WHO WE ARE

AMARA

Soprano

# of years in Musicality: Since this past December, so about 6 years

Musical Influences:

LIANNE LA HAVAS. Also Celia Pavey on the Australian voice and Lauryn Hill. 

Favorite Musical Genres:

'70s funk, rock, and country-pop, salsa, '90s hip hop, soul, background movie/tv/video game soundtracks

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Current Favorite Artists:

Lianne La Havas STREAM "LIANNE LA HAVAS" OUT NOW!!!! Also Bad Bunny and Masego

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All-time Favorite Voices: Imma change it up a little. Cynthia Erivo. Also Lianne, still.

Favorite Musicality Memory: I don't miss butchering live high notes, but it's the fact that I'd keep goin' like nothin' happened. It's the aggressive encouragement I'd get to take myself seriously and practice being comfortable in my own skin. Also miss when no one laughs at my jokes when we carpool <3

AYKIYAH

Alto

# of years in Musicality: 2.5 years

Musical Influences:

Jasmine Sullivan, Jennifer Hudson, Adele

Favorite Musical Genres:

Film music scores, Pop, & Celtic

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Current Favorite Artists:

Enya, Bree Runway, & David Archuleta

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All-time Favorite Voices: Celine dion, Cynthia Erivo, & Beyoncé

Favorite Musicality Memory:

When musicality went to Alabama the first time for the KultureCity ball. I was going through a really tough time and was hanging on by a thread mentally. The group really helped and healed me through it and meeting Christopher Jackson was the delicious icing on the cake.

CLAIRE

Soprano

# of years in Musicality: New Member

Musical Influences:

Maria Callas, Cecilia Bartoli, Barbara Cook, Sutton Foster, Elton John, and Jason Krumwiede.

Favorite Musical Genres:

Musical Theater, Classical, and Folk Rock.

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Current Favorite Artists:

First Aid Kit, Renee Fleming, and Birdtalker.

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All-time Favorite Voices: Maria Callas, Aretha Franklin, and Freddie Mercury.

Favorite Musicality Cover:

Although I wasn’t in it, I really loved “The Sound of Silence” cover mainly because of the expression heard through the pure vocals of the song.

CODY

Baritone

# of years in Musicality: New Member

Musical Influences:

The artist who has shaped my love for music the most is Mitski! She truly opened up my perspective of music and showed me how emotionally powerful it can be.

Favorite Musical Genres:

You can usually find me listening to art pop, indie rock, indie folk, or electropop.

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Current Favorite Artists:

I'm currently vibing out to Japanese Breakfast, Dorian Electra, Tomberlin, Rina Sawayama, and Perfume Genius!

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All-time Favorite Voices: Two vocalists I look up to are Beyoncé and Phillipa Soo.

Musical Goal:

In short, my goal is to use my voice to leave some sort of imprint on this world, no matter how big or small.

FAY-LING

Alto

# of years in Musicality: 3

Musical Influences:

Alicia Keys, Adele, Niki, Ben Platt, John Legend, Kyla Gabka 🤩 and more

Favorite musical genres:

K-r&b, hip-hop, pop

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Current Favorite Artists:

Sam Kim, Luke Chiang, Jeremy Zucker, Day6, Seventeen, AJR, Keshi, Niki, Jordan Fisher, Harry Styles, Dean, Crush, ZICO, slchld + more 

All-time Favorite Voices: Adele, Lea Salonga, Crush

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Favorite Musicality Cover: Ultralight Beam. It’s a really special cover to me, and I also really like how the sound turned out- I think the harmonies are still some of my favorites, and I personally really liked how we departed from the original song and put our own twist.

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JESSE

Tenor

# of years in Musicality:  Was a member in High School, and have involved ever since, recently rejoining as a full member.

Musical Influences:

Alicia keys, Whitney Houston, Selena Quintanilla, TLC, Freddie Mercury, Destiny’s child, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey (from the 90’s), Bruno Mars

Favorite Musical Genres:

All types besides country

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Current Favorite Artists:

Whitney Houston

All-time Favorite Voices: Whitney Houston, Selena Quintanilla and Freddie Mercury

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Musical Goal: To be a better and stronger singer and build more confidence

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JONATHAN

Tenor

# of years in Musicality: I was previously active during my freshman year for a couple months but I’ve been happily back since December. 2019

Musical Influences:

Demi Lovato and Shawn Mendes (Handwritten Era)

Favorite Musical Genres:

Kpop, 2000-2015 Pop

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Current Favorite Artists:

Red Velvet, tessinglet on Tiktok, Henry Lau

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All-time Favorite Voices: Kim Chungha, Ariana Grande, Beyonce

Favorite Musicality Cover: “Who you are” by Jessie J has to be my favorite Musicality cover. Even though I’m not in it, I love the song so much and it serves as a reminder to me to have faith in myself and to not change to fit societal standards.

KYLA

Soprano/Associate Director

# of years in Musicality: Since 2012

Musical Influences:

Kristen Chenoweth, Alan Menken, Andrew Lloyd Webber

Favorite musical genres:

Musical theatre, Pop, Country

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Current Favorite Artists:

Noah Cyrus, Aja Volkman, Dolly Parton

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All-time Favorite Voices: Ariana Grande, Jodi Benson (Ariel!!!), Sierra Boggess

Favorite Musicality Cover: Wicked Game! It was such a fun shoot (super early in the morning). The video is so simple and beautiful.

