Meet the newest a cappella members

Alex Erdekian

DSC_8470-MErin Curran, senior
Group: Muses
Voice: “We switch off every song.”
Favorite band: The Beatles
How she got into singing: “I just kind of liked it.”

DSC_8464-MJessica DeMasi, freshman
Group: Muses
Voice: Soprano
Favorite song: “I really can’t choose. I like so many different songs.”
How she got into singing: “I’ve been singing my whole entire life, but I really got interested in singing in fifth grade when I got my first solo.”

DSC_0019-MEthan Toga, junior
Group: T-Tones
Voice: Tenor
Favorite song: “I have a lot of favorite songs. Right now, it would have to be ‘Mirrors.'”
How he got into singing: “I sing in the shower and joined chorus last year. People said I was good, so I tried out for a cappella.”

DSC_8474-M
Sophia Calder, freshman
Voice: Alto and soprano, but mostly alto.
Favorite song: “I don’t have a favorite song.”
How she got into singing: “When I was in kindergarten, we did little plays, and I was the soloist. When I lived in DC, Filmore, an art school, invited me to sing in several award ceremonies.”

DSC_0101-M
Ben Slater, sophomore
Group: T-Tones
Voice: Tenor
Favorite song: “My favorite song right now is ‘Wake Me Up’ by Avicii. It has a good beat to it”
How he got into singing: “[There’s] a fine arts requirement now, so I took chorus last year. Then I decided to try out for a cappella.”

DSC_8475-M
Jenna Salgannik, junior
Group: Madrigals
Voice: Alto
Favorite band: “U2 because they never fail to amaze me no matter what year a song or album came out, whether it’s now or in the 90’s. I just know all the lyrics to all the songs, and Bono is just a genius.”
How she got into singing: “I was always that annoying little kid who sang all the time. I always listened to music and played piano.”

DSC_0091-M
Brendan Lau, junior
Group: T-Tones
Voice: Vocal percussion/baritone
Favorite song: “‘Mirrors’ because it’s super upbeat and has a good beatboxing part to it, and I really enjoy that. It makes the whole song flow together.”
How he got into singing: “My singing is all right, but I mostly beatbox. I got into the beatboxing scene because I saw my brother’s friends doing it, which I thought was cool, so I thought I’d give it a try. So over the years I practiced and then decided to try out for a cappella.”

DSC_0086-M
Curran Murphy, freshman
Group: T-Tones
Voice: Baritone
Favorite bands: Linkin Park, U2 and Lonely Island
How he got into singing: “My brother is already in T-Tones, and I picked up singing from him. We jam out to songs every now and then, and I got a love of singing because of it.”

Isabel-MIsabel Pongratz, junior
Group: Madrigals
Voice: Soprano
Favorite song: “I will say ‘Feather on the Clyde’ by Passenger. It’s a really meaningful song. It says it’s okay if you fail as long as you try. When I went to see him in concert, he asked what song people wanted to hear, so my dad and I asked him to play it, and he kind of dedicated that performance to us.”
How she got into singing: “I have a really musical family, so I guess I picked it up from them. I’ve been singing since I was born. I would sing everywhere and anywhere when I was little. I wouldn’t shut up, so my family had to make up a ‘no singing at the dinner table’ rule.”

DSC_0090-MSten Shearer, sophomore
Group: Madrigals
Voice: Tenor and occasionally baritone
Favorite song: “I’ve always been a big Johnny Cash fan. I also like most rock ‘n’ roll groups, like AC/DC and The Rolling Stones. If I have to pick a favorite song, then I’ll go with ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap’ by AC/DC.”
How he got into singing: “Well, I suppose I’ve enjoyed singing my whole life. When I was very young, I would sing at a talent show at a summer camp I went to every year. Back in kindergarten and grade school, I often sang during classes and recesses, much to my teachers’ discontent. I really got into organized school singing in sixth grade when I joined the middle school chorus and even more so in seventh grade when I joined the select chorus. Ever since then, I’ve done chorus every year, and I decided to try out for a cappella as just the next step in my musical journey.”

tim-MTimothy Spinale, sophomore
Group: Madrigals
Voice: Tenor
Favorite band: Either Maroon 5 or Zac Brown Band
How he got into singing: “I started out just messing around with my brother, and then I got involved with the worship band at my church, and it has gone on from there.”

dsc_0099Melissa Smith, junior
Group: Madrigals
Voice: Soprano
Favorite band and why: “I like the band Matt and Kim, because I really like their kind of music. I saw them live, and they were amazing.”
How she got into singing: “I’ve always really liked to sing. I was in the chorus in elementary and middle school. It’s just something I’ve always done.”