*You can support the channel with RUclips Channel Memberships or through Buy Me a Coffee. Never expected, but always appreciated.❤Links in Description!* This is absolutely UNREAL!! I cannot wait to dig into more from them! Amazing!
They aren’t an a cappella group, they are THE a cappella group. If you want more Christmas music, That’s Christmas to me, Please Santa Please, Kid on Christmas, or Meet Me Next Christmas. But if you want to see their range, watch their Daft Punk medley, their Evolution of Michael Jackson, their cover of Imagine, and Bohemian Rhapsody.
With all due respect to VoicePlay and Home Free…they wouldn’t exist without PTX. They were the ones who broke this style into mainstream music like no other and made it possible for other groups to follow. Those other groups are great of course! But Pentatonix paved the way and they have been and will always be the best!❤️
They are sheer perfection. "Mary, did you Know," "The Prayer," "God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen," "O Come all ye Faithful," "Carol of the Bells," and "Little Drummer Boy." These could take us to the New Year 🙂
Where #Pentatonix came from: Kirstin, Mitch, and Scott all grew up in Arlington, Texas. All of them were involved with community musical theater as children, and Mitch met both Scott and Kirstin there (separately) when they were still pre-teens, and became friends with each of them. However, Scott and Kirstin didn't meet each other until they were fourteen and in the same high school class. All three were choir geeks (duh), and they quickly became best friends in high school. And if you're wondering what was in the water in Arlington in the early 1990s that three such remarkably talented people should all be born in such proximity, you aren't the only one. There was some kind of singing contest to meet the stars of _Glee,_ and the three of them wanted to enter, so they formed a trio which they named "The Trio." (I know; not very imaginative. They're somewhat better with that now.) They lost the contest, but they kept The Trio together anyway; they performed at school functions and occasionally on local television. Pentaholics still refer to these three as "the trio," and the trio is the heart of Pentatonix. Kirstin and Scott were a year ahead of Mitch; they graduated in 2010, when Mitch was still in eleventh grade, and both went away for their freshman year of college. Kirstin went to the University of Oklahoma (with a full ride scholarship!), and Scott went to the University of Southern Califonia. Scott is a very outgoing person, so he immediately began looking around for extracurricular activities where he could meet people and make new friends, and he found an award-winning amateur a cappella group named SoCal VoCals, which he joined. While there he met a former member named Ben Bram, who at the time was a coach on NBC's a cappella competition show named _"The Sing-Off."_ A cappella groups would audition for the show, and those that passed appeared throughout the season. There was a panel of three judges, all professional musicians, who would critique each performance. Along the way some groups would be eliminated, narrowing the field, and at the end of the season viewers would be invited to vote on a winner. The winning group would receive $200,000 and a recording contract with Epic, a minor subsidiary of Sony, the show's sponsor. Scott was intrigued. He thought The Trio could be competitive, and if they could get a recording contract they could have a career doing what they most loved, with the people they most loved. So he talked to Kirstin, who thought his idea had promise, and at the end of their first year of college the two of them headed back to Arlington to be there for Mitch's graduation and to talk with Mitch about Scott's idea. Meanwhile, back in Arlington Mitch had been having a very difficult year. His best friends weren't there, and as an out-of-the-closet young gay man with an unusually high voice he was being seriously bullied. And unfortunately, since the bullying was ostensibly for his voice he was quickly developing the notion that there was something wrong with his voice and that no one would want to hear him sing. So when Scott presented his idea Mitch was on board; it was a way to get away from the bullies. He had doubts about his ability to carry his weight in the group, because of the bullying, but he was willing to try, and if Scott and Kirstin said they could win, well, maybe they could. So with everyone agreed, Scott called Ben Bram to find out how to arrange for an audition, and this is where they met their first setback. _The Sing-Off_ had a size requirement; the minimum size allowed was five. The Trio needed two new members and a new name. They were stumped. Ben suggested that they'd profit from adding a rhythm section: a bass and a beatboxer, and he knew the perfect person to recommend for the bass, a guy named Avi Kaplan. They talked to Avi, and he was very interested, so that took care of the bass, but where to find the beatboxer? Ben didn't have any suggestions. So in desperation they typed "beatboxer" into a RUclips search box and the first hit they got was a black guy playing a classical piece on the cello and beatboxing at the same time. And all of them said, "Wow! He's the one! How can we get in touch with him?" They were in luck. At the time RUclips had something called RUclips messages, which would allow private messages between members (now discontinued), so they sent Kevin a private message: "Hey! We really love your stuff, and we wonder if you'd be interested in flying across the country to join four strangers to audition for an a cappella competition show on television?" And Kevin messaged them back: "Normally I'd be there in a heart beat; I love a cappella and have been in a cappella groups before. But right now I'm studying for my final exams for my pre-med major from Yale." Oh. That sounded pretty definite; better keep looking. So they kept looking, and they found someone, but he was no Kevin Olusola. Oh well; you work with what you have. And two weeks later Kevin messaged them again: "Good news! I just graduated. If the gig's still open I can fly out." He arrived the day before their audition. Mitch had to skip his graduation ceremony to attend the audition. But even with just a day of rehearsal they still passed the audition; they were in. Oh, yes, the name. Pentatonix is named for the pentatonic scale, which has five (penta) tones just as Pentatonix has five (Penta) singers. In other words, it's a fancier way of saying they're now "The Quintet." 😂 Pentatonix appeared throughout season three of _The Sing-Off,_ and eventually won. (Just FYI, Home Free also got their start on _The Sing-Off;_ they won season 4.) All those performances are available on RUclips and are well worth watching, preferably in order so you can see how they grew throughout the season. Some of them are as good as anything they've done since (which is saying a lot) and are only available in those old videos. (Note: If you decide to react to these, be sure and watch the versions that contain the show's introduction of Pentatonix just before the performance, and the judges' critiques of the performance, and any comments Pentatonix made backstage.) So, they'd won _The Sing-Off,_ complete with recording contract. Time to move to California permanently and begin recording. And a week later Epic reneged on the contract, saying that they didn't know how to market a cappella. But at this point Pentatonix weren't willing to give up; they *wanted* that career they'd been working toward. So they pooled their winnings and lived frugally. The four men shared two apartments, to cut down on expenses. They arranged music and rehearsed every day, and when they had a song ready they used their iPhones to record themselves anywhere they could find good acoustics, and sometimes in places with acoustics that were just okay. And they posted to RUclips. Their fans from _The Sing-Off_ quickly found them there, and subscribed, and they began to get more views and more subscribers, and to pick up a few patrons. In fact, they were going viral. And Sony noticed, and approached them with an offer: Perhaps Pentatonix would like a recording contract with Madison Gate, another minor subsidiary? Hmmm. 🤔 Would they like a recording contract? Might have to think about that, for a second or two. Darn right they'd like a recording contract! And then came "Daft Punk Medley," and Pentatonix won their first Grammy. And again, Sony took notice, and approached Pentatonix: "We've been thinking about it and we believe you might find a better fit with our flagship label, RCA. Are you interested?" They've been with RCA ever since, though I believe they just signed with a new publisher, Republic Records. They go on tours world wide and perform to sold-out venues. They put out at *least* one album a year, frequently more (though it looks like they aren't putting out an album in 2024; I think they've run out of Christmas songs). One album has gone Gold and one has gone Platinum twice. They have three Grammys and recently received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. And they are the only a cappella band to have won so much as *one* Grammy, or to be represented on the Walk of Fame. The most important part of this story is the fact that Pentatonix began with The Trio, three best friends so close to one another that they might as well be family. And from the very beginning, everyone who has joined with them to form Pentatonix has been incorporated into that family-of-choice. As a family, Pentatonix takes care of all its members. One of the things this means is that everyone gets time in the spotlight. Pentatonix has no lead singer. Yes, some songs call for a lead, and when that happens Pentatonix chooses the member whose voice best suits the song. This is one way that everyone gets time in the spotlight, and it means that no one is burdened with having to always be the lead. And when songs don't require a lead, Pentatonix frequently has each member solo on one or more verses. The members of Pentatonix are able to set their egos aside because each of them is already receiving as much acclaim as any healthy ego could need. And that leaves them free to concentrate on taking care of both the people they love and the music they love. This focus on doing whatever is best for the music is, in my opinion, *the* thing that makes Pentatonix greater than the sum of its parts. And their focus on caring for one another is the reason we like them as people, not just as singers.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! The premier Christmas sounds are from Pentatonix. Fall into the rabbit hole and enjoy the ride. You have about 13 years to catch up with. Ask the Pentaholics anything and they will respond. Best way to grow your channel.
