A Cappella in Alberta

Who's singing in Alberta?

Updated March 3, 2004

The following are the "contemporary" (non-barbershop, non-choral) a cappella groups in Alberta that CASA knows of.
We're not saying these are all the existing groups - the only cities covered here are Barrhead, Calgary, Canmore and Edmonton - but the only ones we found. If you are aware of any group that's missing, please, please, please email me. 

You'll notice there are no barbershop quartets or choruses listed, because the Evergreen district (Alberta, BC, Idaho, Montana, Washington and Alaska) of SPEBSQSA (the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America) has done an excellent job of providing the information for their quartets and choruses, and there was no need to repeat their work.

Sweet Adelines, the female organization, doesn't have their member chorus list online as they sell their mailing list. If you're interested in joining SAI, you'll have to call their 1-800 number or check out their website.You might also want to investigate Harmony Inc., another female barbershop society. They don't have a member chorus in Western Canada but are always interested and unlike some of the other organizations, they've got a direct connection to Canada, their president's in New Brunswick. Check their website.

CASA ambassador for Calgary Steven Methot is in a new mixed quartet, singing everything from Josquin to Jazz. Unnamed as of yet, but gigging already. Email Steve for more info.

Asani
Asani (pronounced Ahs - a-Ni, with the emphasis on the first part) is an Aboriginal women's quartet performing music by indigenous peoples (both covers and originals) in traditional form or modern pop, mostly in English, Cree and Ojibway, but occasionally other indiginous languages. They're one of only two native-themed a cappella groups, the only one in Canada. They did a spot at New York's Carnegie Hall in July '97 and came in third place at Northern Harmony, after being together for a mere five and a half months.  Please contact Sherryl Sewepagaham 455-1923 or Sarah Pocklington 456-9329. 

From the Edge
A male pop quartet in Edmonton, founded by a cappella junky Michael Yereniuk (who also recorded his own solo a cappella album.). They started out with "tunes from 'The Duke of Earl' to 'Louie Louie' to 'Tarzan Boy' with more original arrangements on the way," but moved towards a more Savage-Garden-esque style.

Their debut CD Pub Night In South Central Czechoslovakia was released September 18, 1999.

Contact info is, Michael Yereniuk, 11433-162A Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T5X 2L6, (780)456-6625, or Michael@fromtheedge.com

Generics
A male doo-wop/jazz quartet (self-described as "not incredibly contemporary") in Calgary, ranging in age from 16 to 19, most of whom got their original training in the Calgary Boys Choir. The members are all instrumentalists as well, some sing in different groups - basically, they sound really busy. The original line up (it's gone through changes since then) got together in 1996. They do mostly covers, but are aiming for original material (they have one original song currently). No recordings yet.
They can be reached through baritone/bass.founder Robbie Maxwell or group member Jon Borromeo or 551 Woodside Place S.W., Calgary, AB, T2W 3J9, (403) 281-8806.

The Heebee-jeebees
The 'Jeebees are probably the best-known Alberta a cappella group, at least outside the province.

Local band "The Heebee-jeebees" shot up to #1 on the mp3.com Comedy Chart with their new release "Use the Force - Special Edition" on May 4/01.

Though the Heebee-jeebees are new to the mp3.com scene, response has been fantastic. This well-known a cappella band from Calgary includes Jonathan Love, Chris Herard, Ken Lima-Coelho and Cedric Blary.

The group recently won 2 international a cappella recording awards for their new release, "Heebee-jeebee TV." The awards include honours for "Best Comedy Album" and "Best Comedy Song".

You can visit mp3.com and download the Heebee-jeebees music free of charge at http://www.mp3.com/heebeejeebees

You can also visit http://www.heebee-jeebees.com/ for more information about the group.

Contact: The Heebee-jeebees

123 Woodglen Rd. S.W/

T2W 4P1

(403) 260-3062

The CHICKAdivas
The CHICKAdivas are a female a cappella quintet with an engaging stage presence, a diverse repertoire, and a gorgeous sound.

The CHICKAdivas began with an interest in Canadian folk music from various regions across the country: Klondike saloon songs, Newfoundland seashanties, prairie settlement songs, and Quebec folk songs.

For more information contact: Laura Severs, publicist at 780-437-9330 or Guylaine Maunder, assistant publicist at 780-460-9185

Heruvymy
Pronounced "che-ru-veh-meh" (cherubim in Ukrainian), the group got together in 1993. Four Edmonton women singing liturgical music of a Byzantine origin in Ukrainian, English and Spanish. Smooooooooooth sound. They sing mostly weddings, funerals and Christmas caroling, but also do the occasional Canadian anthem and a cappella event (ie, Northern Harmony). The group has one album out (tape only), Sing Unto the Lord, and is hoping to put out a second one.
They can be reached through group member Kathy Tachynski at (7803)456-1003, or jet3@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca.

