VIP'S

2022 VIP'S

Nick Sales, Guest Host

Nick Sales is the owner of Aevium Films, a video company that specializes in creating high quality content using some of the best video equipment the world has to offer. Nick's videos have passed over 500 million views on YouTube and he's had the privilege of working with some of the best artists, musicians and YouTubers in the world. His goal is to create content that not only entertains, but also inspires. Nick is also a team member and speaker for Save the Kids whose mission is to raise awareness of the harmful effects smart phones and social media have on children and families.

SPARK, Guest Artist

SPARK is a band originally formed from singers who were discovered at Vocal Sport! This contemporary Christian group has entertained thousands at concerts, conferences, and festivals with their danceable, inspirational music that appeals to all ages. SPARK is excited to welcome all the 2022 contestants!

Connect with @sparksingers for positive, uplifting content!

KLEA TURNER, Guest Artist at 6:00 Pre-show!

KLEA TURNER was featured on The Voice Season 16! She competed at Vocal Sport in 2015 as a soloist and in 2016 in a duo. She was a judges' favorite as a soloist and her duo won the Grand Prize! She was discovered by The Voice when Vocal Sport sent her performance videos to casting producers. During her time on The Voice, Klea had the opportunity to compete on "The Comeback Stage." Click here for the full story!

Connect with @klea.turner on Instagram!

DIRECTORS

Sherri Whitehead, Executive Director, Producer & Talent Scout

Sherri Whitehead co-created Vocal Sport in 2012 as a showcase for aspiring artists in Utah and beyond. What started as a talent contest soon became a platform for soloists and groups to network with influential people in the entertainment industry. Over the years, Sherri has been approached by casting directors for multiple nationally-televised singing competitions and has provided them countless contestant videos (via links to the Vocal Sport YouTube channel). As a result of her ongoing referrals, many Vocal Sport contestants have been invited to special auditions, including Madilyn Paige, who was featured on season 6 of The Voice and rose to the top 20. Sherri also assisted Madilyn in lining up a record deal with Deseret Book/Shadow Mountain Records. Other notable referrals include Aaliyah Rose who was featured in season 12 of The Voice (and also rose to the top 20), Noelle Bybee who was featured on season 8, Lauryn Judd who was featured on season 12, and Klea Olson who was featured on season 16. In addition to directing Vocal Sport, Sherri also manages and directs the contemporary Christian vocal group, SPARK, formed originally from singers discovered at Vocal Sport.

Angelina Whitehead, Assistant Director & Producer

Angelina Whitehead has been involved in producing the Vocal Sport competition from the beginning. In addition, she is a founding member and the creative director and co-producer of SPARK. Besides show business, Angelina loves photography (see www.heycanitakeyourpicture.com) and helping people see the good in themselves.

***heycanitakeyourpicture.com will be awarding a sponsor prize of a 60-minute "artist branding" photoshoot and professionally edited photos for one winner (in conjunction with the Villager Magazine album cover design prize and the Brightlee Co. smile whitening prize).

2022 SPONSORS

Meet many of our amazing sponsors at the Meet & Greet booths before and after the competition! Some sponsors will be offering prizes! (See prizes)