Scott, (Baritone who starts off), Kritie and Mitch the incredible tenor have been singing together since high school- and they are magical together. Kevin is INCREDIBLE. Avi Kaplan, Bass in this one, has left the group and been replaced by Matt Sallee who is EQUALLY wonderful.. I've seen them live 3 times and they are even better in concert- 3 grammys and a star on hollywood blvd later- this group just keeps getting better and better... Keep going down the rabbit hole... (we call ourselves Penta-holics..)
The Mitch slap did not disappoint. Mitch is a counter tenor which is higher than a tenor and the rarest of the voice types. In order of appearance Scott hoying baritone Also covers bass when bass is singing. Avi Kaplan bass. Actually he's a basso profundo which means he sings lower than a bass and just like 10 Foust from home free they both have both blown speakers and there is video of This happening on several occasions.Avi Did it regularly enough that Pentatonix started to carry their own speakers. Kirstie (Rhymes with thirsty) Maldonado Mezzo soprano. And Kevin is the beatboxer. He does occasionally sing and he has a gorgeous tenor voice. He also plays the cello.. He Call this cello boxing. He beatboxes while playing the cello. He's a world class cello player having performed at Carnegie hall. To see him in his element With the cello boxing react to Kevin's 5th. It gives the backstory of Kevin becoming involved with Pentatonix And how he has personally evolved. Fans of Pentatonix are called pentaholics. Pentatonix is the most well known of the acapella groups. You'll want to add the bass gang on your rotation Acapella groups. There is a video titled 101 facts about Pentatonix that gives you the whole background All of the singers. In 2017 Avi left the group and was replaced by matt Sallee. This is the only change in the lineup. Mitch and Kirstie change their look very often. There is video of them doing this live because there is no loop. 1 is called a Pentatonix Christmas special and the other 1 they just released. The 1st 1 has RV the second 1 has matt. They have 13 Grammys. The next step should be daft punk which they won their 1st Grammy for. They have their star on the Hollywood walk of fame. And I just found out they're in a Christmas Movie But I can't remember the name of it. They have a video titled the making of evergreen. They invite the cameras in to them recording their Christmas album evergreen and you would probably find that very very interesting.. Pentatonix owns chrismas. This year mark's their 9th Christmas album. Way too many songs To list as You're next although bohemian rhapsody should be at the top of the list. All 3 acapella groups are rabbit holes you want to go down. The fans are extremely extremely loyal and knowledgeable and will follow their band Wherever there they go.. I know several channels that were built upon the 3 acapella groups
Actually I think what you meant to say was they have won three Grammys out of five nominations. The Christmas movie you were talking about is called Meet Me Next Christmas.
It's truly a must, that you react to their Bohemian Rhapsody, as your next Pentatonix reaction. They spent 5 years perfecting the arrangement and video, out of respect for Freddie Mercury and Queen.
I just love it when someone listens to Pentatonix for the first time. The young man in the hat is Mitch. And when you hear his voice for the first time, we call that getting "Mitch slapped!" 😆 Great reaction, thanks.
Keep on the roll. Their official Daft Punk, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Prayer, Imagine (Lennon), Mary Did You Know ... all CHERISHED INCREDIBLE vids. Everything they do is incredible. Thank you for your reaction!
PTX are the ultimate acapella group. That is why they have already won 3 Grammies & got a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Have a listen to "Mary Did You Know", just awesome. 🎄🎄🎄
Welcome to the rabbit hole that is Pentatonix. There are so many more videos/songs that they've done that you've barely touched the surface! Their fans are called Pentaholics. And that was a Mitch slap, although that's not the highest he can go!
They've matured so much even since this! You should listen to their Christmas choices! They OWN Christmas! You know it's Christmas when Pentatonix fills the air! I'd suggest sampling their recent video of O Holy Night. A total work of visual & musical art! 🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶 ❤
Welcome to the PTX rabbit hole. Oh holy night, 12 days of christmas, oh come all ye faithful are 3 great christmas songs, then they have alot of other songs, the best a capella group out there. Merry christmas and a happy ending/start of the new year!
Here's one for you, PTX's version of Little Drummer Boy. This will quickly become your favorite. ruclips.net/video/qJ_MGWio-vc/видео.htmlsi=DbhLmFDDVHnefAGM Enjoy! Merry Christmas!
As I've said in other comments regarding acapella, it's my favourite type of music, because it's primitive human technology. To use just voices, no instruments, was the way our ancestors started out, and it strikes a chord deep within me. I love your reviews because you are a musician - I learn new aspects of songs I've heard before, and it brings me a deeper understanding. Thank You.
These guys are world class. I have been anxiously awaiting you sticking your head in this rabbit hole. They have a version of O Holy Night that will blow your socks off.
Thanks for the reaction. Mitch, the one with the hat, is a counter tenor and he met Kirstie when they were 8 doing musical theater. He met Scott the tall baritone when they were 10, also doing Musical Theater, a now defunct program for Texas children All 3 ended up in the same Hi School at 14 and when they. Won the Sing off in 2011, they were just 19. So, they have been singing together since childhood. They got Kevin thru the internet when he went viral while cello boxing, beat boxing while playing the cello. Avi, the base was recommended by a friend
I highly recommend you check out their take on “Bohemian Rhapsody”. I also suggest that you look at their behind the scenes of the recording of their “Evergreen” album. It will give you much better understanding of how they create their sound.
