FLYOVER FEST 2024
The premier a cappella festival in the Midwest
WHERE HARMONY COMES TOGETHER
FLYOVER FEST
Calling all singers!
Join hundreds of a cappella singers for workshops, coaching sessions, master classes, and enjoy 14 performance groups from high schools, colleges, and adult groups from across the region. Learn from 8 clinicians and coaches in the areas of choreography, arranging, sound engineering, staging, social media, beatboxing, and how to turn your hobby into a career.
Something for everyone!
Hang out with people that live and breathe a cappella music. Watch, learn and participate. Meet Deke Sharon and Marty Monson, two leaders with over three decades of experience at the pinnacle of the a cappella world. Listen to a cappella groups on two stages singing a variety of genres including jazz, do-wop, contemporary, barbershop, beatboxing, and gospel.
MIXED COMPANY SINGERS
HOSTED BY
Mixed Company Singers was founded in 2019 by a group of highly experienced a cappella singers from across Minnesota. Mixed Company is a mixed-voice group that seeks to push the boundaries of a cappella and connect with others passionate about a cappella music. Our Flyover Festival is a place where every a cappella singer is welcome and celebrated.
Want to see your organization’s logo here? Contact info@flyoverfest.org to learn more about this and other sponsorship opportunities.
Agenda At a Glance
Saturday - March 2
Registration & networking
8:00 - 8:45
Clinic: Arranging with Katherine Bodor
Clinic: Choreography with Elise Schroeder
8:45 - 9:30
Clinic: Beatboxing with LOTUS
Clinic: Choreography with Elise Schroeder
9:30 - 10:15
Clinic: Sound Engineering with Jordan Roll
Clinic: Vocal Pedagogy with Jim Emery
10:15 - 11:00
Clinic: Music Select with Katherine Bodor
Clinic: Going Pro with Shaun Johnson
11:00 - 11:45
Opening remarks
All attendees are invited to the main auditorium
11:45 - 12:30
Coaching sessions
Observe experts work with top performers
12:30 - 5:00
Sing & social
The Commons is open for socializing and singing
12:30 - 5:00
Sound checks for performing groups
12:30 - 5:00
Dinner break
5:30 - 6:30
Saturday Show Pass ticket holders are invited to join us after the dinner break on Saturday.
Keynote speakers
All attendees are invited to the main auditorium
6:30 - 7:00
A cappella showcase
Enjoy 14 a cappella performances across 2 stages
7:00 - 10:00
Sunday - March 3
Coaching sessions
Observe experts work with top performers
8:30 - 11:30
Sing & social
The Commons is open for socializing and singing
8:30 - 11:30
Closing remarks & debrief
Reflect on your experience and get ready for next year!
11:30 - 12:15
Subject to change. For more detailed information, please see here.
FEATURED SPEAKER
DEKE SHARON
Heralded as “The Father of Contemporary A Cappella”, this superstar performer, arranger, music producer, author, and coach is credited by many as being responsible for the current sound of modern a cappella. Deke has over 30 years of experience working with singers and performing groups and was seminal in the creation of many a cappella programs including the CARAs, ICCAs, BOCAs, and more. He has arranged more than 2,000 songs and written 6 books. He was the vocal producer for five seasons of The Sing Off for NBC, as well as served as the arranger, on-site music director and vocal producer of all three Universal hit films in the Pitch Perfect franchise. Rumors are he’s working on Pitch Perfect 4!
We are so excited to bring Deke Sharon to Minnesota FOR THE FIRST TIME with his unique and infectious enthusiasm for a cappella singing. He has traveled the world working with singers and performing groups all over. Deke will be highly visible and accessible when he provides coaching, insights and workshops to attendees at the Flyover Festival.
FEATURED SPEAKER
Marty Monson
Marty Monson is the former CEO and Executive Director of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS), the Nashville-based, international a cappella music organization with nearly 20,000 members in North America and fourteen other countries. Until recently he served as their CEO and Executive Director. His major accomplishments included opening the BHS membership to all who wanted to sing, expanding the organization’s footprint to new markets and leading the BHS through the pandemic.
He has over three decades of barbershop experience as a singer and a leader with earlier tenures as president of the Great Northern Union Chorus in Minnesota, and as part of the Music Medics group in Nashville.
We are thrilled to host Marty Monson as a featured speaker. He and Deke Sharon will be our keynote speakers before our Saturday Showcase sharing why “A Cappella is Good for the Soul”. This is sure to be a highlight of our festival!
Stay tuned for more speaker updates! Interested in speaking? Contact info@flyoverfest.org.
8 Session Clinicians & Coaches
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Katherine Bodor
Arranging & Composing
Katherine is a CARA-nominated arranger and composer. While she has a composition masters from the Jacobs School, her true love has always been a cappella! Her arrangements are featured on Voices Only & BOHSA, and her work has helped many clients get to ICHSA Finals & ICCA Open Finals. Katherine regularly judges for Varsity Vocals, masterclasses, and teaches at regional festivals.
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Elise Schroeder
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Jordan Roll
Sound Engineering
Jordan Roll is a founder of Six Appeal Vocal Band. In the last 13 years of touring with Six Appeal, he has been to all 50 states multiple times, as well as visiting over a dozen different countries spreading harmony worldwide.
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LOTUS
Beatboxing
With a passion for vocal percussion and a flair for beatboxing, they bring their unique talents and experiences to inspire and educate. Together, they'll guide you through the mesmerizing world of beatboxing in an engaging and interactive workshop. Whether you're a novice or an experienced beatboxer, their infectious energy and expertise will leave you amazed and inspired.