2022 JUDGES & VIP'S

Jennifer Marco, Live Singing Competition Judge & Talent Scout

Jen Marco is an international recording artist, vocal coach, performer, producer, and speaker. Jen recently had the remarkable opportunity to tour and sing with the acclaimed contemporary worship group, Maverick City Music, on their "Heaven" tour featuring famed gospel artist, Kirk Franklin. She has been a professional singer for nearly three decades and has shared the stage with Bobby McFerrin, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, One Republic, David Archuleta, Angela Winston, Alex Boye, Mat and Savannah Shaw, Gentri, David Archuleta, and Kurt Bestor. Jen's voice has graced audiences everywhere from stadiums and arenas to exclusive corporate events and celebrations. She has been a featured vocalist on nearly 500 projects, including fitness albums, The Biggest Loser, Shape Magazine Fitness, Serena William's Fitness, and Jillian Michaels' Running Workout album. Jen has also recorded vocals for television, movies, corporate projects, and for the Donny and Marie show at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, as well as the Daniel Emmet show at Caesar's Palace. Throughout her years as a vocal coach, she's worked with over hundreds of private vocal clients who have achieved massive success on YouTube, in recording studios and on talent competitions such as American Idol and America's Got Talent. Jen's students have also performed for dignitaries, large corporate events, and as soloists for various NBA games. Jen believes that mindset is just as important as skills, so she's invested in becoming certified in various cognitive modalities to strengthen the mind and expand capacity to manage stage fright, fatigue, and fear. Jen's hope is to inspire, encourage and empower her clients to "rock out" the studio, stage, or stadium with incredible presence and prowess. Follow here

Ammon & Liahona Olayan, Live Singing Competition "Celeb" Judging Duo

Since they stepped off of the American Idol stage, Ammon and Liahona Olayan have been enjoying continued success as songwriters and performers including the upcoming release of their new album "Gotta Move On!" These Utah siblings became an overnight sensation when their original song “Listen to My Heart" (now titled, "I Don’t Wanna Be Alone”) debuted on American Idol in 2021. Their performance in front of the judges concluded with a standing ovation from Luke Bryan and earned praise from each of the Idol judges. Receiving over 11.4 million views, their performance launched their success on the show! Katy Perry said to the duo, “You are talented beyond belief, incredible songwriters, like you should be signed right now! That’s going to be your future really, really, really, really, soon!” Ammon and Liahona will add a great aspect to the Vocal Sport judging panel because of their experience with American Idol. They are also great role models for the contestants because of their talent, positive energy, and the great light they both possess. Go follow Ammon and Liahona on all platforms to stay updated on exciting things to come! Follow here

Marshall & Michelle Moore, Talent Scouts & Prize Sponsors, Music Video Judging Committee Members

Marshall and Michelle Moore are the owners and co-directors of Zions Indie Film Fest (formerly the LDS Film Festival). Together they have over 45 years of combined film industry experience and are extremely passionate about helping connect filmmakers, friends and audiences alike. Michelle is a tenacious and experienced film publicist and brand specialist. Her creative PR thinking and strong relationships with the media have made her a valuable asset to many theatrical release campaigns. In the last decade Michelle has worked on over 30 movies with filmmakers and actors from around the world. She is the owner/operator of Moore PR Group and with the help of her talented team they work year-round on media campaigns, movie premieres, and special events. Marshall has an impressive filmography that started in Los Angeles and ultimately brought him to Utah working on the TV mini-series, The Stand in 1994. He worked full-time as a location manager for 20 years before joining the staff of The Utah Film Commission and was subsequently named Director by Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. in 2007 where he stayed until 2014. Marshall is currently the VP of Operations and Marketing at Utah Film Studios in Park City, Utah which was home to the Paramount Network television series Yellowstone for 3 seasons.

***Zions Indie Film Fest will be awarding a sponsor prize of "guaranteed selection" in the 2023 Zions Indie Film Fest music video category with the submission fee paid by Vocal Sport for the 1st place winner of the Vocal Sport Music Video Competition!

All filmmakers are invited to submit to Zions Indie Film Fest from 09|01|22 to 12|31|22 here.

Angie Bynum, Live Singing Competition Judge, Judging Coordinator & Prize Sponsor

Angie Bynum co-created Vocal Sport in 2012 and has been serving as the judging coordinator from the very beginning. She is an entrepreneur whose creative ventures have included organizing and directing a yearslong musical theater training program for youth, and starting and running a magazine! Since 2009, Angie has been the owner and CEO at Villager Magazine, a direct-mail advertising company whose mission is to connect advertisers with consumers by distributing the most attractive direct-mail print advertising magazine available. Villager magazines are currently mailed to over 220,000 homes and businesses with more zones added every year. The goal is to create and maintain strong relationships with advertisers and truly care about the success of their companies.