Hehehe... you commented on the bass line when Avi, their bass was singing the melody. That was Scott, their baritone, covering the bass part while Avi was singing. Yes, they are that versatile.
Mitch, Kirstie and Scott went to high school together. When they tried out for an a capella competition, they had to have five members, so they convinced Kevin and Avi to join the group.
Welcome to the Pentatonix rabbit hole. There are so many amazing songs to choose from in just about every genre you can think of. Some suggestions: Daft Punk, Kiss From a Rose, Bohemian Rhapsody, Amazing Grace, The Prayer, and too many great Christmas songs to count. I think we have a new Pentaholic on our hands!! LOL
Your reaction was a perfect gift. So glad you finally got to hear these incredible voices. Merry Christmas and blessings to you and your family! ✝️🎄🧑🎄
Great reaction. Loved watching your first Mitch slap. We've all been there. Believe it or not, they sound even better in person. Suggestions for your next reactions are their Daft Punk Medley and their Bohemian Raphsody Cover. Honestly, they have well over 200 songs in their catalogue. There are plenty of originals and upgrades (covers) to choose from, including three songs that won them the coveted Grammy Award. Looking forward to more PTX reactions from you.
Pentatonix a not so "brief" background. They won The Sing Off in 2011. They made a guest starring appearance on America′s Got Talent as non−competitors a couple of years after that. The founding members are:- Scott Hoying (tall blond guy, natural baritone but has an impressive five−to−six octave range, can go all the way up to high tenor and down to bass, sings the bass lines when the usual bass singer takes the lead);
Kirstin "Kirstie" (Rhymes with "Thirsty") Maldonado (the only female member, natural mezzo soprano, but can go down to low alto and as high as upper soprano, also can sing in whistle notes that are off the scale); For a time in 2018 between the group’s tours, had the female lead on Broadway in the production of “Kinky Boots”. Mitch Grassi (a true contra−tenor, can hit high notes in his chest voice with ease and go WAY higher in his falsetto, also with ease); Avriel "Avi" Kaplan (dark beard and long hair), true basso profundo, trained as an opera singer, also can go up into the tenor range; and Kevin "KO" Olusola (beatboxer extraordinaire, also is a world−class cellist who plays cello on some of their songs, has a beautiful high tenor voice and gets occasional lead vocal solos as well, graduated pre−med from Yale and speaks several languages including Mandarin Chinese). Kirstie, Scott & Mitch grew up together in Arlington, Texas, and began performing together as children in local youth musical theater. They ended up in high school together and performed in the choir. While there, they formed an a cappella group called The Trio which had several performance videos go viral on RUclips, most notably a cover of Lady Gaga′s "Telephone". The three of them are best friends and consider themselves to be almost siblings. Scott & Kirstie (who were a class year ahead of Mitch) both graduated high school in 2010 and went their separate ways to different colleges, Scott at USC and Kirstie at Oklahoma. While at USC, Scott joined a USC−based a cappella group called the SoCal VoCals, where he met alumnus Ben Bram, who was now an arranger and vocal coach for the NBC TV show The Sing Off, an a cappella competition show. Ben convinced Scott to get The Trio to audition for the show. The three reunited (Mitch had to skip high school graduation ceremonies to go) in Los Angeles for the audition. They found out that the rules had changed, so they needed at least five members to audition. Ben put them together with Avi (a native of Visalia, California), who he knew from Avi′s performing days at Mount San Antonio College in California. They found Kevin (from Kentucky) through one of his RUclips videos that had gone viral featuring him playing the cello and beatboxing at the same time, a talent that Kevin coined as "Cello−Boxing". Kevin arrived in Los Angeles literally the day before the audition! Scott came up with the name "Pentatonix" after the pentatonic scale. They performed a re−arrangement of "The Telephone" for the audition and passed, despite having been together as a five−piece group for less that 24 hours! They won The Sing Off that season (all of the performances are available on RUclips), in which they received a substantial cash prize AND a record contract with Epic Records. They pooled their prize winnings together and all moved to Los Angeles, and all got apartments right next door to each other in the same building. But just a week later, Epic dropped them because the marketing people didn′t think an a cappella group could sell records. Instead of giving up, they were determined and began recording their own songs on RUclips, hiring Ben Bram as their producer and arranger. These usually consisted of the five of them sitting on a couch and performing cover songs live. Several of the videos went viral, and Sony (the parent company of Epic) decided to give them another chance by placing them on one of their smaller labels, Madison Gate. They released two secular EPs and one Christmas EP on Madison Gate, all of which were strong sellers. But when their cover of a medley of songs by Daft Punk not only went super−viral, but also won them their first Grammy, they were promoted all the way up to RCA Records, Sony′s top label. They began writing and producing their own songs in addition to their covers, began putting out a Christmas album just about annually (which has become their best−selling genre), and have had multi−platinum album sales, sold−out world tours, and have won two additional Grammys. Avi began getting burned out with all of the touring and heavy recording schedule, was suffering from anxiety and personal problems, and learned that his mother had been diagnosed with cancer in 2017. He announced he was departing from the group and taking some time away from the music industry. Matt Sallee (from Baltimore) joined them in September 2017. He did only become official when they renewed their RCA contract in February 2018, but he recorded with them in September as a featured artist and went on their Christmas tour as a featured artist, as well. When he attended the audition for the group, he had already mastered the Bass part for most if not all their past catalogue. He was successful and has proved that he fits in well with the group. If you think there have been other changes to the line up - look again. This is the ONLY change. Kirstie and Mitch are like chameleons and change looks frequently. It is an often debated subject among the Pentaholics as to just how soon we introduce the "Beginners Guide" as we don't want to overdo the introduction. This is a compilation of snips of a whole load of songs which PTX have released. It highlights each member with some of their solos and then a brief history in video. It is quite long - 14+ minutes and is a little dated now (Feb 2020) but is a good watch ruclips.net/video/lDxIfwfCmQE/видео.html&pp=ygUdYmVnaW5uZXJzIGd1aWRlIHRvIHBlbnRhdG9uaXg%3D. After a year away from music, Avi has now returned as a phenomenal solo artist in the Folk/Americana/Roots genre. Ben Bram has been in charge of their production, including arranging and directing from the beginning. He is often referred to as the sixth member. Scott and Kevin are major players in the arrangements, but every member contributes. A good watch is "The Recording of Evergreen" where a camera was invited into the studio for the second week of recording. Also, all members are songwriters for both Pentatonix and their own solo work. Ed Boyer who mixes everything of theirs (even the HWB Livestream) is the one who pulled Ben Bram into the sing off in the first place. They have Grammy wins for Daft Punk Medley, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Jolene featuring Dolly Parton. They were nominated for a 4th Grammy for their album Evergreen, but didn't win. Another nomination for Holidays Around the World album in the 2024 list! Kirstie became a new mum which caused a pause in touring after their Evergreen Christmas tour 2021. Mid March 2023 Kirstie has announced that she is engaged to Ben Hausdorff, their videographer. They married 22/04/24! Not clear how the future is to follow, but Kirstie has announced that she is expecting number 2 in early 2025. Not critical to the groups touring schedule, but Scott, Kevin and Matt are all married. Kevin and Matt with children. They have a star on the Hollywood walk of fame installed in February 2023. They are the only a capella group with a star! They came 3rd in the 2023 Masked Singer performing as "California Rolls" being unmasked in May 23. 2024 they have anounced a change of record label. Lets see where that leads. Things you need to know because if you get these wrong Pentaholics will come after you with pitch forks and torches! Ha Ha!! 1- There is NO Auto-Tune; what you hear is actually what they sing. They really are that good. One exception is the 90's Dance Medley where Cher used autotune as an effect - so they had to. 2- What produces everything that you hear in the video, you see in the official video. If there is an instrument used in the music, you see it on screen. In the 2022 Christmas album, there are some instruments not featured throughout the album. 3- They never release something on video they can’t reproduce with the exact same quality live on-stage. 4. It is "Pentatonix" there is no "The".
