Traces

The first female group to win both the New York and Boston Harmony Sweepstakes, this soulful quintet boasts expansive range, vocal dynamics, tight harmonies, an unbelievably low female bass, and some truly powerful vocal percussion. With influences ranging from Caribbean and African to Gospel and R&B, Traces has a style all their own. These New York-based ladies are excited to make their SingStrong debut!

Julia Easterlin

Singer-songwriter, vocalist and live-looper, Julia Easterlin is a one-woman band. Haunting, seductive and powerful, Easterlin's performance makes us quickly forget the miraculous technology and instead lose ourselves in layers of lush vocals and strikingly beautiful melodies.

In 2007 Julia was awarded a full scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music. Since then she has been featured at TedXWomen, SXSW, Lollapalooza, CMJ Music Marathon in New York, and in Cuba with the Berklee Interarts Ensemble.

She had two tracks featured on Dorm Sessions 7, the most recent compilation CD released by Berklee’s student-run label Heavy Rotation Records (HRR), and will also be featured on Under the Influence, putting a twist on Radiohead and The Pixies.

Easterlin's writing garnered her runner-up in the illustrious New York Songwriter’s Circle - which awarded her $5000, studio time, and many opportunities on TV and radio.

Blue Jupiter

Co-producers of SingStrong, Blue Jupiter is best known for their national advertising campaign as the original winners of the Oreo Cookie Jingle Contest hosted by American Idol's Randy Jackson.

They've sung over 200 shows in China and Japan and in over 40 US States, sharing the stage with such diverse talents as Livingston Taylor, Neil Sedaka, Trey Songz and 3rd Eye Blind.

Blue Jupiter performs high energy pop, rock and jazz, uplifting audiences with soaring leads, seamless harmony and thunderous vocal percussion.

The beatboxer, the tenor, the human orchestra and the Broadway baby -that's Blue Jupiter's wall-of-sound.

Ensamble Fénix

Ensamble Fénix is one of Venezuela's top vocal groups. Since 1999, their sound has combined folk melodies with a jazz sensibility and sense of rhythm unique to Venezuela. Featured at music festivals in Colombia, Spain and Mexico, and now honored with a nomination for Best Traditional Group at the Venezuelan Pepsi Awards, this mixed sextet is excited to make their US debut at SingStrong!

Slaveya

From songs of war heroes to those of love and flirtation, Slaveya brings to life the vocal heritage of the Balkans, Caucasus Georgia, and neighboring regions. Their songs are rich with emotion, leaving audiences dazzled and moved by their densely woven harmonies and impossibly free phrasing. Their name means nightingale in Bulgarian, but this powerful group of women deliver a sound that easily transcends their gentle namesake.

The Funx

With some talent fresh from NBC's "The Sing-Off" and others fresh out of college, this vocal band's blend of pop/soul covers and original music will get you grooving. Fans may recognize award winning members like vocal percussionist Robert Dietz and tenor, Nate Tao, but some less familiar names promise to leave a lasting impression. The members of this funky, mixed quintet hail from all across the US and Canada, but one member has roots right here in Reston, VA. SingStrong is The Funx' debut aca-festival and the group can't wait to wow their "hometown"!

GQ

With members still in college when they won first place and audience favorite at the Mid Atlantic Harmony Sweepstakes, and members still in college now, this Girls Quartet defies all expectation. Their unique blend of rock and barbershop is mind bending. Their blend and phrasing are majestic. One listen and you'll know how GQ became the 2012 winners of SingStrong's ACA-Idol audience favorite and took first place. And why they're ready for the big stage!

Amy Engelhardt

Amy Engelhardt spent 13 years as the sole female member of Grammy-nominated vocal quartet, The Bobs, winning numerous ASCAP songwriting and ACA vocal performance awards. She is the recipient of MAC's (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs) 2011 Dottie Burman Award for Songwriting. This is Amy's second SingStrong, but the standing ovation her solo received two years ago helped convince her to return!