Encyclopedia

Exit 245 is an all male a cappella group at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...

 that was founded in 1997. The group was named after the exit off I-81 where the University is located. Exit performs as many shows as its members' schedules during the school year permit. They regularly support Operation Smile

Operation Smile

Operation Smile is a not-for-profit medical service organization based in Norfolk, Virginia , founded in 1982. A secular NGO, the children's medical charity provides cleft lip and palate repair surgeries to children worldwide, assists countries in reaching self-sufficiency with these surgeries, and...

 and Pink Ribbon

Pink ribbon

The pink ribbon is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness. Pink ribbons, and the color pink in general, identify the wearer or promoter with the breast cancer brand and express moral support for women with breast cancer....

 charities through their concert engagements.

The group averages around fifteen members and holds auditions during the Fall and Spring semester in order to fill the graduating members' spots. Members have performed at the White House

White House

The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...

  been featured on Showtime at the Apollo

Showtime at the Apollo

Showtime at the Apollo is a syndicated music television show, first broadcast on September 12, 1987 to May 24, 2008 with 1093 episodes, and is produced by the Apollo Theater...

 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) just finished understudying the role of the Prince in the Asian tour of "Cinderella".

In June 2008, Exit 245 performed 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

Mark Thress - Music Director

Kyle Yampiro - Assistant Music Director

Evan LaLiberte - Treasurer

Ryan Larson - Business Manager

Spencer Dukoff - Public Relations

Drew Daniels

Grayson Negaard

Corey Walker

John Powers

Brandon Riddle

Black Bear

Anicka Pathammavong

Kody Sharp

Dane Barber

Joey Mazzara

Dan Westbrook

Alumni

Steve Anzuini

Nathaniel Baker

Matt Barclay

David Batteiger

Matt Beck

Ritchie Bermudez

John Birkhofer

Tyler Bradley

Steven "Big Dong" Clark

Austin Colby

Mike Cordingley

Dave Cowell

Matt Dodd

Seth Doleman

Matthew Dure

Matt Fraker

Keith Garner

Hugh Gee

Joel Gerlach

BJ Griffin

Mike Harrison

John Heiner

Tommy Hendrikson

Corey Hummerston

Kyle Hutchison

Jason Itam

Kevin Ker

Bobby Kim

Brian King

Andrew Kneale

Phil Lawson

Kenny Litvack

Jim Lundsford

Kevin Malley

Clint Mann

Jason Mannix - Founder

Doug McAdoo

Logan McGuire

Jonathan Mcnamara

Nate Miller

James Minnix

Cory Moone

Bryce Nielsen

Denny Norris

Jake Odmark

Ryan Ostrander

Danny Ozment - Founder

Mike Ozment

Angel Perez

Jon Poland

Jay Porter

Bob Puleo

Jason Ratliff

Rob Reinhold

Paul Riegle

Jason Robey

Will Rousseau

Jim Smith

Adam Spalletta

Justin Storer

Adam Swartz

Christopher Talley

Thomas Tombes

Lawton Tufts

Mike Veazey

Jeff Wade - Founder

Gavin Wade

Ryan Whittier

Jon Williams

Jared Wilmer

JP Javier Wong

John Zachary

CARA

Contemporary A Cappella Society

The Contemporary A Cappella Society , or CASA, is a 501 charitable organization dedicated to fostering and promoting a cappella music of all styles around the world. CASA was cofounded in 1991 by Deke Sharon by incorporating the first a cappella directory, The List, founded in 1988 & distributed...

- 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" by Coldplay - Arranger: Mike Harrison, Solo: Nathaniel Baker
• 2010 Best of College A Cappella for "In Love With A Girl" by Gavin Degraw - Arranger: Jake Odmark, Solo: Thomas Tombes

RARB (Recorded A Cappella Review Board)

• "Barbershop Tragedy" named one of the Top 10 Male A Cappella Albums of 2007
• "Limelight" named one of the Top 10 Male A Cappella Albums of 2008

Voices Only

• Voices Only 2008 for "Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai - Arranger: Jake Odmark, Solo: BJ Griffin
• Voices Only 2010 for "The Great Escape" by Boys Like Girls - Arranger: Jake Odmark, Solo: Matt Beck

Discography

• 1999 - "Exit 245"
• 2001 - "For Your FYI"
• 2004 - "Solve For X" - RARB Review
• 2005 - "Exit 2K5 - The Best of Live Exit"
• 2006 - "Barbershop Tragedy" - RARB Review
• 2008 - "Limelight" - RARB Review
• 2009 - "Greatest Hits 1998-2009"