The Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival returns to San Rafael's Marin Center Exhibit Hall on Saturday, Oct. 17, for its 41st National Finals.
Regional champions from several parts of the country, plus an international contender from the Republic of Georgia, will compete for the national title in an all-vocal showdown. The competition grew out of a weekly sing-along at San Rafael's Mayflower pub, where chorus member Lisa Collins first proposed a contest for a cappella groups. The festival has presented vocal harmony groups since 1984 and now holds regional competitions in eight cities.
Hosting the evening is Smoke Ring, the 2025 national champion. The New York-based quartet made history in 2024 as the first mixed-voice group to win the Barbershop Harmony Society's Mid-Atlantic District championship. They placed in the top 10 at the society's 2025 International quartet contest. Their debut album, "Smoke Ring Vol. 1," won the CARA Award for Best Barbershop Album in 2026.
Among this year's competitors, the Bookmarks stand out. The six-member group from the Republic of Georgia blends traditional Georgian polyphony, a vocal tradition recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, with modern jazz, as the Pacific Sun reported. Formed in spring 2023 by finalists of the Georgian TV talent show Ranina, the Bookmarks swept two major European festivals in 2025. Member Anastasia Vasadze represented Georgia at the 2023 Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Nice, according to the festival's website.
The Bay Area's representative is SF Coda Conduct, a 12-member contemporary group performing since 2024. Other competitors include The Seventh Variety, a barbershop quartet from the Los Angeles area, Linc 182 from Chicago and 5280 A Cappella from Denver.
Sacramento ensemble Outta the Vox, which opened for Foreigner during the band's 2023 farewell tour, will perform as special guests.
The event begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $42, $53 and $69, with Marin Center fees included. The Exhibit Hall is at 20 Avenue of the Flags in San Rafael.
