SoJam 2011 Workshops will be held at Duke University. Meet at Page Auditorium.
Workshops and schedule subject to change.
Certain workshops, and all masterclasses, require advance registration.
Register for masterclasses here. Your group must have purchased All-Access Passes in order to be eligible for a masterclass.
Register for closed workshops here.
Questions? Contact Benjamin Stevens, SoJam educational officer.
| Create | Music and movement from the ground up! |
| Explore | A cappella culture, history and theory! |
| Manage | How to move from ‘surviving’ to ‘thriving’! |
| Perform | Master your instrument… and own the stage! |
| Sound | Make the sound system your best friend! |
| Masterclass | One-on-one with experienced master clinicians! (Advanced registration required.)* |
Saturday, November 12, 2011 |
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| Time | Page Auditorium | Soc Sci 139 | Soc Sci 136 | Soc Psych 130 | Old Chem 116 |
| 8:30 AM | Welcome Session / Registration (Page Auditorium) |
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| 9:00 AM | Live Sound Basics Longo |
Deconstructing the Lead G. Hoffman |
Got Crit? Lewis |
Arranging Panel Anderson, et al. |
Wide World of A Cappella Emery, Aldag |
| 10:00 AM | Performances (various locations) |
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| 10:30 AM | How to, Like, Not Talk Bad on Stage Brown |
Open masterclass Overboard |
I am Woman panel: Barreiro et al. |
Advanced Arranging Anderson |
A cappella Strategy Chambers |
| 11:30 AM | Performance (Page Auditorium) |
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| 12:00 PM | LUNCH BREAK | ||||
| 1:00 PM | Beginning VP panel: Francis, Bellatrix et al. |
I Make Gold Records panel: Sperandio et al. |
Go the Distance Emery, Watts |
Dressing for Successing Barreiro, Matze |
Science of Singing Green |
| 2:00 PM | Performances (various locations) |
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| 2:30 PM | Vocal Play Naturally 7 |
Open masterclass The Boxettes, AcaBelles |
Sing to WIN! J. Hoffman |
Arranging for All-Female Groups Barreiro |
Selling, Streaming, Showcasing Covers Crawford |
| 3:30 PM | Performance (Page Auditorium) |
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| 4:00 PM | Advanced VP for Women Chalhoub |
DIY Recording Lyons, Ozment |
Planning an A cappella Festival Lo Biondo, He |
Visual Performance Zuckerman |
Essential Listening Stevens |
Sunday, November 13, 2011 |
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| Time | Soc Sci 139 | Soc Sci 136 | Soc Psych 130 |
| 10:00 AM | Headliners Q&A moderator: G. Hoffman |
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| 11:00 AM | Special Performances Soc Sci 136/139 |
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| 11:30 AM | Creative Improvisation The Boxettes |
Open Master Class Naturally 7, Pitch Slapped |
Drum Circles Carroll |
| 1:00 PM | Collaborative Recording Session with the Pros (VIP passholders only) | ||
A Very Harold & Kumar A Cappella Strategy (Chambers) Manage!
Depending on who you talk to ‘a cappella business’ is either so simple a caveman can do it, distasteful, hard or too time consuming. Everyone is right but what we’re going to do is get you to your goals without getting lost or distracted along the way. We’ll talk strategy, online/social media, art vs. commerce and more.
Advanced Arranging (Anderson) Create!
Workshop Handout (PDF Download)
Don’t settle for just “getting the notes right”. Move beyond imitation and into creation, and learn what separates an okay arrangement from a truly effective one, as this workshop gives you a whole new bag of things to ponder while scribbling and/or clicking.
Advanced Arranging: Arranging for All-Female Groups (Barreiro) Create!
All-female arranging can be easy. Screeching sopranos? No basses? An originally male solo? No problem! This workshop will help you explore a few simple strategies to never let these and other frequent issues found in all-female arranging get in your way again.
Advanced Arranging: It’s a Hit! Instant tips to Supercharge Your Songwriting for the Commercial Sound of Today (Tong) Master!
Tired of your songwriting sounding just OK, but not quite Top 40-quality? In this workshop, chart-topping songwriter-producer Tat Tong will share secrets and instantly usable tips to make your song structure quickly digestible, your rhythms groovy, and your melodies unforgettable! Also to be discussed: how to exploit the unique characteristics of a cappella in your songwriting for a truly memorable and radio-friendly result. Advance registration required.
Advanced Arranging: You Can’t Do That (Dietz) Master!
