OSU's Outspoken and South Albany to host harmonies

The Mid-Willamette Valley is going a cappella this weekend with two big events.

Oregon State University's premier a cappella group, Outspoken, will perform with Grant High School's Hooked on Harmonics, Southern Oregon University's Dulcet and Pacific Lutheran University's PLUtonics. The concert will be at 7 p.m. Friday, March 13, at the First Presbyterian Church, 114 S.W. Eighth St., Corvallis. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students.

"People should expect a lot of great singing and dancing," said Tyler Hanna, a member of Outspoken. "The groups all sing more contemporary music, songs you might hear on the radio; however, instead of hearing instruments or a drummer, every thing is done by singing and beat-boxing."

For more information e-mail Hanna at hannat@onid.orst.edu.

Then on Saturday, the South Albany Music Department will host the first annual a cappella event in Albany at Linn-Benton Community College. It will be an all-day festival and will conclude with Rezonate, a local men's a cappella group.

Eight high schools from around the area will be at the festival. Those high schools are St. Helens, Seaside, Willamette, Crater, Central Linn, Jefferson, West Albany and South Albany. They will be judged by James Reddan, the choral director at LBCC, and Jason Heald, the choral director at Umpqua Community College.

The top two schools from both the small and large categories will perform in the afternoon with Rezonate.

"The evening concert will be well worth your time," said Brett DeYoung, South Albany High School director of choirs. "Rezonate is musically fantastic, but they are also a very entertaining ensemble."

The festival portion of the day is free to the public. The evening concert, which will start at 7 p.m., will be $5 per person. Tickets are available in advance from the offices of West and South Albany high schools, as well as at the door.