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EXPERIENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES
GLOBAL SPONSORSHIP
PROPOSAL
Alton Accola
Minneapolis/St Paul MN
651.335.5466
alton.accola@fivebydesign.com
OUR MISSION
Our mission at Behind The Mic is “fostering global harmony through vocal harmony” while providing exceptional artists with a worldwide media platform.
Music and lyrics define who we are as a culture. At Behind The Mic, we view the world through the prism of positive behaviors, attitudes, ambitions, and actions. The next generation of artists represents a cross-section of cultures in our global community. The international vocal groups we’ve selected uplift the human spirit through diversity, generosity, dignity, and honor.
GLOBAL EXPERIENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES
Behind The Mic’s global viewership will reach millions of choral educators, students, vocal groups, music industry specialists, and fans of vocal harmony. An internationally televised broadcast with a cause marketing tie-in is but one of the experiential opportunities. We’ll schedule consultations with your team to share and create effective campaigns that align with your mission and core values.
DALE WATERS
Sr. Creative Director
DAMIEN RIEHL
Attorney
LORIE C. NISKA
Artist Relations
DARREN RUST
Audio Producer
SHERIDAN ZUTHER
Voice Instructor
MICHAELSWEDBERG
Video Producer
The Next Generation of Vocal Groups
Since 2016, we’ve searched the world for exceptional artists. These groups have raised the bar on vocal harmony in a variety of genres and styles that cross generations. We’ve interviewed ensembles from South Korea, Slovenia, Denmark, the Philippines, India, Germany, Finland, Sweden, France, England, Brazil, Canada, and the United States.
Maytree
South Korea
The multi-award-winning vocal quintet from South Korea performs jazz, K-pop, and a variety of musical genres. Since 1999, the ensemble has included Jang Sang-in, Kang Soo-Kyung, Jeon Sung-hyun, Kim Won-jong, and Lim Soo-yeon.
Music Video: “So Alike”
The Niskas
Minnesota
The Niska's perform a variety of styles and as core members of Five By Design performed with hundreds of orchestras from the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center to a holiday tour with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops.
Music Video: “That’s Christmas To Me”
Sambarana
Brazil
The Sao Paulo-based a cappella septet led by Rafaele Carneiro performs original jazz arrangments of Brazilian music. The vocal group consists of Nani Valente, Ana Barreto, Fredson Torres, Cristiano Santos, Rafael Carneiro, and Diego de Jesus.
Music Video: “Bananeira”
Joyful 6
India
Joyful 6 features six siblings of the couple Shegin-Smitha. A loving family whose music proclaims the gospel and the value of life. The linked music video features the Pentatonix arrangement of “Carol Of The Bells”.
Music Video: “Carol of The Bells”
The Blenders
North Dakota
Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Tim Kasper, Ryan Lance, Darren Rust, & Allan Rust are The Blenders. Their style is based on vocal harmonies and the group has toured the U.S. with Jay Leno, Howie Mandel, Chicago, and The Righteous Brothers, and Lou Rawls.
Music Video: “This Christmas”
Maybebop
Germany
These fun-loving gentlemen from Hanover, Germany are exceptional vocalists with spot-on harmonies and an eccentric sense of humor. The group sings predominantly German-language originals; although, it covers pop standards such as “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
Music Video: “Sleigh Ride”
(swinging the song in German)
Accent
Sweden, France, England, Canada, U.S.
From five different countries, the members inadvertently met on their YouTube channels and went from “virtual to reality” and now tour the world. Accent recently release its “Christmas All The Way” recording backed by the L.A.-based Gordon Goodwin Phat Band.
Music Video: “Let It Snow”
Cloud 9
California
Cloud 9 is an auditioned group of high school students who attend the A Cappella Academy, a summer workshop for vocal music students. The vocal arrangement for Gordon Goodwin’s “Shake Your Bones” was written by Amanda Taylor.
Music Video: “Shake Your Bones”
Afro Blue
Howard University | Washington DC
Led by Howard University vocal director and arranger, Connaitre Miller, Afro Blue is part of the vocal music department curriculum. “An extraordinary ensemble.”
