Gary's Québec CASA page

Contemporary A cappella Society
2525 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 205
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 563-5224
info@casa.org
http://www.casa.org

Québec co-ambassador: Gary Tompkins

A cappella groups from Québec

		Ah Cappella, Collège Lionel-Groulx
		La Bande Magnétik Montreal's own professional a cappella group! I saw them at the East Coast Summit in Boston awhile ago, and again in Ste-Therese and Burlington VT, et je suis fier d'etre Montréalais! They're working on a website.
		Effusion is an independently-run student a cappella group at McGill University, Montréal, Quebec. The group formed in the fall of 1999. Effusion is here. Effusion is real. Watch and listen as Effusion endeavours to expand the horizons of the human voice. Proud winners of the 2004 semi-finals of THE ICCA (International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella)
The Sainte-Anne Singers is a 23-voice a cappella ensemble founded in 1987. The group has an eclectic and highly entertaining repertoire including jazz, pop, gospel, contemporary classical, and Renaissance music. Three-time winners of the Montreal Choral Festival, the singers present two concert series yearly, at Christmas and in the spring, as well as singing benefit concerts throughout the year in the West Island and Montreal. In a departure from their a cappella roots that proves their versatility, the Sainte-Anne Singers have also presented works from the classical repertoire in collaboration with the Montreal Chamber Orchestra.
Sexapella, Collège Lionel-Groulx		An incredible group from Collège Lionel-Groulx. They blew me away at the ICCA quarter-finals a few years ago. Even though they didn't win, they should be very proud of their performance.
Soulstice; McGill's newest a cappella group. The group was formed several years ago when a handful of McGill students decided that they wanted to sing. What started as a simple idea, flourished into a group whom even after being together for only days were able to blend and create a unique sound of their own.
		THIN ICE has been entertaining audiences in the Montreal area for many years. This popular and personable quartet will have you bopping with many Doo-Wop, Popular and Jazz Standards.
Founded in early 1998, Tonal Ecstasy is a club at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. They perform at paying and benefit gigs, such as coffeehouses, parties, and receptions. They draw their music from a variety of backgrounds, including pop, folk, jazz, classical, and traditional a cappella (doo-wop). In spring 2002 they won at the quarter-finals of the International Competition of Collegiate A cappella in Montreal and went on to compete in the semi-finals in Boston. If you'd like to know more about the group or are interested in hiring them, please feel free to contact their president, Matt Chellew at mchell1@po-box.mcgill.ca.

Some of Gary's favourite a cappella groups and individuals from outside Québec

Sean Altman (formerly of Rockapella) is on his own now. He's also part of The Groovebarbers, and other group configurations. This picture was taken by me at a Rockapella concert in New York City at The Bottom Line.	These pictures are from a house concert in Boston in November, 2002
Duwende, from NYC. They rocked when I saw them in Boston.
Malaika is an eclectic a cappella group from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. At left is Lee Hayes on my lap at my first Malaika concert! (photo below by Nancy McGrath)	These concert group pictures were taken by me at performances in Montreal and Ottawa.
Rockapella is another favourite a cappella group. The group pictures were borrowed from their webpage, the pictures of Jeff and Scott were taken by me at The Bottom Line in NYC. Rockapella successfully modernized the art of a cappella performing, texturing their rich five-part vocals with elements of rock, jazz, R&B and doo-wop. The group was formed during the mid-'80s by Brown University students Sean Altman (tenor) and Elliott Kerman (baritone), who met while members of the school's male a cappella ensemble the High Jinks. They soon formed a spin-off streetcorner group dubbed the Lunchtime Specials, gradually evolving into Rockapella -- although other members came and went, both Altman and Kerman stayed on throughout the lean years, eventually joined by tenor Scott Leonard and bass Barry Carl. In 1990 the group appeared on the PBS special Spike Lee and Company: Do It A Cappella, leading to an invitation to become the house band on the network's educational series Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, where they remained for five seasons. Although no American record deal was immediately forthcoming, Rockapella soon signed to the Japanese label For Life, issuing their debut LP To NY in 1992. Two more albums, From NY and Bash!, appeared that same year, and in 1993 vocal percussionist Jeff Thacher joined the lineup in time to record 1994's Vocobeat. The Christmas release Out Cold was issued just months later, and in 1995 Rockapella issued their first American collection, Primer. In the wake of 1996's Lucky Seven, Altman left the lineup and was replaced by Kevin Wright; the retooled roster issued Don't Tell Me You Do in early 1999. The seasonal effort Christmas Album was issued in fall 2000, and the concert release Live was issued in early 2001. For their fifth album, 2002's Smilin', Rockapella welcomed guest vocals from singer George Baldi, who has now replaced Barry Carl (bass). Just released is another holiday album called Comfort and Joy.. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

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This page was last updated April 05, 2007