SingStrong A Cappella Fest Returns to Reston March 6-8

Musical groups from high school to professional will take over South Lakes High School as the SingStrong International Charity A cappella Festival returns to Reston March 6, 7 and 8.

The seventh-annual all-vocal event consists of five concerts at SLHS, an auction, and more than a dozen classes and coachings, all featuring nothing but the human voice.

Event proceeds support the Alzheimer’s Association and local music programs. Fans can attend single concerts or purchase weekend discount passes, which offer savings of up to 50-percent off.

This year’s performers will include:

• Gospel-pop sounds of Resound (featured on ABC)
•  Traces from this season of NBC’s The Sing-Off
• Vocaldente, the international award-winning German swing-pop group.
• Anna-Maria Hefele, YouTube sensation and Austrian overtone singer.
• Broadway Trio Apollo Link (aka The Spideyboys)
• Ensamble Fenix, Venezuela’s top latin jazz vocal group
• Blue Jupiter, the pop and twisted Broadway quartet featured by Oreo, Nokia, and Nickelodeon
• Ball in the House, Boston’s R&B sensations featured on America’s Got Talent
• The Alexandria Harmonizers, barbershop multi-medalists
• Feedback, NYC’s  studio singers turned jazzy R&B group

Groups will use only their voices to perform leads, harmonies and to vocally imitate a virtual orchestra of sounds  — including jazz trumpet, classical strings, distorted electric guitar and a full drum set.

Some of the other highlights:

Friday, 7 p.m. Concert features  “ACA-Idol,”  an a cappella competition for professional and collegiate groups in the style of American Idol. Celebrity judges will give live feedback. The show is hosted by Jonathan Minkoff (of Blue Jupiter, acappella101.com, RARB.org). First place is $1,000, and audience members get to vote using their cell phones to help determine the winner. Competitors include: The BluesTones from JMU, The Seabelles, The Rhythm and Roos from University of Akron, Uncommon, The Lobby, CATCH-22, Pitches Be Crazy and more.

Saturday, 7 p.m. Main Event Concert features multiple professional a cappella groups including  Traces, Blue Jupiter, Anna-Maria Hefele, and Apollo Link (aka Spideyboys).

Saturday, 9:30 p.m. Main Event Concert features more pro a cappella groups, including  Resound, Ball in the House, Vocaldente, Ensamble Fenix, Feedback and more.

Saturday, 2 p.m. Concert features the Finals of SingStrong’s High School Competition, with awards for performance, arranging and composition, as judged by respected a cappella educators from around the country.

Sunday, 2 p.m. Concert features Resound, Traces, Ensamble Fenix, The Alexandria Harmonizers, Feedback, and Apollo Link (aka Spideyboys).

Amateur singers will be involved in classes and coaching on such topics as recording techniques, stage presence, forming and directing an a cappella group, beatboxing, copyright law, and musical arranging. 

For singers who attend without a group to perform with, SingStrong offers an open a cappella group, The Single Singers. Attendees sign up, get their music online, briefly rehearse together at the festival, and then perform on the mainstage. 
 
Tickets range from $15 to $35. Discounted passes available for Seniors, Students and groups of 10 or more. Free Parking. Tickets and complete info at www.SingStrong.org.

Photo: Vocaldente are among SingStrong headliners/Credit: SingsStrong