Have you ever come across a song you wanted to arrange, but just couldn’t quite figure out how to go about it? Learn how to troubleshoot problem songs and arrangements, and how you can develop a consistent arranging style. Participants are strongly encouraged to bring examples of their own problem songs to troubleshoot with the class. Advance registration required.
Advanced VP: Drum Circles (Carroll) Master!
Bring your elephant ears, your polyrhythmic brain, and your acrobatic tongue to the only drumless drum circle you’ll ever hear. Advance registration required; beginners and spectators welcome.
Advanced VP: Mastering the Art (Clark) Master!
…of vocal percussion! These short-form workshops are open to any vocal percussionist with experience who wants to be a better percussionist. Multi-award-winning mouth drummer Jill Clark will take what you bring to the table and will hone your sounds, help you develop musicality, and do her best to make you better than you were when you walked in the room. Please, not intended for beginners. Advance registration required.
Advanced VP: VP for Women (Chalhoub, et al.) Perform!
Join the VP for Women workshop and learn how to enhance your female percussion for recording and competing purposes. Release the lioness within! Advance registration required.
Amazing Rehearsals (Antonioli) Manage!
Are you looking for more ways to bring positive energy to a rehearsal, while being productive? Joe will share knowledge from 18 years of directing rehearsals, and demonstrate a few exercises that any group can add to their rehearsal schedule.
Arranging Panel (Anderson, et al.) Create!
Join our all-star panel of arrangers for a discussion of what makes them tick, how they go from blank page to concert stage, and how you can write charts that will vanquish your mightiest foes. Led by Tom Anderson and featuring Lo Barreiro of Musae, Christopher Diaz of Mouth Off! fame, Robert Dietz (a member of the creative team for season three of The Sing-Off), Ben Bram, and Alfredo Austin of Overboard.
Beginning VP (Francis, Bellatrix, et al.) Perform!
Clocks keep time. Vocal percussionists? They make it. Learn what you need to make atomic clocks weep at your superhuman precision. Led by Kari Francis and featuring The Boxettes’ Bellatrix, Beatboxing World Champion.
Creative Improvisation through Voice and Beatbox (The Boxettes) Master!
Explore advanced vocal technique including beatbox, vocal percussion, and sounds. How to use improvisation, vocal exercises, and games as means of musical expression!
Deconstructing the Lead (G. Hoffman) Perform!
A cappella is an ensemble sport, but a great lead can make a performance while a mediocre one can sink it. Come learn about all of the tools you need to step forward from the group and deliver a powerful solo, from developing your performance concept and style, to stage presence and connecting with the audience, to phrasing, mic technique, and recording in the studio.
DIY Recording (Lyons, Ozment) Sound!
Workshop Handout (PDF Download)
Learn how to record your own album just like the pros while saving A LOT of money! Danny Ozment, owner of Emerald City Productions and Nick Lyons, co-owner of The Vocal Company will show you what equipment you need and what pro techniques to use to get amazing raw tracks that professional editors and producers can easily (and less expensively) turn into a cappella gold! This interactive session will feature hands-on demonstrations of techniques used by CARA and ACA award winning producers.
If you plan to attend this workshop, please download this arrangement excerpt and learn the parts that work for your voice for an opportunity to participate in the hands-on demonstration: Sheet Music | Midi File
Dressing For Successing (Matze, Barreiro) Create!
It’s getting close to the big show or competition and the time has come to answer the question on everybody’s mind: What are you going to wear? Find out what outfits truly make a statement on (the good and bad kind) and tips to ensuring success before ever stepping foot on the stage.
Essential Listening (Stevens) Explore!
What is there to listen to, how might we listen to it, and why? In this interactive seminar we develop our critical listening skills — think Alexander technique for the ears! — by asking historical, formal, and ethical questions about the music we love so much … and by rediscovering what it means to be astonished!
Go The Distance (Emery, Watts) Manage!
Let’s face it: life throws change at us all the time. For scholastic and collegiate groups, in particular, the inherent high rate of membership turnover can be detrimental to continued success. This session is designed to address issues and roadblocks related to the transitory nature of group membership and provide tactics for setting your group’s trajectory for greatness. We’ll also discuss how CASA can specifically serve your group to alleviate some of the issues inhibiting consistent group excellence.
Got Crit? (Lewis) Explore!
What makes music GOOD? Is there such a thing as objectively “good” music? This open discussion-style workshop will help hone critical listening skills, enabling a sharper articulation of what works and what doesn’t in recorded and live music.
