A Cappella ExpreSSS

A Cappella ExpreSSS is a professional a cappella group from Russia, consisting of six members: soprano Elena Nazarova, tenor Max Kostra, soprano Katya Nadareishvily, baritone Anton Kasatkin, Etery Beriashvily and bass Andrey Tunik.

The ensemble was founded in March 2002. On August 17, 2002 they performed for the first time in the Moscow art-club Nostalgie. In the next year, the group recorded their first album, Magic Moments. In 2006 they signed a contract with Universal Music.

A large portion of the songs they perform are well-known international and Russian hits, Russian folksongs, and their own interpretation of classical music. However, they also compose and sing their own songs.

Hometown: Moscow, Russia

Avante

Avante Vocal Jazz is eight accomplished singers, based in Raleigh, NC with a truly unique contemporary style. A bold fusion of jazz and contemporary a cappella singing, Avante performs repertoire paying tribute to the great masters of vocal jazz, while adding a new twist to many familiar standards. Their repertoire ranges from contemporary choral works to cutting edge jazz with a modern flair. Routinely praised for its high standard of musicianship and unique arrangements, Avante tours the United States, appearing in concert, corporate venues and on college campuses. Avante's educational outreach provides workshops to students of all ages and boasts two nationally regarded clinicians within its membership.,

Hometown: Raleigh, NC

Baltimore Vocal Jazz Ensemble

The Baltimore Vocal Jazz Ensemble is a an "a cappella pops" organization. It is a unique group singing five to nine part arrangements. The music ranges from swing and ballads of the 40's to the present; Duke Ellington to Madonna. If you liked the smooth blends of the Hi-Lo's and the up-beat jive of Manhattan Transfer, you'll love this group.

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Banda De Boca

Built in 1999 by musician and conductor Hiran Monteiro, Banda de Boca has built a history of success throughout his career. Initially formed by six musicians, singers, now the band has four male voices and one female, who use excellence with the vocal resources they have in common. The Banda de Boca is one of the most original Brazilian music news emerged in recent times. The band has strong characteristics as the reproduction of the original sounds of instruments with his voice, like guitar, bass, percussion, drums, violins, cellos, horns, accordions and even the prosaic triangle. They master the art of making music without using instruments.

In 2002, the group has won national recognition by participating in St. Paul, V PRIZE FOR VISA MPB - Vocal Edition, competing with two thousand candidates across the country and winning the second place. In 2004 he released his first CD, with support from the Department of Culture and Tourism of the State of Bahia, through the record label Sounds of Bahia.

Hometown: Salvador, Brazil

Beachfront Property

"Beachfront" is not a piece of real estate along the ocean, but it is a hot property nonetheless. Described as sounding like "Manhattan Transfer" meets "Take 6," their smooth singing style combines the rich sounds of jazz with the fun and energy of pop music. They have shared the stage with Mel Torme, "The Four Freshman," "The Hi-los," Kenny Rankin, Crystal Lewis, "The Brothers Four" and "Emerson, Lake & Palmer." The success of Beachfront Property is found not only in a successful blending of harmonies, but in a blending of personalities.

"Not everyone can sing in a group like this," says Tom Dustman, Beachfront's artistic director and bass vocalist. "It takes a special person to give, and give, and give." The object is to entertain while also preserving some of America's most beloved classics, he says. "No one person is the star." Achieving this feat takes a great deal of effort and a lot of self-control, as the key is to blend the voices. Beachfront's four-part blend is spun out in seemingly effortless fashion creating mellow and exciting, woven-together-like-cloth chords that treat the listener to arrangements of familiar songs with a whole new sound.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Bobby McFerrin

On the 11th of March, 1950, Bobby McFerrin was born. His parents were classical singers and he began to study music theory early on in his life. His family then moved to Los Angeles. During high school and then in College, UCSC, he focused on the piano. Once he finished college, Bobby McFerrin toured with numerous bands including the Ice Follies.

However, it was only in 1977 that Bobby McFerrin decide to become a singer. At one point he met Bill Cosby who arranged for him take part in the 1980 Playboy Jazz Festival. It was only two years later where he released his firm album called "Bobby McFerrin" in 1982. It was in 1983, that Bobby McFerrin started converting without a band. This eventually led him to make a solo tour in Germany. It was in Germany that he recorded his album "The Voice". From that point on, he continued to make solo tours in the most prestigious locations. It is also important to realize that Bobby McFerrin worked with several important people like Garrison Keillor, Jack Nicholson, and Joe Zawinul. On "Another Night in Tunisia", Bobby McFerrin won two Grammies.

