The Hyannis Sound Explained

Hyannis Sound
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Hyannis, Massachusetts
Genre:A cappella, pop, R&B
Years Active:1994 - present
Current Members:Xavier Cornell
(Manhattan School of Music '25)
Reshawn Murphy
(UNC Charlotte '24)
Earl McBride
(UNC '24)
Rory Latham
(Yale '26)
Cameron Davis
(UNC '25)
Raymond Ortiz
(USC '25)
Jerick Rose
(UVU '26)
Jack Reese
(IU '26)
Jack Eyles
(William and Mary '26)
Roman Newhouse
(UMich '26)

The Hyannis Sound is a professional a cappella singing group composed of 10 young men from the United States who convene each summer on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the greater New England area.

Every summer, members of the Hyannis Sound live together in a house on Cape Cod and perform at various venues across the Cape. The group performs at self-produced weekly shows, parties, restaurants, backyard gatherings, cobblestone streets, and stadiums. Hyannis Sound's repertoire changes each summer but always consists of various popular songs derived from many eras and genres. Over the past 28 years, Hyannis Sound has received critical acclaim from the Recorded A Cappella Review Board, been awarded by the Contemporary A Cappella Society numerous times, and established itself as a staple of Cape Cod's music and social community.[1]

In 2020, during the global COVID-19 pandemic, Hyannis Sound went viral on the popular video-sharing app TikTok and quickly became one of the most followed vocal groups on the app. They have since partnered with brands like Nerds[2] and were featured in Glamour magazine's You Sang My Song series featuring Alicia Keys[3] after their cover of "Fallin'" achieved over 12 million views on TikTok.

History

Hyannis Sound was founded in 1994 by Townsend Belisle.[4] Encouraged by the success of the Vineyard Sound,[5] which he founded and produced, Townsend decided to put together a similar group on Cape Cod. The group rented a house in Hyannis to live together. Starting small, the group made a name for itself by singing wherever possible. After years of performances, the group established itself as a notable entertainment group on the Cape.

Since its inception, the group has enjoyed more and more public notice and now holds four weekly concerts within an area extending from Falmouth to Chatham. The group is also established as a non-profit corporation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

In 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic threatened the continuity of the group. As a vocal performance group, it seemed almost impossible for the group to reprise the structure of their past summers. However, the nine members of Hyannis Sound 2020 managed to successfully travel to Cape Cod, quarantine together in their home, and launch a virtual concert series.[6] Throughout the summer, their following rose exponentially, becoming one of the most followed a cappella groups, achieving almost 700,000 followers across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Recordings

To date, the Sound has recorded sixteen albums. Their first, Live, All-Natural A Cappella, was a recording of their final 1994 concert. This album was followed by Talk About It in 1996, On the Beach in 1999, 110 in 2001, Aged Ten Years and Cape Standard Time in 2003, Route 6 in 2005, Shirt, Tie, Khaki in 2007, On the Clock in 2009, High Tide in 2011, Over the Bridge in 2013, H2O in 2015, Boys of Summer in 2017, Always / Sometimes (2019), and Detour (2021). Back to Back (2023) caps off the collection, containing songs performed by the group in the summers of 2021 and 2022. In 2003, the group also began a practice of releasing an annual Bootleg, a live CD every year with all of the summer's repertoire (recorded mid-summer from one show and released later in the year).

Hyannis Sound has performed the National Anthem at Fenway Park as well as various Cape Cod League games, and have been featured in publications including The Boston Globe, Glamour, Cape Cod Magazine, Cape Cod Times, and Martha Stewart Weddings.

On August 1, 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, political strife, and rising racial tensions across the U.S, Hyannis Sound released a recording and video of "O-o-h Child" by the Five Stairsteps featuring over 60 alumni, including members from the group's founding iteration.

