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By Chanz to perform at Philadelphia Music Conference

By Chanz, the Ashburn, VA-based teen female vocal group who sing pop music laced with a tinge of R&B was recently selected to give a performance at the Philadelphia Music Conference (PMC) to showcase their vocal talent.  The group’s manager submitted a demo tape and press kit last October and was informed in late April that By Chanz had been selected by a five judge panel from among the 1,500 bands who submitted similar packages for one of the 250 showcase spots. 

By Chanz consists of founding member Kelley Hagood, 18, Sarah Luhrs, Lauren Smallwood, and Vanessa Vosteen all 14 and from Loudoun County.  The group re-formed in October of last year when Luhrs and Vosteen joined.  Smallwood was added in November and is the group’s rap/hip hop artist.  Amanda Szott, 15, from Fairfax County was added in February. 

“This is the big time,” said Luhrs when learning about the invitation to perform at PMC.  Several hundred industry representatives from the major music centers in LA, Nashville, and especially New York will attend the music conference looking for talent to develop and sign to a record contract.  Hagood said, “we need to focus all of our rehearsal sessions on readying ourselves for this important performance.”  By Chanz’ manager plans to send a personal invitation to all the industry reps who will be attending the conference inviting them to come and hear the vocal group’s showcase performance and then meet with the group members afterwards.  “This could be By Chanz’ ticket to ride,” said the group’s manager. 

Last year one of By Chanz’ songs, Beat of Your Heart, won an honorable mention in the Grand Slam Songwriting Contest sponsored by Music Connection magazine of LA. Frontwoman, Kelley Hagood won second place in the vocal category of the Loudoun Arts Council’s 2001 Excellence in the Arts Awards competition.  In 2000 Hagood was awarded a silver medal in the James A. Bland Music Scholarship Awards competition. 

By Chanz recently performed for several hundred children and their parents on the Town Green (Children’s) Stage during the Leesburg Flower and Garden Festival on April 21, 2001.  The night before they performed for the kids who attend the Sully Elementary CASA program.  In March  they appeared before a packed house at The Upper Room, a family-oriented coffee house in Leesburg. By Chanz also performed at First Night Leesburg and at The Planet Club, Chantilly’s premiere teen night club in December 2000.  By Chanz was featured in a March 26, 2001 television news story on Loudoun Channel 3 and on a Fairfax Channel 10 comedy show called The Nooz. 

To learn more about By Chanz and see additional photographs, go to their web site at www.bychanz.com.