In Their Own Words

In Their Own Words: Bill Hare

By Mike Chin on February 23, 2009 in In Their Own Words

In the world of a cappella recording, there is no bigger name than Bill Hare. There is at least one Hare-produced track on every BOCA CD (over 40 tracks in all), and he has earned over 100 CARA awards. In addition to working full-time as a recording engeineer and producer, he currently serves on the board of directors for CASA, as the director of CASA Archives.

I’ve been asked many times over the years about how I got started in this business, what my a cappella background is, and how I got to where I am today. For the first time, the complete story:

While I’ve always loved vocal music, I am an instrumentalist at heart. As far as career paths go, my plan was to be a bass player on the other side of the glass--a studio musician for hire. Remember, this was back in the days when there were no home studios--not even home computers, and to make any marketable recording people had to go to established recording studios. These studios all had lists of local “studio cats,” musicians who could step in and record a TV jingle, replace a weak player on a band’s record, or back up a solo artist with no rehearsal--the red light comes on, and it’s sight-reading-record-making time!

In Their Own Words: Varsity Vocals Executive Director Amanda Grish Newman

By Mike Chin on January 12, 2009 in In Their Own Words

Amanda Grish Newman is the executive director of Varsity Vocals—the company that runs the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, among other things. A long-time fixture on the collegiate a cappella scene, Amanda was a member of No Strings Attached, out of the University of Illinois, before joining Varsity Vocals as the Midwest producer, and then advancing to her current role. Today, she shares her story, as a woman who has made a career out of leading the a cappella community.

Sometimes I wish I had a “real job.” You know, one of those jobs you can sum up in a matter of mere syllables, in an industry that people have actually heard of. Accountant. Teacher. Web Designer. Heck – I’d even consider Dog Walker.

I mean, how on Earth do I explain my career as Director of Varsity Vocals to people outside the a cappella community?