By David A. Sargent

Special to the Sun Journal

LEWISTON — The perennially-popular “Battle of the Blends” brings five outstanding a cappella groups to the Franco-American Heritage Center on Saturday, Nov. 7.

This 16th edition of the Maine Music Society’s fundraiser will feature large and small groups. Each will perform without instrumentation and their unique styles will highlight the harmonic expressiveness of the human voice. Their songs range from jazz to pop, rock to barbershop, and ethnic to madrigals.

New to the “Battle of the Blends” annual event are the Downeasters and None of the Above.

The Downeasters is the show’s largest group with more than four dozen members. They will perform as a full chorus and as several individual quartets. The organization is the Portland Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society formed in 1949. The parent group was founded in 1938 and its present 32,000 members make it the nation’s largest all-male singing society.

None of the Above has eight members with varied musical backgrounds. Their eclectic repertoire combines early polyphony, cutting-edge modern harmony, familiar folk songs, uplifting spirituals, catchy pop tunes, and lush jazz standards.

Returning to perform in “Battle of the Blends XVI” are Vocal Solution, a seven-member ensemble from the Oxford Hills, Bridgton, and Poland areas; Manic Optimists, which is Bates College’s newest all-male a cappella group formed in 2000; and the Mt. Blue Voices of Farmington’s Mt. Blue High School.

Vocal Solution has delighted audiences since 1997 with their varied repertoire ranging from traditional spirituals to contemporary popular arrangements. The group’s women often sing as a quartet called The Del-lights and they offer a wide range of musical choices from spirituals to Motown.

Mt. Blue Voices has been recognized as one of Maine’s premier high school vocal groups since its formation in 1995. The 15 members of The Voices sing in the contemporary a cappella style found on college campuses across the country. Their style can be attributed to the personalized arrangements done for the group by Dennis Hayes, their director and founder. His arrangements are designed to highlight the individual strengths of the student singers.

“Battle of the Blends XVI” marks the fourth time the Mt. Blue Voices have performed in the event.

Rick Rau, one of the event’s producers, said competition is keen for a place in the annual “Battle of the Blends.” He said the event has become known as northern New England’s largest a cappella showcase.

Selection of the groups for this year’s show began back in January. He and Judith Andrucki, co-producer, reviewed many audition recordings sent by groups from all over the Northeast.

“We are always looking for groups with different styles and different genres,” Rau said. He also noted that the large size of the Downeasters is a special treat this year.

The Maine Music Society has an active educational outreach program, and the appearances by the Mt. Blue Singers address that goal. He also pointed out that members of the choruses at Edward Little High School and Lewiston High School will be involved in backstage production duties for the show, and this gives them a taste of performance requirements.

Rau and Andrucki have been involved in all of the “Battle of the Blends” events.

They were members of Top Forty for 13 years, a popular quartet that also included Eileen Coyne and Paul Macrie. Top Forty participated in several of the Maine Music Society events over the years.

Although the Franco-American Heritage Center in the former St. Mary’s Church is recognized for its excellent acoustics, Rau said it was decided to provide some amplification that should improve the sound for people in the rear seats. He said care is being taken with the electronic amplification to assure that the traditional aspects of an unamplified a cappella performance are preserved.

Maine Music Society made a CD of “Battle of the Blends” selections a few years ago, and Rau said copies of that disk will be given to members of this year’s audience.

“Battle of the Blends XVI” takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Franco-American Heritage Center, Cedar Street, Lewiston.

Tickets are $20 and children under 12 accompanied by an adult are free. For tickets, call L/A Arts at 782-7228 or purchase tickets online at www.mainemusicsociety.org.

Go and do

What: Battle of the Blends a cappella concert to benefit the Maine Music Society

Where: Franco-American Heritage Center, Cedar Street, Lewiston

When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7

Tickets: $20 and children under 12 accompanied by an adult are free. Call L/A Arts at 782-7228 or purchase tickets online at
www.mainemusicsociety.org.