***Villager Magazine will be awarding a sponsor prize of professionally-designed album art for one winner. This prize is in in conjunction with the heycanitakeyourpicture.com 30-minute album cover shoot and the Brightlee Co. smile whitening prize.

Stacie Bynum, Assistant to the Judging Coordinator

Stacie Bynum has been a part of Vocal Sport since it started in 2012! She has served in various support roles and this year she will be working with the judging panel as as assistant to the Judging Coordinator. Stacie enjoys singing, baking and dogs! She works with Villager Magazine in various capacities and holds a Utah Real Estate License.

Josh Sales, Talent Scout & Prize Sponsor

Josh Sales created the Christian Covers Official YouTube channel as a means to point people to Christ through music. His YouTube channel features new videos weekly that have garnered over 50 million views to date! Josh's artistic gift and signature glowing-light videos have attracted budding artists and seasoned professionals alike who volunteer and are selected to sing originals and covers of Christian songs in the videos. Even with his busy full-time career as a professional videographer, Josh is pleased to donate his time and talents each week to building up the Kingdom of God through sharing the transcendent power of inspirational music. Subscribe to the Christian Covers Official YouTube channel to see upcoming releases! Also follow Christian Covers Official on Spotify, Facebook, and Instagram!

***Christian Covers Official will be awarding a sponsor prize of a professionally filmed and edited music video that will be featured on Christian Covers Official YouTube channel and on Christian Covers Official Spotify! This is a joint prize package with Sound Bridge Studio who is awarding a sponsor prize of professional recording, producing, and mixing a single song, up to $500 worth of studio time!

Landon Alley, Talent Scout & Prize Sponsor

Landon Alley is the owner and chief audio engineer at Sound Bridge Studio in Lehi, Utah. He is excited to be scouting the amazing talent at Vocal Sport 2022 for future studio projects and referrals! As a musician, performer, and recording artist, Landon understands the process of making a great record. In addition to his clientele of singer-songwriters, he’s worked in a wide variety of genres including pop, rock, indie, R&B, country, a cappella, and orchestral. He has also worked as a composer, with works featured in national TV ads and live theatre productions. Sound Bridge Studio is designed to give singer-songwriters everything they need to turn phone memos into professional records. This is the perfect place for artists and bands who want to create a rich, clean, acoustic sound, collaborate with phenomenal session musicians and engineers, and gain studio experience in a comfortable environment.

***Sound Bridge Studio will be awarding a sponsor prize of professional recording, producing, and mixing a single song, up to $500 worth of studio time! This is a joint prize package with Christian Covers who is awarding a sponsor prize of a professionally filmed and edited music video that will be featured on Christian Covers Official YouTube channel and on Christian Covers Official Spotify!

McKay Crockett, Talent Scout & Founding Sponsor

McKay Crockett has guest-hosted and talent-scouted at Vocal Sport since the very beginning in 2012. Over the years, his list of credentials in the entertainment industry has become quite extensive! McKay is an Emmy award-winning music director, music producer, arranger, and performance coach from Salt Lake City, Utah. As one of the most sought after creative minds in Utah, his style and innovative approach to music has influenced hundreds of millions across the world. McKay's clients have appeared on every major television network in the U.S., and have toured stages on nearly every continent. While being well-versed in various styles and entertainment genres, McKay is world-renowned for his work in vocal music. In 2017 he won an Emmy award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Rocky Mountain Chapter for his role as Music Director of the Christmas Under the Stars television program. McKay has worked with and arranged for Walt Disney Entertainment, arranging for nighttime spectaculars at both Walt Disney World and Disney Shanghai. He's worked with artists including Kristin Chenoweth, Colbie Caillat, Gladys Knight, Brian Stokes Mitchell, David Archuleta, Ben Rector, and many more. In 2011, McKay appeared on NBC's The Sing-Off with the internationally acclaimed vocal group Vocal Point, sharing the stage with artists Sara Bareilles, Ben Folds, and Shawn Stockman (Boyz II Men). As an a cappella producer, McKay's music has reached #1 on multiple Billboard charts, and iTunes charts. He has also won several Contemporary A Capella Recording Awards (CARA), including Best Religious Album, Best Male Collegiate Album, Best Classical Song, and been nominated for many others. The CARA are comparable to the Grammy Awards of A cappella music. At the age of 24, McKay joined the music faculty at Brigham Young University, where he is now the artistic mastermind behind the studio albums, music videos, and concert touring of Vocal Point. McKay has a Bachelor's Degree in Commercial Music from BYU, and he continues to write, arrange, and produce music and content for artists around the world.