Music Video
7th Element
Florida
The Orlando-based 7th Element performs gospel/jazz-oriented vocals, giving glory to God and bringing a message of truth to the world through music by creating a smooth inspirational sound with rich harmonies snd second, to inspire young musicians to continue the a capella musical tradition.
Music Video:
“What The World Needs Now Is Love”
Business Casual
California
Business Casual is a San Francisco vocal quintet whose members work for YouTube, Apple, MedTech, and a marketing firm. Leslie Baker, Roshun Alur, Casandra & Jacob Chamoun, and Michael Whang are extraordinarily talented and creative vocalists.
Music Video: “Feliz Navidad”
One Voice
Tennessee
One Voice is the student vocal group at Briarcrest Christian High School in Memphis, Tennessee. The group is led by choral director J.D. Frizzell and has appeared on “America’s Got Talent” and as entertainment at the Grammy's.
Music Video: “Sizzle Reel”
2022 Worldwide Christmas Special
Experiential Opportunities
JULY 2022
Filming and concert of the Worldwide Christmas Special in Minneapolis, Minnesota hosted by 2 celebrity vocalists and performances by 9 international vocal groups from South Korea, Sweden, France, England, Brazil, Canada, and the U.S.
DECEMBER 2022
The national broadcast of the Worldwide Christmas Special with distribution to the countries of the participating groups.
CAUSE MARKETING
Social responsibility tie-in aligning with the corporate brand’s mission and values.
2018 Pilot Project
In 2018, Behind The Mic produced a 1-hour pilot of a Worldwide Holiday Special hosted by Cheryl Bentyne of the Grammy-winning Manhattan Transfer along with 8 international vocal groups. The special was broadcast on YouTube. Click on the above image to watch the 2018 special.
Consider including an additional holiday production to your experiential opportunities
2023 The Love Special
What The World Needs Now
JULY 2022
Filming and concert of The Love Special... “What the World Needs Now” in Minneapolis, Minnesota hosted by 2 celebrity vocalists and performances by 9 international vocal groups from South Korea, Sweden, France, England, Brazil, Canada, and the U.S..
FEBRUARY 14th 2023
The national broadcast of The Love Special for Valentines Day distributed to the countries of the participating groups.
CAUSE MARKETING
Social responsibility tie-in aligning with the corporate brand’s mission and values.
A Word from Our Celebrity Hosts
Alvin Chea
As the bass vocalist with the Grammy winning, Take 6, Alvin is the voice behind Chili’s “I want my baby back ribs”.
10-time Grammy winner with Take 6
Rosana Eckert
Rosana is the director of vocal jazz at the University of North Texas and recently released her new album, “Sailing Home”.
NPR’s “Tiny Desk” series
ALTON ACCOLA, artist liaison
651.335.5466
“Our gift is giving deserving artists the opportunity to achieve their dreams.”
For 29 years, Accola was the talent booker for the big band vocal quintet, Five By Design. The artists performed with hundreds of symphony orchestras throughout North America. Notable orchestras included the Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Houston Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony, the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, and a holiday tour with conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops.
As the founder/artist liaison for Behind The Mic, Accola has filmed interviews with nearly 100 artists, educators, and music industry specialists including Bobby McFerrin, The Hi-Lo’s (Clark Burroughs and Don Shelton), The Lettermen’s Tony Butala, The Manhattan Transfer (Janis Siegel, Alan Paul, and Cheryl Bentyne), Ben Folds, Home Free (winners of NBC’s The Sing-Off), Take 6’s Alvin Chea, and Lee Greenwood.
We have interviewed vocal groups from South Korea, the Philippines, Slovenia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel, India, Sweden, France, England, Brazil, Canada, and the United States.
In 2018, we filmed Behind The Mic’s Worldwide Holiday Special hosted by Cheryl Bentyne, of the Manhattan Transfer, and 8 international vocal groups. The YouTube broadcast was produced as a 1-hour pilot for its 2022 Christmas special.
thank you.
Behind The Mic is approaching Allianz for its thoughtful consideration, collaboration, and development of experiential events centered around the Allianz brand. We’d love to share our enthusiasm and passion for the project, revealing the rest of the story!
Email: alton.accola@fivebydesign.com / Phone: 651.335.5466
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