McKinley St. Function has been named the winner of the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana’s (PASA) singing contest to open for their April 13 presentation of a capella singing sensation Rockapella.  The contest is a companion to the upcoming performance of Rockapella at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13 at the Heymann Performing Arts Center.

PASA Executive Director Jackie Lyle says, “We are pleased to announce McKinley St. Function as the winners of our Rockapella singing contest. We felt this group best embodied the spirit of Rockapella and their unique style of music. “We want to invite everyone to come out and cheer on this talented quartet on as they make their Acadiana debut as a performer on the series.”

McKinley St. Function will kick of the night of music opening the show at 7:30 p.m. followed immediately by the evening’s headliner, Rockapella. The members of  McKinley St. Function will perform a few selections and have the opportunity to meet with and take photos with Rockapella after their concert.

Known for their rock infused harmonies, Rockapella are the originators of a unique flavor of contemporary pop music; one that has spread virally across the United States, Asia and Europe. The group’s widespread appeal has built legions of fans throughout the USA and across the globe.  Rockapella got their start in 1986 after a producer heard them performing on the streets of New York and recommended them as a featured performer on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) television special Do It A Cappella, hosted by acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee.  Shortly after their appearance on that show, PBS contacted them to write and record the theme music for the hit show Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? and asked that the group star in the show as the house band.  Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?  went on to become the second longest running children’s game show in U.S. television history.

Rockapella’s next major appearance was in the HBO inventive hit family series, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child which also included Whoopi Goldberg & Denzel Washington. Since 2003, Rockapella has traveled the country with their annual “A Rockapella Holiday” tour. They have collaborated and performed with the Boston Pops orchestra to sold out audiences across the United States.  These HBO and PBS television programs ignited the flame that placed Rockapella in demand by North America’s top media outlets.  Rockapella has appeared with the best – The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,NBC’s Today Show with Katie Couric & Matt Lauer, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC, the CBS Early Show with Bryant Gumbel, CBS’s Orange Bowl Parade - the list goes on.

Tickets for the April 13 Rockapella performance are on sale now and available through TicketMaster outlets, by phone at (877) 745-3000 or online at www.pasa-online.org.

Rockapella is sponsored by Sir Speedy, Capital One Bank Accel Security, and Centennial Wireless, the official wireless provider for PASA.

For more information about the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana please visit us online at 

www.pasa-online.org or contact PASA at (337) 237-2787.