Mike Why
Live Looping
MIKE YANCHAK, known as MIKE WHY, is an internationally touring performer and outreach artist, arts educator, and event producer widely recognized throughout the city as "that beatbox guy." He is perhaps most recently known for his two-day "One Mouth Music Show" in 2015 which set US & North American records in beatbox performance.
A local pioneer in the art of live looping performance, Mike tours internationally & is recognized throughout the international live looping music community as an engaging & inventive entertainer. He is a multifaceted beatboxer & mouthdrummer whose vocal percussion skills are in high demand throughout the city from live music of all genres, often as a replacement for actual drums. He has collaborated locally live or in studio with acts such as Liz Berlin (Rusted Root), Jimbo Jackson (Soupbones), Brad Yoder, Jordan York (The Pittsburgh Song / Pittsburgh Living album), and many more. He has also appeared onstage alongside or in support of a variety of nationally recognized acts (Michael Franti & Spearhead, Joe Negri, Rockapella, Rusted Root, St. Paul & The Broken Bones) as well as numerous artists from shows such as America's Got Talent, The Sing-Off, and The Voice.
As the human drum kit for DoubleShot!, Pittsburgh's All-Vocal Band, Mike has frequented nationally syndicated TV & radio, garnered nine total awards from the American Harmony Sweepstakes for live performance & arranging, including a championship in DC and trip to the National Finals in San Francisco. He has also served a cappella nationwide as an International Championship of High School & Collegiate A Cappella event producer and adjudicator, a nominator & judge for the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. His vocal live looping performance seminars are a regular part of Contemporary A Cappella Society workshops and music camps from coast to coast.
Mike has also used his mouth & voice to power two solo one-man a cappella records: his debut EP, "Run My Mouth" (2014) was released to four-star reviews and national online radio play; his followup album, "Interfaced", was released live in 2016 and hits the Internet this year.
Mike will be teaching you how to beatbox and live loop!
Mike will be teaching Live Looping and Beatboxing
Scott Blasey
Songwriting
SCOTT BLASEY started playing music in 1986 with three guys named Rob, Greg, and Dave. They formed the rock band, the Clarks, at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where they were honored as “Distinguished Alumni” in 2004, and spent the last twenty years traveling around the country preaching our brand of rock-n-roll salvation. They sold a bunch of records, toured with some big names, and played on Letterman. They were hugely popular in Pittsburgh and still play about 80 shows a year all over the U.S.A. - from DC to LA, and Appleton to Austin.
In 1995, Scott released his first solo CD, “Don’t Try This At Home.” This collection of dressed-up demos found a small but passionate audience. It’s been out of print and in demand for nearly ten years, but will finally be re-released. “Don’t Try This At Home” was recorded by his good friend Rick Witkowski at Studio L. It’s remixed and remastered, with new artwork and liner notes, plus a cover of “Alison” by Elvis Costello. The disc includes acoustic versions of Flame, Mercury, Courtney and more. The Clarks very own Greg Joseph plays mandolin on Rain, and Kelsey Friday lends her silky pipes to Fatal.
Scott currently resides in the Peters Township area with his wife and three daughters, two of whom are currently enrolled in the camp! He will be teaching a songwriting workshop.
Ryan Perrotte
Camp Coordinator
RYAN PERROTTE is president and co-founder of Harmonix & Beatz and In Tune With the Arts Studios, Inc. in Gibsonia, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh. He is also the department head of the middle school and high school music departments at Peters Township School District as well as the director of choral studies at Peters Township High School in McMurray, PA. Ryan is known for his wide range of styles in his choral teaching that consists of barbershop, sacred, secular, contemporary a cappella, jazz, and musical theatre.
He directed Rowdy Rhythm, the full ensemble choir at Peters Township HS, in performances at the Saturday Night Spectacular at the International Barbershop Competition at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh and the Mid Winter Convention in San Antonio. His group was also invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in NYC with Deke Sharon (Vocal Producer of The Sing Off and Pitch Perfect movies) and some of the the cast of the Pitch Perfect movies for the Total Vocal concert. His newest student group, Room 100, performed in the Kettering National Aca-Fest's Showcase. He has coached many high school barbershop quartets, one of which was the only high school quartet to place in the top 5 at the Sweet Adelines International “Rising Star” Competition.
