I thought this might be a good place to focus discussion on the Harmony Sweepstakes, which is one of the major areas of public attention for CAC, at least in my experience. While it may not be the most smoothly operated program out there, I believe the regional folks all try to do the best job for a cappella and, let's face it, keep things rolling while building public interest and response to CAC across the country.

I can say that because, as Colorado Ambassador, along with our nonprofit group CVJS (www.cvjs.org) we are doing our best to keep a somewhat floundering Rocky Mountain Regional Festival alive. We've been producing it since hearing in 2004 that it was on the brink of disappearing, and hope that the 2006 show will turn the corner to make it survive. Last year we had 16 applicant groups, but found too many were not up to the standards we wanted to reach and some of the more promising dropped out. This year we're trying to do a better job of reaching out to the good groups we know are there. So my next post will be the announcement for competitors and I hope the other regions will do the same. Let's see what happens.

Rocky Mountain Harmony Sweeps seeks a cappella groups for competition

The Colorado Vocal Jazz Society has announced it will again produce the Rocky Mountain Harmony Sweepstakes in 2006, 17th year for the event here in Colorado. The program is on Saturday, March 18, 2006 at 7pm (doors open at 6pm) at Denver's Loretto Heights Theater on the campus of Teikyo Loretto Heights University on S. Federal Blvd at W. Dartmouth Ave.

The international Harmony Sweepstakes program, in its 22nd year, promotes performance and appreciation of contemporary a cappella harmony, achieving this by showcasing small ensembles in exciting and hugely popular concerts in regional competitions across the Continent, and by attracting "a cappella friendly" audiences that provide these singers with exceptional performance experiences. For information on the overall program, go to www.harmony-sweepstakes.com.

Unaccompanied ensembles of 3 to 7 voices from Colorado or the plains and western states are invited to audition for one of the 8 performance positions available at the Denver competition. The March 18 winning group will be flown to San Francisco in early May to compete on behalf of the Rocky Mountain Region against winning groups from 7 other regional shows. In addition, valuable prizes will be awarded for placement as runner-up, audience favorite and best stage presentation, as well as awards to individuals for best composition, arrangement, soloist and vocal percussion. An exciting weekend of related activities will accompany the Rocky Mountain Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival, with receptions, parties and connected performances.

Any ensemble which fits the broad description above is eligible for the competition. Styles of a cappella groups appearing in the past have included Jazz, R&B, Gospel, Pop, Rock, Barbershop, etc. Auditions (for which performers pay a $10/singer registration fee) are conducted from recordings, photos and other information submitted to our audition panel, along with a specific Rocky Mountain pdf application form available by clicking from www.cvjs.org.

For further information and hard copy application forms provided by mail, contact info@cvjs.org or leave an inquiry at 888-WIZ-CVJS (949-2857), providing return address and phone.

The application deadline is January 10, 2006.

Post edited by: rjsharette, at: 2005/10/28 06:13