***Check out ReMix Vocal Academy, the highly-popular summer vocal camps at BYU, directed by McKay Crockett!

PAST VIP'S

Below are some of the influential directors, producers, casting agents, and talent scouts that have been affiliated with past Vocal Sport competitions. Through referrals from Vocal Sport, these VIP's have provided countless professional opportunities to contestants and winners. In addition, casting agents from national TV talent shows regularly contacted Vocal Sport to recruit talent. They have selected many singers from referrals and the Vocal Sport YouTube channel to attend special auditions. As a result, singers have been featured on television and more. See Success Stories.

Melissa Cannon Johnson (Past VIP)

Melissa Cannon Johnson teamed up with Vocal Sport as the director of her own modeling agency. Since then, she's expanded her horizons to include many other artistic and business ventures. As a "serial entrepreneur," Melissa has never shied away from a challenge, and that shows in her overall success. Currently, she is a top leader at dōTERRA, a multi-level marketing company based in Utah that specializes in essential oils. In addition to being a leader with dōTERRA, Melissa has also found success in filmmaking with Infinity Rising, specializing in production, screenwriting, short films, and music videos. She has produced several films and is grateful and excited for every opportunity to share her creativity. Melissa’s husband, Brad Johnson, is also a film producer, actor, and podcaster.

Bart Olson (Past VIP)

Bart Olson is the Music Director of Shadow Mountain Records based in Salt Lake City [Shadow Mountain Records and Highway Records are record labels of Desert Book]. Bart has been performing professionally for over 20 years. Early in his career he was signed to Capitol Records and toured all over the US performing for audiences ranging from a few hundred to 40,000. He has won top awards from international jazz festivals. He is also a sought after studio drummer and has performed on recordings for hundreds of songwriters and bands, as well as Disney, Epic Games, and Hollywood movie soundtracks. Under Bart’s direction, Vocal Sport winner Madilyn Paige released her self-titled EP with Highway Records.

Nik Day (Past VIP)

Nik Day is a singer and producer and works for the LDS Church music department. He oversees the annual Mutual Theme album, which he writes with LDS youth. Many of his songs are also featured on recent EFY albums. Nik released an album album titled Miracle with Shadow Mountain Records and has been a presenter for Deseret Book's nationwide Time Out For Women events. Nik has a degree in Media Music from Brigham Young University and has written for local groups such as Hudson Lights, Beyond 5 and The Strike. Music has always been a part of Nik's life experiences. He recorded his first album, Interesting Shade of Blue, named for the jazz and blues influences of his own unique writing style. Nik’s YouTube channel features music videos that have received up to half a million views each.

Debra Bonner (Past VIP)

Debra Bonner is the Master Vocal Coach and Managing Director for Your True Voice, a program that trains singers to discover their “true voice.” This unparalleled program teaches individuals to sing naturally while liberating them from self-limiting behavior and negative emotions that are keeping them from their potential. Debra has been an associate to two of the most celebrated vocal pedagogues of the twentieth century, Richard Miller for nine years and Seth Riggs for over fifteen years. She holds a Master's Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan. Debra’s studios have trained Grammy and Tony Award winners. She was the vocal coach for World Peace One, an organization of superstars dedicated to promoting world peace. Debra sang and recorded as guest soloist with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and has been featured on gospel, jazz and classical recordings. She has performed extensively worldwide. Debra and Your True Voice are seeking great talent for the purpose of developing outstanding singers and voice teachers.

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​2022 VIP'S