Singer, Arranger, Organization Rep, A Cappella Fan

California

Entertainment Industry

I graduated from University of Redlands in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts Music Degree that I created myself, titled 'Vocal Jazz Studies with an Emphasis in Maintaining a Small Vocal Ensemble.' To get that specialized degree I took most of the classes a vocal performance major would take, as well as some music business courses, and with the help of my professors, I tailored them all towards vocal jazz and pop a cappella music. Many of the classes I took centered around all aspects of maintaining the vocal group I created at Redlands, called 'Mixed Blend.' Also during college, I was active in solo performances, two choirs, musical theater and opera productions.

After college I studied a variation of Seth Riggs' 'Speech Level Singing,' called 'Connected Voice' with Sandy Cressman. That changed my life! It improved my voice in ways i hadn't realized were possible! Soon after, I started a vocal group in the Bay Area, California, called Note-Orious. At the same time I was working for Primarily A Cappella as the catalog manager and the associate producer of the Harmony Sweepstakes Bay Area Regional and National Finals.

In March of 2008 I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in post production but couldn't leave my music background behind so I started a new vocal group, called 'Red Harmony.' After 6 months of searching for all 6 members, we finally got up and running in January 2009 and have been going strong ever since.
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My Grandma introduced me to music at an early age, paying for piano lessons, and later, voice lessons. My interest in all things vocal began when I joined choir in high school and heard some friends sing an original tune by Rockapella, called 'I'll Hear Your Voice.' After that I started learning about many different A Cappella groups. During my senior year of high school, a friend and I went to see 'American Beauty.' At the end of the movie, after Kevin Spacey's monologue ends, the screen goes to black and you hear Elliott Smith's cover of 'Because,' by the Beatles. The song started out with the most beautiful a cappella harmonies. I had already been accepted to University of Redlands in the musical theater program, but it was at that very moment, when I heard that breathtaking music, that I knew a cappella music would be a part of me for the rest of my life.
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Favorite Artists: The Real Group, Rockapella, The Swingle Singers, m-pact, Take 6, Idea of North, Rajaton, Singers Unlimited, Hi-Lo's, Jason Mraz, KT Tunstall, Margareta Bengtson, Manhattan Transfer, Anthony Starble, Laura McCorkle, Something Corporate, Eric Whitacre

Favorite CDs and Songs: Pretty much anything from the artists listed above ;-).

Favorite Movies: American Beauty, Imaginary Heroes, Milk, Kill Bil Vol. 1 & 2, Pulp Fiction, The Usual Suspects, Superbad, Knocked Up, Juno, Stanley Kubrick films.
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Touring with a professional A Cappella group while balancing a successful career in the business end of the entertainment industry.
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You mean there should be more to life than A Cappella music?!?!?! Haha, well, I collect dvds, I think I have over 350 by now. I'm trying to be more active these days, I like running and/or going to the gym. I've become pretty good at baking things, whether it be brownies or even baked mac & cheese. I've had a lot of fun exploring Los Angeles since I moved here in 2008, I still have a lot to explore tho, which is one of the reasons I really love it here!