Southcentral Pa. musicians: A Cappella & Unplugged open-mics could kickstart your career
Hoping to expand the talent pool for its annual A Cappella & Unplugged contest, Franklin County Visitors Bureau will host a series of open-mic nights around the county over the next few months.
These events kick off a journey that will end with one act winning the $500 grand prize and performing before thousands of people at "1864: The Burning & Rebirth of Chambersburg," a popular light-show reenactment of the Burning of Chambersburg that closes out ChambersFest, this year on July 20.
The winning act at each open-mic night will automatically land a spot in the first round of A Cappella & Unplugged, and perform on stage at Capitol Theatre in June. FCVB will also still host auditions in May for entry into the contest, so other acts - including those who came up short at an open mic - will have a chance to enter the contest. More than two dozen acts auditioned last year, said FCVB spokesperson Lauren Cappuccio.
The first open mic will take place during IceFest, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at the 11/30 Welcome Center on Memorial Square. Acts must register beforehand on Eventbrite. There is no fee.
The second open mic will take place 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 8, at Coyle Free Library.
More:IceFest is coming to Chambersburg: Here are 3 things to know now
2019 will be the fifth year of the contest highlighting local a cappella and acoustic instrumental musicians. FCVB and Capitol Theatre started the contest in 2015.
Winners from past years were:
- 2018: Alexus Lawson, Chambersburg
- 2017: Elly Cooke, Gettysburg
- 2016: Kate & Isaac, a duo from Waynesboro
- 2015: "A World Apart” with Taylor Piper and Kristopher Potter of Mercersburg.
Lawson told FCVB she had a great experience during the competition and it has helped her learn confidence and to believe in herself.
“It has helped encourage me and I am now doing voice lessons,” Lawson said. She said other competitors have inspired her as well.
“I’ve learned to believe in myself,” she said.
Lawson performed in November at the 11/30 Visitors Center’s grand opening event "Franklin County: 300 Years of American History," featuring 1864: The Burning & Rebirth of Chambersburg. The event was a repurposed version of the July light show, which was rained out.
More:Visitors bureau's new home will serve as launch site for Franklin County exploration
More:History comes alive as Chambersburg celebrates its rebirth after 1864 burning
Cooke told FCVB she has become a full-time musician since winning the contest in 2017.
“I am out there promoting my shows but I also teach beginner guitar lessons for homeschool students,” Cooke said. “It’s nice because I’m able to still do music.”
Cooke has won several talent competitions in the tri-state area and performs locally at wineries, fairs and festivals.
“I got to open for the country singer William Michael Morgan at the 4H Faire,” Cooke said. She also performed for Froggy 107.7 at the York Fair.
She is also working on songwriting and hopes to record some songs this year.
Her event schedule is kept up-to-date on her Facebook page Elly Cooke Music.
The dates of other open-mic events will be announced later.
Through those and auditions, a panel of judges will invite up to 20 acts to perform in the first round of the competition. The judges will then choose six acts to move on to the semi-finals. Videos of each act performing will be posted on FCVB's Facebook page, and members of the community are invited to "like" their favorite. The three acts with the most likes will move on to the finals. Each finalist will perform in the lead-up to the reenactment light show in July, and another round of voting will determine the winner, who will get $500 and perform to begin the light show.
For more information, visit explorefranklincountypa.com/home/a-cappella-unplugged-2019 and to sign up for the Open Mic night for free, visit the Eventbrite link eventbrite.com/e/a-cappella-unplugged-2019-open-mic-night-tickets-54367550808.
Below, watch a video from last year's IceFest: