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Michelle
D’Arcy |
Michelle
spent time in the summers at the Chautauqua Music Institution
in Upstate New York, performing in All-State Choir and Band
as a singer and French horn player. She went on to play guitar
and sing in a few rock and roll groups to "break out" of her
formal classical performing background. Michelle was always
able to come up with unwritten harmonies that "fine-tuned"
the music. Michelle sang in the Denver Women's Chorus for
several years. She was in the select small group called Take
Note who performed great jazz pieces. She went on to sing
in the acappella group called The Rhythm Method. This group
performed locally and all over the country. The Rhythm Method
won the Rocky Mountain Harmony Sweepstake's award for "Best
Original Song." "The Rhythm Method Live CD" earned great reviews
and really highlighted what "tight harmonies" are all about.
Michelle went on to sing with Canto Spiritus, a local chamber
choir that was a "one-of-a-kind" choir singing commissioned
pieces and many more genres. 5280 A Cappella allows Michelle
to continue to use her skills to create tight harmonies and
to perform music that appeals to a wide variety of audiences.
Michelle is a founding member and the leader of 5280 A Cappella.
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| Alice
Nightengale |
Alice
grew up in a musical family singing, playing violin, and performing
in local theatre from a young age. Alice started playing the
violin at age 5 and as a young musician she won a seat in
the youth orchestra in her hometown. Alice has played locally
in the Longmont Orchestra, the Littleton Symphony, and continues
to play in a neighborhood quartet. She has been singing since
high school and has done her share of musical theatre. Locally,
Alice has sung in the chamber choral group, Canto Spiritus,
a 16-member mixed choir that featured traditional choral music,
contemporary music, and original compositions, as well as
theatrical performance pieces. She sang with the Bach Festival
in Boulder, and sang for two seasons with Safonia, a women's
choir that performs classical and non-classical music. Alice
is a founding member of 5280 A Cappella and enjoys singing
in a small mixed ensemble performing well-loved standards
as well as original music for broad audiences. She is a member
of our artistic staff. |
| Andrew
G. Metz |
Andrew,
our Baritone singer from back East, is also an arranger and
composer of music for vocal groups as well as hand bell choirs.
He has a Master's degree of Music from Converse College in
Spartanburg, South Carolina. Andrew is an actor who has been
performing for years and most recently on stage in arts community
in Littleton, Colorado. He enjoys performing in musicals and
plays. When Andrew is not writing or performing music, he
dabbles in wine making and uses the label "Monk's Vineyards"
for his concord, spiced apple and cranberry wines!! Andrew
is a member of our artistic staff. |
| Phil
Kerswill |
Phil,
our Bass, has been singing all his life but didn't start singing
seriously until high school. In high school, he was first
chair bass and sang with his high school's small madrigal
group and also formed a serious barbershop quartet that performed
at many venues and affairs around Denver. After high school,
Phil sang with the men's chorus at Colorado State University
while pursuing his Music Education degree. After college he
sang in the madrigal group Ye Wanton Singers for several years.
Phil also performs as an instrumentalist playing baritone
saxophone in a saxophone quartet that has been together for
many years, various jazz big bands, and in a horn rock band.
He also plays clarinet in concert bands and currently with
the South Suburban Orchestra. Phil has also been singing in
a men's quartet for the past several years. He is very happy
to be singing with 5280 A Cappella. |
| Albert
Nishimoto |
Albert
has been singing since an early age. Coming from a musical
family, Albert sang, played the piano and flute throughout
school. Albert participated in competitions amongst the international
schools in Southeast Asia and was awarded adjudicated 1 rating
as a soloist. During his University of Denver days, Albert
sang with the Lamont Chorale as well as played briefly with
the Mile Hi Freedom Band. Singing provided the most gratification
and Albert sang with Harmony: A Colorado Chorale for several
years and was also in their small ensemble group. Albert was
a founding member of Canto Spiritus and was fortunate to meet
and sing with Alice and Michelle. Together, they traveled
to attend a vocal competition in New York and sing at Alice
Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center. The group received the highest
honor bestowed to a chorale group. Albert can be heard on
Canto Spiritus’ CD called, “Brazil! “ featuring
the choral music of Marcos Leite”. |
| Carol
McKenzie |
Carol's
earliest musical influences came from singing with her musical
family and listening to her father's extensive record collection.
During junior high and high school she sang in show choirs,
talent shows and school musicals. In 1994, Carol partnered
with Brenda Hater, opening a coffee house that showcased several
local singing acts. Carol and Brenda became a musical duo
called the Blue Notes, performing weekly for their supportive,
fun-loving customers. In 2006, Carol began singing with the
Shari Weissman Band, performing at music festivals throughout
Colorado, and continued until earlier this year. Carol also
sang with the Mile Hi Church Choir, starting in 2007. Carol
is thrilled to be singing with 5280 A Cappella. |
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