Exit 245

Exit 245 is an all male a cappella group at James Madison University in Harrisonburg Virginia founded in 1997. The group was named after the exit off I-81 that the University is located on. They average over 60 shows per year and tour up and down the east coast. They regularly support Operation Smile and Pink Ribbon charities through their concert engagements.

Founded by Danny Ozment, Jeff Wade and Jason Mannix in 1998 the all male group averages 15 members and holds auditions in the Fall and in the Spring as members graduate. Members have performed at the White House been featured on Showtime at the Apollo and work with the National Symphony Orchestra (United States). Mike Harrison ('05) is currently a member of the A Cappella group Blue Jupiter who is famous for singing the Oreo Cookie song. Mike is also an adjudicator for the CARA awards. Chris Talley ('07) is the lead singer of the band The Bigger Lights, and fellow alum Nathaniel Baker ('07) leads an impressive solo act. Matthew Dure ('07) is currently understudying the Prince in the Asia tour of "Cinderella", while Jake Odmark ('08) is set to depart on the national tour of "The Pajama Game" in the fall of 2008.

They recently performed in June 2008 at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC as part of the centers summer concert series on the Millennium Stage.

They were recently referenced in the popular book, "Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A CAPPELLA Glory" by Mickey Rapkin.

Current members

Seth Doleman - President
Joel Gerlach - Music Director
Denny Norris - Assistant Music Director
Kyle Hutchinson - Treasurer
Matt Beck - Public Relations
Doug McAdoo - Business Manager
Steve Anzuini
Adam Spalletta
BJ Griffin
Jason Itam
Will Rousseau
Austin Colby
Thomas Tombes
David Batteiger
Jim Smith
Tyler Bradley
Drew Daniels
Evan LaLiberte

Alumni

Nathaniel Baker
Matt Barclay
Ritchie Bermudez
John Birkhofer
Steven Clark
Mike Cordingley
Dave Cowell
Matt Dodd
Matthew Dure
Matt Fraker
Keith Garner
Hugh Gee
Mike Harrison
John Heiner
Tommy Hendrikson
Kevin Ker
Bobby Kim
Brian King
Andrew Kneale
Phil Lawson
Kenny Litvack
Jim Lundsford
Kevin Malley
Jason Mannix
Logan McGuire
Jonathan Mcnamara
Nate Miller
James Minnix
Cory Moone
Bryce Nielsen
Jake Odmark
Ryan Ostrander
Danny Ozment
Mike Ozment
Angel Perez
Jon Poland
Jay Porter
Bob Puleo
Jason Ratliff
Rob Reinhold
Paul Riegle
Jason Robey
Justin Storer
Adam Swartz
Christopher Talley
Lawton Tufts
Mike Veazey
Jeff Wade
Gavin Wade
Ryan Whittier
Jon Williams
Jared Wilmer
JP Javier Wong
John Zachary

Awards and Nominations

=CARA - Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards=

*2005 Nomination for Best Soloist - Gavin Wade for "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam
*2007 Nomination for Best Soloist - Brian King for "Roxanne"
*2007 Nomination for Best Arrangement - Mike Harrison and Ryan Ostrander for King of Wishful Thinking by "Go West"
*2007 Nomination for Best Male A Cappella CD "Barbershop Tragedy"

BOCA (Best of College A Cappella)

*2007 Best Of College A Cappella for "Fix You"

RARB (Recorded A Cappella Review Board)

*"Barbershop Tragedy" named one of the Top 10 A Cappella Albums of 2007

Voices Only

*2008 Voices Only for "Canned Heat"

Discography

*1999 - "Exit 245"
*2001 - "For Your FYI"
*2004 - "Solve For X" - [http://www.rarb.org/reviews/416.html RARB Review]
*2005 - "Exit 2K5 - The Best of Live Exit"
*2006 - "Barbershop Tragedy" - [http://www.rarb.org/reviews/707.html RARB Review]
*2008 - "Limelight"

References and Citations

* [http://www.varsityvocals.com/boca/2007.html BOCA Award Page]
* [http://www.exit245.com/EAA/exitalumni/History.html Exit 245 Web History]
* [http://www.rarb.org/ The Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB)]
* [http://www.casa.org Contemporary A Cappella Society]
* [http://www.jamesgammonproductions.com James Gammon Productions (Mixing and Production for Barbershop Tragedy and Limelight)]
* [http://www.briankingproductions.com Brian King Productions (Mixing and Production for Solve for X and Barbershop Tragedy)]
* [http://www.camorg.com/groupbio.php?g=164&f=g Member of CAMO]
* [http://www.casa.org/content/view/775/170/ 2007 CARA Nominations List]