As you go through the journey(I suggest starting with the Sing Off), keep in mind that there has only been 1 member change; Avi (ah-vee, jesus in a beanie) left in 2017. Matt replaced him months later. I mention this because Mitch (wide rim hat) and Kirstie (like thirsty) look different in nearly every video.
Mary, Did you Know ... one of their best The Prayer ... oh, you can't believe what they can do ... try Bohemian Rhapsody too (on their couch). Now the one with the beard is no longer with the group (Avi), but his replacement Matt is just great too. Check out You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch. It's fantastic. Pentatonix doesn't just do covers, they enhance them. Also, they do NOT do any covers on video, that they can't do exactly the same live. Merry Christmas and wishing you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year from Canada.
This is the original group in order of singing… Scott, Avi, Kirsten, Mitch and Kevin the beat boxer. In 2017 Avi left for personal reasons and was replaced by Matt so some of their songs will have Avi and some will have Matt. Scott, Kristen and Mitch have known each other since they were kids. They found Avi through a friend and they found Kevin online. Other songs to check out are Carol of the Bells, O Come All Ye Faithful, The Sound of Sikence, The Orayer and You’re a Mean One Mr Grinch. They won the Sing Off and you can see their journey on youtube
PTX have amazing Christmas tunes, but so, so many others you'll enjoy. This is only the beginning. I wish I could start over at the beginning. Buckle up!
The members of #Pentatonix. In this video we have: • First verse: Tall blond guy, Scott Hoying, lyric baritone. In describing a man's vocal range, "lyric" means that the actual range exceeds the nominal range. In Scott's case, he sings everywhere from about the middle of a normal bass range through a normal tenor range, with an excellent falsetto on top. In live performances Scott typically takes over the bass harmony line when their bass has a solo. • Second verse: Bearded guy wearing a stocking cap, Avi (pronounced Ah'-vee, emphasis on the first syllable) Kaplan, lyric bass. Avi is an operatically trained basso profundo - his lowest notes have blown out speakers in live performances - but his range extends to somewhere in the middle of a normal tenor range. If this were a live performance you'd be hearing Scott singing the bass line during Avi's solo, but if you listen carefully you can hear the bass starting up during Scott's solo, and the voice doesn't change as it continues into Avi's solo. So what gives? Early on, they decided that when they're recording in the studio for release on an album, it's worth a small cheat to improve the audio quality. The bass records one track with the bass line for the entire song, and a separate track with his solo, which is then layered in over the bass track. And since this is an official video of a song that was released on an album, that's Avi you hear singing bass while he's also soloing in the baritone and tenor parts of his range. • Third verse: The only woman in Pentatonix, Kirstin (also called Kirstie, which rhymes with thirsty) Maldonado. Kirstin sings everywhere from a low alto through coloratura soprano, the highest female range. And she has fantastic whistle notes on top of that. Lately Pentatonix has begun referring to her as an "alto soprano." • Fourth verse: Guy wearing a wide-brimmed hat, Mitch Grassi (pronounced Grah'-see, emphasis on the first syllable), natural contratenor. No one is certain whether Mitch can sing higher than Kirstin or Kirstin can sing higher than Mitch; I suspect that it varies from day to day, though everyone agrees that Kirstin has better whistle notes. Mitch is known for his ethereally beautiful (some say "angelic") high vocals. Shawn Stockman, of Boyz II Men, said Mitch has "one of the prettiest voices I have ever heard in my life." Mitch switches seamlessly from chest voice to mixed voice to head voice. He has a range of just over six octaves. And we call that stunned look people get the first time they realize that the beautiful high voice is coming from a man, "being Mitch slapped." You've just been Mitch slapped. Don't let it worry you; it's happened to all of us, generally more than once because Mitch is full of surprises. • The fifth member of Pentatonix (PTX for short) is Kevin Olusola (pronounced Oh-loosh"-oh-luh', primary emphasis on the second syllable, secondary emphasis on the fourth), beatboxer extraordinaire. We don't get to hear Kevin sing as often as we'd like because he's generally too busy being the entire percussion section, but when he does sing he has a lovely tenor voice that occasionally descends to the uppermost reaches of a baritone range. He's also known for the beauty of his falsetto, which goes higher than Mitch's and Kirstin's voices. Kevin has perfect pitch. He began piano lessons at age 4, cello at age 6, and alto saxophone at age 10. When he was a teenager he performed at Carnegie Hall twice, once on the cello and once on the saxophone. He beatboxes while playing the cello, which he refers to as "celloboxing." He graduated from Yale in 2011 with a pre-med major and had already been accepted to Yale Medical School when he gave up his dream of becoming a surgeon to pursue his dream of becoming a professional beatboxer instead. He speaks five languages fluently: English, French, German, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. He's one of the kindest people in the world, and when he laughs the whole planet seems like a brighter place. In 2017 Avi found it necessary to leave Pentatonix, for a variety of personal reasons. He has since gone on to have a very successful solo career, and I strongly recommend subscribing to his RUclips channel, which you can find here: youtube.com/@AviKaplanMusic Avi's replacement joined in either late 2017 or early 2018 (depending on how you figure it) and has now been with Pentatonix longer than Avi was. You'll see him in all of their newer videos: • The second black member of Pentatonix is Matt Sallee (pronounced Suh-lee', emphasis on the second syllable), lyric bass. In addition to being the newest member of Pentatonix Matt is also the youngest member, and I'm told that bass voices improve with age. Matt's range seems to be growing on a daily basis right now. His lowest notes don't blow out speakers (though that may change within a year or two). But on his high end Matt is very close to matching Kevin's falsetto.. To find his current range I recommend listening to a recent live performance of "Hallelujah." You can find one here: ruclips.net/video/Se0BmDdZuX0/видео.html Matt's arrangement of the second verse seems to be designed to show off his full range, which is astonishing. I believe Matt has the largest range of any member of Pentatonix, past or present, though Scott is getting close to matching him.