Hometown: New York City, NY

Boston Jazz Voices

It was almost 25 years ago that the seeds of Boston Jazz Voices were sown by a group of renegade barbershop singers who got together to venture beyond the confines of single-sex four-part harmony. The unique and unmistakable sound of Gene Puerling inspired this mixed group of vocal enthusiasts. Well known for his singing and arranging for the Hi-Lo's and the Singers Unlimited, Puerling became the raison d'etre for this newly formed group. His arrangements are characterized by complex and unexpected harmonic twists that make even the most familiar tunes sound new to the ear. Gene Puerling passed away in 2008, but his imprint on vocal jazz lives on. Those who have followed our group over the years will remember us as New England Close Harmony Ensemble, and although we have become Boston Jazz Voices, our dedication to complex harmony has not changed.

Hometown: Boston, MA

Cluster

Considered among the best vocal groups in Italy, the clusters were established in 2004 with the idea of 5 students of the Conservatorio Niccolo Paganini. In recent years the group has performed throughout Italy and abroad, distinguished by its unique style that combines elements of jazz, pop and fusion.

Their 2008/09 tour dates and counted over seventy brought the group to perform on stage some of the most important musical events in the country, including: Umbria Jazz Festival, The Blue Note Milan, Feronia Festival, Bordighera Jazz & Blues Festival Lavagnino, Alpe Adria Cantat, Musicomic For Children, Palazzo Ducale Genoa, Veneto Jazz Festival, Sing Sing Festival Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome.

Hometown: Genoa, Italy

Cool and Jazzy

Cool & Jazzy, vocal a cappella group, the Winner of Ward Swingle Award, laureate and winner of international contests and festivals, promotes the live, dynamic and energetic music ranging from classic to house, including jazz, jazz-rock, fusion, latino, pop, rock, folk and buff with show elements. We sing in main world languages like English, French, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Yiddish, Ukrainian and Georgian. We create our own arrangements that possess the label "made by Cool & Jazzy".

Hometown: Moscow, Russia

Estonian Voices

Estonian Voices is an a cappella vocal ensemble, singing jazz, folk and pop influenced music, mostly original compositions and arrangements of folk music, but also some well know world wide hits.

Some of the field's greatests like Peder Karlsson from The Real Group and Britt Quentin from M-Pact have recognized Estonian Voices as a unique sounding vocal ensemble not only in Estonia, but in Europe and why not worldwide.

Hometown: Tallinn, Estonia

Five By Design

Five By Design's signature harmonies have withstood the test of time in a career that stands out on America's musical landscape, spanning more than fifteen years. This nationally-acclaimed vocal quintet has been the choice of symphony orchestras and performing art centers delighting hundreds of thousands.

But Five By Design's creative talents go far beyond their vocal prowess. As the creative talent behind Radio Days, Club Swing, and Stay Tuned, their productions showcase the group's penchant for storytelling and the comedic. Whether backed by symphony orchestra or studio big band, Five By Design embraces the unforgettable melodies, lush harmonies, and swinging rhythms that evoke the names of Miller, Mancini and Mercer.

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Four Freshmen

The Four Freshmen were one of the top vocal groups of the 1950s, and formed the bridge between '40s ensembles like Mel-Tones and harmony-based rock & roll bands such as the Beach Boys as well as groups like Spanky & Our Gang and the Manhattan Transfer. The group's roots go back to the end of the 1940s and a barbershop quartet-influenced outfit called Hal's Harmonizers, organized at the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Butler University in Indiana by two brothers, Ross and Don Barbour. Their repertoire centered on standards such as "Moonglow" and "The Christmas Song," and they began to show an unusually free, improvisational approach to their harmony singing. A couple of membership changes brought Bob Flanigan, a cousin, into the fold alongside Hal Kratzsch, and suddenly the Four Freshmen were assembled in all but name, and that fell into place a little later.

Hometown: Valencia, CA

Groove For Thought

Infectious grooves, stunning arrangements, and electrifying solos are just some of the phrases used to describe Seattle based vocal group Groove For Thought. Since 1998, GFT has brought their unique brand of jazz and R&B infused tunes to festival, concert, school, and nightclub audiences throughout the United States and abroad.

