DPRCA to host renowned a cappella group Tonic Sol Fa

Dakota Prairie Regional Center for the Arts (DPRCA) in New Rockford continues its mission to inspire, educate and entertain its audience with a special performance by the groundbreaking a cappella ensemble Tonic Sol-fa.

Tonic Sol-fa is a Minnesota-based act that has established itself not only as the most in-demand vocal group in the Midwest, but also one of the most successful independent acts in America. In addition to selling 2 million copies of its own independent releases, the group has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Now the group's tour brings them to New Rockford for one night only, Thursday, May 9. The doors of the New Rockford-Sheyenne School gymnasium will open at 7 p.m., with the concert to begin at 7:30. Music fans of all ages take note and plan to attend this truly unique show.

Tonic Sol-fa began at St. John's University in Central Minnesota and includes lead vocalist Shaun Johnson, tenor and vocal percussionist Greg Bannwarth, baritone and percussionist/vocal percussionist Theo Brown, and bass Jared Dove. They've shared the stage with some recognizable performers including Jay Leno, Lonestar, Jeff Foxworthy, Bryan White and Weird Al Yankovic, and they were recently inducted in the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame alongside Prince.

The group has overcome many obstacles, including an unspoken apprehension to a cappella acts by individuals in the music industry and having a name that was anything but catchy (a system of naming the notes of the scale, usually do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, developed to teach singing). Still, the group persevered, recording its own records and selling them to a growing legion of fans via the Internet and social networking sites, in the lobby of the theaters where they performed, and through a growing national distribution. One could say they gained their current consumer popularity the old-fashioned way; they earned it.

The group has earned multiple contemporary a cappella recording awards and two independent Grammy awards. They've released three television specials, and their original holiday song "Sno" is featured on the "12 Dogs of Christmas," the most popular Christmas video sold at Wal-Mart. At present, Tonic Sol-fa is putting the finishing touches on an album of requested originals highlighting four indelible voices.

Tickets to the May 9 event are on sale now at the DPRCA Box Office. Call (701) 947-2417 or book online at http://www.dprca.com. Cost is $20 for adults, $15 for students 13 & up and just $10 for youth 12 and under. This is a rare opportunity to see a nationally-known act The New York Times described as "A vocal kaleidoscope...unique to the human voice," so get your tickets now!