles area). I also had a paying Holiday gig with the Silver Belles,
singing carols and such.   I'm a fair sight singer and have sung many different
styles of music.
I have a Full-Time day job so It would have to be nights and weekends. I look
forward to singing with you. :)
~Cheers

Don't miss this great opportunity to see and hear the top a cappella groups from
Sweden perform in Seattle's finest musical venue.  Championship female quartets
and choruses will perform a wide array of a cappella music - jazz, contemporary,
standards, barbershop, and folk tunes.  Also performing:  Hans Brehmer, Seattle
jazz vocalist and pianist.  Tickets - $25 ($20 for seniors, juniors, groups)
through the Benaroya Ticket Office:  (206) 215-4747.

Join us following the performance for a no-host reception in the Benaroya
Founders Room, 8:00-10:00 PM.  Come and "Sing with the Swedes" - you may find a
new home for your voice!

Melanie Wroe
(206) 232 1331

NWSound Chorus is offering FREE singing lessons for men, every Wednesday evening
starting Oct 27th from 7pm to 9pm.

The lessons are for 6 weeks, and at the end of 6 weeks, those that complete the
sessions may be asked to join the NWSound Chorus on stage.

Absolutely free. NO STRINGS ATTACHED!

This is our gift to help raise community awareness of a capella music.

We sing jazz, barbershop, country, gospel and holiday music.

For more info and to sign up: www.nwsound.org/sss.html

Good Friday Morning -

I am looking for any advice and direction on getting involved in a cappella
locally (Seattle area); mixed or female-only. I feel like I missed the boat in
college and haven't found another come into port. I have been singing all my
life (trained in jazz, classical, musical theater) but never in the mechanics a
cappella and harmony.

I have been classified variously as a soprano, soprano 2 or upper first alto. I
am dying to get out there to sing again- and a cappella seems like the right
thing for me.

Love to hear your thoughts and suggestions.

Thanks,
Hannah