Rider University
INFO
The Deaftones is a co-ed collegiate a cappella group from Rider University, located in Princeton, NJ. The group is currently comprised of fourteen music majors from Westminster Choir College, the music school of Rider University. The group was created in 2007 by Patrick Dillon, on Westminster's campus. Since then, it has grown into a well-known competing a cappella group. The Deaftones now perform in the ICCA's, the International Competition for A Cappella. They most recently competed in the ICCA Semifinals, and look forward to another year of performance and competition with some of the best a cappella groups in the world.
The group performs a wide variety of genres, such as pop, alternative, jazz, hip hop, electronic, and indie. Some of its most recent arrangements include songs from artists such as M83, Zedd, Rhianna, Ingrid Michaelson, David Guetta, Kimbra, Queen, Sam Smith, Coldplay, and more. The group is very musically diverse and looks to expand its repertoire every year.
This upcoming 2015-2016 season, the Deaftones hope to perform more and more in the Princeton area, as well with other a cappella groups from the region. The group is planning on competing once again in the ICCA's, but this year, it hopes to move on to the final round, held in the Beacon Theatre in New York City.
Some performances for the 2015-2016 season have already been scheduled. Our Night of A Cappella, held on Rider's Princeton campus, will include live performances from multiple local groups, along with a few groups from the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. This performance will be during the Spring 2016 Semester. The group hopes to see its fans there!
If you are interested in learning more about the Deaftones of Rider University, or inquiring about a performance opportunity, please feel free to contact the group. The Deaftones are currently accepting requests for performances in and around Princeton, NJ.
MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES
TARIA MITCHELL is a Junior Music Education major from Atlantic City, New Jersey. In her free time she likes to cook, workout, go to the beach, play her alto saxophone and hang out with friends. Taria's latest accomplishments are winning best soloist at the ICCA Quaterfinals in 2015 and becoming a member of the Westminster Choir. Her favorite professional a cappella groups are The Real Group, Pentatonix and The King's Singers.
KATIE ARNOLD is a Freshman Music Education major. She's from Wantage, NJ. During high school, Katie sang in variety of choirs including the NJ All-State Mixed Chorus for 3 years, the ACDA Eastern Division High School Honor Choir, and the NAfME All-Eastern Mixed Choir. Her hobbies include spending time with friends and family, going to concerts, and eating ice cream.
GABE HARLEY is from Wilmington, Delaware and is a sophomore Music Education major. His hobbies include consuming an insane amount of coffee (preferably Starbucks), watching The Real Housewives of Orange County + New York City (because the other housewives just don't cut it) and just sharing a laugh with friends! He also likes to go running and enjoying the outdoors.
BEN NORKUS is a Sophomore Music Education major from Point Pleasant, NJ. In his free time, Ben likes to bike around Princeton, read, and spend time at the beach with family and friends. One fun fact about Ben is that he has been kayaking with alligators in one of his favorite vacation spots - North Carolina. Ben is super proud and excited to be a member of the 2015-2016 Deaftones and can't wait to sing and compete with the other amazing members!
MARK GEBAUER is a bass Music Education major. He is a Freshman.
SUNNY PHILLIPS of Harrington Park, New Jersey, is a current Freshman and Music Education Major at Westminster Choir College His most recent accolades include the '14 NAfME Honors Choir as well as the All-Eastern Division Honors Choir. He loves a good concert of any genre, and enjoys singing deep bass and tight jazz harmonies. His current jam is "So Long" by Jerry Folk, and his favorite A Capella enemble is The Real Group.
CAMILLE WATSON is a freshman Voice Performance and Music Education double-major from Seattle, Washington. Throughout high school, Camille was highly involved in choir and theatre. This will be her first time singing in an a capella group, but she's stoked because she's always been a lover of a capella music. She loves to hike with her friends and go to the gym in her free time. Besides music, her interests include photography, cosmetics, and fashion! Camille is so excited be a part of the Deaftones family this year and is looking forward to continuing the legacy.
JAMES KINZEL is a Sophomore Music Theory/Composition Major at Westminster Choir College. I his second year as a Deaftones member, James is excited for the opportunity of being the Assistant Musical Director. Outside of writing music and running rehearsals, James enjoys sailing and watching pro ice hockey; which isn't surprising considering his hometown of Wilmette, IL, right outside Chicago.
LAUREN SANDER is a Freshman Music Education major at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. She is from Tabernacle, NJ, and loves Girl Scouts, singing, playing piano, and going camping with her family.
LAUREN JOHNSON is a Sophomore Music Education and Sacred Music double major. She loves singing classical, pop, and musical theatre. She is from Newark, DE. Lauren's hobbies include organizing, playing tennis, reading, and listening to music.
KANISHA FELICIANO is from Quakertown Pa. She is currently a Junior Vocal Performance major. She is a soprano. Her hobbies include running, painting, and playing guitar.
HOPE TEDESCUCCI is a nineteen year old soprano. She is a Freshman Vocal Performance major from LaGrange, Georgia. She is a recent graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy in Traverse City, Michigan where she also studied vocal performance. While at Interlochen, she sang with the World Youth Honors Choir, The Interlochen Academy Choir, and the Interlochen Chamber Singers. She was also an active member of the opera workshop where she most recently studied the role of Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte. When she is not singing, Hope enjoys reading and hiking.
JERRICK CAVAGNARO is a Sophomore Organ Performance and Sacred Music major Westminster Choir College. He is from a small town called North Haledon, New Jersey. He enjoys baking cooking and is the Assistant Organist at Our Lady of the Valley and Holy Cross Churches in Wayne, NJ.
SHELDEN MENDES is a Freshman Music Education major. He is from Cranford, New Jersey. He Enjoys exploring, good food, and being the shoe in Monopoly.
ERIC ROPER is from New Providence, New Jersey, and is in his Junior year at Westminster. He has been a member of the group since 2013, and is very excited to be part of the 2015-2016 season. Eric is a member of the Westminster Williamson Voices, Westminster Kantorei, and the Symphonic Choir. He hopes that everyone has a very successful year and wishes all the best to his fellow members.