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Hi-Lo's

One of the most innovative jazz/pop vocal groups of all time, the pioneering Hi-Lo's influenced countless pop, R&B, and doo wop groups from the '50s right up to the present.

They formed in December 1953 when Gene Puerling of Milwaukee and friend Bob Strasen met Clark Burroughs and Bob Morse. The latter two were vocalists with the Encores, the vocal group for the Billy May Band. When Billy's band stopped traveling, the Hi-Lo's were born. Reportedly named because of their extreme vocal and physical ranges (Strasen and Morse were tall, Gene and Clark were short), the Hi-Lo's practiced at Clark and Gene's Los Angeles apartment, refining their revolutionary voicings. The group were themselves influenced by such artists as The Four Freshmen, The Modernaires, and Mel Torme's Mel-Tones.

Hometown: Burbank, CA

Highline Vocal Jazz

Highline is an award-winning vocal jazz quintet comprised of five friendly friends who really like singing. We were founded in December 2017 and have been creating music videos for original, tight 5-part arrangements ever since. Based in New York City, we perform and teach all over the United States. Just recently, Highline was named national champions of the 2022 Harmony Sweepstakes.

We are committed to continuing the vocal jazz tradition established by groups like The Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices, The Real Group, and Take 6, as well as honoring the many influential instrumentalists that have pioneered jazz language. We believe in modernizing and reshaping the art form these musicians championed and making it fun and accessible for all audiences.

At the center of our philosophy is education of the next generation of singers through workshops and masterclasses in jazz singing and arranging. Most of all, we think singing and vocal music should be fun! We want our audiences to experience joy from our music, and we especially hope you do.

Hometown: New York City, NY

Hudson Shad

When Hudson Shad gave their German debut in the summer of 1995 they were hailed as the first equal heirs to the Comedian Harmonists by national news magazine Der Stern. This statement has since been repeated many times by the German media - TV, radio and print, both national and local. During three tours and several guest performances Hudson Shad has been welcomed with an enthusiasm as if the prodigal sons had come home. They have sold out prestigious houses like the Theater des Westens in Berlin, the Prinzregenten Theater in Munich and Gewandhaus in Leipzig. On a different occasion in Munich their shows had to be transferred from the medium-sized Lustspiel-haus to the larger Zirkus Krone. What sets Hudson Shad apart from other groups of their genre is first of all their musical professionalism.

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Idea of North

The Idea of North defies categorisation. As a quartet of musicians, their voices are their instruments: soprano, alto, tenor and bass, with a bit of vocal percussion thrown in. Their sound and style is distinct, yet they cross many musical genres: jazz, pop, folk, gospel, even comedy.

Their arrangements are extraordinary. They take songs you know and songs you don't and create songs you'll love. But it's not just about the music:

"A pitch-perfect ensemble negotiating complex modulations with ease, constant seamless transition between lead and accompaniment parts, and the whole thing strung together by low-key, humorous conversational patter..." The Courier-Mail

Hometown: Sydney, Australia

Inner Voices

Inner Voicesare Los Angeles-based session singers led by vocal arranger Morgan Ames. They have been performing together since the 80s. They have been profiled on CBS Sunday Morning, have toured Japan, performed on KCET, KTLA Morning News, the Jim Belushi Show and many others. They have recorded albums for Rhino, Laurel, Song River and Japanese Victor. They have performed for the Juvenile Diabetes Association, the Betty Ford Center, the Society of Singers, the AME Church and twice for President Reagan. They have sung and/or recorded with Kenny Loggins, David Benoit, Dave Grusin, Johnny Mathis, Dori Caymmi, Smokey Robinson and others. Each Christmas season they perform their highly acclaimed, sold out a cappella show in Los Angeles.

Between them, they have performed, recorded and/or toured with almost every major artist in the business.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Jazzation

Five singers, four albums, three ladies, two gentlemen, in one word: Jazzation. This multi-award-winning acapella group from Budapest (Hungary) has already wound its way into international jury's hearts in Graz, Pinerolo, Leipzig and Aarhus, but what they feel most proud is having shared the stage several times with wonderful vocal groups and experts from all around the world (e.g. Bobby McFerrin, The Real Group, The King's Singers). While authentic vocal jazz is their main profile, Jazzation also performs vocal world music inspired by different cultures, as well as numerous original arrangements.

