Mt. SAC alumnus, Avi Kaplan, along with his group, Pentatonix, recently sung their way past 15 other singing groups to claim the grand prize on NBC’s primetime show, “The Sing Off.”
“The Sing Off” is a television show that places 16 of the nations’ best a cappella group’s head to head in a competition for a grand prize of $200,000 and a recording contract with Sony Music. After impressing the judges with their renditions of hits such as “E.T.” by Katy Perry, “Let’s Get it On” by Marvin Gaye, and “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence and the Machine, Kaplan’s group made it to the finale, where the winner was decided based on a nationwide vote. Dartmouth College’s oldest a cappella group, the Dartmouth Aires, took runner-up in the competition while third place went to Denver’s Urban Method.
Despite powering his way to the top of the show, Kaplan has no problem acknowledging his roots.
“If I wouldn’t have come to Mt. SAC, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Kaplan. Judges on the show marveled over Pentatonix, complimenting their blend, arranging, and musicianship. Judge Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men, described them as the “future of a cappella.”
Still, Kaplan attributes this success to a community college in Walnut, Ca. “Mt. SAC has played a huge part in where I am today. All the training that I received there has made me the musician and vocalist I am today,” said Kaplan. Kaplan spent four musically involved years at Mt. SAC, singing with the Chamber Singers, the a cappella group Fermata Nowhere, and the vocal jazz ensemble Singcopation, as well as attending music theory courses.
Mt. SAC alumnus, Avi Kaplan, along with his group, Pentatonix, recently sung their way past 15 other singing groups to claim the grand prize on NBC’s primetime show, “The Sing Off.”
“The Sing Off” is a television show that places 16 of the nations’ best a cappella group’s head to head in a competition for a grand prize of $200,000 and a recording contract with Sony Music. After impressing the judges with their renditions of hits such as “E.T.” by Katy Perry, “Let’s Get it On” by Marvin Gaye, and “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence and the Machine, Kaplan’s group made it to the finale, where the winner was decided based on a nationwide vote. Dartmouth College’s oldest a cappella group, the Dartmouth Aires, took runner-up in the competition while third place went to Denver’s Urban Method.
Despite powering his way to the top of the show, Kaplan has no problem acknowledging his roots.
“If I wouldn’t have come to Mt. SAC, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Kaplan. Judges on the show marveled over Pentatonix, complimenting their blend, arranging, and musicianship. Judge Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men, described them as the “future of a cappella.”
Still, Kaplan attributes this success to a community college in Walnut, Ca. “Mt. SAC has played a huge part in where I am today. All the training that I received there has made me the musician and vocalist I am today,” said Kaplan. Kaplan spent four musically involved years at Mt. SAC, singing with the Chamber Singers, the a cappella group Fermata Nowhere, and the vocal jazz ensemble Singcopation, as well as attending music theory courses.
In 2009, Kaplan performed on the Lincoln Center stage in New York with Fermata Nowhere when they won first place in the International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella where he received the award for the “Best Rhythm Section.” “Singing in Fermata Nowhere helped me hone my vocal bass skills,” said Kaplan. Following Fermata Nowhere’s victory, Kaplan was contacted and asked to join an a cappella group called The Backbeats who joined last year’s season of the Sing-Off. He declined their offer and the group placed third overall. Soon after, Kaplan was contacted again and asked to join a trio from Texas, forming Pentatonix.
“The rest is history,” said Kaplan. Brad Hornecker, 20, a fellow Mt. SAC singer, had a sense that Kaplan was destined for great things.
“Avi has always stunned everyone with his talent, and everyone in the Mt. SAC music department knew that one day he was destined for something like this,” said Hornecker. “We were blessed to have him singing with us here for the time that he was, and happy to see his success.”
Lincoln Center stage in New York with Fermata Nowhere when they won first place in the International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella where he received the award for the “Best Rhythm Section.” “Singing in Fermata Nowhere helped me hone my vocal bass skills,” said Kaplan. Following Fermata Nowhere’s victory, Kaplan was contacted and asked to join an a cappella group called The Backbeats who joined last year’s season of the Sing-Off. He declined their offer and the group placed third overall. Soon after, Kaplan was contacted again and asked to join a trio from Texas, forming Pentatonix.
“The rest is history,” said Kaplan. Brad Hornecker, 20, a fellow Mt. SAC singer, had a sense that Kaplan was destined for great things.
“Avi has always stunned everyone with his talent, and everyone in the Mt. SAC music department knew that one day he was destined for something like this,” said Hornecker. “We were blessed to have him singing with us here for the time that he was, and happy to see his success.”
-Julian Cruz
Staff Writer
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