Wish I could press the thumbs up 10 more times. Loved the Mitch slap but appreciated the overall understanding of just how good they are. Would love to see you react to the live version(s). Oldest first so you can see the growth together. 😊
Pentatonix formed as a group when they were preparing for the televised a capella competition The Sing-Off. Kirstin (soprano), Scott (blond), and Mitch (wide-brim hat) had sung together in high school. While in college, Scott found out about the Sing-Off and asked his old schoolmates to join him. It was suggested that they add a bass and beatboxer. They met Avi Kaplan through a mutual friend and found Kevin Olusola from a youtube video. Kevin agreed to join them "temporarily" long enough to audition, with plans to start med school afterwards. Not only did they successfully audition, they won Season 3 of the Sing-Off. Spoiler: Kevin never went back to med school! There has only been one change in the line-up. Avi Kaplan left the group about three years in and was replaced by Matt Sallee. You need to check out Home Free's cover of Ring of Fire which features Avi as a guest artist.
Actually Avi Kaplan left after 6 years, in September 2017, and released his first song, "Change on the Rise" in March 2019. He has since built up quite a diverse catalog, about 90% of which are original pieces, and has toured the US. Canada and Europe a few times. Since you're involved in audio production, you might enjoy this version of Avi's "All Is Well", recorded by 7 Layers Sessions in an Utrecht, Netherlands church during his 2022 European tour. I don't need to tell you the effect performing in a church can have on acoustics and reverb. This song is a great example of that. ruclips.net/video/sNjbAAjF4Tg/видео.html
They are the masters of Acapella. I am sure one of us Pentaholics will fill you in about all the info. Their catalog is huge. Their fan base , wel 20,4 M on youtube. That for a Acapella group. Only 1 thing to remember; since they won the sing off 2011 only 1 MEMBER left the group amicably- the deep bass Avi Kaplan and Matt joined the band. Kirstie (rhymes with thirsty) and Mitch the high counter tenor changes Their appearances so often. Then Scott is the blonde and Kevin is the beatboxer/ cello player/ tenor singer. From a absolute Pentaholic. Greetings from South Africa
Oh my word, what a wonderful reaction! They can be so moving and are uber talented. From 3 friends in high school to stardom! Other ppl will give you their background. I'm mega excited to follow your journey with them. Over the moon happy that you love them so much. Merry Christmas! You've given me a gift today with this. Thank you so much. 🥰❤🎄 The Prayer and Amazing Grace are also very moving. But spiritual music isn't all they do. They have fun, do so many Christmas songs, write original music and cover many genres too.
Oh Yeay, Welcome to the PTX world. My favorite is Mary Did You Know. Its amazing and I think you will be blown away. Thank you for what you do. I always enjoy your reactions and authenticity. Welcome to the rabbit hole.
Love your reaction! Especially what is called the Mitch slap. He does it every time. You have got to listen to "Mary Did You Know" and "The Prayer" Also "Oh Holy Night"
I absolutely LOVE their version of "Mary Did You Know" it is phenomenal! And Tis the season!!! It would be great if you could play that next! The song lyrics were written by Mark Lowry, and the first time I heard it he was with a gospel show called The Gaither's. It is beautiful and you won't be sorry. ~ big fan ~ Beth Ann
Scott, the first soloist, Kirstin/Kirsty the lady and Mitch, the high pitched male attended High school together and sang together. NBC was having their A Capella sing off and Scott was desperate for them to participate. Avi, , second soloist and the bass (Classically/operatically trained) had just received an invitation to be the principle bass for the L.A. Opera House the day before. The sing off was two days away and he desperately needed a profound bass. He knew of Ben Bram the extraordinary arranger and gave him a call. He asked Ben where he cold find a great bass and ben immediately told him to call Avi and gave Scott Avi's number. Scott called Avi and Avi immediately put away the Opera position for the possibility of the group doing well. At the same time, Scott was desperately looking for a beat boxer on the internet. He ran across a video of Kevin which already had a great number of views and like Avi had to hunt him down. Kevin had just graduated from Yale in pre-med and his plans were to enter med school. He had been learning languages like Mandarin Chinese as his plans were to become a Medical Dr. and become a medical missionary in China but he thought the sing off would be done and he also came on board. Avi already lived in L.A. where he had graduated University. Again, all of this happened in 2 days. in my personal opinion, Avi is the greatest bass out there today though there are some great ones like Geoff Castellucci and Tim Faust. Avi just has that sound that resonance the others do not. They won the sing off and the rest is history. The sing off was grueling and they immediately began touring, making albums without a break for 6 years. Avi's mother had a relapse of cancer and He could not even get away to go home to be with his parents and he had a complete breakdown. He left the group and went into hiding for the better part of 3 years. He was with his parents a lot, then he and a friend headed out into the wilderness to camp for quite awhile. After the camping, time he headed to Israel to visit his grandmother and his brother. Spent a lot of time hiking the Galilee then headed to his cabin he had purchased in Tennessee. The cabin sat on 1000+/- acres of land and it gave him solace as he mended. I have not kept up with Pentatonix since Avi left the group. He just added such greatness no one else could. You should check out some of his songwriting and solo work if you have some time. Avi Kaplan
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This is absolutely UNREAL!! I cannot wait to dig into more from them! Amazing!
The Mitch slap was priceless😂😂👍👍
I know, I was waiting for it…
It's what we all wait for from PTX virgins lol
It really never gets old :)
🤣
I always watch for the Mitch slap
They aren’t an a cappella group, they are THE a cappella group. If you want more Christmas music, That’s Christmas to me, Please Santa Please, Kid on Christmas, or Meet Me Next Christmas.
But if you want to see their range, watch their Daft Punk medley, their Evolution of Michael Jackson, their cover of Imagine, and Bohemian Rhapsody.
Im here for the Mitch slap😂😂👍👍
Yep! 😄
It did not disappoint!
same
Love the Mitch-slap! He is a counter tenor. His range is insane.
Their version of "Mary did you know" is one of my favorites.
Mine, too!!! ❤❤❤❤❤
Superb and second only (in my opinion) to the Voctave version.