When Ryan is not teaching, he is composing or performing. Along with six other talented musicians and writers from Act One Theater School near Pittsburgh, PA, Ryan has composed a full length musical and has currently completed his second. He also has written the song “Hockey Night in Pittsburgh” that has been featured on websites, TV, and radio stations such as Kiss FM, Tosh.0, KDKA, and Star 100.7 FM. Ryan also made his Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Debut in the summer of 2004 in the Music Man starring Jeff Goldblum and again, in 2009, sharing the stages at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC with Shirley Jones, Patrick Cassidy, and Marvin Hamlisch. In addition, he has sung with several barbershop quartets, one of which placed 3rd in the National Collegiate Barbershop Competition.
Ryan is the contact person and is organizing all of the activities of the camp.
Sean Burke
Small Group Leader
SEAN BURKE, instructor at In Tune, is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. Sean earned his degree in Music Composition and Education in the spring of 2013. His time at CMU has afforded him opportunities to study with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as well as some of the most prolific composers in the area. His passion for teaching began with his first jobs teaching marching band at his high school and his experience as teaching assistant to three of CMU’s professors. With a focus on the theoretical study of music, Sean was asked to help write and deliver curriculum for two courses at the university.
A student of French Horn and a singer since age ten, Sean has performed with such orchestras and ensembles as the Dayton Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, Honolulu Symphony, the National Honor Choir of Men and Boys, the Cincinnati Boychoir, and in tandem with the Vienna Boy Choir. His goals are to excite and energize young students in whatever their musical interests may be, and his approach is taken from his study of Dalcroze Eurhythmics at CMU. As a teacher of voice, piano, brass, woodwind, theory and early childhood classes, In Tune With the Arts Studios has had the pleasure adding Sean to their lineup of incredible teachers.
Sean will be running the Middle School Small Group Ensemble for the camp
Lori Carrau
Small Group Leader
LORI CARRAU, a vocal and string instructor of In Tune with the Arts Studios, Inc., received her B.S. in Music Education from Duquesne University. She has participated in various orchestras around the Pittsburgh area, including string orchestras, full orchestras, and pit orchestras as well as performing as a soloist in Pittsburgh and Northern Italy. She has previously taught at the Pittsburgh Musical Theater company (PMT) and has student taught in general music and strings.
Lori is a member of the American String Teachers’ Association, MENC: National Association for Music Education, and Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.
Stephen Wilde
Barbershop/Small Group Leader
STEPHEN WILDE was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, a city he cherishes. He holds an MFA in Acting from Carnegie Mellon and a Graduate Degree in Acting from the Moscow Art Theatre School. In New York, he was lauded by John Simon of Bloomberg News and Howard Kissel of The New York Daily News for his portrayal of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Marc Connelly in the Peccadillo Theater Company’s Off-Broadway hit THE TALK OF THE TOWN in The Oak Room of The Algonquin Hotel. He was also seen as Shorty in Eugene O’Neill’s ALL GOD’S CHILLUN’ GOT WINGS at NYU’s Skirball Center for The Performing Arts.
In the world of the American musical theatre, he spent two years on the road in the cast of the highly successful First National Tour of Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN, directed by Ray Roderick, logging over 500 performances of the Tony Award-Winning show, in concerts with the Chicago, Baltimore and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras under the baton of the late Marvin Hamlisch, in the production of THE MUSIC MAN at Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, NY, with John Bolton (A CHRISTMAS STORY on Broadway), Jennifer Smith (THE PRODUCERS on Broadway), and Cass Morgan (MEMPHIS/BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY on Broadway), and he recently completed playing Roger Sherman, the delegate from Connecticut, in the production of 1776, at the Pittsburgh Public Theater, directed by Ted Pappas, and FOOTLOOSE, directed by Barry Ivan, with Pittsburgh CLO.
He is Secretary for The Board of Directors of the THEATRE WORLD AWARDS.
Stephen is a world-champion barbershop quartet singer. He won the international competition of the Barbershop Harmony Society, as high tenor of the quartet, JOKER'S WILD, and has 3 recordings in commercial release (Right From The Start, Chasing A Dream, More Of The Different) with the celebrated ensemble. He teaches and coaches the art form all over the world, and is an award-winning conductor of choruses in the genre.
Stephen will be co-teaching a barbershop class, leading warm-ups, singing/teaching tags, and co-teaching a small group!
Jon Clunies
Barbershop/Small Group Leader
JON CLUNIES got hooked on barbershop harmony in high school then earned a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies (Music, Theater & Political Science) from University of Maryland in Baltimore County in 1984. He added a Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore in 1987.
