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 an American a cappella group, consisting of 10 male vocalists from the United States. The group convenes each summer on Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the greater New England area.

Founded in 1994, Hyannis Sound has received critical acclaim from the Recorded A Cappella Review Board, won the Contemporary A Cappella Society multiple times, and established itself as a staple of Cape Cod's music and social community.^[1]

During the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Hyannis Sound went viral on the 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 themself by singing wherever possible. After years of performances, the group established itself as a notable entertainment group on the Cape.

The group now holds four weekly concerts within areas 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 it became difficult for its members to meet. In the end, the nine members of Hyannis Sound 2020 quarantined together in their home in Cape Cod and launched a virtual concert series.^[6] Over the summer the group achieved nearly 700,000 followers across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Recordings

The Sound has recorded sixteen albums to date.^[7] 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, at 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.

Album	Years recorded	Singers featured
Back to Back	2021-2022	Xavier 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
Detour	2019-2020	Cahleb 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 / Sometimes	2017 - 2018	Ben 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 Summer	2015 - 2016	Mark Farnum, Anthony Rodriguez, Avi MontanezJason Berk, Jared Graveley, Ryan LaForest, Grayson Kilgo Jon Smith, Nick Oberlies, Alex Spears, Nick Cipriano, Mike Leona Sean Switzer
H2O	2013 - 2014	Alex 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 Bridge	2011 - 2012	Noah 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 Tide	2009 - 2010	Colin EganKevin Pidgeon, Joe Whitney, Brendan Mason Alfredo Austin, Nate Tao, Seth Ohrn Phil Landry, Brian O'Shaugnessy, Jeff Eames, Dave Snell
On The Clock	2007 - 2008	Alfredo 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, Khaki	2005 - 2006	Tyler TreppAndy Delong, Rob Powers, Matt Labak, Doug Frasier Cooper Cerulo, Tim Bongiovanni, Paul Toms, Joey Akl, Arjun Jaikumar Micah Christian
Route 6	2003 - 2004	Micah Christian, Ed Boyer, Collins WardMark Manley, Greg Binstock, Victor Sandman, Aithan Shapira James Harrington Eric Fosbury Dylan McDonald
Cape Standard Time	2001 - 2002	Mark 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 Years	1994	Mike Barnicle, Alex Bartlett, Sasha Chanoff, Darren Coyle, Dave Goryl, Dave Hannah, Aarron Pina, Mike Roufa, Rob Stewart, Judd Tomaselli
110	1999-2001	Rupak 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 Beach	1997 - 1998	Matt 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 It	1995 - 1996	Mike 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 Cappella	1994	Mike 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 audition process is weekend-long and candidates were judged on both their personality/character and musicality/performance. Most of the applicants have had experience with one of the thousands of college or university a cappella groups throughout the country.^[8] After passing the audition, 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 Altimari			✔		MD
Nick Asselin					✔
Alfredo Austin															✔	✔	✔
Beckett Azevedo																									✔	✔
Devon Barley																				✔	BM
Mike Barnicle	✔	MD	MD
Alex Bartlett	✔	✔
Darrell Belch						✔	BM	BM	BM
Townsend Belisle	✔
Noah Berg																			✔	MD
Jason Berk																						✔	✔	BM	BM
Greg Binstock									✔	✔
Warren Bloom			✔	MD
Tim Bongiovanni											✔	MD	MD	✔
Brandon Borror-Chappell																		✔	✔	✔
Ed Boyer										✔	MD
Jason Brown				✔
Nick Cafero																					✔
Bill Caleo				✔			✔
James Caran				✔	✔	✔
Peter Carboni																								✔	✔	✔
Dave Cary					✔
Cooper Cerulo											✔	✔	✔	MD
Samrat Chakrabarti				✔	✔	MD	MD	MD
Sasha Chanoff	BM
Matt Chiu																												✔	✔