With all due respect to VoicePlay and Home Free…they wouldn’t exist without PTX. They were the ones who broke this style into mainstream music like no other and made it possible for other groups to follow. Those other groups are great of course! But Pentatonix paved the way and they have been and will always be the best!❤️
They are sheer perfection. "Mary, did you Know," "The Prayer," "God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen," "O Come all ye Faithful," "Carol of the Bells," and "Little Drummer Boy." These could take us to the New Year 🙂
Where #Pentatonix came from:
Kirstin, Mitch, and Scott all grew up in Arlington, Texas. All of them were involved with community musical theater as children, and Mitch met both Scott and Kirstin there (separately) when they were still pre-teens, and became friends with each of them. However, Scott and Kirstin didn't meet each other until they were fourteen and in the same high school class. All three were choir geeks (duh), and they quickly became best friends in high school. And if you're wondering what was in the water in Arlington in the early 1990s that three such remarkably talented people should all be born in such proximity, you aren't the only one.
There was some kind of singing contest to meet the stars of _Glee,_ and the three of them wanted to enter, so they formed a trio which they named "The Trio." (I know; not very imaginative. They're somewhat better with that now.) They lost the contest, but they kept The Trio together anyway; they performed at school functions and occasionally on local television. Pentaholics still refer to these three as "the trio," and the trio is the heart of Pentatonix.
Kirstin and Scott were a year ahead of Mitch; they graduated in 2010, when Mitch was still in eleventh grade, and both went away for their freshman year of college. Kirstin went to the University of Oklahoma (with a full ride scholarship!), and Scott went to the University of Southern Califonia.
Scott is a very outgoing person, so he immediately began looking around for extracurricular activities where he could meet people and make new friends, and he found an award-winning amateur a cappella group named SoCal VoCals, which he joined. While there he met a former member named Ben Bram, who at the time was a coach on NBC's a cappella competition show named _"The Sing-Off."_ A cappella groups would audition for the show, and those that passed appeared throughout the season. There was a panel of three judges, all professional musicians, who would critique each performance. Along the way some groups would be eliminated, narrowing the field, and at the end of the season viewers would be invited to vote on a winner. The winning group would receive $200,000 and a recording contract with Epic, a minor subsidiary of Sony, the show's sponsor.
Scott was intrigued. He thought The Trio could be competitive, and if they could get a recording contract they could have a career doing what they most loved, with the people they most loved. So he talked to Kirstin, who thought his idea had promise, and at the end of their first year of college the two of them headed back to Arlington to be there for Mitch's graduation and to talk with Mitch about Scott's idea.
Meanwhile, back in Arlington Mitch had been having a very difficult year. His best friends weren't there, and as an out-of-the-closet young gay man with an unusually high voice he was being seriously bullied. And unfortunately, since the bullying was ostensibly for his voice he was quickly developing the notion that there was something wrong with his voice and that no one would want to hear him sing. So when Scott presented his idea Mitch was on board; it was a way to get away from the bullies. He had doubts about his ability to carry his weight in the group, because of the bullying, but he was willing to try, and if Scott and Kirstin said they could win, well, maybe they could.
So with everyone agreed, Scott called Ben Bram to find out how to arrange for an audition, and this is where they met their first setback. _The Sing-Off_ had a size requirement; the minimum size allowed was five. The Trio needed two new members and a new name. They were stumped.
Ben suggested that they'd profit from adding a rhythm section: a bass and a beatboxer, and he knew the perfect person to recommend for the bass, a guy named Avi Kaplan. They talked to Avi, and he was very interested, so that took care of the bass, but where to find the beatboxer? Ben didn't have any suggestions. So in desperation they typed "beatboxer" into a RUclips search box and the first hit they got was a black guy playing a classical piece on the cello and beatboxing at the same time. And all of them said, "Wow! He's the one! How can we get in touch with him?"
They were in luck. At the time RUclips had something called RUclips messages, which would allow private messages between members (now discontinued), so they sent Kevin a private message: "Hey! We really love your stuff, and we wonder if you'd be interested in flying across the country to join four strangers to audition for an a cappella competition show on television?" And Kevin messaged them back: "Normally I'd be there in a heart beat; I love a cappella and have been in a cappella groups before. But right now I'm studying for my final exams for my pre-med major from Yale." Oh. That sounded pretty definite; better keep looking. So they kept looking, and they found someone, but he was no Kevin Olusola. Oh well; you work with what you have.
And two weeks later Kevin messaged them again: "Good news! I just graduated. If the gig's still open I can fly out." He arrived the day before their audition. Mitch had to skip his graduation ceremony to attend the audition. But even with just a day of rehearsal they still passed the audition; they were in.
Oh, yes, the name. Pentatonix is named for the pentatonic scale, which has five (penta) tones just as Pentatonix has five (Penta) singers. In other words, it's a fancier way of saying they're now "The Quintet." 😂
Pentatonix appeared throughout season three of _The Sing-Off,_ and eventually won. (Just FYI, Home Free also got their start on _The Sing-Off;_ they won season 4.) All those performances are available on RUclips and are well worth watching, preferably in order so you can see how they grew throughout the season. Some of them are as good as anything they've done since (which is saying a lot) and are only available in those old videos. (Note: If you decide to react to these, be sure and watch the versions that contain the show's introduction of Pentatonix just before the performance, and the judges' critiques of the performance, and any comments Pentatonix made backstage.)
So, they'd won _The Sing-Off,_ complete with recording contract. Time to move to California permanently and begin recording. And a week later Epic reneged on the contract, saying that they didn't know how to market a cappella. But at this point Pentatonix weren't willing to give up; they *wanted* that career they'd been working toward. So they pooled their winnings and lived frugally. The four men shared two apartments, to cut down on expenses. They arranged music and rehearsed every day, and when they had a song ready they used their iPhones to record themselves anywhere they could find good acoustics, and sometimes in places with acoustics that were just okay. And they posted to RUclips. Their fans from _The Sing-Off_ quickly found them there, and subscribed, and they began to get more views and more subscribers, and to pick up a few patrons. In fact, they were going viral. And Sony noticed, and approached them with an offer: Perhaps Pentatonix would like a recording contract with Madison Gate, another minor subsidiary? Hmmm. 🤔 Would they like a recording contract? Might have to think about that, for a second or two. Darn right they'd like a recording contract!
And then came "Daft Punk Medley," and Pentatonix won their first Grammy. And again, Sony took notice, and approached Pentatonix: "We've been thinking about it and we believe you might find a better fit with our flagship label, RCA. Are you interested?" They've been with RCA ever since, though I believe they just signed with a new publisher, Republic Records. They go on tours world wide and perform to sold-out venues. They put out at *least* one album a year, frequently more (though it looks like they aren't putting out an album in 2024; I think they've run out of Christmas songs). One album has gone Gold and one has gone Platinum twice. They have three Grammys and recently received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. And they are the only a cappella band to have won so much as *one* Grammy, or to be represented on the Walk of Fame.
The most important part of this story is the fact that Pentatonix began with The Trio, three best friends so close to one another that they might as well be family. And from the very beginning, everyone who has joined with them to form Pentatonix has been incorporated into that family-of-choice. As a family, Pentatonix takes care of all its members. One of the things this means is that everyone gets time in the spotlight.
