Vocal Group With CWU Connections Wins National Competition

May 10, 2005

Contact: Jeff Horenstein (509-312-0630/e-mail: info@grooveforthought.com / Web site: www.grooveforthought.com)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The vocal ensemble "Groove For Thought" (GFT) came out on top at the 21st annual National Harmony Sweepstakes Festival on Saturday, May 7, in San Rafael, Calif.

Two Central Washington University alumni are among the six members of the a cappella group. Jeff Horenstein, originally from Vancouver, Wash., earned a bachelor's degree and teaching certification in music education from CWU in 2002. He is currently working on his master's degree, while teaching vocal technique classes and directing a CWU chamber choir and vocal jazz ensemble.

Kelly Kunz, Renton, also earned a bachelor degree, in 1987, and master's degree, in 1999, along with his teaching certificates in music education at CWU.

Kelly's brother Kevin Kunz, Peter Jones, James Niles and Randy Taylor complete the group.

"We're excited to see all of our hard work pay off," Horenstein says.

Founded in 1998, group members acknowledge sharing a love of contemporary vocal music. Group members are all Pacific Northwest natives with varied musical backgrounds including stints in rock bands, producing Grammy-nominated music and performances in Baltic countries. However, all have extensive backgrounds in the vocal jazz idiom.

The annual Harmony Sweepstakes bills itself as America's premier showcase for vocal harmony music. The national competition draws from hundreds of vocal groups from around the country with regional competitions in eight cities. The winning group from each festival is flown to perform in front of celebrity judges and a sold out house at the finals.

By winning the Northwest Regional Harmony Sweepstakes in March in Olympia, GFT earned a berth in the championships, where it competed against the regional winners from Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and the Mid Atlantic (Washington, D.C. area) and Rocky Mountain regions.

GFT's repertoire includes innovative jazz, gospel, rhythm-and-blues and pop music, both a cappella and, at other times, with a live band. At the regional competition, the group also won awards as the "Audience Favorite" and "Best Arrangement" for its performance of "Joy to the World."

The group recently released a sampler CD containing two tracks that will be included in its forthcoming, self-titled CD, which is due out this summer.

"We're looking forward to the release of our CD and whatever else the future may hold," Horenstein adds.