Clincians:
Jim McCann, Clinician
Jim has only been a member in the A Cappella world for about two years, and oh what a great two years they’ve been. He started as a senior in high school where he discovered that he got chills every time he heard a tight harmony in a pop song or in his choir. He was most drawn to those few songs which chose to implement the ever-epic composing device: the A Cappella breakdown (including “Kyrie” by Mr. Mister and “Ground Beneath My Feet” by Sherwood).
When he joined UNH-Durham’s Not Too Sharp in his freshman year, he knew he’d found his kind of music. Since that fateful decision one year ago, he’s devoted himself to learning the most he could about Contemporary and Collegiate A Cappella and he likes to think he’s been a fast learner. He has since arranged several songs (some good some bad) and this past summer he attended A Cappella Boot Camp in Skokie, IL hosted by Freddie Feldman (Vocomotion Studios) and Dave Brown (Mouth Off! podcast co-host) where he had a crash course in producing and recording A Cappella albums. He is now in his Sophomore year at UNH and in Not Too Sharp and he plans on having A Cappella as a part of his life forever.
Sean Matthews, Clinician
Sean graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2011, finally getting his Bachelors in Philosophy after 5 not-long-enough years there. He is an alumnus of the group Not Too Sharp, currently self-employed, intensely interested in the A Cappella world and aims at producing and recording a cappella music in the future. In fact, he currently helps to co-host The Voice Box on WUNH, an all a cappella radio show out of WUNH Durham. (91.3 FM, check them out at: www.facebook.com/TheVoiceBox)
Sean got into a cappella his first year at college, having never sung before in an organized group. His love of music goes far back into fourth grade, when he got his first trumpet, and he has been picking up instruments ever since. He loves to try everything and is a self-proclaimed expert in nothing, but loves entertaining people from on or off stage!
Kara Kelly-Martin, Clinician
Kara is a 23 year old, recent graduate of the University of New Hampshire-Durham, where she received her BS in Speech & Language Pathology/Deaf Studies. At UNH she sang with and directed the all female a cappella group, Maiden Harmony. In the last few years her interest and influences within the a cappella world really expanded as she was exposed to talented groups like those at UNH and in the Boston/East Coast regions. Before transferring to UNH in spring 2009 she attended Wheaton College where she performed with their soul and R&B group, Voices United to Jam. Recently, Kara has been involved with UNH’s a cappella radio station, The Voice Box. Her love for music was fostered early by her Dad, a blues musician, and she has learned a lot from musical friends, family, and mentors since. Her adoration for a cappella is seeded in knowing how endless the songs, experiences, and communities are within this style of music.
Charles Marlowe, Clinician
Proud and excited to return to the second annual Voices of the (603) festival, Charles would like to take the opportunity to welcome back all the familiar faces from last year and extend a warm welcome to all of those making the trip this year! Charles graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2009 with a BA in Political Science and minors in Sociology and Business Administration. He is currently employed in electronics manufacturing but misses every minute of his college days (especially a cappella!!) since graduating!
While at UNH, Charles auditioned and spent all four years with the all-male a cappella group, Not Too Sharp. During his early days with NTS, Charles was introduced to the Art of vocal percussion and became one of the group’s staple percussionists for years to come. While he is well-aware that vocal percussion requires very little one-on-one training, he still takes pride in conveying the importance of vocal percussion and its completion to the sound of contemporary a cappella groups.
Charles’s and his fellow “good lookin’ fellows’” work can be heard on two of Not Too Sharp’s most recent studio albums; their self-titled album “Not Too Sharp” from 2006 and on their 2009 release, “Shifting Gears.” But on a final note, he is rather eagerly awaiting the projected December 2011 release of Not Too Sharp’s third studio album! Keep a look out for that, but most importantly, enjoy all the events planned for this year’s Voices of the (603)!
Jamie Saucier, Festival Coordinator
Jamie got his love of music from his family. Through their encouragement his interest grew from a passion to a career. A graduate of Pinkerton Academy, Jamie was involved in every possible performance group and that trend continued through his college years at UNH Durham. Jamie auditioned for an a cappella group his freshman year but unfortunately was not accepted. He re-auditioned and earned a place on the co-ed group, Alabaster Blue. Within two weeks he had coordinated an arrangement for the group to perform.
Jamie continued with Alabaster Blue as their Musical Director for the next year. The following year he started his own group, Not Too Sharp. Immediately successful its first year, winning New Student Organization of the Year and raising over $3,000 for the American Cancer Society and recording the group’s first “live album”, he established a new wave of a cappella at UNH Durham. To date there have been forty-four members who have been NTS Alum!
Upon graduation, Jamie went into teaching. He ran the musicals, taught chorus and general music at each school where he taught. He later went on to Ithaca College for his Masters of Music degree, which he completed in July 2011.
Jamie has worked at UNH Manchester for the past five years establishing the department of Student Activities. Last year he was involved with over 230 events and meetings, bringing more than 16,000 people to the college’s campus. One of those events was the first Voices of the (603) competition in 2010 – the success of which we hope to duplicate this evening!