Pentatonix has no lead singer. Yes, some songs call for a lead, and when that happens Pentatonix chooses the member whose voice best suits the song. This is one way that everyone gets time in the spotlight, and it means that no one is burdened with having to always be the lead. And when songs don't require a lead, Pentatonix frequently has each member solo on one or more verses. The members of Pentatonix are able to set their egos aside because each of them is already receiving as much acclaim as any healthy ego could need. And that leaves them free to concentrate on taking care of both the people they love and the music they love.
This focus on doing whatever is best for the music is, in my opinion, *the* thing that makes Pentatonix greater than the sum of its parts. And their focus on caring for one another is the reason we like them as people, not just as singers.
I'm here for the Mitch slap... and am not disappointed! ❤❤
three of them met in Jr. High choir that music teacher must have died and went to heaven
Yaaaas!! You gave us Pentaholics the Mitch Slap reaction we crave!!! 😂
OMG OMG OMG!! I can’t believe you’re checking out PTX!!! I’m a Pentaholic!! Please go down this rabbit hole!
All of their songs are absolutely amazing, but I bet you’d love their version on Amazing Grace, and the newer Oh Holy Night! ❤❤
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
The premier Christmas sounds are from Pentatonix. Fall into the rabbit hole and enjoy the ride. You have about 13 years to catch up with.
Ask the Pentaholics anything and they will respond. Best way to grow your channel.
Scott, (Baritone who starts off), Kritie and Mitch the incredible tenor have been singing together since high school- and they are magical together. Kevin is INCREDIBLE. Avi Kaplan, Bass in this one, has left the group and been replaced by Matt Sallee who is EQUALLY wonderful.. I've seen them live 3 times and they are even better in concert- 3 grammys and a star on hollywood blvd later- this group just keeps getting better and better... Keep going down the rabbit hole... (we call ourselves Penta-holics..)
The Mitch slap did not disappoint. Mitch is a counter tenor which is higher than a tenor and the rarest of the voice types. In order of appearance Scott hoying baritone Also covers bass when bass is singing. Avi Kaplan bass. Actually he's a basso profundo which means he sings lower than a bass and just like 10 Foust from home free they both have both blown speakers and there is video of This happening on several occasions.Avi Did it regularly enough that Pentatonix started to carry their own speakers.
Kirstie (Rhymes with thirsty) Maldonado Mezzo soprano. And Kevin is the beatboxer. He does occasionally sing and he has a gorgeous tenor voice. He also plays the cello.. He Call this cello boxing. He beatboxes while playing the cello. He's a world class cello player having performed at Carnegie hall. To see him in his element With the cello boxing react to Kevin's 5th. It gives the backstory of Kevin becoming involved with Pentatonix And how he has personally evolved. Fans of Pentatonix are called pentaholics. Pentatonix is the most well known of the acapella groups. You'll want to add the bass gang on your rotation Acapella groups. There is a video titled 101 facts about Pentatonix that gives you the whole background All of the singers. In 2017 Avi left the group and was replaced by matt Sallee. This is the only change in the lineup. Mitch and Kirstie change their look very often. There is video of them doing this live because there is no loop. 1 is called a Pentatonix Christmas special and the other 1 they just released. The 1st 1 has RV the second 1 has matt. They have 13 Grammys. The next step should be daft punk which they won their 1st Grammy for. They have their star on the Hollywood walk of fame. And I just found out they're in a Christmas Movie But I can't remember the name of it. They have a video titled the making of evergreen. They invite the cameras in to them recording their Christmas album evergreen and you would probably find that very very interesting.. Pentatonix owns chrismas. This year mark's their 9th Christmas album. Way too many songs To list as You're next although bohemian rhapsody should be at the top of the list. All 3 acapella groups are rabbit holes you want to go down. The fans are extremely extremely loyal and knowledgeable and will follow their band Wherever there they go.. I know several channels that were built upon the 3 acapella groups
If you want to build your channel, do a PTX video reaction once a week. The Pentaholics will come. Same with Home Free, the Home Fries will tune in.
Actually I think what you meant to say was they have won three Grammys out of five nominations. The Christmas movie you were talking about is called Meet Me Next Christmas.
It's truly a must, that you react to their Bohemian Rhapsody, as your next Pentatonix reaction. They spent 5 years perfecting the arrangement and video, out of respect for Freddie Mercury and Queen.
Daft Punk.is another huge hit.
Spoiler alert, they nailed it!
Brian May even posted it on his socials with a sweet shout out or PTX
For the true Pentatonix experience, start with the "Sing Off" from about 11-12 years ago. Then watch the progression.
I just love it when someone listens to Pentatonix for the first time. The young man in the hat is Mitch. And when you hear his voice for the first time, we call that getting "Mitch slapped!" 😆 Great reaction, thanks.
Avi is the bass. Check out his solo music. Great!❤
Little drummer boy, Kiss from a rose - Pentatonix
"Tis the season for Pentatonix! You'd probably enjoy the "Making of Evergreen" BTS from a couple of years ago. It shows them in the studio working.
THAT IS WHY PTX IS THE NUMBER ONE ACAPELLA GROUP IN THE WORLD.
Keep on the roll. Their official Daft Punk, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Prayer, Imagine (Lennon), Mary Did You Know ... all CHERISHED INCREDIBLE vids. Everything they do is incredible. Thank you for your reaction!
well Hallelujah isn't a Christmas song but I came for the Mitch slap and was not disappointed
PTX are the ultimate acapella group. That is why they have already won 3 Grammies & got a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Have a listen to "Mary Did You Know", just awesome. 🎄🎄🎄
I'm here for the Mitch face 😂❤
Definitely threw me for a loop! 😂
Welcome to the rabbit hole that is Pentatonix. There are so many more videos/songs that they've done that you've barely touched the surface! Their fans are called Pentaholics. And that was a Mitch slap, although that's not the highest he can go!
Yep, Steven has been "Mitch Slapped"! He's now a " Pentaholic". Welcome to the club. New members are always welcomed.
Loved the mitch slap. Have fun with this rabbit hole they are amazing and you won't be disappointed.
They won a Grammy for their version of The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in 2015. An acapella version of an instrumental composition. Check it out.
The very ending hum they do, always reminds me of an old church pipe organ. I love it.
O Holy Night. Kiss from a Rose.
simply gorgeous! by the way, this song/video was my first encounter with them! ❤
They've matured so much even since this! You should listen to their Christmas choices! They OWN Christmas! You know it's Christmas when Pentatonix fills the air! I'd suggest sampling their recent video of O Holy Night. A total work of visual & musical art! 🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶 ❤
Welcome to the PTX rabbit hole. Oh holy night, 12 days of christmas, oh come all ye faithful are 3 great christmas songs, then they have alot of other songs, the best a capella group out there. Merry christmas and a happy ending/start of the new year!
