The inaugural Bend A Cappella Festival begins to hum, buzz, and belt, Friday February 19th at the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend. Tickets are still available for a number of the weekend’s offerings. 

Read on for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the sold out  Showcase performance by the House Jacks on Saturday, February 20th at 7pm at the Tower Theatre.

The  is a grateful recipient of funds from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund, a grant program working to enhance the local economy by growing Bend’s cultural tourism programs.  Not only has the festival received support from this fund, but from many of our wonderful local businesses and individuals.  Their enthusiasm and participation has truly made this a community event.

Groups from all over the northwest will kick off the three day long festival with a bit of friendly competition at the “Sing Off”, Friday February 19th at 7pm.  Fourteen groups will beatbox, harmonize, and shine for a chance to win a cash prize of $1000 and the opportunity to be the opening act for The House Jacks, a nationally famous a cappella group.  On Saturday, master classes hosted by some of the best professionals in the music industry, will instruct singers on ways to learn, grow, and hone their skills.  Sunday will offer groups the chance to receive feedback from these professionals on specific areas to improve their overall performances. 

These will be followed by “Aca-Pops”, pop-up a cappella performances, in the Old Mill from 4-6pm.  Sunday will offer groups the chance to receive feedback from the teaching professionals on specific areas to improve their group’s performances and sound.

The House Jacks of San Francisco are the original “rock band without instruments”, founded by Deke Sharon, dubbed as “The Father of Contemporary A Cappella”.  Using nothing more than their voices, they deliver everything from blistering funk to screaming rock to heart-melting ballads for anyone who loves music.  The group was instrumental on NBC’s The Sing Off!, working to create arrangements, coach groups, produce cast albums, and help introduce some of today’s most well-known vocal groups, including Pentatonix and Home Free.  Now, along with performing, they make time to teach, unpacking the hows, whats, whys, and whens of vocal music.  The group will judge and award the winner of our “Sing Off”, as well as host master classes on Saturday, February 20th before their Showcase performance at 7pm at the Tower Theatre.

Share a comment with the name of one of your favorite songs and get entered to win a pair of free tickets to the SOLD OUT Showcase performance at the Tower Theatre. We’ll announce the winner on Friday, February 19th.*
For complete information on how you can enjoy, attend and engage in all things a cappella, go to the festival website at www.bendacappellafestival.com.  

Our thanks to guest blogger Erin Felder, Festival Director for the Tower Theatre, the crown jewel of the performing arts community in Central Oregon.

(*Contest extended due to a technical delay).