The Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival Presents

A Vocal Harmony Event

Saturday Oct 7th, 2023 2.00 - 5.00 PM

MARIN COUNTRY MART

Larkspur, California

Choruses, vocal ensembles, quartets and more.


2023 Performing Groups

The Lighthouse Singers is a interdenominational community-based gospel choir in Marin County, California. Directed by Dr. Steven Roberts, the choir's repertoire includes both traditional & contemporary gospel music. For over forty years the choir has excited audiences throughout the U.S.A. in both multi-faith and multi-racial church services, community service performances, inspirational gospel workshops & national gospel conventions. The Lighthouse Singers choir has been acclaimed for its beautiful harmonies, rich sound, and inspiring presence. These qualities earned the Lighthouse Singers honors for at the Gospel Academy Awards, held annually at Oakland's Paramount Theater.

Type: Mixed Gospel Community  Hometown: San Rafael

Audition policy: Our rehearsals are open. We welcome singers (of all experiences) interested in joining our group to come to an open rehearsal. No audition is required. As is traditional in gospel, we learn songs by listening to our director play the parts--soprano, alto, tenor & bass. No musical scores are used.


We are the longest performing male a cappella chorus in Marin County, with over 65 years of great barbershop style singing. We perform at numerous events throughout the year, including our sellout annual show (typically at the Marin Civic Center's Showcase Theater), the Marin County Fair around Independence Day, San Rafael Pacifics home baseball games, and at traditional Holiday sing-outs in the community. As the local Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, we also participate in Far Western District and Division Conventions and Contests along with other FWD choruses. We are dedicated to good fellowship, fun, and fine choral harmony

Type: Male Barbershop Barbershop  Hometown: San Anselmo

Audition policy: Our rehearsals are open to the public and to potential new members. Why not drop by for a memorable experience !


Yes we are. Formed in 2012, we have been performing original covers of everything from classic rock hits to contemporary pop tunes. As a 13 person a cappella group, we achieve a unique sound by fusing new and old music in sophisticated arrangements. We strive to bring joy to our audience and hope to share our Aca-love of singing to everyone within earshot!

Type: Mixed Contemporary Semi-Pro  Hometown: Concord


Yes M'am is a trio of three dynamic female vocalists who have teamed up to create saucy, spicy and surprising harmonies. Formed spontaneously in December 2014 to sing a song at the San Francisco Folk Music Club's annual Camp New Harmony, they discovered they had a terrific blend and a wonderful time singing together. "Each of us has a unique voice and style, so I was initially surprised that we sounded so good together," says Margaret. "But we were immediately asked when we would be performing next!"

They have now built an impressive repertoire of traditional and folk-influenced songs, are three-time performers at the San Francisco Free Folk Festival and have appeared onstage at the Historic Freight and Salvage in Berkeley. All three of them were born and raised in the bay area, and each has their own deep roots in vocal music.

Type: Female World  Hometown: San Francisco


At a wedding reception in Tiburon in 1980, a discussion took place about "why not get a group of guys together once in a while to sing college songs, and the like." John Doherty, Joe Bacheller, Ray Jasek and Tom Behrens were attending. Former Tiburon mayor Al Kuhn and his wife, Joy, hosted the wedding for one of their children. The idea caught on, and an evening was picked to meet at Del Mar School. A few phone calls were made, and a piano was available in the music room.

In February 1981 the first meeting of what became the Tiburon Men's Chorus was held in the music room at Del Mar School. A gaggle of more than 20 voices showed up. Professor Hy Krongard, who had been teaching vocal music and music appreciation for years at College of Marin and at Del Mar School and was a respected member of the musical community, became the first conductor.

Type: Male Choral Community  Hometown: Tiburon

Audition policy: The MMC rehearses weekly and is a non-credit course at the College of Marin.


"Rita & The Cosmos" is a Marin based a cappella singing group of six sassy gals. Our group (as pictured left to right: Bobbi, Carolyn, Toni, Rita, Lauren and Gloria) was formed in 2005 when Rita assembled some musically inclined friends. Our repertoire includes a mixture of standards, jazz, pop and Broadway tunes, featuring original, upbeat, four part arrangements that will get your fingers snapping and your toes tapping! The songs reflect themes of friendship, spirituality, romance and love. Selections by Berlin and Gershwin are among the crowd-pleasing favorites. We perform at formal and informal events including cocktail and dinner parties, holiday celebrations, other special occasions, as well as at senior living centers in counties throughout the Bay area. Requests for personalized parodies are happily accommodated.

Type: Female Contemporary  Hometown: San Rafael


The Mayflower Chorus is the performing ensemble of the Mayflower Choral Society, a nonprofit organization devoted to supporting the educational and cultural benefits of musical performance to its members, the Marin community, and general public. The Mayflower Chorus has no formal auditions, but members must meet certain musical qualifications. Being a member of the Chorus requires regular attendance to build both shared choral experience and knowledge. We become an ensemble when you go from "I know this" to "We know this together" and from "I can do this" to "We can do this together."

Type: Mixed Choral Community  Hometown: San Rafael

Audition policy: The Mayflower Community Chorus has no formal auditions, but members must meet certain musical qualifications. Being a member of the Chorus requires regular attendance to build both shared choral experience and knowledge. We become an ensemble when you go from “I know this” to “We know this together” and from “I can do this” to “We can do this together.”


Dotter's Knot brings a fresh approach to some old familiar ren faire favorites, as well as introducing the audience to some little known material drawn from traditional folk music, with a smattering of original pieces. We feature memorable, sing-able, audience-pleasing melodies, and intricate harmony.

Type: Female World 



Schedule
2.00
Marin Golden Gate Barbershop
2.25
ACA-Word
2.50
Mayflower Chorus
3.10
Lighthouse Gospel Singers
3.30 Marin Men's Chorus
3.55 Rita and the Cosmos
4.15 Yes M'am!
4.35 Dotter's Knot


Singing with a group of friends is not only a fun, creative and rewarding way to spend some time but more and more studies are showing the various health, social and general well being of group harmony singing. Join a chorus today!

Don't Miss the Big Evening Event

38th Annual

Saturday, October 7th, 2023 - 8PM
MARIN VETERAN'S AUDITORIUM
Marin Center, San Rafael, California
Tickets available at Marin Center Box Office - 415-499-6800
Note there is no service charge on tickets bought in person at the box office
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.

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