Chapter 6
Chapter 6 is a professional a cappella ensemble from Illinois. Comprised of six vocalists and one arranger, Chapter 6 is the only vocal ensemble to win both The International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella (2001) and the prestigious National Harmony Sweepstakes (2004). Among subsequent honors, Chapter 6 has appeared with The National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center, and was featured on “American Idol: Season 7″ in conjunction with bandmate Luke Menard’s Top 16 run.
“An A Cappella Sensation: Chapter 6 is the titan of tight harmonies . . . one of the most entertaining and thrilling performances of the season. Captivating and fun-loving . . . brilliant and hilarious.”
— Terry Rindfleisch, La Crosse Tribune
Chapter 6 tours the U.S., Canada and Asia, performing in a wide variety of venues. Their family-friendly show features a light-hearted, high-energy blend of pop/jazz harmonies that is sure to bring spontaneous bursts of applause and laughter. Engaging performances feature a diverse repertoire of American popular music, from Gershwin to Stevie Wonder, as well as original songs ranging from the comical, “Lost in Canada,” to the reflective, “I Wanted to Say.” In addition, clever medleys including “The Wizard of Oz” entertain music lovers of all ages; their signature six-minute version of the classic MGM film earned a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (2005).
Chapter 6 will be conducting a workshop during the day and performing as the festival headliner in the evening.
Amy “Bob” Engelhardt
Amy Engelhardt has been the sole female member of Grammy-nominated vocal band without instruments, The Bobs since 1998. Her writing, arrangements and vocals are featured on The Bobs’ CDs Coaster (2000), The Best of The Bobs (2003), Rhapsody In Bob (2005), Get Your Monkey Off My Dog (2007), concert DVDs LIVE AT THE 20th CENTURY (1998), THE BOBS SING! (2001) and a recent documentary about The Bobs, SIGN MY SNARLING MOVIE (2007). Her brainchild, Rhapsody in Bob (Gershwin’s masterpiece, “Rhapsody in Blue” arranged for solo piano and The Bobs as the Vocal Orchestra) premiered at Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC in 2005. Amy’s solo CD, Not Gonna Be Pretty was nominated for two 2009 Just Plain Folks Music Awards.
A former musical theater performer, Amy has taught vocal performance and audition master classes in Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles and looks forward to working with Chicago singers in her workshop!
Chicago Voice Exchange
Winners of the 1995, 1997 and 1999 Midwest Regional Harmony Sweepstakes and a near miss for an Olympic Bronze in Synchronized Swimming, Chicago Voice Exchange have been entertaining and confusing audiences for over 16 years. From Cubs and White Sox games, to corporate and school events, from low brow to high—their insouciance and self-deprecating humor leaves a trail of smiles and broken dishes wherever they go (once — after which they are often banned).
They’ve been featured on national and local television and radio, including WLUP and WGN, and have entertained groups as widely varied as local elementary school students, and guests at The Broadmoor Country Club in Colorado Springs.
With their comedic twists on familiar songs and their creative originals, CVX are sure to connect with every audience.
An Octave Above
An Octave Above is a group of eight professional vocalists who blend years of experience and a love of a cappella harmony to every style of music they sing. From doo-wop to jazz, standards to pop, Bacharach to The Beatles, An Octave Above creates a new standard for excellence on the Chicago music scene.
Three of An Octave Above’s members also sing with the Chicago Symphony Chorus and one sings with both the Chicago Symphony Chorus and the St. Charles Singers. An Octave Above members have earned degrees in music and vocal performance from Elmhurst College, Northern Illinois University, and Bradley University.
An Octave Above has quickly established themselves as one of the hottest a cappella vocal groups in Chicago. They have competed in the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival Chicago Regionals, where they were awarded 2nd place in 2008 and 2005, and 3rd place in 2006. They sang the National Anthem at a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field, a Chicago White Sox game at U.S. Cellular Field, and a Chicago Bulls game at the United Center. In 2003, 2004, and 2005, they were the featured guest artists for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Holiday Joys” concert. In 2003, they opened for award winning jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival. In addition, they have been featured at performance venues including FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg, Townhouse Books Café in St. Charles, and have also held private performances at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub and Skelly & Skelly’s in Forest Park, The Galleria Marchetti in Chicago, and Orchestra Hall.
Inspired by The Real Group, The Swingle Singers, Manhattan Transfer and The New York Voices, An Octave Above is versatile, eclectic and always wonderful. Listen once and you’ll be transposed…An Octave Above.
Voices In Your Head
Voices In Your Head is a student run, co-ed a cappella group from the University of Chicago. They arrange all of their music, spanning the genres, but particularly Pop, Rock, and R&B. Their repertoire includes original music and an eclectic mix of Kevin Rudolf, The Beatles, Daft Punk, Rihanna, Muse, Coldplay, Sara Bareilles, ELO, and Francis Scott Key. The group regularly competes in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella and in early 2009, they opened for Ben Folds in Milwaukee. Our music has appeared on the national college a cappella compilation album, Voices Only, as well as on Ben Folds’ latest album, Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella.
Vocal Chaos
Vocal Chaos, an award-winning vocal band from Chicago started in 1996 as a group of business school students singing for fun, and since then have developed into a diverse collection of consultants, actors, students, teachers, computer geeks, a playwright and a professor. Vocal Chaos has performed at Soldier Field, entertained thousands at SeptemberFest in Schaumburg, sung the National Anthem for the World Champion Chicago White Sox and has been featured on Chicago Public Radio’s “Eight Forty-Eight,” ABC WLS-TV “Morning News,” PBS WTTW “Chicago Tonight” and CLTV “MetromixTV.” If you look quickly, you can see some of them in the Jennifer Aniston/Vince Vaughn movie, “The Break Up.”
As co-producers of the Midwest’s premiere vocal music festival, AcappellaFestTM, Vocal Chaos strives to collaborate with other like-minded bands and organizations to perform and promote the art form of a cappella. Vocal Chaos packs a powerful pinch of pop and healthy splash of rock into an cappella recipe like you’ve never tasted before.