MARLIX

Mezzo-Soprano

# of years in Musicality: 3 years in high school, and recently rejoined

Musical Influences:

Michael Gibson, Kyla Gabka, Jocelyn Sanchez, Adele, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Sin Bandera, Matisse

Favorite musical genres:

Country-pop, R&B, Broadway musicals, honestly I listen to everything

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Current Favorite Artists:

Sin Bandera, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Katy Perry

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All-time Favorite Voices: Michael Gibson, Sin Bandera, Ariana Grande

Favorite Musicality Cover: "He Lives in you from The Lion King. One of the main reasons I wanted to be in Musicality.

MICLO

Tenor

# of years in Musicality: 8-9 months

Musical Influences:

Hayley Williams and Sara Bareilles

Favorite Musical Genres:

Indie Rock, Classic Rock, Pop, Musical Theater

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Current Favorite Artists:

Paramore, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Meghan Trainor, Sara Bareilles, Lizzo

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All-time Favorite Voices: Hayley Williams, Jessie Mueller, Julie Andrews

Favorite Musicality Cover: I find myself always watching "From Now On." It’s such a powerful song about never forgetting where you come from, and it’s showcased beautifully by the number of so many beautifully sung and diverse solos in the song.

ERIC

Tenor/Associate Director

# of years in Musicality: Since 2009

Musical Influences:

JAMES FAUNTLEROY IS THE 🐐. Imogen Heap, Brandy, Sade, Prince, Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66, Hiatus Kaiyote, and last but certainly not least, M.E.Gibson

Favorite Musical Genres: Bosa Nova, 90s RNB, VIDEO GAME SOUNDTRACKS, Obscure SoundCloud Rap, Indie Folk, Funk, Dancehall, indie Pop, House/dance music, Brazilian trap

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Current Favorite Artists: JAMES FAUNTLEROY... Duh. :3lon, SerpentWithFeet, Courtney Driver, Kllo, Nai Palm, FKA Twigs, KAMAUU, Iron and Wine, Kaytranada just to name a few

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All-time Favorite Voices: JAMES FAUNTLEROY... who’d you think it was gonna be ? 🤷🏿‍♂️ Brandy and Sade

Musical Goal: I’ve always loved the behind the scenes of music. Ever since I can remember, I’ve always been writing. Someday in the near future, I hope to get a publishing deal and make Mariah Carey money 😎.

OLIVIA

Soprano

# of years in Musicality: 10 months

Musical Influences:

Tori Kelly, Mariah Carey, and Amy Winehouse.

Favorite Musical Genres:

I love them all!

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Current Favorite Artists:

Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams, and Mary J. Blige.

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All-time Favorite Voices: YEBBA, Amy Winehouse, and Gracie Abrams.

Favorite Musicality Cover:

Lion King Medley. Everyone sounded amazing, and the way the video was shot was so cool!

PHILIP

Tenor

# of years in Musicality: 2014-2018, then rejoined in 2020.

Musical Influences:

Michael Edward Gibson, Zayn, Harry Styles, Sam Smith, Brendon Urie, Eric Bonner, Kyla Gabka, Kehlani, Justin Bieber, Ellie Goulding, Joji, Rich Brian, Ariana Grande, Queen, Michael Jackson, Eason Chan, Leslie Odom Jr., Jonathan Groff, Boyz II Men

Favorite Musical Genres:

R&B and Pop

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Current Favorite Artists: Frank Ocean & Anthony Ramos

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All-time Favorite Voices: Freddie Mercury, Charlie Puth, Frank Ocean

Personal Musical Goal: To be part of 88rising. I want to make music and show the industry that Asians can shine bright in America too. I want Asians/Asian-Americans to be more known and hopefully I can be part of that reason one day.

THOMAS

Tenor

# of years in Musicality: 3.5 years

Musical Influences:

Lady Gaga, my mom, Michael Gibson, Ben Platt, and Freddie Mercury.

Favorite Musical Genres:

Pop, Musical theatre, Rap, and R&B/Soul.

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Current Favorite Artists:

Lizzo, Chloe x Halle, Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, and Harry Styles.

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All-time Favorite Voices: Lady Gaga, Ben Platt, and Ariana Grande.

Favorite Musicality Memory:

My favorite Musicality memory is when we traveled to NYC in 2019 to perform for a proposal. It was my first time in the city and we got to explore different places like Central Park and Times Square.

ULISES

Tenor

# of years in Musicality: 2 years. Going on 3 in September 2020.

Musical Influences:

Serj Tankian & Taylor Swift are my two halves of this obscure and confusing whole. 

Favorite musical genres:

Nu-metal, synth-pop, hard rock, pop-country, post-harcore, musical theater, and post-grunge.

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Current Favorite Artists:

System of a Down, Taylor Swift, Evanescence, Rina Sawayama, Camila (band), Ellie Goulding, Static-X, Kesha, Volbeat, and Daughtry.

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All-time Favorite Voices: Serj Tankian, Myles Kennedy, Chris Daughtry. Holy trinity.

Favorite Musicality Memory: Meeting Miguel Cervantes... still insane that I’ve done just that- MULTIPLE TIMES. A collapsing.

VANESSA

Alto

# of years in Musicality: Was involved for a year in High School, and recently rejoined again.

Musical Influences:

Amy Lee, Björk, Jeff Williams, Yasuharu Takanashi, Queen

Favorite Musical Genres:

Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Alternative, Classical, J-Rock, Ethereal Wave, Cumbia, Lo-fi

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Current Favorite Artists:

Evanescence, Rihanna, Jeff Williams, Björk, Linkin Park, Jack Stauber, Serj Tankian, Axel Rudi Pell, Rustage.

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All-time Favorite Voices: Amy Lee, Johnny Gioeli, Freddie Mercury

Favorite Musicality Cover:

"Ashes" by Celine Dion is my favorite cover of Musicality. They really captured the intensity and magic of the music.