The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites the public to Round 1 of A Cappella & Unplugged 2023 at the Capitol Theatre in Chambersburg on June 3rd at 7pm. This event is offered at no charge. Reserve a seat on Eventbrite here. The audience will get to experience 15 local and regional musical acts. Seven of the 15 acts will be chosen to move on to the Final Round for a chance to win the GRAND PRIZE of $500! The Final Round will take place on the steps of the 1865 Franklin County Courthouse in Chambersburg right before the 1864 Ransoming, Burning & REBIRTH, on July 15th. Finalists will be chosen by a judges panel. Additionally, the audience will vote for a “People’s Choice” winner.
For live-music lovers and those looking for an entertaining local event, A Cappella & Unplugged Round 1 is a great match. This year, round 1 brings another superb mix of talented performers to the stage. Audience members will witness the diverse world of music brought to life through each act. Listeners can expect to hear everything from bluegrass, to country, rock, blues, traditional a cappella, and more!
The 2023 Round 1 contestants are: Robert Twine, Brad Shaffer, Marissa Porter, Stephanie Rhodes and the RMS Experience, Paul Minnich, Elijah Myers, Ta’von Patterson, Henry & Karin – “Franklin’s Kite”, Ryan Franko, Devin Fields, Hearts In Harmony, The Catoctones, Lukas Clever, Rylan Rissler
The 2023 A Cappella & Unplugged musical competition is the ninth annual event. Past winners of A Cappella & Unplugged are 2015: Taylor Piper & Kristopher Potter/A World Apart, 2016: Kate & Isaac, 2017: Elly Cooke, 2018: Alexus Lawson, 2019: For F4ith, 2020: Gabrielle Stone, 2021: Bailey Appleby, and 2022: Willeby Hayes.
For questions or to reserve a free seat, visit ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com or contact the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at 866.646.8060.
After months of auditions, performances, and voting, the public narrowed 2020 A Cappella & Unplugged to three finalists–Blaine Phebus, Dominik Wiesniewski, and Gabriele Stone. 2020 A Cappella & Unplugged Finals are set for 7 PM on Friday, August 7. It is First Friday in downtown Chambersburg, and the performances are in front of the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center.
The public can enjoy performances in person or online through the Facebook Live Event. Those attending in person can cast a paper ballot. Virtual attendees can visit Facebook.com/FCVBen to like the favorite performer. New this year, comments about performers in the Facebook Live feed will tabulate a vote for the mentioned performer. The voting window is 30 minutes and opens at 7 PM. Check out the talent and help select the 2020 winner of A Cappella & Unplugged. The performer with the most votes wins the $500 prize and is the 2020 champion.
Franklin County Visitors Bureau extends special thanks to the 2020 Round One performers–Ace Johnson, Blaine Phebus, Gabriele Stone, Holly Gouse, Jason Sheffield, Dominik Wiesniewski, Paul Saliga, Pyxus, Robert Twine, and The Mimic. It is not too late to enjoy their performances. Listen here.
Judges rated Round One performers on execution and skill, creativity and originality, and overall presence and appeal. The 2020 judges were Devin Fields, John Ingels, Heather McEndree, Woody Payne, Beth Thoresen, and Jack Swisher. After tabulating the results, there was a three-way tie for the Judges Choice award. The winners were Dominik Wiesniewski, Gabriele Stone, and The Mimic. Each will receive a $100 prize. The three-way tie was another “first” for the A Cappella & Unplugged competition.
The 2020 participants were gleaned from open mics at 11/30 Visitors Center during IceFest 2020 and The Thought Lot on March 10. Event organizer Franklin County Visitors Bureau will always remember 2020 A Cappella & Unplugged because of the impact of COVID, the adaptations made to hold the event, and the performers love of music as an outlet in difficult times.
For the August 7 Finals’ performance, FCVB is providing small groupings of socially distanced seating in front of the visitors center. Visitors are welcome to bring their own chairs, also. Please contact Franklin County Visitors Bureau at 717.552.2977 for special arrangements or email jpollard@explorefranklincountypa.com.