Jon joined Joker’s Wild (1994 International Quartet champions) as their Lead singer in 1996 and has been thrilled to perform with the group for over 20 years around the country and on three continents. Jon has been a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society since 1977 and has performed many times as a member of Meredith Willson’s iconic school board quartet being bamboozled by such diverse Harold Hill’s as Gary Sandy, Patrick Cassidy, John Bolton and Jeff Goldblum while being swept away by such Marion the Librarian’s as Judy Blazer, Catherine Wreford, Ashley Brown, Analisa Leaming and Rebecca Luker. Jon’s entertainment resume
includes some television and film work, concert performances with the late, great Marvin Hamlisch and the symphony orchestras from Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Chicago and the National Symphony, as well as musical theater productions including principal roles in Little Mary Sunshine, Oklahoma, Brigadoon, Carousel, and Music Man plus a national tour of Camelot.
Jon is a practicing attorney in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and also is part owner of a collection of record labels including Naked Voice Records, the largest label in the world dedicated exclusively to a cappella. Jon also sings in the Chancel Choir at Shadyside Presbyterian Church, sings with a local Pittsburgh area quartet and is a Section Leader for the Pittsburgh Metro Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Jon will be co-teaching a barbershop class, leading warm-ups, singing/teaching tags, and co-teaching a small group!
Emilio Jarufe
Small Group Leader/Live Sound
EMILIO J. JARUFE is in his third year of teaching at the Avon Local School district, just outside of Cleveland Ohio. As director of Choral Affairs in Avon, Emilio oversees the direction of the middle school and high school choirs. His choral ensembles have consistently received superior ratings at Ohio Music Education Association large group festivals all the while continuing to foster academic excellence through choral music education.
In 2015, Emilio founded the Avon Contemporary A cappella program which proudly houses the Avon Middle School contemporary A cappella choir, Avon High School's "Hear Comes Treble" , and Avon High School's premier contemporary ensemble, "Unaccompanied." In their third year the groups show incredible promise!
An active singer of the cleveland music scene, Emilio Jarufe has shared the stage with many influential artists such as "Ghost Note" ( Featuring members of Grammy Award Winning "Snarky Puppy"), Mono-Neon (Prince), and New York funk power house "Turkuaz". Additionally Emilio has just finished his first year on staff at the Internationally acclaimed "Camp A Cappella" founded by Brody McDonald and Deke Sharon.
As camp draws near, Emilio is thrilled to be a part of such a fantastic team and looks forward to the first ever, Harmonix and Beatz camp, where he will ensemble direct and assist with Live sound!
Kathleen Sheridan
Choreogrphy
KATHLEEN SHERIDAN is thrilled to be on staff at Harmonix & Beatx! Kathleen graduated from Otterbein University in 2014 with her degree in Music Education. During college she co-founded and co-directed the a cappella group Ottertuned. She is currently in her fourth year of teaching at Wapakoneta Middle/High School. There, Kathleen created the high school a cappella group, Midweek. Midweek has quickly gained acclaim by earning 2nd Runner-Up in the 2017 ICHSA Quarterfinals and 1st Runner-Up in the 2018 ICHSA Quarterfinals.
Kathleen is also an avid performer, arranger, and clinician. She co-directs the Columbus-based a cappella group, Squaree One, and also sings in the fabulous group, Inside Voices. Both groups are competing in the 2018 ICA Open. Kathleen serves as the CASA Secretary and is also currently on staff at Camp A Cappella alongside award-winning a cappella superstars, Deke Sharon and Brody McDonald. Kathleen will be the choreographer for the camp.
Chris Jamison
Performance Coach
CHRIS JAMISON, a singer songwriter, went from studying musical theater as a kid to spending his college years in Columbus, Ohio playing acoustic shows at local restaurants and bars. In 2014, he jumped at the opportunity to audition for the seventh season of NBC’s The Voice. With Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine as his coach, he eventually finished third as Pharrell Williams claimed, “Chris Jamison to me was nothing short of magical!”
His debut single “Velvet” impressively moved over 77,000 digital downloads during its first-week of release as he eventually racked up over 400,000 sales, making him “one of the best-selling artists in the show’s history.” Chris peaked at #5 on the iTunes Albums charts with the release of his debut EP titled I Am Chris Jamison on August 19th 2016.
On November 14th, 2018 he released a single titled, Faith. Hope. Love., benefiting the Tree of Life Synagogue. Chris’s EP Puzzle Pieces, is set to be released on July 13th, 2019 and the lead single from the project, “Go”, can be heard today anywhere you listen to music! Chris will be the Performance Coach for the camp.
Jacqueline Tardanico
Sectional Leader
JACQUELINE TARDANICO is a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a double major in Vocal Performance and Music Education. Among her passion for music, she is a firm believer in the importance of art education and is thrilled to begin her professional life guiding students through music exploration. She has been singing in acappella groups since early high school and is excited to share her knowledge with students who have a passion for music! Jacqueline will be working in sectionals with each group on their individual parts.