Headliners Q&A (Headlining groups, moderated by G. Hoffman) Master!
Wondering how the headliners _did that_? Here’s your chance to ask! Join this exciting conversation with SoJam 2011 performers, moderated by George Hoffman of Hookslide.
How to, Like, Not Talk Bad on Stage (Brown) Perform!
Stop fumbling around between songs! Concert producer and seasoned emcee Dave Brown teaches you how to use talking to guide your audience through your concert.
I Am Woman (Barreiro, et al.) Explore!
It ain’t easy walking stilettos… but somebody’s gotta do it! Come listen to some of the biggest female names in a cappella talk about all things woman! From their thoughts on being sexy on stage to who their biggest influences are, moderator Lo Barreiro will be asking our esteemed panel all about what it’s like to be a woman in a cappella. Featuring members of Musae and The Boxettes.
I Make Gold Records (Sperandio, et al.) Sound!
Planning, syllable sexification, sonic goals, distribution, group image, and more: how to make your album go triple platinum! … without breaking the bank.
Live Sound Basics (Longo) Sound!
An introduction to the wide world of live sound. Learn how to amplify your voice to please crowds of people without running into trouble.
Planning an A Cappella Festival (LoBiondo, He) Manage!
Collegiate a cappella communities all over the country aspire to host their own festivals that bring other groups to their campus. This workshop will provide the fundamentals of event planning, techniques for communicating with other a cappella groups and campus administrators, and how to get your campus excited about your festival!
Rockin’ The Stage: Find YOUR Awesome! (Austin) Master!
Come prepared with a verse and chorus y’all! This interactive class will concentrate on the several different aspects of performing! Not just “Rocking” but finding out what makes YOU stand out as a performer! Advance registration required.
Science of Singing (Green) Explore!
You’re making sound come out of your mouth, and that’s about where your knowledge ends. There’s so much more happening between when you pick a pitch to sing and when sound reaches the audience’s ears! Find out why beating dissonance works the way it does, why the “singer’s formant” makes blending hard, and what’s actually going on in your throat when you sing.
Serious Business ™ (Hines) Master!
Get serious with industry veteran Mark Hines as you learn how to run your group like a successful business. In this intensive seminar, you’ll learn how to improve your decision-making process, budget your time and money, and place the appropriate value on your talent (yes, it’s a commodity, and it’s got a price!). And you’ll learn how to do it without losing the unique culture that makes your group – and a cappella in general – so special. Intended for business directors and group decision-makers, this limited-enrollment workshop is geared toward the most motivated and serious participants! Advance registration required.
Selling, Streaming, and Showcasing Cover Songs (Crawford) Manage!
Whether it’s on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook, Pandora, Spotify, Turntable.fm, or your website, showcasing your live and recorded music should be simple and straight-forward. But if it’s a cover, you usually need a license. This class will teach you how to quickly and easily license your music so that you can get back to the much more fun job of creating it.
Sing to WIN! (J. Hoffman) Explore!
Workshop Handouts: ICCA Tips | ICCA Rubric | CARAs
External motivation is all around you if you’re looking! President of CASA, Director of the CARAs, frequent ICCA judge, and conveniently, adolescent psychologist, Julia Hoffman explains how to win CARAs and the ICCAs.
Solo Performance: You Can Riff, Too! (Mickens) Master!
Ever wonder how singers do those crazy riffs? Tried to do one but couldn’t quite get it? In this workshop, you’ll get the chance to learn the secrets behind them, and, yes, even try a few! Advance registration required.
Visual Performance: The Good, the Bad, and the Glee (Zuckerman) Create!
In the era of Disney channel musicals, prime-time a cappella competitions, and a certain popular Fox series, this workshop opens up for debate the faux pas, best practices and future trends in high-stakes staging and choreography. Taking cues from award-winning performance sets, we’ll discuss everything you need to know for creating masterful visuals for a big gig or competition, from conception to instruction to performance.
Vocal Play (Naturally 7) Perform!
Become the instrument!
Wide World of A cappella (Emery, Aldag, Albright) Explore!
You are part of something much bigger than your group! Learn more about The Contemporary A Cappella Society (CASA), as well as the different agencies, organizations, and businesses in the world of contemporary a cappella. The connections you make will provide you with the resources and opportunities you and your group need to learn, grow, and enjoy your singing experience even more.
