Join Sound of the Rockies, a Denver-based, 120 voice men's barbershop chorus, and four local barbershop quartets (Storm Front, neXus, Ignition!, and Mojo) as they showcase their competition pieces that will be presented the following week during the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) International Competition and Convention to be held right here in Downtown Denver!
Symposium: Music is good for the body and mind
Contributed by: Deborah Méndez-Wilson
At a symposium that will take place June 28-30 on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus, experts from around the country will gather to discuss the many aspects of music's healing powers.
Grammy Award-winning composer and singer Ysaye M. Barnwell, a founding member of the African-American a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock, will present an interactive workshop called "Building a Vocal Community" on Thursday, June 28. Tickets for that event are available for $45.
Performances also will include blues and a cappella concerts and the second annual Great American Sing-Along, a free event that encourages the audience to sing jazz standards and Broadway favorites.
Read the full article here.
Get details about the event here.
Warland's golden sound still echoes
by Julie Amacher, Minnesota Public Radio
Dissonance is often viewed as something negative. In the hands of choral conductor Dale Warland, a dissonant chord is luscious and very moving.
"How you approach and leave dissonance is very important," Warland explains. "When you get into a tight dissonance, it's terribly important that those notes are right on the money. You can't have very much vibrato, or at least excessive vibrato, or you will not hear the true chord that the composer wanted at that particular moment. So vibrato control, balance of those voices, intonation--those are the very important elements, and they became expectations with the Dale Warland Singers."
Dale Warland led his own a cappella ensemble for more than 30 years. Since he disbanded the group in 2004 he's been composing and guest conducting. But Warland admits he's felt a sense of loss.
American Idol celebrates fifth birthday
By Lauren Wicks - www.suffolknewsherald.com
Kelly, Ruben, Fantasia, Carrie, Taylor and Jordin have an anniversary to celebrate this month. For that matter, so do Justin, Clay, Diana, Bo, Katharine and Blake.
"American Idol," the massively popular talent competition reality show on FOX, debuted five years ago in June 2002.
In the past five years, "Idol" has launched the careers of dozens of participants, become a fan favorite and, according to some industry insiders, changed the face of television production.
....The show also is a huge hit for the music industry. Winners, as well as talented qualifiers for the show, have earned rave reviews and album sales in various music genres....
CDBaby Top Seller
THE BLANKS: Riding the Wave
A "Barber-NOT Quartet," as seen on NBC's "Scrubs" in the role of Ted's Band, this quirky foursome's debut record features strictly four-part a cappella arrangements in an eclectic mix of styles, talking toys and hidden mic sketches from the "Scrubs" set.
Check out more infomation about The Blanks here.
Britain's Got Talent: All hail Crew 82
Beatbox quartet Crew 82 brought down the house on the fourth audition stage of ITV's Britain's Got Talent on Tuesday night.
The Leed-based fourpiece wowed both the judges and the crowd at the Manchester auditions with an exciting beatbox medley that included Kanye West's recent hit Goldigger and Reel2Reel's 90s dancefloor filler I Like To Move It.
Before performing, judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan were immediately intrigued when the group's lead singer revealed: "We make music with our mouths."
DVD Review: Kinsey Sicks - I Wanna Be a Republican
by Steve Weinstein - www.edgeboston.com
When I first experienced the Kinsey Sicks at a New York cabaret, I thought they were delightful, hilarious, smart and totally on-target. Boston’s greatest gift to drag a capella’s songs and banter defined camp, and breathed new life into the increasingly tired genre of the drag revue. So it gives me no pleasure to have to pan "I Wanna Be a Republican" is a rehash of tired in-jokes.
Verizon Beatbox Mixer
A fun way to kill some time is to play with Verizon's Beatbox mixer. Call up beats from some of the best in the biz: Max B., Rahzel, Click, Butterscotch, and Masai Electro (Masai Electro performed at the 2004 East Coast A Cappella Summit).
Click on the wrench in the upper left-hand corner to see what else you can do.