AlbumYears recordedSingers featured
Back to Back2021-2022Xavier Cornell, Logan Dawson, Chad Marge

Matt Chiu, Max Pinson, Eric Tarlin

Jimmy Fitzgibbons, Cristian Ramos, Jacob Lamb, Savidu Geevaratne

Jarell Green, Jordan Rubenstein, Colin Watts

Detour2019-2020Cahleb Derry, Jimmy Fitzgibbons, Cristian Ramos, Jacob Lamb, Savidu Geevaratne

Jarell Green, Jordan Rubenstein, Colin Watts

Ben Vance, Brendan Jacob Smith, Beckett Azevedo

Peter Carboni, Nolan Roche, Matt Goldstein, Will Wolz

Always / Sometimes2017 - 2018Ben Vance, Brendan Jacob Smith, Beckett AzevedoMatt Goldstein, Peter Carboni, Nolan Roche, Will Wolz

Mark Farnum, Anthony Rodriguez

Jason Berk, Jared Graveley, Ryan LaForest, Grayson Kilgo

Boys of Summer2015 - 2016Mark Farnum, Anthony Rodriguez, Avi MontanezJason Berk, Jared Graveley, Ryan LaForest, Grayson Kilgo

Jon Smith, Nick Oberlies, Alex Spears, Nick Cipriano, Mike Leona

Sean Switzer

H2O2013 - 2014Alex Spears, Chris Pucci, Jon Smith, Mike Leona, Nick Cafero, Nick Cipriano, Nick OberliesDevon Barley, Jackson Thea, Sean Switzer

Noah Berg, Jared Suresky, Liam Fennecken, Dan Spector

Andy Degan, Brandon Borror-Chappell, Marc Whittington

Over The Bridge2011 - 2012Noah Berg, Jared Suresky, Liam Fennecken, Dan SpectorAndy Degan, Mike Hubbard, Mike Hilliker, Brandon Borror-Chappell, Marc Whittington, Jim Hogan

Colin Egan

Kevin Pidgeon, Joe Whitney, Brendan Mason

High Tide2009 - 2010Colin EganKevin Pidgeon, Joe Whitney, Brendan Mason

Alfredo Austin, Nate Tao, Seth Ohrn

Phil Landry, Brian O'Shaugnessy, Jeff Eames, Dave Snell

On The Clock2007 - 2008Alfredo Austin, Nate Tao, Seth Ohrn, Patrick LundquistPhil Landry, Brian O'Shaugnessy, Jeff Eames, Dave Snell

Tyler Trepp

Andy Delong, Rob Powers

Cooper Cerulo, Tim Bongiovanni

Micah Christian

Shirt, Tie, Khaki2005 - 2006Tyler TreppAndy Delong, Rob Powers, Matt Labak, Doug Frasier

Cooper Cerulo, Tim Bongiovanni, Paul Toms, Joey Akl, Arjun Jaikumar

Micah Christian

Route 62003 - 2004Micah Christian, Ed Boyer, Collins WardMark Manley, Greg Binstock, Victor Sandman, Aithan Shapira

James Harrington

Eric Fosbury

Dylan McDonald

Cape Standard Time2001 - 2002Mark Manley, Greg Binstock, Victor Sandman, Aithan ShapiraJames Harrington

Rupak Ahuja, Eric Fosbury

Dylan McDonald, Darrel Belch, Mark Hannah, Jason Taylor

Matt Henderson, Matt Wrobel

Samrat Chakrabarti

Aged Ten Years1994Mike Barnicle, Alex Bartlett, Sasha Chanoff, Darren Coyle, Dave Goryl, Dave Hannah, Aarron Pina, Mike Roufa, Rob Stewart, Judd Tomaselli
1101999-2001Rupak Ahuja, Eric FosburyDylan McDonald, Darrel Belch, Mark Hannah, Jason Taylor

Matt Henderson, Matt Wrobel, Dave Petrelli

Samrat Chakrabarti, James Caran, Bill Caleo

Mike LeBlanc

On The Beach1997 - 1998Matt Henderson, Matt Wrobel, Dave Petrelli, Nick Asselin, Dave CarySamrat Chakrabarti, James Caran, Bill Caleo, Jason Brown, Jeff Tolonen

Mike LeBlanc, Nick Niles, Matt Knowland, Warren Bloom, Brendan Largay, Nate Altimari

Talk About It1995 - 1996Mike LeBlanc, Nick Niles, Matt Knowland, Warren Bloom, Brendan Largay, Nate Altimari, Warren Miller, Tim HarrisonBrian Sowell

Mike Barnicle, Alex Bartlett, Darren Coyle, Dave Goryl, Dave Hannah, Aarron Pina, Mike Roufa, Rob Stewart, Judd Tomaselli

Live, All-Natural A Cappella1994Mike Barnicle, Alex Bartlett, Sasha Chanoff, Darren Coyle, Dave Goryl, Dave Hannah, Aarron Pina, Mike Roufa, Rob Stewart, Judd Tomaselli

Auditions

The ten-man lineup is selected annually. The group hosts auditions in Boston every spring and new members are chosen from an international pool of over 100 auditions. The weekend-long audition process judges auditions on both their personality/character and musicality/performance. Most candidates have had experience with one of thousands of college or university a cappella groups throughout the country.[7] These new members are put through a rigorous orientation of long rehearsals and are welcomed by alumni before embarking on their summer performance schedule.

