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There are approximately 5,000 experienced college a cappella singers graduating each year, and most of these folks have little or no opportunity to continue singing in a similar ensemble.
CASA intends to change that through the formation of the Contemporary A Cappella League.
Groups in the league are primarily audition only, have an average size of 12-20 members, and are becoming known for their quality, despite not being professional ensembles. This is not your grandmothers community chorus. For lack of a better term, imagine a post-collegiate group modeled after and comprised of members from the best college groups.
Groups generally rehearse once a week, and tend to perform on evenings or weekends once or twice a month. These ensembles generally exist such that the members can have day jobs and otherwise include music in their otherwise busy lives.
Groups are a dynamic part of their local communities and become known in their area; Performing the National Anthem at sporting events, appearances at street fairs, parades, farmers markets, morning radio shows, local TV, and so on.
Groups that are a part of the CASA league can be owned by an individual or non-profit, but all have at their help a driven, self-motivated leader or leadership team. CASA doesn't own the groups, but rather helps at every stage from formation to Grammy nomination
Formed in August 2007, The first directors were chosen and have created their groups. In addition, a select number of existing groups were invited to be charter members:
- EASTERN U.S.
- The Red States
Brian Chambers - New York, NY
mixed group
www.myspace.com/redacappella
theredstates@gmail.com
- The New York Streetcorner Symphony
Rob Corradi - New York, NY
mens group
914-582-0255
robert.corradi@purchase.edu
- Redline
Dave Raiser - Boston, MA
mens group
Phone: 717-368-0891
E-mail: info@redlineboston.com
www.redlineboston.com
AIM: musicman104
- In the Moment
Deborah Marion Foner - Natick, MA
women's group
Phone: 508-653-4650
Email: debbyinthemoment@gmail.com
www.inthemomentsings.com
- The Hartford Wailers
Stephanie Sinisi - Hartford, CT
mixed group
Phone Number: 860-798-4904
Email: ssinisi2004@yahoo.com
AIM: sinisis
www.hartfordwailers.com
- A Cappella Showcase Chorus
Carolyn Sexton - Frederick, MD (Baltimore/Washington area)
Mixed Group
(301) 257-7462
ACappellaShowcase@gmail.com
- Treble
Kirkley Strand, Business Manager - New York City, NY
Female Group
www.treblenyc.com
www.myspace.com/treblenyc
treblenyc@gmail.com
- What's On Tap
Sarah H. Davis, Business Manager - Woodbridge, CT
Mixed Group
Sarah Davis: 203-996-9757, Laura Hartshorn: 203-675-1655
www.whatsontapmusic.com
laura.hartshorn@gmail.com , sarah.h.davis@gmail.com
- (group now forming)
Mike McCord - Upstate NY
male group
518-423-6258
mikemccord@gmail.com
- (group now forming)
Danny Ozment - Washington DC
mixed or male group
703-489-8482
ozmentdws@yahoo.com
Aim: sngndrm78
- John Sullivan & Maddi Zachacz - Buffalo, NY
jpchip@gmail.com and mzachacz@buffalo.edu
- SOUTHERN U.S.
- DeltaCappella
Jay Mednikow - Memphis TN
male group
Jean Mathews, Executive Director
901.355.7555
jean@deltacappella.com
www.deltacappella.com
- VocalBluR
Matt Bolling - Richmond, VA
male or mixed group
matt@magnoliaproductions.com
www.vocalblur.com
www.rva-acappella.com
AIM: MatthewTBolling
- SoundXposure
Brian Haverkate - Ft Myers, FL
12-16 voice mens group
239-601-1881
www.soundxposureband.com
brianhaverkate@netzero.com
- Soundworks Chorus
Paul Laurenz - Richmond, VA
Male group
paul.laurenz@gmail.com
www.soundworkschorus.org
- St. George Voices
Mixed group
John Vreeland - Fredericksburg, VA
(540)-373-4133
john.vreeland@stgeorgesepiscopal.net
- Clearly Vocal
Mixed group
John Hodges - Flint, TX
(903) 312-9903
www.clearlyvocal.com
www.myspace.com/clearlyvocal
johnhodges@clearlyvocal.com
- (group now forming)
Paul Cunningham - Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
mixed or male group (possibly both)
919-344-1685
orgelherr@suddenlink.net OR pcunn@stpatnc.org
- (group now forming)
Thomas Sauber - Smithfield, VA
Mixed Group
tsauber@iwcs.k12.va.us
- Scott Turnbull - St. Petersburg, FL
male or mixed group
(727) 576-7698
sturnbull@tampabay.rr.com
AIM: mistert61
- Nick Lyons - Raleigh, NC
mixed group
336-558-5879
AIM: L5Nick
liquidnick@mac.com
- MIDWESTERN U.S.
- Two Week's Notice
Lindsey Chismark - Detroit, MI
mixed group
248-844-8918
info@twoweeksnotice.net
http://www.twoweeksnotice.net
- greenTONE
Laura Kruschke-Sercombe - Madison, WI
women's group
608-712-5812
laks@charter.net
www.myspace.com/greentoneacappella
AIM: LJQlaura
- Faces For Radio
Kay Daly - Chicago, IL
mixed group
773-465-2080
kay@waylaid.com
www.myspace.com/facesforradio1
- Phil Johnson - Traverse City, MI
JohnsonPh@wjh.tcaps.net
- WESTERN U.S.
- Last Note Singers
Jill DeLage - Denver, CO
35 voice mixed chorus
303-980-2290
www.lastnotesingers.org
jillian.d@mindspring.com
- (group now forming)
Barton Gawboy - Los Angeles
mixed group
310-717-1609
bart@marinamotion.com
www.marinamotion.com/vox
- (group now forming)
Tim Jones - Las Vegas, NV
male or mixed group
tim@moosebutter.com
- CANADA
- Harmonic Generation
Paul Jay and Lee Carter- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
mixed group
paulbass@harmonicgeneration.ca
leecarter@harmonicgeneration.ca
www.harmonicgeneration.ca
Additional directors and groups will be identified on an ongoing basis, with new director training happening each August..
If you are interested in becoming a director, finding out more about a group or having your existing group join the league, please contact Deke Sharon.
League benefits include:
- 30% off all CAP songbooks, and 10% off everything else at a-cappella.com
- Annual director's retreat
- Annual League-only convention (first year, 2008: Memphis)
- CAL Director's discussion group
- Special offers/discounts for other CASA programs (Summit, etc)
- National publicity for CAL groups (announcement of auditions, etc)
Additional benefits will continue to be added as the program grows.
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