Meet the new a cappella members

Isabel Steneri (Muses)

How many years have you been singing?

I’ve been singing since I was about 10 years old, so about 8 years.

What are you excited about for your first year of a cappella?

I’m excited to get closer to everybody in the group and go to John Harvard’s after the concerts and just learn more about music and a cappella.

What’s the most nerve-wracking thing for your first year of a cappella?

Performing on stage definitely.

Do you deal with stage fright? If so, how do you overcome it?

It’s not something you can avoid it’s just something you have to deal with. It helps when you get encouragement from people around you and friends and family.

William Barton (T-Tones)

How many years have you been singing?

This is the first year I’ve ever sung in a group.

What are you excited about for your first year of a cappella?

It’s just kind of fun. It’s a different thing to do. I haven’t done anything musically since middle school when I played trumpet, so it’s a nice thing to bring some balance.

What’s the most nerve-wracking thing for your first year of a cappella?

I’m not really afraid of performing. I’ve done some public stuff before with the TEDx youth program here and we competed on some viewed stages before so that doesn’t really worry me. I’d say overall I’m just not really nervous.

Kanming Xu (T-Tones)

How many years have you been singing?

Formally, I’ve only been singing for a couple of years. In middle school, I was in select chorus, and I haven’t sung that much in high school, but I’ve always done singing at church and stuff.

What are you excited about for your first year of a cappella?

[I’m excited about] just making music and making friends at a cappella.

What’s the most nerve-wracking thing for your first year of a cappella?

I haven’t had a concert yet, but I know that [the most nerve-wracking part] is going to be being put in the hot seat and having to beatbox into a mic.

Do you deal with stage fright? If so, how do you overcome it?

I have pretty bad stage fright. I don’t think I get scared that easily. I maintain myself, but I definitely feel it. I feel scared, but I just perform.

Jack Karbowski (T-Tones)

How many years have you been singing?

I’ve been singing for my whole life, basically. I sing everywhere, at home, in the car. My family gets annoyed with me.

What are you excited about for your first year of a cappella?

I’m just excited about being with the group, singing with people, and singing for people because I’ve never really done that before. It’s something new and it’s exciting.

What’s the most nerve-wracking thing for your first year of a cappella?

The most nerve-wracking thing will probably be singing in front of everyone else, and if I get a solo part.

Do you deal with stage fright? If so, how do you overcome it?

I don’t really deal with stage fright. I’ve been on the stage multiple times because I play instruments.

David Lathan (T-Tones)

How many years have you been singing?

I haven’t been singing in a group or in chorus until this year, but [I have been singing] to myself as long as I can remember.

What are you excited about for your first year of a cappella?

I’m [most excited for] the group bonding and performing, because that seems really cool.

What’s the most nerve-wracking thing for your first year of a cappella?

[The most nerve-wracking part] is also the performing. [I’m] extremely nervous.

Do you deal with stage fright? If so, how do you overcome it?

Yes, it’s probably the main reason I didn’t do chorus or any other group [singing] activity until this year, just because I didn’t want to perform in front of people. [But this year I’ve decided] why not? [I overcome my stage fright] by saying I’m going to have to do it either way so there’s no point in sounding nervous or looking nervous.

Matias Salama (Madrigals)

How many years have you been singing?

I have been in chorus since sixth grade.

What are you excited about for your first year of a cappella?

I’m excited about the overall experience of it because I’ve never done it before.

What’s the most nerve-wracking thing for your first year of a cappella?

The auditions.

Do you deal with stage fright? If so, how do you overcome it?

I don’t really have stage fright, no.

Samantha Potter (Madrigals)

How many years have you been singing?

I have been singing for as long as I can remember, but I really started to take it seriously in sixth grade.

What are you excited about for your first year of a cappella?

Becoming a family with a bunch of people and singing every day.

What’s the most nerve-wracking thing for your first year of a cappella?

A cappella is a huge deal at our school and I don’t want to let anyone down.

Do you deal with stage fright? If so, how do you overcome it?

I’m always super nervous before, but I’m good once the performance starts.

Teresa Hank-Gomez (Muses)

How many years have you been singing?

I have been singing for a long time since I have learned how to speak. My mother used to sing with me, Spanish or Portuguese songs. I enjoy singing in a chorus, gospels were my favorite songs. In school, I always got together with other musicians and was a part of two bands. We took part in small jam sessions in Jazz Cafes in Stuttgart [Germany].

What are you excited about for your first year of a cappella?

Being part of a concert.

What’s the most nerve-wracking thing for your first year of a cappella?

I’m scared of falling on stage because of the high heels.

Do you deal with stage fright? If so, how do you overcome it?

I usually do some yoga before concerts. I dance around when I’m nervous, that helps me to calm down.

Lizzie Strehle (Muses)

How many years have you been singing?

I have been singing since kindergarten. My mom signed me up for a musical and since then I have loved singing.

What are you excited about for your first year of a cappella?

In a cappella, I’m excited to get closer to all the talented girls in the Muses and learn from them. It’s great to bond with people who love to sing as much as I do.

What’s the most nerve-wracking thing for your first year of a cappella?

The most nerve-wracking thing was the audition. I heard that getting into an a cappella group was very difficult, and I was worried that I would somehow mess up and miss my shot.

Do you deal with stage fright? If so, how do you overcome it?

I don’t deal with complete stage fright, but I definitely get nervous before auditioning/performing. To overcome my nervousness, I like to sing whatever song I’m performing in front of groups of people like my friends or family to get rid of it. I tell myself that it’s not the biggest deal if I do end up messing up, and it’ll only make me work harder for the next performance.

Abby O’Shaughnessy (Madrigals)

How many years have you been singing?

I’ve been singing ever since chorus was offered at the elementary school, which was probably in second grade.

What are you excited about for your first year of a cappella?

I’m really excited to try a new type of singing than what I’m used to this year, and to be a part of a small, close-knit group.

What’s the most nerve-wracking thing for your first year of a cappella?

This year I’ve been the most nervous about being a new member of a group of familiar people, as well as learning things outside of my comfort zone.

Do you deal with stage fright? If so, how do you overcome it?

To overcome stage fright, I try and remember that I’m not alone and that every person I’m with in front of the audience is in the same boat as me.

Quinn Fay (Madrigals)

How many years have you been singing?

I’ve been singing since I was in fourth grade in the Happy Hollow chorus. It’s always been something I’ve done year to year.

What are you excited about for your first year of a cappella?

I’m excited to learn the fundamentals of a cappella. I’ve had 2 siblings already go through the Madrigals, so it’s awesome that I get to be a part of that with them.

What’s the most nerve-wracking thing for your first year of a cappella?

I think performing a completely new type of singing is the most nerve-wracking thing. It’s something new that I have to overcome.

Do you deal with stage fright? If so, how do you overcome it?

I think I mostly had my worst stage fright in my first year of Select Chorus in middle school and my first play. I think the key is to realize that everyone wants you to succeed and you have a group of performers that are going through the same thing, so you just have to put the nerves aside and have fun with it.

Simon Goode (Madrigals)

How many years have you been singing?

I’ve been singing since I was three, but I’ve never sung in a group until this year.

What are you excited about for your first year of a cappella?

I’m excited to push the limits between voice and instrument and blow people away with the amazing sounds our group can make.

What’s the most nerve-wracking thing for your first year of a cappella?

[The most nerve-wracking thing] is definitely the fear of messing up on stage, and I’ve never sung before on stage.

Do you deal with stage fright? If so, how do you overcome it?

Yes, I have stage fright.