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Guest Artists
Chapter 6, vocalists
Chapter 6 is a professional a-cappella ensemble from Illinois. Comprised of six vocalists and one arranger, Chapter 6 is the only vocal ensemble to win both The International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella (2001) and the prestigious National Harmony Sweepstakes (2004). Among subsequent honors, Chapter 6 has appeared with The National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center, and was featured on American Idol: Season 7 in conjunction with bandmate Luke Menard’s Top 16 run.
Chapter 6 has toured The United States, Canada and Hong Kong , performing in a wide variety of venues. Their self-produced show features a light-hearted, high-energy blend of pop/jazz harmonies that is sure to bring spontaneous bursts of applause and laughter. Engaging performances feature a diverse repertoire of American popular music, from Gershwin to Stevie Wonder, as well as original songs ranging from the comical, Lost in Canada, to the personal, God’s Love. In addition, clever medleys, including The Wizard of Oz, entertain music lovers of all ages. Their signature, six-minute version of the classic MGM film earned them a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (2005).
Emerging from a college course, Chapter 6 became the premier a-cappella ensemble at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois before winning its first competition in 2000. When most of its members graduated the following year, the group took a leap of faith as they entered the professional market in January 2002. Since then, Chapter 6 has received numerous awards for their technique, performance, and original arrangements, most recently having been awarded the A Cappella Community Award for “Favorite Jazz Group” (2007). (See below)
The group's boundless range and appeal has resulted in one of the most diverse touring schedules in the music industry, with nearly 1,100 paid performances. Whether at a theatre, symphony hall, campus, church, corporate event, or aboard a cruise ship, Chapter 6 has continually found a home. Opera houses have returned as repeat clients, while collegiate audiences named Chapter 6 "Entertainer of the Year" (A.P.C.A. - 2005). Chapter 6 has performed theatrical pops programs with over twelve metropolitan orchestras in association with The Symphonic Pops Consortium, yet returns to the intimate classroom where the group has conducted over a hundred master-classes for high school choirs. Finally, their Christmastime concert is a favorite among churches and arts venues offering holiday programming.
Capturing their unique sound in the studio, their self-distributed albums, comprised of two collegiate recordings and three professional recordings, have sold over 45,000 copies: A-cappella 101 (1999), Chapter 6: Live (2001), ChristmasTime (2002), Swing Shift (2004) and With the Windows Down (2008). Their much-anticipated live DVD, Chapter 6 In Concert, was released in 2005. In 2007, Chapter 6 arranged and recorded jingles for XMG Corporation's "Winning Colors Multi-Cleaner." In 2008, select recordings were made available for online download via major distributors.
Having captivated audiences in 44 states and internationally, this ensemble has proven its universal appeal. In April of 2011, after 10 years of heavy touring, the band announced the beginning of limited engagements for select clients. Nevertheless, whether for an audience of 3 or 30,000, these young men stand ready to sing for anyone who's ready to smile. For more information, see www.chapter6.com.
Chapter 6 is: Chuck Bosworth, Mark Grizzard, Jarrett Johnson, Luke Menard, John Musick, Nathan Pufall, and A.D. Stonecipher.
Photo by Suzanne Plunkett
N’Kenge, vocalist
N’Kenge, a native New Yorker and graduate of both the Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, has taken the concert stage by storm with her versatility and show-stopping stage presence, as she performs around the world singing opera to pop. N’Kenge has just returned from making her Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Pops Orchestra and starred in the Holiday Concert with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. N’Kenge has been a frequent soloist at Lincoln Center at Alice Tully Hall in both opera and jazz where she sang with Little Orchestra Society and has performed alongside Wynton Marsalis and Ornette Coleman.
Nationally this past year, N’Kenge performed “God Bless America” for the televised L.A. Dodgers opening game and had the honor to perform for President Obama at the Commander-in-Chief’s Inaugural Ball. Other recent solo appearances include the Kennedy Center, the White House and with the Phoenix, Detroit, and Baltimore symphony orchestras. Recently noted as the protégé of legendary Berry Gordy Jr., N’Kenge has been hailed as a “ Sensational powerhouse of a singer” by critics for her leading roles as Aida in Elton John’s musical, Maria in West Side Story as well as on the opera stage as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Musetta in La Boheme and Juliet in Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet to name a few. In addition to releasing a new album this year, N’Kenge created a new one woman show called “DivaLicious” that has been played in sold out venues throughout New York City.
Anne Nicole Beck, vocalist
Anne Beck’s concert appearances include Pops Goes Vegas! (Indianapolis, Baltimore, Detroit Symphonies, as well as the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa), Sandi Patty’s Broadway, and last years’ Duke Energy Yuletide Celebration with Sandi Patty (both with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra). On Broadway she has appeared in Saturday Night Fever.
National tour shows include The Who’s Tommy, Saturday Night Fever, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with Barbara Eden. Some additional musical credits include A Chorus Line (Cassie), Pippin (Catherine), Carousel, West Side Story, Me and My Girl, Swing-time Canteen, and Evita.
Farah Alvin, vocalist
Farah Alvin has been making a name for herself in the recording and theater world for over 15 years. She has been the recipient of the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Award for Pop/Musical Theater Vocals, the first ever NFAA YoungARTS Level One Award for Pop Vocals, and was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts by the White House Commission for Presidential Scholars for which she sang for President Bill Clinton at the Kennedy Center.
Farah has appeared on Broadway in Grease!, Saturday Night Fever, The Look of Love: The Music of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the Tony Award wining revivial of Nine, and Madison Square Garden’s A Christmas Carol. Off-Broadway credits include the recent cult hit, I Love You Because (and original cast recording), Cam Jansen, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Other Story Books, and Kuni-Leml (and original cast recording). She has performed with Jack Everly in the Fifties and Sixties Pops shows with the ISO, as well as the symphonies of Detroit, Seattle, Nashville, Fort Worth, Phoenix, and the NAC Orchestra. Among many other recording works including television and commercial jingles, Farah is also an accomplished songwriter. Her debut album, Someday, released in 2003, is available through www.farahalvin.com.