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"Top-notch choral instruction in a cappella vocal and performance techniques, as demonstrated through the barbershop style."

With support provided by the Mid-Atlantic District, the Barbershop Harmony Society, and Sweet Adelines International, this full day of vocal immersion in a cappella harmony will be offered to Student and Educator participants for a minimal registration fee of only $15. All additional Festival costs are covered - including lunch and dinner for all participants.

Registration for this year's event has closed.

The event is a one-day Youth Harmony Festival culminating in an evening show for family and friends on April 14, 2012 at 7pm at the Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center in Alexandria, VA - "Where Music, Dance & Theater Come Alive!"  Youth Harmony Festival students will receive specific choral instruction from 9am to 5pm in vocal production, visual performance, reaching across the footlights to your audience, and achieving the "expanded" sound of locked barbershop chords.

For additional questions about the 2012 Youth Harmony Festival, contact Joe Cerutti or the Festival Coordinator. 

The Details  

Who can attend?  - The Festival program is open to all young singers in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

How much does it cost? - A majority of the costs for this event are covered by the Barbershop Harmony Society and the Alexandria Harmonizers.  However an additional registration fee of $15 from each participant covers ALL instructional materials, lunch, dinner, Festival T-shirt, and free guest tickets to the evening show!

When is it? - The 5th Annual Youth Harmony Festival was conducted on April 14, 2012.  The Festival instruction day started at 9am and concluded at 5pm, followed by the 7pm evening show featuring the guest quartets Mayhem and Escapade, plus the student-formed "Harmony Festival Chorus"

Where is it?  - The festival was again hosted at the Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center in Old Town, Alexandria VA, 1605 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

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Festival Program Faculty

• Joseph Cerutti - Dean of the Youth Harmony Festival
• Stephanie Brictson - Girls Chorus Director
• Mike Kelly - Boys Chorus Director
• Competitive quartets, coaches, and judges from
• • Barbershop Harmony Society
  • Sweet Adelines International 

The Directors

Due to in unexpected incident, we've had to change our directing staff.  Special thanks to Ms. Stephanie Brictson who has graciously accepted our request to fill in for Ms. Erin Odell as the Girls Chorus Director.   

Stephanie Brictson - Girls Chorus Director

Stephanie Brictson became Musical Director of The Jersey Sound Chorus in May 2000. She successfully completed the Sweet Adeline Director Certification Program in 1999. Music Education is high on her priority list and she does extensive coaching for both men’s and women’s barbershop quartets and choruses up and down the Eastern Seaboard. She started her barbershop singing career in 1979 and has sung in numerous quartets and choruses over the years and is a four-time quartet champion tenor in Sweet Adelines Region 15. Not only does Stephanie share her “hobby” with her Barbershop family, she also shares it with her real family as she co-directs a Barbershop Harmony Society Chorus with her father where her youngest son is a front row member.

Mike Kelly - Boys Chorus Director

Mike Kelly has been barbershopping since the age of 15 and now has thirty years under his belt, including ten years of directing and many, many more years of quartet experience. As the original bass of Wheelhouse, he competed at International in the top ten, and currently serves as the bass section leader and an assistant director of the Alexandria Harmonizers. Today, he's thrilled to be working with the Youth, and excited to be putting on a killer performance - Let's do this!

The Teaching Quartets

Escapade

From Sweet Adelines International, this is one of the hottest quartets in the mid-Atlantic area. Escapade generates energy and excitement everywhere they perform. This dynamic foursome is comprised of a barbershop junkie lead (Sherry), a busy working mom (Laura), a recent empty-nester preacher's wife (Donna) and an Immigration Enforcement Officer-come-woman of leisure retiree (Anne)!

Mayhem

This entertaining quartet started out by winning their first divisional contest with a zany set that had everyone laughing.  Mayhem is currently preparing for the International Qualifying Contest (“Prelims”) and is sure to make learning fun for all Festival Participants!