Amanda Aldag – @acaldag
Amanda started her a cappella career as musical director of Special K at Hamilton College. After graduation she moved to rural Japan for 4 years where she founded, trained and performed with an international a cappella group called the Amigos. Since moving the the DC area in 2005, Amanda has founded and performs with Euphonism (CAL) and Snowday, a group that primarily provides a cappella educational programs in the Mid-Atlantic. She is currently the Vice President and Director of Programs for CASA, Managing Partner of Clear Harmonies Productions in DC and has served as a CARA Nominator as judge since 2009.
Stephanie Albright – @clearlysoprano
Alfredo Austin – @AlfredoAustin
Alfredo Austin is a member of the Boston-based Pro a cappella group Overboard. He has received many accolades for both his live and recorded vocal ability. Most notably, his featured solo on “Amazing Grace”, which won the 2011 CARA award for Best Religious Song and his multiple appearances on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show!
Tom Anderson – @randomnotesllc
Tom Anderson’s arrangements can be heard on multiple issues of the BOCA, Sing!, and Voices Only compilations and on the hit NBC a cappella showcase “The Sing-Off”. His arranging clients include 5-time Grammy winners the Swingle Singers, award-winning a cappella solo artist Peter Hollens, ICCA champions Pitch Slapped, and dozens of other vocal groups across the country (and occasionally beyond). A former member of pro a cappella groups Ball in the House and Four Shadow and original music director of UW-Eau Claire Fifth Element, Tom is the founder and owner of Random Notes LLC, an arranging service specializing in vocal music for groups of all styles, makeups, and abilities, and situated cozily online at www.random-notes.com.
Lo Barreiro – @loloalexandra
In the last few years Lo has gone from complete a cappella newbie to trying to have a hand in everything. A former member and music director of Florida State University AcaBelles, Lo is now a producer with The Vocal Company, an a cappella writer and blogger, the CASA Ambassador for the Greater Boston area, a sought after arranger and clinician, and ICCA judge. But does she perform? This past year Lo founded the professional all-female sextet Musae and has loved singing and performing with them!
The Boxettes – @theboxettes
The Boxettes are an extraordinary combination of talents. They have all had training from some of the world’s most renowned music institutes including Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Southampton University. Collectively these young women have taught inspiring vocal and beatbox workshops across the world from India to Paris.
Ben Bram
Ben Bram is an arranger, music director, vocal coach, producer, and keyboardist from Los Angeles. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 2010 with a degree in music industry. At USC, he sang with the SoCal VoCals and helped lead them to two ICCA championships. Since graduation, he has been lucky enough to be arranging, coaching, and producing a cappella for TV and film, working on “The Sing-Off,” “Pitch Perfect,” and “Glee,” in addition to providing non-a cappella musical services to “The Voice,” “Modern Family,” and “Bones.” He also arranged and produced the upcoming album for The Backbeats, which will be available on iTunes November 15th! www.benbrammusic.com
Dave Brown – @mouthoffshow
Dave Brown is best known as the co-host of the award-winning weekly a cappella show Mouth Off and an instructor for the A cappella Boot Camp recording seminar. A former member of BYU Vocal Point and co-founder of BYU Noteworthy, Dave has worked as producer, emcee, and judge at all levels of ICCA, and has served several years on the CASA Board of Directors. By day, Dave manages a record label based in Salt Lake City.
Wes Carroll
Founding vocal percussionist of Boston’s Five O’Clock Shadow, decade-long member of (and songwriter for) The House Jacks, and the man behind the Mouth Drumming video instructional series, Wes Carroll has unlocked the rhythm in the minds and mouths of tens of thousands.
Rachel Chalhoub – @roguepotatoe
Rachel Chalhoub was first introduced to Vocal Percussion through the CD of JMU Bluestones album “Just A Little Bit”. She was instantly drawn to the vocal percussionists unique technique and sounds. In college she joined FSU’s all female acappella group The Acabelles and trained with FSU’s All-Night Yahtzee’s Chris Abramson to become a vocal percussionist. Two year’s later she made the switch from being the percussionist in an all female group to becoming the first female percussionist at FSU in a co-ed acappella group, FSU’s All-Night Yahtzee. She performed with the group for 3 years and competed at several ICCA’s including two Finals Rounds at Alice Tully Hall in New York City. After college Rachel performed with several groups in the south Florida area adding her percussion skills to a more mature repertoire. Today she works as an Elementary School Computer Teacher and continues to practice her percussion in hopes of starting her own contemporary group. Some of her looped recordings have been used for Japanese YouTube sensation, Bobby Judo.
