Snowday

What sounds like a band but doesn't have instruments? Snowday! This dynamic quartet creates unique music using just their voices to delight audiences of all ages! Snowday's talented singers present upbeat songs and moving rhythms that trace the history of a cappella singing and demonstrate how to create its harmonic parts -- including a vocal drumming lesson with the audience. Their broad musical experience in barbershop, opera and contemporary singing is paired with a mastery of teaching to uplift and engage everyone. This mix of energetic men and women includes an original member of the Almost Recess ensemble, and is excited to share their lifelong love of music. And hey -- doesn't everyone love a snow day?

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Amanda Aldag
Born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Amanda started singing as a bona fide hobby when the music teacher picked her to do a solo in front of the whole school at the tender age of six. That performance was followed up with an imitation of JEM and the Rockers for her second grade music performance (diagonal haircut included). The choirs and ensembles continued through high school. At Hamilton College Amanda was a member and musical director of the school’s oldest all-female a cappella group “Special K”. After graduation she moved to rural Japan for 4 years where she founded, trained and performed with an award-winning international a cappella group called the “Amigos”. In 2006, Amanda became a founding member of Washington, DC's Euphonism, with whom she is currently a director, manager and performer. When she's not singing random back up parts along with the radio or putting the stereo on repeat to help with the latest arrangement project, Amanda enjoys swimming, hiking, skiing, cooking, disguising her Philly accent or traveling . She lists her musical influences as everything from Mariah Carey to Michael Bublé to Eminem and declares herself as Elliott Yamin's biggest fan. 

Becky
A northern Virginia "almost-native", Becky began her musical career at the age of 4 when she started plunking out melodies on the piano. She started piano lessons at the age of 6, and now makes a living as a freelance pianist and accompanist. Becky's singing experience began with school and church choirs, and became a true passion in high school when she joined the TJ Colonial Singers & Chamber Singers. Memorable choral experiences included performing at the Kennedy Center with the Washington Chorus, and caroling through Nordstrom wearing a formal gown and reindeer antlers. At William & Mary, Becky was introduced to the wide world of collegiate a cappella, and joined Common Ground, an all-female group. She was gradually coerced/convinced to try her hand at arranging songs and conducting, and became its musical director her senior year. After graduation Becky thought her a cappella opportunities were lost and gone forever, and was delighted to find out through Snowday that post-graduate cappella is alive and well in D.C. When she's not singing or playing the piano for a living, Becky enjoys doing the same for fun...as well as traveling and hanging out with her awesome hubby.

Marco
Born in Cochabamba, Bolivia, Marco started singing at the hospital, right out of the womb. He has not stopped since. As a child, he learned to play the guitar instead of a piano and has fancied himself a rock singer since. In his teens, he moved to the D.C. area and collaborated with several local bolivian groups while still in school. He also performed at Washington-Lee High School as a solo artist. As a member of the W-L ensembles, he fell in love with A cappella, while posing as a bass II. There, he started his own quartet and earned local recognition and even a "big" scholarship award with a free round trip to the Midwest, seriously! Marco developed his powerful tenor voice during college where he sang with the “Gentlemen of the College” of William and Mary. "Angel of the Silences," one of his favorites leads earned the honor of opening the show for the rock band, Counting Crows. He recently moved back to D.C. and now is a founding member of two vocal groups in the area. His talents and interests include the guitar and native bolivian instruments, rock climbing, sailing, long walks on the beach and sipping a cup of latte by the fireplace…not! 

Hugh
Born in Niagara Falls, New York, Hugh Gee spent the majority of his life in Richmond, Virginia. He trekked all the way across the state of Virginia to attend James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in music performance with a trombone concentration, a dual Music Industry major, and a business minor. Hugh has been performing since the age of 11. At JMU, he was a co-founder of the men's group Exit 245;, founder and music director of the coed group Low Key, and founder and president of the JMU Trombone Association Chapter. He has sung with Titanium Blend, an amateur group in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, subbed for Crossroads at Hershey Park in PA, played and/or sang in several bands in the Richmond, Virginia area. He arranged for, helped launch, and sang bass in D.C.'s Almost Recess for three years, a professional group still touring and traveling today. Since Almost Recess he has been a member of Static Flow, Noteriety, and Euphonism. Currently Hugh is doing vocal percussion and arranging for a small ensemble called Skyline which he founded in February of 2005, and as a member of the The Tone Rangers. Snowday is the newest group he is excited to be a part of as principal vocal percussionist. 

Hugh can generally be found working with about 88 a cappella groups at any given time. His musical influences include Bobby McFerrin, Idea of North, Mosaic, M-pact, Blue Jupiter, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Mozart, Harry Connick Jr., Billy Joel, Basil Pouledouris, Tori Amos and Stevie Wonder. His hobbies include playing volleyball, snowboarding, surfing, arranging music, and wrenching on his 5.0 litre, V8, 302 limited edition Mustang convertible. 
 

Ward
Originally from Houston, TX, Ward performed voraciously as a child and teenager. He was uprooted in his sixteenth year and moved to LA (that’s Lower Alabama). He received a BFA in Theatre from Auburn University. Ward worked as an actor and lighting designer for theatres in the southeast as well as producing and designing for conventions and industrials from sea to shining sea. Ward has been privileged enough to create roles in many original stage works from Orlando to Lincoln Center. Some of his roles in published works have been Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, John the Baptist/Judas and Jesus in multiple productions of Godspell, Eddie/Dr. Scott in The Rocky Horror Show and, most recently, Steven Kodaly in She Loves Me. Ward has also performed at both Disneyworld and Universal Studios. An avid musician, Ward has served as Musical Director for several regional and children’s theatres. He has also worked extensively as an a cappella vocalist, specializing in 50’s do-wop, as well as playing keyboards for several of those bands that use instruments. Ward thanks Snowday and Skyline for letting him sing a cappella again. Ward also thanks his dogs for their understanding when he attends rehearsals and their patience when he practices at home.

*See Programs for Artist Fees