In the Pink
An all-female group from Canmore heard nationally on CBC Radio's Morningside, where they've been featured twice. They've been around at least since the early '90s, as their earliest recording dates back to 1992 or '93. They have two recording, the second an Xmas CD. Their music is definitely in the "eclectic" category - they do mostly covers, everything from the Andrews Sisters to Three Sheets to the Wind to Zap Mama.
They've bounced around between sextet and septet membership. Their third recording called "Feel a Lot Better" was available in January 2000.  To contact us, please email our manager Julie Kehler at jkehler@telusplanet.net or phone her at 403-678-2622.  Our mailing address is 104, 512 Bow Valley Trail, Ste 301, Canmore, AB  T1W 3E1. 

Juba
Edmonton-based world-beat group, oldest still-existing group in the province, older than Standing Room Only by a month. Their CD, Mafaro, is available from HMV and other local stores- they sound a little like everyone from Ladysmith Black Mambazo to Sue Medley (with a little artificial percussion). They also released a children's cassette in 1995, Come and Follow, and some members, as The Revellers and the Griffin Consort, recorded a Christmas CD.
They can be reached at 9662 86th Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6C 1J9, or Srollans@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca, or through their own more extensive web page at http://www.freenet.edmonton.ab.ca/~juba/.

Legacy
An all female R&B group, repertoire primarily originals. They've been singing together since early in their high school careers; they were "found" for us when they were in their late teens, but they are probably in their early 20s now, if they even still exist. No CDs available, apparently they sing a cappella mostly because it's cheaper than buying instruments. But the impromptu show they did in May '96, just a few songs off the cuff, was wonderful.
The only contact information we have is the phone number of one of the members, Allyson, (780)454-9158.

Notre Dame des Bananes
A highly politically active choir in Edmonton which began as a caroling group - they sing everything from Ella's Song to Nkosi Sikelel'I Africa. They've got a great CD, Ripe for Revolution, which is available at Orlando Books in Edmonton. They've also got a wonderful story about how they chose their name, but you'll have to get the CD to read about it, I can't do justice to it.
They can be reached through alto Naomi Rankin at (780)465-7593.

Scotch & Soda.
An Edmonton-based mother-daughters quintet - winners of the Pride of Edmonton Showcase in 1995 - singing '40's and '50's covers like the Andrews Sisters, as well as some a cappella classics, at first. Now, says Mom Debbie, they're "moving towards a little more jazz and traditional barbershop harmonies."
They can be reached through group leader (and mom) Debbie Jabbour djabbour@home.com at (780)468-5054. 10238 74th St., Edmonton, AB, T6A 2Y1.

Standing Room Only
Doo-wop/comedy all-male quartet from Calgary, they've been around a decade. They don't do many public shows, most of their gigs are corporate. Much of what they do is made up as they go along, they have the art of entertaining down to a T. In 1999 they won a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award for "Best Humorous Song" for Humpty Dumpty Jumped. Their CDs ("Pure Acappella," "Live At the Hideaway" and "Under the A Cappella Tree") are available from the group or from Primarily A Cappella and Mainly A Cappella.
Standing Room Only can be reached via Oil City, a print-shop owned by two members, at 7260-11th St. E., Calgary, AB, T2H 2S9, or bass Dave McLeod at (403)255-9471.

Sven Blvd.
Founded in 1995, Sven's an unclassifiable sextet from Edmonton - they do a little bit of just about everyything, both covers and original. They're also one of the only mixed-gender groups in Alberta. They broke up briefly in early 1998. No CD yet. Sven Blvd. won 2nd place and Best Original Song at Northern Harmony in Oct. '97.
They can be reached via member Matt Fessenden at 10145-109th St., #605, Edmonton, AB, T5J 3M5. (780)420-0595, or svenblvd@v-wave.com.

Voce
Five-man Edmonton jazzy-pop group, they've been together since the early 1990's and were nominated for a 1997 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award for their cover of River of Dreams, from their debut CD So Many Ways. Their  current CD which was premiered at a CD release party in Edmonton is called “People Change”

 CDs are available in Edmonton at the Gramophone, from the group or from Primarily A Cappella and Mainly A Cappella. .
They can be reached via their manager, Janice Flower, at 11226-117 St., Edmonton, Alberta, T5G 2W2, (780)454-3067, or Jaflower@telusplanet.net.

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Push the button to return to the Definitive A Cappella Press Kit, the Radio Show list and the International A Cappella Calendar.

Most of these groups don't have their own web sites outside of Primal Beat, the web library of Canadian music I do for work. Hence the fact that most, if not all, of the above web links are to Primal Beat pages. The a cappella category there has a dozen or more groups, with more coming on regularly.
And if you're a Canadian musical act, a cappella or otherwise, and want a free web page, follow the link and email us.

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