Sing-Off Season 4 debuts Monday night at 9 on NBC

Local Orlando group VoicePlay will compete with the addition of renowned singer Honey Larochelle.

Just in case you missed all the hoopla, The Sing-Off, television's only a cappella competition singing show, has finally been renewed after a year of grass roots fan-based campaigning of tweeting #savethesingoff and will debut Season 4 on Monday, December 9, 2013. This season offers seven new episodes broadcast for three weeks on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays through Monday, December 23.

The show will air at 9 p.m. on NBC following The Voice singing competition show which airs at 8 p.m. Unlike The Voice, The Sing-Off does not allow a band or backing track behind the singers. Only a singer's voices may be used, and use it they do! Drums, bass, woodwinds and strings are all emulated using clever vocal tricks. It's an amazing feat – something everyone should witness first hand for themselves! 

Competing are ten groups from all walks of life: college clubs, professional groups, and high school classes from locations spanning as far away as Minneapolis to Puerto Rico.

Judging the competition this year are returning Judges, Smooth Shawn "groovemaster" Stockman of Boyz II Men and Professor "genius" Benjamin Scott Folds of Ben Folds Five. Adding to the mix is newcomer three-time grammy nominated Jewel who has been lighting up the television screen this past week in numerous promotional spots, appearing on everything from the Today show to the Chew. 

Not surprisingly, former judge Sara Bareilles will not return for she is busy promoting her new CD, The Blessed Unrest, featuring the huge hit song "Brave." 

Also returning is host Nick Lachey of 98 Degrees, who promises to entertain with his usual wit and charm. 

Unlike other performance competition shows, the show is taped and not shown live and contestants are eliminated by the judges for the first few rounds of the show. However, viewers will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite group in the finals. The winner will receive a $100,000 Sony recording contract.

Local Orlando group VoicePlay to compete

This year, Orlando's own VoicePlay, formerly known as 42Five, will be performing with the addition of well-known area singer-songwriter, Honey Larochelle. Larochelle has toured with Joss Stone, written songs for Macy Gray, and been taken under the mentoring wing of Roberta Flack. The group's 5-octave vocal range and unique high-low switch-off arrangements give them an excellent chance of getting all the way to the finals. There's a wonderful interview about them featured in the Orlando Sentinel (click here to read it).

You can also find their fun website here: www.thevoiceplay.com  Be sure to submit your answers to their questionnaire in the lab section and perhaps they will write a song about you! 

Set your DVRs! The Sing-Off will air at:

Mon. Dec. 9 – 9:02 pm  to 11 pm 
Season 4, Episode 1,  "The Sing-Off is Back!"

All ten groups perform.

Wed. Dec. 11 – 8 pm to 10 pm 
Season 4, Episode 2, "Party Anthems"

Nine groups perform and one is eliminated.

Thurs. Dec. 12 – 8 pm to 9 pm   
Season 4, Episode 3, "Number One Hits"

Four groups perform and one is eliminated.

Mon. Dec. 16 – 10:01 pm to 11 pm 
Season 4, Episode 4, "My Generation"

Four groups perform and one is eliminated.

Wed. Dec. 18 – 8 pm to 10 pm  
Season 4, Episode 5, "Movie Night"

Six groups perform.

Thurs. Dec. 19 and repeated Sat. Dec. 21 – 8 pm to 9 pm  
Season 4, Episode 6, "Judges Choice"

The judges select songs to be performed by the final four groups. 

Mon. Dec. 23 – 8 pm to 10 pm   
Season 4, Episode 7

Season finale. Season 4 Sing-Off winner is announced.