LEVEL 1 Group
Ages 10-14
Semester Long Commitment
LEVEL 2 group
Ages 11-17
Semester Long Commitment
*Increased confidence
*Building independent musical skills
*Working as a team for the better of the whole
*Looking forward to rehearsals each week and interacting with peers in a positive way
*Personal progress with stage presence, microphone technique, and music making
*Excited to sing in concerts and perform in front of audiences
*Gain professional level experiences with experienced directors who understand not only the genre of music but also child and musical development
*Sing on individual microphones with live sound in concerts, recording studio sessions for group recordings featured on Spotify/Apple Music, and additional performance opportunities
Meet the Brian Haverkate Music A Cappella Program Director and Co-Directors below.
Founder and Program Director
Brian Haverkate is a graduate of Florida State University with a degree in Choral Music Education. He also spent time at Michigan State University for undergrad and Boston University for Masters classes. He has been teaching choral music for 23+ years in both Florida and Michigan, spending the last 16 years here in Michigan where his choirs have received top marks at festivals and adjudications. A cappella groups he has directed have been featured on the “Best of High School A Cappella” recording compilation with three different groups more than 5 times from 2012-2019 and they have been selected to perform at National Conventions and Festivals around the country as well as in the International Championship of High School A Cappella Finals in New York City.
Co-Director
Emma Willerup (she/her) grew up in rural Pennsylvania always making music, whether that be on the piano, trumpet, or singing. She is currently a senior K-12 Vocal Music Education major at Eastern Michigan University and is working towards student teaching in the 2025 spring semester. While at EMU she has been a director of the treble voiced a cappella group, Emerald Harmony, taking them to the ICCA Pitch Perfect competition the past two years. After graduating, Emma intends to pursue a career teaching Elementary music.
Co-Director
Eric Turland is a young up and coming member of the a cappella community. However, he is no stranger to the a cappella world. Eric has always immersed himself in all things music both personally and scholastically. In recent years Eric has directed and participated in multiple a cappella groups that both performed and recorded multiple projects. Today, Eric is the director, arranger, recording engineer, and low baritone/bass of a cappella’s newest “Boy Band” Ebb N Flo. Eric is ecstatic to be joining the Brian Haverkate Music A Cappella program and hopes to be with them making music and lifelong memories for many years.
“I highly recommend Brian Haverkate. My daughter takes private lessons for voice and piano with him and she looks forward to her lessons each week. He's extremely flexible and keeps his students involved with making decisions about the music they'll work on which makes it so much fun.
She is also a member of Firestorm A Cappella which has been a game changer for her. She's always wanted to be a part of a team and tried all of the sports but nothing was a good fit. Firestorm is it! Her confidence is soaring and being under the direction of Mr. Haverkate is giving her so many special opportunities!”
- KATIE GRANT (parent)
"Brian Haverkate is a shining star in scholastic a cappella, one of the earliest adopters of the style, pioneering best practices and techniques, and remains at the forefront of the genre.”
DEKE SHARON
(PITCH PERFECT music producer, THE SING OFF on NBC producer)
“The quality of Brian’s work in a cappella is without question some of the best at the nationwide High School level. The level of achievement his groups have reached is impressive in it’s own right. How quickly they have progressed under his guidance and direction is even more striking. I have seen Brian work with the high school students in both live performance and during studio recording. The students respect and look up to him. They love singing.”
Carl Taylor
(Liquid 5th Studios)
Brian Haverkate is a bonafide scholastic a cappella pioneer - he’s been teaching the style at an incredibly high level long before it was cool! I know this firsthand, because my journey toward a career in vocal music started in his high school class.
His passion for a cappella music is so clearly reflected in the enthusiasm he inspires in his students. He works tirelessly to provide his students with every possible opportunity to engage with the larger a cappella community, perform at a high level, and to retain vital music and leadership skills.
Not only is Brian a knowledgeable and experienced musician, but he is a compassionate, encouraging educator. His students look up to him, and trust him to be the type of leader who believes in their ability to take ownership of their musical journeys. This support made all the difference to me as a young musician, and allowed me to pursue my musical goals joyfully and without fear. It was his encouragement that set me along the path to finding my social and professional community within the world of contemporary a cappella. I wholeheartedly recommend working with Brian - he is hands-down one of the best a cappella educators on the scene.
— Mason Van Gieson (VICE a cappella)
Groups I have worked with and started in the past have achieved some pretty incredible results. While never overnight, the investment and effort is worth the outcome in both group achievements + individual growth.
My groups have been featured on BOHSA and BOCA albums 10+ times since 2001.
My groups have applied and been accepted to perform in prestigious a cappella festivals as spotlight performers. They have even performed for Pentatonix.
My groups have competed and advanced in competition numerous times over the years. Several groups have performed in the National Finals in New York City.
My groups have applied and been accepted to perform at the National A Cappella Convention.
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