Members

Member'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24
Roopak Ahuja
Joey Akl
Nate AltimariMD
Nick Asselin
Alfredo Austin
Beckett Azevedo
Devon BarleyBM
Mike BarnicleMDMD
Alex Bartlett
Darrell BelchBMBMBM
Townsend Belisle
Noah BergMD
Jason BerkBMBM
Greg Binstock
Warren BloomMD
Tim BongiovanniMDMD
Brandon Borror-Chappell
Ed BoyerMD
Jason Brown
Nick Cafero
Bill Caleo
James Caran
Peter Carboni
Dave Cary
Cooper CeruloMD
Samrat ChakrabartiMDMDMD
Sasha ChanoffBM
Matt Chiu
Micah Christian
Nick Cipriano
Xavier Cornell
Darren CoyleBM
Cameron Davis
Logan Dawson
Andy DeganMD
Andy DelongBM
Cahleb Derry
Jeff EamesMD
Colin EganMDMD
Jack Eyles
Mark Farnum
Liam Fennecken
Jimmy Fitzgibbons
Eric FosburyMDMD
Doug Fraser
Savidu Geevaratne
Matt GoldsteinMD
Dave GorylBM
Jared GraveleyMDMDMD
Jarell Green
Dave HannahMD
Mark Hannah
James Harrington
Tim Harrison
Matt Henderson
Mike Hilliker
Jim Hogan
Mike Hubbard
Arjun Jaikumar
Grayson Kilgo
Matt KnowlandBM
Matt Labak
Ryan LaForest
Jacob Lamb
Phil LandryBM
Brendan LargayBM
Rory LathamBM
Mike LeBlancBMBM
Mike Leona
Patrick Lundquist
Earl McBrideMD
Dylan Mroszczyk-McDonald
Mark ManleyBM
Chad Marge
Brendon Mason
Winston Miller
Avi Montanez
Reshawn Murphy
Roman Newhouse
Nick NilesBM
Brian O’ShaughnessyMDMD
Nick Oberlies
Seth Ohrn
Raymond Ortiz
Dave Petrelli
Kevin PidgeonBMBM
Aarron Pina
Max PinsonBMBM
Rob PowersBM
Chris Puchi
Cristian RamosMDMD
Jack Reese
Nolan RocheBM
Anthony Rodriguez
Jerick Rose
Mike Roufa
Jordan RubensteinMDMD
Victor SandmanBM
Aithan Shapira
Brendan Jacob Smith
Jon SmithMD
Dave Snell
Brian Sowell
Alex SpearsBMBM
Daniel Spector
Rob StewartBM
Jared Suresky
Sean Switzer
Eric Tarlin
Nate Tao
Jason Taylor
Jackson Thea
Jeff Tolonen
Judd Tomaselli
Paul TomsBMBM
Tyler Trepp
Ben Vance
Collins Ward
Colin WattsBMBM
Joe Whitney
Marc WhittingtonBMBM
Will Wolz
Matt Wrobel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hyannis Sound - 2020 All You Need to Know Before You Go (with Photos). 2020-10-03. Tripadvisor. en.
  2. Web site: Hyannis Sound (@thehyannissound) is on Instagram. 2020-10-03. www.instagram.com. en.
  3. Web site: Magazine. Glamour. September 16, 2020. Alicia Keys Watches Fan Covers on YouTube Glamour. September 16, 2020. YouTube.
  4. Web site: Mission. Hyannis Sound. 4 May 2017.
  5. Vineyard Sound: http://www.vineyardsound.org/
  6. Web site: Dattiloedattilo@capecodonline.com. Emily. Hyannis Sound singers continue concerts online and in person. 2020-10-03. capecodtimes.com. en.
  7. see CASA http://www.casa.org/ for a directory