BOSTON — The Manic Optimists, a Bates College a cappella singing group, will again compete in “Sing That Thing!” – WGBH Boston’s televised competition for New England singing groups. The show will tape in February for airing in April on WGBH and public television stations across New England.

Participating groups are divided into three categories – high school, collegiate and adult – and must perform for coaches who choose the top groups.  In a live-to-tape finale, the top group from each category presents its unique spin on a song of its choice.

Eighteen ensembles representing genres from Top 40 to Renaissance music to jazz, will vie for the championship title over the course of seven episodes. 

 The “Sing That Thing!“ coaches are Anthony Trecek-King, president and artistic director of the Boston Children’s Chorus; Annette Philip, a vocalist, composer/arranger and faculty member at Berklee College of Music, winner of the 2014 national Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Championship with her quartet, Women of the World and Jared Bowen, WGBH News executive arts editor, hosts WGBH’s “Open Studio with Jared Bowen,” Boston television’s only local arts series. 

Watch for Maine Public TV’s April schedule for “Sing That Thing! airing dates.