Brian Chambers
Brian is the least prestigious graduate of the School of Visual and Performing Arts at Montclair High School. He was also an original member of the Univ. of Delaware Ychromes, “the anti-christ of collegiate a cappella” Rutgers Deep Treble and Casual Harmony. Deep Treble (at the time) was the youngest group ever to get to the finals at Lincoln Center winning a few VP awards along the way. Most recently, he founded and served as Artistic Director / Business Manager for The Red States. The mixed rock/pop group went on to be featured in Newsweek, named one of the best 7 a cappella groups in NYC and “best-known of NYC’s coed groups” by Time Out NY. Their debut album, No Political Affiliation, won CAL Album of the Year, has two CAL songs of the year. His day job is VP/Senior Strategist (social media) for the world’s largest independent PR company.
Jill Clark
Jill Clark has been involved in music since age 5, singing, playing guitar, drums and piano. In 2010, she finished up a four year run with the UNC-G Sapphires, who were the 1st place competition winners at SoJam 2008. Clark has also won Best Vocal Percussion at SoJam ’07, ’08, and the 2010 ICCA South Semi-Finals. Her latest aca-ventures have included the recording world—writing album reviews for CASA and RARB. Clark is also a proud member of a talented team of aca-producers known as none other than The Vocal Company!
Chris Crawford – @crawtunes
Chris Crawford is the founder and president of A Cappella Records (ACR) — a San Francisco based music services company for a cappella groups. ACR currently licenses and distributes over 1800 tracks to 400 digital stores and discovery websites. Crawford has worked in the public relations and iTunes promotions department of Apple and served on the board of directors for CASA producing the monthly newsletter, A Cappella Now.
Christopher Diaz – @leprincerebelle
Christopher Diaz, a graduate of the Florida State University, spent three years as the music director of FSU’s mixed All-Night Yahtzee. He led the group to three consecutive appearances at the ICCA Finals as the South Region Champions, culminating in numerous solo, arranging and choreography awards and a second place finish at the 2008 International Finals. He co-produced two albums, Minor Adjustments (which won an AcaTunes award in 2007) and 17, for which he was nominated for the Best Mixed Collegiate Arrangement CARA in 2008. In 2008, Christopher began working with the AACI as Scholastic Coordinator and has served as Competition Coordinator, clinician, coach and producer for SoJam 2008, 2009, and 2010. In 2009, he joined CASA as the Ambassador Program Director and co-founded Mouth Off!, the 2010 ACA award-winning weekly podcast dedicated to the world of contemporary a cappella music. He now lives in coastal Virginia where he works as a Program Director for the Salvation Army and serves CASA as the Director of Public Relations. He is a CARA nominator/judge, ICCA judge/producer, and freelance arranger, clinician and soloist.
Robert Dietz – @rdietz55
Robert Dietz has been arranging, performing, and critiquing contemporary a cappella music at all levels for almost ten years. His career began in high school as director of the critically acclaimed group, Ascending Height, with whom he produced the first all-original high school a cappella album. Robert has studied at both the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney, Australia, and at the Ithaca College School of Music in Ithaca, New York where he directed the award winning all-male group, Ithacappella. Recently Robert was a member of the creative team for season three of The Sing-Off.
Matt Emery – @memerylane
Matt Emery serves as CASA’s Membership Director and has participated in SoJam as a producer for the past three years. He graduated from Duke University in 2007, where he sang in two vocal ensembles: the Duke University Chorale and Rhythm & Blue. He served as the musical director of the latter group for two years, arranging around 25 songs, producing two albums, and garnering multiple CARA nominations and BOCA appearances. Matt currently resides in Washington, DC, where he sings with an all-male early music ensemble called The Suspicious Cheese Lords. He’s thrilled to be part of the SoJam team again and is interested in helping groups utilize CASA’s offerings and membership benefits to their great advantage.
Kari Francis – @kuchikuu
A classically trained pianist and percussionist, Kari began her contemporary a cappella journey with directing the UC San Diego Daughters of Triton and later joined the Tritones and Orange County-based CAL septet Frequency before graduating with a B.A. in Music Theory & Composition. She currently performs with the all-female powerhouse ensemble Musae, has performed in concert with Imogen Heap as part of her “Earth” collaboration project and most recently appeared on season 3 of NBC’s The Sing-Off as the vocal percussionist in the Los Angeles-based group Kinfolk 9. Kari also enjoys barbershop a bit too much, so find her and sing a tag with her. She’ll love you forever.