Just 4 Kicks

Four uniquely talented and musically successful vocalists from the West Coast, each with independent careers in the music industry, were thrust together at several Northwest jazz festivals in 1993, and a quartet emerged! Just 4 Kicks' Kirby Shaw, from Ashland, Oregon, is one of the most well-known choral and vocal jazz composers/arrangers of our time. Randy Crenshaw is among the first-call studio singers and arrangers in Los Angeles. Four Freshmen alumnus Kirk Marcy directs the internationally-acclaimed vocal jazz ensemble Soundsation at Edmonds Community College, just north of Seattle. Vijay Singh, widely known for his versatility as a composer, arranger, soloist, and director of the vocal jazz program at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, rounds out the quartet.

Hometown: Mill Creek, WA

Kings Return

Formed in 2016 from pre-existing friendships, the quartet refers to their unique and impeccable sound as "rooted in Gospel, Jazz, R&B, and classical music." Kings Return rose to fame recording and performing covers of well-known ballads and anthems in an Arlington church stairwell. With a nostalgic old-school a cappella tone and beautifully arranged harmonies, the group has brought joy and chills to hundreds of thousands of viewers and audience members. Radio network, Classic FM, refers to their signature staircase performances as "enough to take your breath away and send a shiver down your spine."

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Lambert, Hendricks and Ross

In 1962 Ross, tired of touring, called it quits. Lambert and Hendricks choose Yolande Bavan for the impossible job of replacing Ross. Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan recorded three albums for RCA. None were as successful as those of the previous trio, and the group broke up in 1964. Sadly, Dave Lambert was killed in a car accident in 1966. Jon Hendricks continues to perform. Annie Ross also continued singing and working in films. Though they only graced the musical landscape for a few short years, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross left an indelible mark in the world of vocal jazz that has yet to be equaled to this day.

Lullabies and Honey

Lullabies and Honey is a Bay Area vocal quartet spontaneously created in 2019 out of a love of harmonizing and performing meaningful music. They draw from a wide swath musical experience from classical piano and violin to modern collegiate a cappella and glee clubs, bringing together an eclectic mix of genres mashed up in their whimsical, soulful, and beautiful arrangements.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

m-pact

Hailed "one of the best pop-jazz vocal groups in the world" by the San Francisco Chronicle, m-pact is respected worldwide as a cutting edge trailblazer in the realm of vocal music. Emerging from an age of auto-tune and overproduction, this Los Angeles-based ensemble has cultivated a new generation of ears hungry for the fresh, raw power of nature's "first instrument" - the human voice. Their sophisticated sound & accessible appeal have garnered vast accolades, from Vocal Group of the Year (the LA Music Awards), an Indie nomination (the Independent Grammy), & Artist of the Year (Seattle Music Awards), to Grand National Champs of the Harmony Sweepstakes competition.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Manhattan Transfer

The Manhattan Transfer is a jazz vocal group founded in 1969 that has explored a capella, vocalese, swing, standards, Brazilian jazz, rhythm and blues, and pop music.

There have been two editions of the Manhattan Transfer, with Tim Hauser the only person to be part of both. The first group consisted of Hauser, Erin Dickins, Marty Nelson, Pat Rosalia, and Gene Pistilli. The second version of the group, formed in 1972, consisted of Hauser, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, and Laurel Masse. In 1979, Masse left the group after being badly injured in a car accident and was replaced by Cheryl Bentyne. The group's long-time pianist, Yaron Gershovsky, accompanied the group on tour and served as music director.

Hometown: New York City, NY

New York Voices

New York Voices is the Grammy Award winning vocal ensemble renowned for their excellence in jazz and the art of group singing. Like the great groups that have come before, such as Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Singers Unlimited, Manhattan Transfer and Take 6, they have learned from the best and taken the art form to new levels. Their interests are rooted in jazz, but often Brazilian, R & B, classical, and pop influences are included with equal creativity and authenticity. The group was formed in 1987 by Darmon Meader, Peter Eldridge, Kim Nazarian, Caprice Fox and Sara Krieger. By way of explanation, Darmon, Peter, Kim and Caprice attended Ithaca College in NY and were part of an invitational alumni group formed to tour the European Jazz Festivals in the summer of '86. As a result of this exciting experience, the idea of forming a professional group was born.

