In 2000, Ben Lunstad and Joseph DiMasi had the vision to create a vocal band unlike any other – not just passion and power, not just a wall of sound, but also a musical experience that leaves people breathless with every moment of every song. Although no longer with Face, Joseph is responsible for attracting the original talent that turned that vision into reality:

Ben and Joseph both had a habit of founding award-winning vocal ensembles, each starting groups of their own while undergrads. Grad school brought them both to University of Colorado, where they met singing in CU’s In The Buff. Deciding they wanted something slightly different, they left to co-found Extreme Measures, which went on to become 3-time semifinalists in ICCA’s collegiate a cappella competition.

It was in Extreme Measures that they met an unbelievable bass by the name of Forest Kelly. Inviting him into their vision, the core of Face had begun. After graduation, they started the long and sometimes arduous process of finding the rest of the band. It would take two years before the personnel was stable enough to begin performing.

They looked everywhere for more singers, talked to anyone and everyone, and through a friend-of-a-friend, found Mark Megibow in November of 2001. Although Mark had been performing since he was 6 years old, he was at the end of a 7-year hiatus to see what it was like to be “grown up.” It was shortly after deciding that it wasn’t for him, that he received the phone call from Joseph.

Face first performed for the public in the summer of 2002, two years after the vision was born. The first year also included the onstage antics of John Lawrence, and the beautifully subtle artistry of countertenor Michael Daehnick. Longtime Face friends well remember John’s hilarious dead-pan delivery of Cake’s “Short Skirt, Long Jacket,” and Michael’s breath-taking rendition of the gospel “Deep River.” John and Mike both went on to other endeavors after giving Face its initial boost into the Denver/Boulder music scene.

In December 2002, Joseph was walking down Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, when he “heard the voice of an angel” – Cody Qualls was singing Christmas Carols for the crowds of holiday shoppers. Joseph invited him to audition, and Cody’s soulful singing has been a fan favorite ever since. Shortly after, Face made its first appearance at the Rocky Mountain Regional Harmony Sweepstakes, taking 2nd place and winning its first of four Audience Favorite awards.

By then, Face was garnering local attention. Through another musical friend, Face was introduced to Ryan Driver who brought yet another degree of powerful singing and arrangements to the ensemble. The next spring, Face appeared for the second time in the regional Harmony Sweepstakes, winning yet again the Audience Favorite Award. After a year, Driver took a break to tour with the east coast’s “Almost Recess” but not before bringing long-time friend Stephen Ross into the mix with his blisteringly high countertenor and musical expertise.

In August 2004, Face founder Joseph DiMasi decided to pursue other business interests, which, with his Midas touch, also went on to great success. Thanks to more friends-of-friends, Jayson Throckmorton joined the band, rocking every house with his soaring power tenor.

So it was that in Spring 2005, Ben, Forest, Mark, Cody, Stephen, and Jayson competed in their third Harmony Sweepstakes competition, winning the Rocky Mountain Region and going on to take second place at the National Finals in San Rafael, California, as well as National Audience Favorite. Driver returned that summer from the east coast, and the seven guys are now poised to make even more noise on the national scene.