The Bach Choir of Bethlehem will host its first-ever A Cappella competition – Bach appella in conjunction with the fifth annual Gala Concert, October 6, 2012 featuring The Swingle Singers.

The Choir is calling all high school and college a cappella groups to submit a video performance of a piece no longer than 4 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 no later than 4 pm, September 20, 2012 and a DVD submitted to the Bach Office. 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 Moravian College
• 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 Lehigh University 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, Lehigh University. The runners-up (one high school and one college group) will start the evening with a performance of their winning pieces at 7:40 pm.

For more information, competition guidelines, and an entry form visit Bach.org or call 610.866.4382, ext 15.