Alex Green – @atothegreen
Alex Green is a graduate of Tufts University, where he received a degree in Music and Archaeology. He sang with the Tufts Amalgamates for all four years of his college career, served Music Director for the 2009 calendar year, and produced their most recent album, Hands Off the Mannequin! Alex is a reviewer for RARB, and is the co-owner of Plaid Productions with Alexander Koutzoukis.
Bill Hare
Bill Hare has been a full-time recording engineer/producer for 27 years, and has specialized in contemporary a cappella production since 1989. Over the last two decades, Bill has recorded and/or mixed acclaimed albums for some of the best contemporary a cappella groups around the globe, including England’s Flying Pickets, Swingle Singers and Voces8, Denmark’s Basix, Norway’s Apes & Babes, Italy’s Cluster, The Ghost Files, and Maybe6ix, as well as working with many top American acts including +4dB, Duwende, Hookslide, Moosebutter, and The House Jacks.
Collegiate A Cappella clients include The Beelzebubs, Divisi, and about 80 others. Bill is the world’s most awarded individual contemporary a cappella producer, including over 45 appearances on BOCA, over 100 CARA nominations, over 30 albums in the RARB “Picks of the Year” lists, and 11 “DeeBee” awards since 1987 in the Vocal Jazz category from Downbeat Magazine. In 2010 he added a Grammy Award to this list in the Classical Crossover Album category for Christopher Tin’s “Calling All Dawns”.
For more information, visit Bill’s website – www.dyz.com.
Mark Hines – @vocalmark
SoJam Executive Producer Mark Hines caught a chronic dose of a cappella fever in 1998 when he joined the NCSU Grains of Time. During his tenure, Mark toured Europe and North America and led the group to the ICCA finals, where he took Best Arrangement for “Homeward Bound.” Since then, he’s produced award-winning albums, judged ICCA events, and served on the SING series selection board. He’s also founded two a cappella production outfits, including aca-razzi favorite The Vocal Company (give Mark a holler at 919.656.7103 or mark@thevocalcompany.com to learn more).
George Hoffman
George Hoffman has performed as a member of the four-man SF Bay Area vocal band Hookslide for the past ten years, lending his powerful baritone, face-peeling falsetto, and soulful leads to the group as well as serving as the resident sound engineer. Starting his vocal career in musical theater at an early age, he made the jump into a cappella with the Cornell Key Elements and later with the Stanford Harmonics. When not singing, he serves as CTO for a Silicon Valley technology company.
Julia Hoffman – @juliahoffman
Julia Hoffman, Psy.D. is the President of the Board of the Contemporary A cappella Society (CASA). Julia started her a cappella career as a member, and later director, of the Stanford Harmonics. She served as the West Region Producer for the International Championship of Collegiate A cappella (ICCA) for two years and has sat on CASA’s Board of Directors for seven years. For the past six years, she has also served as the Director of the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs), the most prestigious award program for recorded a cappella music. Under her leadership, the program has expanded to become truly global as it rewards groups from every continent and requires the work of hundreds of volunteers in many countries to continue to meet a standard of excellence. Julia has coordinated the A Cappella Community Awards (ACAs), executive produced the SING compilation, judged numerous collegiate and professional a cappella shows including the semi-finals and finals of the ICCA, taught classes and workshops to a cappella singers and enthusiasts of all types, and been featured on Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) albums as both a singer and an arranger. Inher spare time, Julia works as a psychologist on a collaboration between the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (VA) and the National Center for Telehealth and Technology (Department of Defense). She lives in Northern California with her husband, George, and her dog, Winnie.
TeKay (Thomas King)
TeKay was one of the first ambassadors for CASA back in the early ’90s. He’s a member of Contemporary A Capella League group DeltaCappella and served as a CAL-rep for SoJam. He’s been a RARB reviewer for several years and is one of the sing series producers. Previously, he served on the Board of Directors for the Alliance of A Cappella Initiatives as a jack-of-all-trades and the Executive Producer of the Sing series of recordings. He was the Associate Editor of the Contemporary A Cappella News magazine for more than a decade and was the South Regional Producer of the ICCA from 1998-2004.
