- Kettering Fairmont's EleventhHour made it on national television a few years back on NBC's "The Sing Off."
- Centerville's Forte opened for the national "Sing-Off" tour and recorded a music video with Kirstin Maldonado of Grammy-winning a cappella quintet Pentatonix. The group's recordings have been featured in the national compilation "Best of High School A Cappella" as well as the widely respected "Sing 9" and "Sing 11" compilations.
- Kettering hosts a national a cappella festival every November, and several big names in a cappella have come to perform in the Dayton area, no doubt in large part to these connections.
Here are eight a cappella groups in the area you should get to know.
Remedy: University of Dayton
Follow: Facebook, @remedyaca, or watch on YouTube
This 8-piece contemporary group from UD will have you out of your seat and singing along with them. The group is influenced by such acts as Pentatonix, Street Corner Symphony, Deke Sharon and VoicePlay. You'll definitely want to check out their mashup cover of "Chandelier" by Sia and "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga on YouTube. You'll be absolutely blown away by these pop sensations.
Phonic Uproar: University of DaytonFollow: Facebook, @PhonicUproar, or watch on YouTube
These gentlemen will have you swooning with their eclectic sound. This 8-member all-male group from UD sings genres Motown, R&B, rock, pop, classical and jazz. If you're looking for a feel-good song to brighten up your day, check them out on YouTube and listen to "It's Alright."
ETHOS: Wright State University
Follow: Facebook, @ETHOSWSU, or watch on YouTube
WSU's Ethos is brand new and just started hitting up stages in 2013. The group performs contemporary music just like those in the movie Pitch Perfect. This high energy group has performed at the Schuster Center, sung the National Anthem on Fifth Third Field for the Dayton Dragons and have performed at numerous events on and off campus. If you go to their YouTube channel, check out their cover of "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri. It'll make your heart melt.
Gem City Chorus
Follow: visit the website or watch on YouTube
This all women's choir is fun-loving and is comprised of singers from all walks of life. The Gem City Chorus also happens to be the most successful chorus in Sweet Adeline history, bringing home a total of medals at International, 5 of those being gold, and 5 silver.
If you want to see these ladies in action, you can come to a rehearsal on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 243 North Main Street in Centerville, and all visitors are welcome! And, if you have the hankering to break out in song, they would love to have you sing with them. Check out their regional competition performance from April 2015 on YouTube.
EleventhHour: Kettering Fairmont High School
Follow: Facebook, @11thHourKFHS, or watch on YouTube
If you watch NBC's The Sing Off, chances are you watched EleventhHour perform on the second season of the show back in 2010! This dynamic group of high schoolers is a force to be reckoned with in the world of A Capella -- they were featured on "Best of High School A Capella" and won two contemporary A Capella Recording Academy Awards.
Interestingly enough, this isn't the only A Capella group at Kettering Fairmont. If you love EleventhHour (and you should), you'll also love some ear candy from Fusion, VoiceMale, Leolani and from the Van Buren and Kettering middle schools, Amp'D Out. They're aca-mazing. Watch them perform "House of the Rising Sun" on YouTube.
Forte: Centerville High School
Follow: Facebook, @ForteACapella, or watch on YouTube
Singing is definitely their forte, cheesy pun intended. This group of high school singers have released numerous CDs, both with original and cover songs, and have performed with big names like Andy Grammar, Pentatonix, Overboard and Delilah. Their CD comprised of original tunes by the group won Best High School Album in the Contemporary A Capella Recording Awards. If you've got some time, watch "Why Try" featuring Kirstin Maldonado of Pentatonix. You'll get what the hype is about!
Vega: Chaminade Julienne High School
Follow: Facebook or watch on YouTube
This group is named after the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, and there's a reason why. Every time this group attends A Capella competitions (like ICHSA in New York City), they leave the crowds with their mouths agape. They're Ohio Valley Region Champions and 2012 Kettering A Capella Festival Champions. Definitely listen to their funky cover of the Civil Wars' "Barton Hollow," which they put their own spin on.
Fourth Avenue
Follow: visit the website or watch on YouTube
Fourth Avenue has been bringing the noise since '93. This all-male group performs an array of genres such as pop, jazz, soul, R&B, gospel and doo-wop and have shared the stage with popular acts the Beach Boys, Styx, The Temptations and Three Dog Night.
If you ever attend a show, you can expect to be involved in the show and awed by the catchy beats and beautiful mesh of harmonies. Check out an old cover of "Stand By Me."Want to see some of these groups in action? You're in luck.
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