Hometown: New York City, NY

Pacific Edge Voices

Building on 35 years of dynamic choral singing in the San Francisco Bay Area and around the world, Pacific Edge Voices is a premier Grammy-nominated vocal ensemble, best known for our extensive diverse repertoire of high quality choral a cappella music, as well as collaborations with high-profile and popular artists such as Dave Brubeck, Meredith Monk, and Bobby McFerrin.

Under the music direction of Dr. Lynne Morrow, our love of singing in community and creating a shared experience with every audience drives our commitment to excellence in live and recorded performance.

Pacific Edge Voices attracts highly-trained singers with strong and diverse artistic backgrounds and experience. The semi-professional, auditioned chorus has toured in the US and internationally, performing in New York's Carnegie Hall, Germany, France, Cuba, and England.

On the eve of our 35th anniversary season in 2014, the Pacific Mozart Ensemble (PME) changed our name to Pacific Edge Voices to reflect the group's distinct and longstanding innovation - performing multiple musical genres, collaborating on new works by diverse composers and performing artists, and presenting courageous and innovative vocal music programs.

Hometown: Berkeley, CA

Prime Time

The members of Prime Time met through singing with other groups. They recognized they had kindred voices, natural blend, and the same desire to sing challenging, tightly harmonized charts - and also the inclination to laugh a LOT while working hard. Their backgrounds range from vocal jazz to collegiate-style a cappella pop to barbershop, with those influences all audible simultaneously in most of their performances. A literal garage band, Prime Time rehearses in Sunnyvale, CA, and performs all over the Bay Area.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Puppini Sisters

The Puppini Sisters have earned quite the celebrity following - from Sharon and Kelly Osbourne to Vivienne Westwood, Kate Moss and Stella McCartney to members of The Royal Family, including Prince Charles, Camilla The Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince William.

This UK-based vocal trio brings three-part harmony into the modern age with a repertoire that includes everything from 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" to 'I Will Survive." Inspired by the Oscar-nominated film The Triplets of Belleville (a French animated movie which features a '40s-style harmony group), The Puppini Sisters - Marcella Puppini, Kate Mullins, and Stephanie O'Brien - formed in London. Dressed in 1940's-style wardrobe, the three sing like The Andrews Sisters with inspiring harmonies, and perform classics such as 'Mr. Sandman," 'In The Mood," and 'Jeepers Creepers." But what makes The Puppini Sisters truly stand out are their show-stopping interpretations of more current tunes: Blondie's 'Heart of Glass," Kate Bush's 'Wuthering Heights," and The Smith's 'Panic," among others.

Hometown: London, UK, England

Pust

PUST means breath in Norwegian. It also means to take a break, to get away, to breathe. You can hold it too, but that's not a very good idea when you're singing.

PUST is six skilled singers based in Oslo. The group's key qualities are versatility, creativity and "voiceplay" in addition to improvisation combined with a high level of musicianship. The singers are highly scholared and music-educated, with long experience from various vocal ensembles.

PUST finds inspiration somewhere between folksong, jazz and ethnic vocal music. Tradition and innovation are a part of the groups musical expression. All compositions and arrangements are written for or by the group.

Hometown: Oslo, Oslo, Norway

Real Group

The Real Group was formed in 1984 by five students at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm. The original members were eager to explore the artistic world of vocal music with an emphasis on jazz, pop and folk music. The group quickly gained an international audience and has grown to become one of the cornerstones of modern a cappella.

Today the legacy of The Real Group is maintained and further developed by worldwide concert tours, recordings, educational mentoring and published scores. The mentorship has evolved over the years and continuously seeks to integrate artistic aspirations with human rights, ecological awareness, global concern and a feministic mindset.

Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden

Royal Bopsters

New York's The Royal Bopsters bring a new and refreshing approach to the art of vocal jazz. Vocalists Amy London, Jeanne O'Conner, Pete McGuiness and Dylan Pramuk pay tribute to their jazz heroes thru intricate harmonies and energetic delivery, bringing jazz classics and Bebop style to the next generation and beyond. The Bopsters delve deeply into vocal improvisation; vocalese, the art of penning lyrics to instrumental jazz solos; and their original songs and arrangements further the tradition of modern jazz, bebop, and the blues.