Alexander Koutzoukis – @aekoutzoukis
Alexander was a computer science major at Tufts University and spent five years in the Beelzebubs, for two of which he was Music Director. He has worked closely with Ed Boyer and Bill Hare to record and produce two award-winning albums (Pandaemonium and Play The Game) and has already begun work with Ed on the next Bubs album. His arrangement of “All The Love In The World” just received a CARA for Best Male Collegiate Arrangement and he was selected as runner up for Favorite Vocal Percussionist in the 2010 ACAs, just like the Bubs were runners up on The Sing-Off.
Catherine Lewis – @autumnshades
Catherine Lewis is a freelance critic based in Washington, D.C., who has written about music for the better part of the last decade. She contributes frequently to RARB and the Washington Post and has previously written for Pitchfork and Revolver among others. She also contributes a segment called “Did You Know?” to the a cappella podcast Mouth Off!, in which she muses on the unusual histories behind some of a cappella’s favorite songs. She is a recovering singer, having performed with DC’s all-female a cappella group Kismet for 7 years.
Kristin LoBiondo and John He – @klobo21
Bringing flavors from the East and West coasts, John He and Kristin LoBiondo have 8 years of a cappella festival experience between them, including production for SoJam, the Los Angeles A Cappella Festival, VoCAL Nation, and many other A Cappella-Fests. John has just finished his Physiological Science degree at UCLA, while serving as Music Director for Bruin Harmony. Kristin, Assistant Director of Events for CASA, currently lives in Washington, D.C., planning events for Strathmore Music Center, and singing with Vox Pop.
Dave Longo – @sleddogstudios
After singing in RIT’s Eight Beat Measure, Dave Longo started Sled Dog Studios, a full service production company based out of Rochester, NY. Dave now runs sound for live a cappella shows throughout the country having worked with Duwende, Nota, Overboard, Sonos, and others.
Nick Lyons – @tvcnick
Nick Lyons, a model citizen, ambassador for a brighter tomorrow, avid supporter of the World Wildlife Foundation, separator of the Oreo Cookie™. A wise woman once said “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.” Nick listened to that woman. He is a firm supporter of music, as well as the movement to “bring sexy back”. For a full listing of Nick’s contributions to society: www.thevocalcompany.com, facebook.com, or google.com.
Holli Matze – @matzeah
Holli got her start in the a cappella world as a member of James Madison University’s all-female group, The BluesTones, serving as Music Director & President. Since then, she has become an accomplished arranger & vocal coach for music programs across the country. In 2010, she joined the Varsity Vocals team and currently serves as an ICCA Producer for the Northeast Region. Today, Holli continues her passion for performance as Music Director of New York City’s newest all-female group, Empire, and serves as Asst. Director of Education for NYC’s top performing arts training program, Broadway Workshop.
Naturally 7 – @Naturally7
With their rich harmonies, an unbelievable ability to replicate instruments and a stage presence that can be felt in every seat of the house, Naturally 7 are amazing and charming fans where ever they perform. As of recently, they have been seen alongside traditional pop, jazz artist Michael Buble. “To call them an a cappella group would be a gross understatement, for they performed songs with trumpets, electric guitars, bass cello, harmonica, a full drum kit, and more — using only their voices. It was like a striking optical illusion, only aural,” proclaims The Boston Globe.
Overboard – @overboardvocals
Overboard is a Boston-based contemporary male a cappella group whose repertoire spans a variety of genres. In addition to street performing throughout New England and donating their services to a variety of non-profit organizations, the group has been featured entertainment for American Idol’s annual summer camp and on the CBS Early Show’s A Cappella Quest. Their two most recent albums, Tidings and Help!, have earned the group multiple CARA nominations as well as recognition in and out of the a cappela community.
Danny Ozment – @dannyozment
Danny Ozment, CASA Director of Education, grew up in Richmond, VA and began his a cappella career at James Madison University where he founded Exit 245 and received a Bachelors degree in Music Education and a Masters degree in Conducting. Along the way he has taught all forms of choral music at the elementary, secondary, collegiate, and professional levels. In 2004 he became the Assistant Conductor of the Master Chorale of Washington and in 2008 joined the staff of the Cathedral Choral Society at the National Cathedral as Director of External Programs. In 2009, Danny started Emerald City Productions, an a cappella production company based in Springfield, VA offering recording, editing, mixing, coaching, and arranging services.
