Bach Choir Sponsoring A Cappella Singing Contest

The will host its first a cappella competition - Bach appella - in conjunction with its fifth annual Gala Concert on Oct. 6, 2012. The concert will feature The Swingle Singers.

The Choir is inviting all high school and college a cappella groups to submit a video performance of a piece no longer than four minutes in any musical style. Bach appella’s focus is a cappella ensemble singing. Choreography will not be included in the judging process.

Entries must be uploaded to YouTube and a DVD submitted to the  by no later than 4pm, Sept. 20, 2012. Please include "Bach Choir of Bethlehem Competition" in the title of your entry and send the YouTube link to karen@bach.org.

Judges for this competition are:

• Rita Cortez, Choral Director – Emmaus High School
• Greg Funfgeld, Artistic Director and Conductor, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
• Joy Ondra Hirokawa, Founder and Artistic Director of the Bel Canto Children's Chorus and Visiting Professor of Music Education at
• Jennifer Kelly, Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Lafayette College
• Steven Sametz, The Ronald J. Ulrich Professor of Music and director of Choral Arts, and Artistic Director for the a cappella ensemble, The Princeton Singers

Each group will be scored for technical merit: blend, tone, intonation, rhythmic accuracy and feel, and difficulty of material; and artistic merit: originality and artistry of arrangement, composition, and performance.

The overall winner will perform during the Swingle Singers concert at the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University. The runners-up (one high school and one college group) will start the evening off with a performance of their winning pieces at 7:40pm.

For more information, competition guidelines, and an entry form visit Bach.org or call 610-866-4382, ext. 15.