Micah Christian										✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Nick Cipriano																					✔	✔	✔
Xavier Cornell																													✔	✔	✔
Darren Coyle	✔	✔	BM
Cameron Davis																														✔	✔
Logan Dawson																													✔	✔
Andy Degan																		✔	✔	✔	MD
Andy Delong												✔	✔	✔	BM
Cahleb Derry																											✔
Jeff Eames														✔	✔	✔	MD
Colin Egan																	✔	MD	MD
Jack Eyles																															✔
Mark Farnum																							✔	✔
Liam Fennecken																			✔	✔
Jimmy Fitzgibbons																											✔	✔	✔	✔
Eric Fosbury							✔	✔	MD	MD	✔
Doug Fraser												✔	✔
Savidu Geevaratne																											✔	✔	✔
Matt Goldstein																								✔	✔	MD
Dave Goryl	BM	✔
Jared Graveley																						✔	MD	MD	MD
Jarell Green																										✔	✔	✔	✔
Dave Hannah	MD	✔
Mark Hannah						✔	✔	✔
James Harrington								✔	✔	✔	✔
Tim Harrison			✔
Matt Henderson					✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Mike Hilliker																		✔
Jim Hogan																		✔
Mike Hubbard																		✔	✔
Arjun Jaikumar											✔	✔	✔
Grayson Kilgo																						✔	✔	✔
Matt Knowland			✔	✔	BM
Matt Labak												✔	✔
Ryan LaForest																						✔	✔	✔	✔
Jacob Lamb																											✔	✔	✔
Phil Landry														✔	✔	BM	✔
Brendan Largay			✔	BM
Rory Latham																														✔	BM
Mike LeBlanc			✔	✔	BM	BM
Mike Leona																					✔	✔
Patrick Lundquist															✔
Earl McBride																														✔	MD
Dylan Mroszczyk-McDonald						✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Mark Manley									✔	BM
Chad Marge																													✔
Brendon Mason																✔	✔	✔
Winston Miller			✔
Avi Montanez																							✔
Reshawn Murphy																														✔	✔
Roman Newhouse																															✔
Nick Niles			✔	BM
Brian O’Shaughnessy														✔	MD	MD	✔
Nick Oberlies																					✔	✔	✔
Seth Ohrn															✔	✔	✔
Raymond Ortiz																														✔	✔
Dave Petrelli					✔	✔
Kevin Pidgeon																✔	BM	BM	✔
Aarron Pina	✔	✔
Max Pinson																												✔	BM	BM
Rob Powers												✔	✔	BM	✔
Chris Puchi																					✔
Cristian Ramos																											✔	✔	MD	MD
Jack Reese																															✔
Nolan Roche																								✔	✔	BM
Anthony Rodriguez																							✔	✔
Jerick Rose																															✔
Mike Roufa	✔	✔
Jordan Rubenstein																										✔	MD	MD
Victor Sandman									✔	✔	BM
Aithan Shapira									✔	✔
Brendan Jacob Smith																									✔	✔
Jon Smith																					✔	MD
Dave Snell														✔	✔	✔
Brian Sowell		✔
Alex Spears																					✔	BM	BM
Daniel Spector																			✔	✔
Rob Stewart	✔	BM
Jared Suresky																			✔	✔
Sean Switzer																				✔	✔	✔
Eric Tarlin																												✔
Nate Tao															✔	✔	✔
Jason Taylor						✔	✔	✔
Jackson Thea																				✔
Jeff Tolonen				✔
Judd Tomaselli	✔	✔
Paul Toms											✔	BM	BM
Tyler Trepp													✔	✔
Ben Vance																									✔	✔
Collins Ward										✔
Colin Watts																										✔	BM	BM
Joe Whitney																✔	✔	✔
Marc Whittington																		✔	BM	BM
Will Wolz																								✔	✔	✔	✔
Matt Wrobel					✔	✔	✔	✔

Notes and References

Web site: Hyannis Sound - 2020 All You Need to Know Before You Go (with Photos). 2020-10-03. Tripadvisor. en.
Web site: Hyannis Sound (@thehyannissound) is on Instagram. 2020-10-03. www.instagram.com. en.
Web site: Magazine. Glamour. September 16, 2020. Alicia Keys Watches Fan Covers on YouTube Glamour. September 16, 2020. YouTube.
Web site: Mission. Hyannis Sound. 4 May 2017.
Vineyard Sound: http://www.vineyardsound.org/
Web site: Dattiloedattilo@capecodonline.com. Emily. Hyannis Sound singers continue concerts online and in person. 2020-10-03. capecodtimes.com. en.
Web site: Friss . Gwenn . Hyannis Sound men's a capella group celebrates big anniversary with Aug. 3 Cape concert . 2024-11-25 . Cape Cod Times . en-US.
see CASA http://www.casa.org/ for a directory