This week’s Music Spotlight focuses on the Semi-finalists of 2020 A Cappella & Unplugged–Ace Johnson, Blaine Phebus, Gabriele Stone, Holly Gouse, Jason Sheffield, Dominik Wiesniewski, Paul Saliga, Pyxus, Robert Twine, and The Mimic. Listen here, and like your favorite. Then, share with others. At noon, on Tuesday, August 4, most-liked performances will move onto the Finals of 2020 A Cappella & Unplugged, held on the August First Friday in downtown Chambersburg, August 7, outside the 11/30 Visitors Center at 7 PM. The winner will be selected that evening by online likes of performances and in-person votes.
A Cappella & Unplugged 2020 is the sixth annual event. It started in 2015 as part of the 1864 Commemoration to showcase the energy and spirit of people. With the impact of COVID-19, the online aspects of A Cappella & Unplugged has allowed the event to continue in 2020. Though structured differently because of COVID, A Cappella is a little different, but still has lots of talent.
Franklin County Visitors Bureau (FCVB) is seeking talent. Performers, age 2 to 102, are invited to bring their talent to Acappella & Unplugged Open Mic Night at Coyle Free Library in downtown Chambersburg on March 8 at 5 PM. There is no participation fee and interested performers are encouraged to sign up here. The winner of the open mic automatically moves on to Round One of the Acappella & Unplugged musical competition, held at the Capitol Theatre on June 22, 2019.
Acappella & Unplugged began in 2015 as part of the living history and light show, remembering the rebirth of Chambersburg after Confederate soldiers burned the town in 1864. It celebrated the spirit of the people that chose to rebuild the community.
Round One of 2019 Acappella & Unplugged will be held at the Capitol Theatre on June 22. Six contestants will move onto Round Two—the Semi-Finals–where the public can like their favorite contestant on Facebook. The top three acts move into the Finals. Finalists perform live before 1864 Burning & Rebirth. The public selects the winner, and the winner receives $500.
Take a chance at winning $500 when the Franklin County Visitors Bureau and the Capitol Theatre team up again to bring back Acappella & Unplugged as part of 1864 Weekend.
Returning after the success of last year, auditions for the popular vocal competition will be held June 1 from 6pm to 8pm and June 2 from 8pm to 10pm at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Chambersburg.
Performers of all ages are invited to audition and can be solo or groups with vocals or unplugged instrumental. Those auditioning are asked to be able to carry their instruments on stage, and that it does not require electricity. Microphones will be provided. Acts must be appropriate for a variety of ages and be celebratory – lively and inspiring, something that will make the audience come to life. There is also a $10 entry fee per group.
Last year, nearly 30 competitors performed before judges during the audition stages, including a barbershop quartet, a sibling group, local singers and even a performer from Lebanon County. Last year’s winners, sibling duo Taylor Piper and Kristopher Potter, took home the $500 grand prize and performed in front of the crowd gathered for the 1864: The Burning light show.
Over the past five years, 1864–the light show and story of the ransoming, burning and rebirth of Chambersburg – attracted thousands of visitors. It showed the local events that were part of national history. Moving out of the 150th commemoration of the Civil War, celebrating the people, who rebuilt Chambersburg, is a main focus. The musical competition is a way of celebrating those people and their incredible spirit.
Top performers from the audition will be invited to perform and compete in Acappella & Unplugged ROUND 1 on June 25 at 7 p.m. on stage at the Capitol Theatre, where a panel of judges will select the top six acts. From here, ROUND 2 will be public voting. Beginning Monday, June 27 at noon, friends, family and the general public can vote by liking the act on the Franklin County Visitors Bureau Facebook page –www.Facebook.com/FCVBen. Voting for these finalists will go on until July 13, when the top three will be invited to perform on the courthouse steps the evening of July 16 as part of the festivities leading up to the “1864: The Burning” light show.
After the performance, the winner will be selected by tabulating in-person votes and Facebook votes. The act with the most votes wins the $500 grand prize.
All previous year’s participants, except the winning performers, are invited to return to Acappella & Unplugged 2016.