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Jim Emery
Vocal Pedagogy
Specializing in all things vocal, Jim Emery brings over 30 years of experience through his speaker and singer coaching. As a leader in public performance judging, Jim brings a wealth of insights based on years of judging, coaching, and performing.
· Solid vocal fundamentals
· Extensive vocal performance
· Professional performance judging
· Multifaceted coaching
· Vocal recording
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Shaun Johnson
Going Pro
Shaun is an Emmy-award winning singer. He is the founder and lead singer of the internationally known acapella quartet, Tonic Sol-fa. Tonic Sol-fa sold nearly two million albums independently and has been featured in Newsweek and on the Today Show. In addition, he is driving the evolution of big band music forward with his band, which has produced PBS specials, toured the country, and the first studio recording and garnered a top 5 debut on the Billboard Jazz charts.
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Bruce Phelps
Chorus Coaching
Bruce has been involved in choral music for over 50 years. He taught at the high school level for 34 years, directed two male choruses, founded two community choirs, directed six church choirs, served as a choral clinician, and has adjudicated over 400 ensembles and choirs in Minnesota.
15 Performing Groups
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Vocality
White Bear Lake, MN
Vocality is an award-winning a cappella quartet with a wide-ranging repertoire. Their debut recording garnered two nominations by the Contemporary Acapella Society. Their 2nd album, "Alleluia", is a compilation of gospel music. Their 3rd recording, Midnight Clear, features a collection of Christmas favorites. Their 4th album, “Carry On”, features songs from the 60's and 70's. And their 5th album “Never Enough” has a variety of music most of which was arranged especially for Vocality.
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Encore
Lakeville, MN
Encore is an a cappella group at Lakeville South High School in Lakeville, Minnesota. They’ve finished second in both 2020 and 2022 at SingStrong, a weekend-long festival that features a cappella groups from around the world performing styles ranging from barbershop to doo-wop, pop to jazz, beatbox to overtone and more with the most recent event in New York City.
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Vocal Envy
St. Cloud, MN
Vocal Envy was formed in the late summer of 2015. After a community theater musical production, the show’s vocal director asked some cast members if they would like to start an a cappella group. We are based in Central Minnesota and perform all genres of music, primarily musical theater, pop and jazz. The group you hear today has been together since February 2022.
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MCX
Minneapolis, MN
A new, auditioned a cappella performing group within the Minneapolis Commodores, a barbershop chorus that has been performing 4-part harmony for 80 years in the Twin Cities area. Members range in age from 21 to 71, and they all love singing barbershop. This is their first festival performance and we look forward to many more in the future.
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Old Gold A Cappella
Iowa City, IA
Old Gold A Cappella was born out of the Old Gold Singers from the University of Iowa, an original student show choir that dates back to 1957. In 2014, the group underwent massive administrative changes and voted to re-brand as an a cappella group. This decision that's resulted in a unique take on collegiate a cappella.
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Heartfelt
Minneapolis, MN
Heartfelt is a unique acapella blend of five women spanning four decades of life. Introduced to each other in the Twin Cities Women’s Choir and the small ensemble group, ENCORE!, Heartfelt members share a love of songs that are uplifting, moving and humorous. From tight harmonies of the 1930s to fun renditions of current pop hits, Heartfelt will soothe your soul and touch your heart.
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Cadenza
St. Paul, MN
Cadenza aims to tap the collaborative spirit of A Cappella music to create engaging performances, empower treble singers, and foster a sense of community at the University of St. Thomas through music.
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Spice
St. Louis Park, MN
Spice is an award-winning Sweet Adelines quartet. Angela, Heidi, Liz, and Jan are united by friendships spanning more than 25 years and began singing together 7 years ago. With a mutual love of barbershop harmony, Spice transforms words and notes on paper into a musical story sure to captivate and entertain.
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Unstrumental
Riverfalls, WI
Unstrumental represents River Falls High School with three a cappella groups at the festival - Unstrumental SATB, Unstrumental SSA, and Unstrumental Prep.
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Unaccompanied Minors
Cambridge, MN
Cambridge-Isanti High School's a cappella Choir, known around school as the Unaccompanied Minors, is one of five choirs at CIHS. This auditioned group is a new group that grew out of the former CIHS Jazz Choir after the pandemic. As a new ensemble, the Unaccompanied Minors are excited to see what are the opportunities are in the a cappella world in the the Twin Cities.
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Gold 'n Blues
Milwaukee, WI
Gold 'n Blues is Marquette's first and premier coed a cappella group on campus. Gold 'n Blues, founded in 2008 by freshman Hilary Braseth and Katie Blazek, quickly grew from its early days of performances in the Brew to large venue concerts across the Milwaukee area.
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Now & Then
Lakeville, MN
The Now and Then Singers of Lakeville North High School is a premiere vocal group in a program of four choirs. They perform regularly within the school and greater community and are thrilled to be a part of the Flyover Festival.
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Minor Details
Eyota, MN
Minor Detail represents Dover-Eyota High School.
Venue
Irondale High School
2425 Long Lake Road
New Brighton, MN 55112
Two stages: Auditorium & Cabaret Theatre
Purpose-built, beautiful performance spaces
Professional quality state-of-the-art sound and lighting system
Ample space for workshops, coaching sessions, master seminars, and networking