Corey Slutsky – @voicesonly
Corey Slutsky is the owner and founder of Voices Only A Cappella, for which he produces the Voices Only collegiate compilation album and Voices Only Forte post-collegiate compilation album, as well as coaches and consults a cappella groups on recording, vocal performance and visual performance. Corey has been involved in a cappella since 1997 as a singer, songwriter, vocal percussionist, arranger, record producer, president and musical director in five a cappella groups: full-time professional group STREETNiX, USC SoCal VoCals, University of Michigan GMen, University of Michigan Kol HaKavod, and Voxel Rox of the Contemporary A Cappella League. Corey has been a RARB album reviewer, CARA judge and nominator, and ICCA, judge, and produced his master’s thesis on “the growth and explosion of a cappella music from 1990-2005.”
Dave Sperandio – @davesperandio
Dave Sperandio, or “Dio” has been working with a cappella music for 18 years as a performer, producer, and engineer, with work appearing on projects for clients from around the globe. After founding the a cappella production company diovoce in 2000, Dave founded the not for profit Alliance for A Cappella Initiatives (AACI) in 2003 and created both the SoJam A Cappella Festival and the Sing! vocal compilation CD as the organization’s first endeavors. He has performed with numerous ensembles, directed the UNC Clef Hangers, and has toured and recorded with Vocal Tonic, Transit, and Almost Recess.
In 2006 Dave partnered with several fellow producers to form VocalSource, which represents the most comprehensive network of vocal music studios in the world.
In 2008 Dave merged the AACI with CASA and joined CASA’s Board as Director of Events as well as Secretary, managing SoJam, LA/AF, VoCALnation, SMACC, and a growing network of CASA festivals and events around the world.
Benjamin Stevens – @beldonstevens
Benjamin Stevens is CASA educational officer for events and festivals. He also coordinates the Recorded A Cappella Review Board and judges international a cappella contests and awards. Since 2004 he has been Assistant Professor of Classical Studies at Bard College, where he contributes to the Cognitive Science program, First-Year Seminar, the Language and Thinking program, and the Bard Prison Initiative. He has published on Latin poetry (including Lucretius and Ovid), sensorial anthropology, linguistics, comics, and philosophy of mind, and maintains additional research and teaching interests in the Classical tradition, science fiction, and the graphic novel.
Tat Tong – @t2tattong
Producer-songwriter Tat Tong is responsible for five #1 hits and nearly 20 Top 10 hits to date in Asia. His work has been featured on major-label releases from Warner, Sony, and Universal Music, and his global clientele includes artists from the UK, USA, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, and Singapore. His songwriting (under Universal Music Publishing), arranging, and mixing work has also won accolades from artists and critics, including a spot in the Global Chinese Music Awards’ Top 10 Albums of April 2011. In the a cappella realm, Tat’s production and arranging work has been featured on every BOCA compilation since 2007, and has garnered dozens of CARA nominations and awards. In addition to these portfolios, Tat indulges his love of teaching as an instructor at the School of Music and Arts in Singapore.
Angela Ugolini
Angela began her a cappella career at Florida State University, where she directed the award-winning all-female group, AcaBelles, and led the girls to ICCA finals as the ‘09 South Champions. She also co-produced their latest album, Just Got Real which was nominated for three of this year’s CARA Awards. Since then, she’s studied audio engineering, sung with The Red States and founded NYC’s newest all-female group, Empire, where she’s served as musical director for the first year. She is also a member of the one of the newest all-female groups on the block, Musae. Angela is an Engineer at The Vocal Company.
Brian Watts
Brian Watts has been singing in various ensembles since age nine and is a first-time instructor at SoJam. Before graduating from NC State University, Brian sang with both the Concert Choir and Acappology. He was the music director of Acappology for three years and helped to release the group’s first album in 10 years. While attending graduate school at Duke University, Brian sang with Rhythm and Blue for two years, during which time the group won the SoJam 2010 Collegiate Competition and received several CARA and ACA nominations. Brian is also an avid vocal percussionist and was awarded the Best Vocal Percussion award at SoJam 2010. Currently, Brian performs with the CAL group Cognitive Resonance and is so thankful for the opportunity to work more closely with both CASA and SoJam this year.
Mallory Zuckerman – @malzuckerman
Mallory was a lifelong triple threat before deciding that the correct musical path was to emulate Gwen Stefani, Karen O, Florence Welch and Lady Gaga alongside friends making weird noises on stage. But Christopher Diaz told her never to name drop. The former performance director of University of Florida’s competitive mixed group, No Southern Accent, Mallory has twice received Outstanding Soloist at the ICCA South Quarterfinals and is a featured soloist on the group’s 2011 debut record, Group Therapy. Oh, and once she arranged “Viva la Vida.” This is her fifth year at SoJam.
