New Dawn Arts Center Presents:
A Capella with
Tonehenge & the Conn Artists
October 24 @ 7:00 PM
Purchase your tickets HERE
New Dawn Arts Center is thrilled to host our first ever a capella performance!
Join us upstairs in the Performance Hall for an incredible evening of a capella from two must see groups!
Tonehenge
In the misty dawn of 2009, an ancient race of singers—known only as the Hengemen—gathered to perform oddly likable songs and clever harmonies.
From that origin rose Tonehenge, a seven-member men’s a cappella group from Massachusetts, dedicated to reimagining your favorite rock and pop tunes with nothing but voices.
By day, they’re scientists, engineers, marketers, business leaders, and architects. By night, they channel their inner rock gods—lifting songs and spirits through rich harmonies and ringing overtones. Most began their a cappella journeys in college, and their musical paths have crossed and re-crossed until converging in this unique lineup.
Tonehenge has performed across New England and became a familiar presence on WGBH’s Sing That Thing.
And the name? A playful nod to the cult classic Spinal Tap. After all—yes—they do go to 11.
Learn more about Tonehenge HERE
The Conn Artists is a highly acclaimed seven-member men's a cappella singing group based out of Fairfield, Connecticut.
Pinning The Conn Artists to a single musical genre isn't possible — they obstinately refuse to be classified as belonging to any one vocal style. They bristle at being labeled either "Doo-wop" or "Barbershop."
"It's not that we have anything against those styles," says business manager Dave Callahan, "in fact we have a couple of killer doo-wop tunes in our core repertoire, but our goal is to master the large variety of musical styles that can be performed a cappella. Whether we're singing 'Gloria' (the doo-wop classic), a Sting or Doobie Brothers song, a folk ballad, or the seven-part 'Ave Maria', we want our audience to say Whoa, now THAT was great!"
In fact, the group's repertoire is surprisingly diverse. They move with ease from Duke Ellington to madrigals to a haunting folk-ballad arrangement of seventies hit "Billy Don't Be a Hero." "
"Our goal is to create true musical excitement through great vocal blend, dynamics, and lyrical phrasing," says musical director Charles Dear. "Often that means defying an audience's pre-conceived notions of a cappella."
Another surprising fact about The Conn Artists is that none of them is a professional musician. In fact, their list of occupations has a decidedly non-musical ring to it —from attorney to financial planner to orthodontist. But they all have backgrounds in a cappella music, having sung with top collegiate groups, including the Princeton Nassoons, Amherst Zumbyes, Williams Ephlats, Trinity BMOC, and the New Hampshire Gentlemen (UNH). They've even placed second in the New York regionals of the national a cappella competition Harmony Sweepstakes.
The Conn Artists are a favorite of music-lovers throughout the region… probably because each of their concerts features amazing a cappella music, plus a unique injection of comedy and satire that their audiences have come to expect.
