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Who We Are

We are Under The Radar, a mixed a cappella quartet performing popular songs primarily from the ‘50s through ‘70s throughout the greater Seattle area.  We’ve sung in boardrooms and hospitals, at weddings and birthdays, at county fairs and in senior communities for over 20 years now. We also visit schools throughout the year to demonstrate 4-part a cappella singing, to work with students to become better performers, and to encourage them to sing for life.

Our Mission

We donate the money we raise singing to provide further musical education for students and teachers.

For over a decade our donations funded scholarships for students to Harmony Explosion NW youth a cappella camp. Since then we have moved to working with interested teachers to host one-day music festivals for area schools to give students more opportunities to perform and to come together to share the love of music. 

This year we are supporting the Bellevue Youth Choral Festival, which will be held at Bellevue South Stake Center, 15205 Southeast 28th Street, Bellevue, WA on March 22, 2024.

Bill Hickman, Bass

Bill is a peripatetic singer.  The son of a professional musician, he began performing at the age of 5 when his father who owned a roadhouse, would wake him up to sing for the patrons in the middle of the night.  Since that auspicious beginning he has never stopped performing.  As a 30-year veteran of the US Navy he moved around a lot, singing in 8 quartets and 8 choruses in 6 different districts of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS).  Currently, he sings with Northwest Sound chorus under the auspices of A cappella Northwest, the Bellevue Chapter of the BHS. He is the current President of the Evergreen District of the BHS, and the chairman of the Bellevue Youth Choral Festival.

Jan Simpson, Tenor

Jan grew up in Calgary, Canada, where she sang with choruses and ensembles throughout her school years, and studied piano, guitar, drums and voice. After college she moved on to sing with Sweet Adelines, including competing on the International stage. She and husband Jim have sung together in Under The Radar for 20 years, and currently they sing together with the Seattle Seachordsmen mixed chorus. Professionally, Jan’s been an accountant, senior systems analyst and database administrator. She currently works with husband Jim in the family sports car business on Whidbey Island, keeping up the books and websites. She is also a certified Master Gardener.

Jim Simpson, Lead

Jim grew up in Houston, Texas, playing violin, clarinet, flute, and keyboards. He's sung with the Lake Washington Skippers, the Houston Tidelanders, Snohomish County Windjammers and Northwest Sound choruses. He and his wife Jan currently sing with the Seattle Seachordsmen mixed chorus. He's sung in several men's quartets, including one called Back To The Future with his son. When he's not singing, Jim owns and operates his own small business designing and building custom sports cars as well as restoring and selling exotic European and Japanese automobiles. Jim and wife Jan enjoy quiet living on Whidbey Island in Clinton, Washington.

Dr. Mike Geier, Baritone

Son of an FAA inspector, Mike grew up all over, from Tucson to Kansas City.  As a surgeon, he moved from Kansas City through Ann Arbor, Denver and, finally to Everett where he retired after 30 years.  While in Denver, he sang with the Sound of the Rockies chorus, moving to Everett and the Windjammers chorus in 1993.  Since then, he’s sung in five quartets, competing as a lead in two and tenor in another.  Baritone is a new adventure he’s happy to enjoy.  Mike and wife Janet sing with Northwest Mix chorus under the auspices of A cappella Northwest chapter of BHS. Since retirement, he’s been following his wife’s commands, making frames for her paintings and trying to keep their home and boat from descending into ruin.

Videos - Experience Under The Radar

Who Put The Bomp

I’m Into Something Good

Little Saint Nick

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting)

 

Book Under The Radar

We perform at many types of events and venues throughout western Washington. If you're interested in booking us to perform, have a music class you'd like us to visit, or have any questions regarding our repertoire or availability, please contact us here. Proceeds from our performances are used to fund youth singing outreach in western Washington.

You can contact us using the form below or by calling Jim at 425-238-5317.

 
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