Hometown: New York City, NY

Singers Unlimited

The Singers Unlimited were born out of a strange combination of stark commercialism and rare innovation that somehow yielded some pretty high art. Gene Puerling was the vocal arranger as well as a singer with The Hi-Lo's, and later moved into jingle singing and arranging in Chicago. Don Shelton had been a Hi-Lo as well, and joined Puerling in the commercial field. Along the way they joined with Len Dresslar (the voice of the Jolly Green Giant) and vocalist/voiceover artist Bonnie Herman. This led to the formation in 1967 of a ready-to-go jingle-singing quartet. Then Puerling began experimenting with the new technology of multi-track recording, and the Singers expanded their four voices into eight, twelve, sixteen, and later into practically a hundred or more! The Singers produced around 15 LP's in the period between 1971 and 1981.

Sixth Wave

January 2005 brought on a season of change for us, as Amy Fogerson left the group and was replaced by Jennifer Barnes. Shortly thereafter, both Gerald White and Gary Rosen also made the decision to leave the group to pursue other ventures, which created openings filled by tenor Greg Whipple and baritone Greg Jasperse. This 50% new group is now eagerly working towards the goal of being a powerful and cohesive musical unit, adding exciting new repertoire while maintaining the spirit and integrity for which Sixth Wave has always been known. Please keep checking back for new and exciting news and updates as things progress.....

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Swingle Singers

There are few music lovers who haven't heard the name the Swingle Singers. Since the release of that ground-breaking debut album in 1963, this virtuosic eight-voice a cappella group (complete with their own vocal rhythm section) has performed on the world's most famous stages, sustaining over four decades a level of international popularity beyond the dreams of its founder, American-born Ward Swingle. The current London-based line-up of young and talented singers is, of course, several incarnations of "Swingles" older than the original team (Ward Swingle affectionately refers to them as his "grandchildren"). They represent a modern incarnation of an ensemble whose music has evolved and expanded to encompass styles far and beyond the swung Baroque and infamous "ba va da" of the 1960s, although audiences will usually hear a tribute to the original French group. Along with the repertoire, the stage show has also grown into a full-blown lights-and-choreography spectacle. The beauty is that however the group has changed, the sound remains unmistakeably that of the Swingle Singers, the same sound which caught the world's attention all those years ago.

Hometown: London, England

Traces of Blue

Traces of Blue is an a cappella group that finished fourth on NBC's "The Sing-Off," performing as "Afro-Blue." Since their successful run on the show, the group has performed in venues from New York to Jamaica and experienced such honors as performing for Vice President Joe Biden. Their jazz-based musical style has allowed them to lend their signature sound to genres such as R&B, pop, hip-hop, gospel, funk and countless others. Whether dishing out a jazz standard in their dazzlingly reminiscent fashion or putting a flavorful spin on a modern hit, TOB provides quality music through its adventurous arrangements with charisma and charm to spare. Though newly formed, their polish and style is comparable to that of a group of seasoned professionals.

Hometown: Washington, DC

Trio Esperanca

The history goes way back. When small Correa, even if small, were a scene of a box and a stick a microphone in the back yard family in the neighborhood of Gavea in Rio, imitating their three older brothers, whose group " Golden Boys "beat the records of the public hearing of the" Jovem Guarda "version of Brazil yeyes. To so and so, the singer, Eva and Regina eventually blow an idea to Roberto, the eldest of the family: why do not they would form a group too. There was still a little brother available, Mario.

Thus was born the Trio Esperanca, in the 60s. Body and brush remaining available to the baby of the tribe, Mariza .... waiting for better days, she could barely speak but sang like a lark. The Trio's first album. "Menino do Amendoim" goes unnoticed, the second "Filme Triste" true compilation of Portuguese international hits of the time (Like a Bridge Over Trouble Water has, Down Town, Gorgy Girl ...) is a triumph. Trio Esperanca followed suit with "Golden Boys". Suddenly, Dad Correa decides it is time to take care of her smala and exchange office to the bank to that of manager.

Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, BR, Brazil

Uptown Vocal Jazz

UVJQ puts their sublime signature on the 4-part harmony jazz vocal genre. They write, arrange, and perform original music & lyrics in many styles while staying true to their jazz roots. Plus they swing the classics!

