Tony Huerta

| A Cappella Engineering for Live Performance and CD Production
| A Cappella Engineering for Live Performance 1-on-1

Matthew P. Selby

| A Cappella Arranging and Instrumentation

Jake Moulton

| Advanced Beatbox / Vocal Instruments

Trist Ethan Curless

| But Have You Heard This?
| How Low Can You Go?

Tony Huerta started his career as a professional singer for Elitch Gardens in 1990 and founded his first A Cappella group with Matthew Selby (LA, CA) called "Exact Change", which later moved to the Seattle area and became the popular vocal group, "m-pact".

In 1998, Tony joined the groundbreaking A Cappella group "The 17th Avenue Allstars" and performed for ten years as the Vocal Percussionist, Arranger, Recording Producer, and Baritone/Tenor, performing in about 70-80 concerts per year across the United States.

Huerta founded Sonic Audio Productions in 1998. Since 2000, he has produced and engineered A Cappella CD Projects for "The 17th Avenue Allstars", "Groove Society", "Moosebutter", "Vocality Singers", "FACE", "DU Idiosingcrasies", "In the Stairwell", "Sound Of The Rockies", "Skyline Chorus", "Storm Front", "NeXus", "Ignition!", "McPhly", "Mile 21" and "In the Buff".

In April 2006, Tony mixed his first live concert for the 10 Grammy winners, "Take 6". He is now their exclusive touring sound engineer internationally. He continues to mix "FACE" nationally and "m-pact" internationally.

When he is home, you will find him recording a cappella music in his Lodo Denver recording studio near Coors Field. You can reach him at: tony@sonicaudiopro.com.

A Cappella Engineering for Live Performance and CD Production

No matter how tight, how in tune, or how exciting your group, there is always the possibility your performance will be ruined by a bad sound mix. The same goes for recording your songs and capturing your group dynamic. Tony will teach you some of the tips and tricks the pros use in making an a cappella concert sound the best. There is nothing worse than hearing a group live, buying their CD, and then being totally dissappointed because of bad production. It doesn't have to be that way. A Cappella is the most difficult form of music to record. All engineers in the studio business agree that the human voice is so dynamic, yet so inconsistent. Put several voices together and you have an incredible sound that is so human in nature. Tony will give you the knowledge to make your recordings accurately define the power and blend of your group.

A Cappella Engineering for Live Performance 1-on-1

Throughout the Vocal Jam, Tony will be working one on one with each group on a professional sound system. His 15 years of professional a cappella performance coupled with his knowledge of technical sound reproduction is invaluable to your group. He will cover microphone technique to enhance the voice right at the source, stage performance while utilizing the tools of sound and sub-woofers, bass reproduction and vocal percussion techniques, and group dynamics and blend through sound.

Matthew P. Selby has been a freelance musician for the last 15 years. After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado with a bachelor's degree in Classical Piano Performance, he began honing his skills in vocal arranging and performance, composition, and studio production.

At a young age, inspired by acappella greats like Take 6 and Bobby McFerrin, and beat- boxing legend Doug E. Fresh, Matthew started to form his own groups. In 1995, he co- founded the vocal group m-pact, with whom he toured for five years in 38 states and three continents, performing close to 300 concerts per year. He has adjudicated at vocal competitions across the United States and given countless master classes on arranging for vocals and beat-boxing. His original tunes and vocal arrangements have been heard internationally and garnered praise from such artists as Ray Charles, Kenny Loggins, and Natalie Cole.

Matthew is currently the Associate Music Director at the Disneyland Resort. His duties include arranging for and musically directing shows like High School Musical 3: Senior Year and the world famous Dapper Dans of Disneyland. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

A Cappella Arranging and Instrumentation

Matthew will teach you some great ideas for your own arrangements. Don't miss this great opportunity to enhance your group's sound and style!

We will explore how to approach an arrangement from one simple idea, regardless of genre. Techniques will include groove, voicings, harmony, and melodic motifs. Participants are welcome to bring arrangements they've done or are currently working on for critique and/or feedback on how to improve. (Please bring already printed out, and not on a computer or phone.) I will also bring examples of good and bad acappella arrangements. Lastly, we will talk about the importance of the piano as an arranging tool, and Matthew’s single key to good arrangements.

Time permitting: we can pick a tune and start a basic arrangement of it on the spot.

Born in Seattle, Washington, Jake Moulton has been performing professionally for almost 20 years. Mimicking the sounds of a drum kit, as well as utilizing the more organic sounds inherent in beatboxing, Jake has created a style all his own; a driving, technical style that makes his work with vocal groups, bands, and as a soloist powerful and successful. His strong musical ear allows for strength in both beatboxing and in his re-creation of many instrumental sounds, including the guitar, trumpet, flute, harmonica and turntables.

As a founding member of the rock a cappella band Kickshaw and later as member of the world-renowned pop/jazz vocal group m-pact, Jake has performed at countless jazz and music festivals worldwide. Over the years, he has shared the stage with many of the music industry's greatest talents, including Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Herbie Hancock, Sheryll Crow, Boys II Men, Kenny G, Heart's Ann Wilson, and the New York Voices, just to name a few.

Currently, Jake is the beatboxer for the original rock band without instruments, The House Jacks. He is also a member of the critically acclaimed Hollywood Film Chorale Sound Effects Choir, featured at the 2007 Academy Awards and in several commercials for the 2007 NBA Finals. When he's not performing, however, Jake focuses much of his energy toward songwriting, music production, commercial sound effects, and both group and individual instruction.

Jake's versatile talents as both a writer and performer are featured on several albums, including Kickshaw's "Superstar", m-pact's 2006 self-titled release, and multiple nationally distributed compilations, as well as in feature films, syndicated radio, television programs and commercials.

Advanced Beatbox / Vocal Instruments

Work with and learn from one of the world's best. Jake Moulton will help you discover why the human body is a truly amazing creation. However, rarely do we truly appreciate what an incredible musical instrument we are. Typically, when the body is referred to as an instrument, it is in reference to the voice. However, this workshop will show a great alternative the melodic voice... the rhythmic mouth.

Enjoy a demonstration of beginning, intermediate and advanced vocal percussion techniques as well as learning the basics of vocal percussion including basic sounds and rhythms, breathing, subdivision and mic technique.

Furthermore, people are often amazed when seeing an impressionist mimic the voice of their favorite celebrity. But what about their favorite instrument? Learn the secret of imitating some of your favorite instruments such as the trumpet, guitar, bass, violin, drums, flute and even the harmonica... with only your mouth and voice.

Trist Ethan Curless is a member and co-founder of the vocal group, m-pact, the 2006 LA Music Awards "Vocal Group of the Year", and 1996 Harmony Sweepstakes "National Champions". Trist has also written/arranged/produced songs for the group, as well as others, including most recently producing an album for the Bay-Area vocal group Clockwork. Before m-pact, Trist majored in Music Education at the University of Northern Colorado. When not on tour, he works as a live audio engineer and makes time to teach private voice, work with vocal groups, and participate as a clinician and adjudicator in clinics and festivals worldwide.

But Have You Heard This?

A select aural history of a cappella recordings. Like in any medium, when performing/writing/arranging/recording music, it can be very helpful to be informed by examples throughout the history of the medium. This session will include ACTIVE listening to a variety of styles of music recorded a cappella through the years, focusing on style/arranging/recording techniques.

How Low Can You Go?

A few simple keys to bass-singing in an a cappella group. Actually, having a really low voice helps, but there a few basic principles that will help bass singers "make the most of what they've got!" This session will deal mainly with bass singing in a group using microphones.