Hometown: Washington DC, VA

Vocal Motion Six

Anyone who has not experienced the phenomenon of VMSIX (Vocal Motion Six) cannot imagine the profound effect the spirit of this group will have upon them. Nor can it be described. As they say, you have to be there! All we can do is describe their effect on others! The group is represented with one Female and Four men. In 1999 the group was among the 537 groups nationwide who auditioned for the Namibia National Music Makers Competition. Chosen as one of the 37 finalists, they traveled 700km southwest to the capitol, Windhoek. There, in a televised broadcast, they won 2 awards for Best Vocal Group and First Place overall Artist of the Year, winning the opportunity to record their first album in 1999. VMSIX journey is remarkable

Hometown: Windhoek, Namibia

Vocalogy

Vocalogy is a vocal jazz quintet which brings an exciting and distinctive sound to the world of vocal music. Vocalogy has delighted audiences internationally in festivals, concerts, clinics and clubs since the groups formation in 1998.

Christine Guter (Helferich) is the group's dynamic lead singer; tenors David Thorne Scott and John Knutson, baritone Gerhard Guter, and bass Chris Morey provide rock-solid harmonies and take outstanding solo features. The group utilizes its range of five-and-a-half octaves to execute intricate and vocally demanding material in a way that seems effortless. They thrill audiences with their improvised solos, tight ensemble work, and dazzling harmonies.

Vocalogy arose from an artist-in-residency program under Grammy-Award nominee Phil Mattson. Now self-directed, Vocalogy performs a collection of their own innovative arrangements.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Voice Trek

Voice Trek has been thrilling listeners with their impeccable vocal skills since 1987. Their astonishing adaptability and inventive arrangements have defined this vocal quintet as one of the topmost in their genre. Based in Minnesota, the all-original members of Voice Trek are Shelley, Vicki, and Rae Plaster - three sisters who are known for their dazzling vocal mix; the group's tenor, Denis Allaire, specialist in vocal percussion and vocal instrumental sounds; and bringing up the bass is the dynamic Kevin Smith - the irreplaceable bottom line.

A multitalented and prolific group with numerous CD's in their catalog, Voice Trek has appeared in performance venues around the globe. Voice Trek's newly released CD "An A cappella Trek" is already receiving enthusiastic reviews from fans and critics alike.

Hometown: Mendota Heights, MN

Vox One

Vox One is an award-winning a cappella jazz quintet that combines elements of blues, funk, gospel, and folk into their own brand of vocal music, which is "most adventurous and distinctive." - San Francisco Examiner. The group, formed in 1988, has since developed a unique style considered to be the cutting edge of a cappella. "This jazz quintet puts all kinds of throat sounds to such funky good use that listeners break into applause and - better - feel like dancing." - Boston Magazine.

Vox One has performed internationally, and has opened for Ray Charles, Chicago, the Persuasions, the Bobs, the Woody Herman Orchestra, and the Count Basie Orchestra. The group earns wide acclaim for their performances and CDs. Their awards include "Best A cappella Group, Jazz" - Boston Magazine. Vox One's eponymous debut CD was named "Best Album" and awarded "Best Song" by the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA): "Creative arrangements and soulful spark... fabulous lead vocalists, and exquisite blend, a great vocal percussion sound, and lots of class." Their second US release "Out There," won "Album of the Year," "Best Jazz Song," and "Best R&B song" by CASA. "...as defining an album for vocal jazz as Singers Unlimited "A Capella" and Take 6's debut album...it's that good." - Primarily A Cappella. With their 1998 album "Chameleon," Vox One was named "Artist of the Year," and once again it earned "Best Jazz Album" and "Best Jazz Song."

Hometown: Boston, MA

West Side 5

West Side 5, an award-winning vocal jazz ensemble based in New York City, is known for its refined sound and sophisticated approach to jazz. Inspired by greats like Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices, and The Real Group, WS5 has crafted its own unique sound, characterized by highly original arrangements, complex harmonies, and outstanding musicianship.

The group formed in the summer of 2009, bringing together five old college friends on the west side of Manhattan. They immediately garnered acclaim, winning the Mid-Atlantic Harmony Sweepstakes while being voted Audience Favorite and winning Best Arrangement for "Pure Imagination". They went on to be featured artists at the SingStrong A Cappella Festival, and have performed alongside groups including Blue Jupiter, Streetcorner Symphony, and The Bobs, as well as for Mayor Michael Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion in New York.

Hometown: New York City, NY