Here's one for you, PTX's version of Little Drummer Boy. This will quickly become your favorite.
ruclips.net/video/qJ_MGWio-vc/видео.htmlsi=DbhLmFDDVHnefAGM
Enjoy! Merry Christmas!
Pentatonix won an acapella competition and some of their arrangements blew my mind. Check out "Little Drummer Boy". Wonderful harmonies.
Subbed for your reaction to Pentatonix! One of the best one I've seen in a while. Looking forward to seeing more of your reactions to PTX.
As I've said in other comments regarding acapella, it's my favourite type of music, because it's primitive human technology. To use just voices, no instruments, was the way our ancestors started out, and it strikes a chord deep within me. I love your reviews because you are a musician - I learn new aspects of songs I've heard before, and it brings me a deeper understanding. Thank You.
Thanks so much for the kind words and so glad you enjoyed it! Absolutely incredible! ❤️
Thank you for this reaction. They are phenomenal. You will continue to be amazed. Enjoy the journey.
These guys are world class. I have been anxiously awaiting you sticking your head in this rabbit hole. They have a version of O Holy Night that will blow your socks off.
LOVE their rendition of Mary Did You Know.....SO MOVING to me. THANKS, STEVEN!! MERRY CHRISTMAS to YOU & YOUR FAMILY!! HUGS from TEXAS!
You should check out Pentatonix version of "Bohemian Rapsody". It is unbelievable.
Thanks for the reaction. Mitch, the one with the hat, is a counter tenor and he met Kirstie when they were 8 doing musical theater. He met Scott the tall baritone when they were 10, also doing Musical Theater, a now defunct program for Texas children
All 3 ended up in the same Hi School at 14 and when they. Won the Sing off in 2011, they were just 19. So, they have been singing together since childhood. They got Kevin thru the internet when he went viral while cello boxing, beat boxing while playing the cello. Avi, the base was recommended by a friend
I highly recommend you check out their take on “Bohemian Rhapsody”. I also suggest that you look at their behind the scenes of the recording of their “Evergreen” album. It will give you much better understanding of how they create their sound.
You've officially been Mitch Slapped. He's the guy with the hat. He has an amazing voice, with huge range.
Hehehe... you commented on the bass line when Avi, their bass was singing the melody. That was Scott, their baritone, covering the bass part while Avi was singing. Yes, they are that versatile.
Mitch, Kirstie and Scott went to high school together. When they tried out for an a capella competition, they had to have five members, so they convinced Kevin and Avi to join the group.
Welcome to the Pentatonix rabbit hole. There are so many amazing songs to choose from in just about every genre you can think of. Some suggestions: Daft Punk, Kiss From a Rose, Bohemian Rhapsody, Amazing Grace, The Prayer, and too many great Christmas songs to count. I think we have a new Pentaholic on our hands!! LOL
Awesome Mitch slap!
I always tear up when hear this version of the song. It's so beautiful.
I’m so here to travel the rabbit hole with you!!!So stoked
I love the amazement with each person realizing how amazing they are
Your reaction was a perfect gift. So glad you finally got to hear these incredible voices. Merry Christmas and blessings to you and your family! ✝️🎄🧑🎄
You have to play "The Prayer"
Merry Christmas everyone!!🤘🔥🎄
Love this band and love your reaction. All of the requested songs are top notch. You can’t go wrong.
I recommend their 90s Dance Medley.
This group and this song just leaves me in tears every time I hear it. So moving. Pure.
Great reaction. Loved watching your first Mitch slap. We've all been there. Believe it or not, they sound even better in person. Suggestions for your next reactions are their Daft Punk Medley and their Bohemian Raphsody Cover. Honestly, they have well over 200 songs in their catalogue. There are plenty of originals and upgrades (covers) to choose from, including three songs that won them the coveted Grammy Award. Looking forward to more PTX reactions from you.
You must check out Bohemian Rhapsody, Imagine, God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, Daft Punk…
Pentatonix a not so "brief" background.
They won The Sing Off in 2011. They made a guest starring appearance on America′s Got Talent as non−competitors a couple of years after that.
The founding members are:-
Scott Hoying (tall blond guy, natural baritone but has an impressive five−to−six octave range, can go all the way up to high tenor and down to bass, sings the bass lines when the usual bass singer takes the lead);
Kirstin "Kirstie" (Rhymes with "Thirsty") Maldonado (the only female member, natural mezzo soprano, but can go down to low alto and as high as upper soprano, also can sing in whistle notes that are off the scale); For a time in 2018 between the group’s tours, had the female lead on Broadway in the production of “Kinky Boots”.
Mitch Grassi (a true contra−tenor, can hit high notes in his chest voice with ease and go WAY higher in his falsetto, also with ease);
Avriel "Avi" Kaplan (dark beard and long hair), true basso profundo, trained as an opera singer, also can go up into the tenor range; and
Kevin "KO" Olusola (beatboxer extraordinaire, also is a world−class cellist who plays cello on some of their songs, has a beautiful high tenor voice and gets occasional lead vocal solos as well, graduated pre−med from Yale and speaks several languages including Mandarin Chinese).
Kirstie, Scott & Mitch grew up together in Arlington, Texas, and began performing together as children in local youth musical theater. They ended up in high school together and performed in the choir. While there, they formed an a cappella group called The Trio which had several performance videos go viral on RUclips, most notably a cover of Lady Gaga′s "Telephone". The three of them are best friends and consider themselves to be almost siblings.
Scott & Kirstie (who were a class year ahead of Mitch) both graduated high school in 2010 and went their separate ways to different colleges, Scott at USC and Kirstie at Oklahoma.
While at USC, Scott joined a USC−based a cappella group called the SoCal VoCals, where he met alumnus Ben Bram, who was now an arranger and vocal coach for the NBC TV show The Sing Off, an a cappella competition show. Ben convinced Scott to get The Trio to audition for the show. The three reunited (Mitch had to skip high school graduation ceremonies to go) in Los Angeles for the audition.
They found out that the rules had changed, so they needed at least five members to audition. Ben put them together with Avi (a native of Visalia, California), who he knew from Avi′s performing days at Mount San Antonio College in California. They found Kevin (from Kentucky) through one of his RUclips videos that had gone viral featuring him playing the cello and beatboxing at the same time, a talent that Kevin coined as "Cello−Boxing".
Kevin arrived in Los Angeles literally the day before the audition! Scott came up with the name "Pentatonix" after the pentatonic scale. They performed a re−arrangement of "The Telephone" for the audition and passed, despite having been together as a five−piece group for less that 24 hours!
They won The Sing Off that season (all of the performances are available on RUclips), in which they received a substantial cash prize AND a record contract with Epic Records. They pooled their prize winnings together and all moved to Los Angeles, and all got apartments right next door to each other in the same building.
But just a week later, Epic dropped them because the marketing people didn′t think an a cappella group could sell records.
Instead of giving up, they were determined and began recording their own songs on RUclips, hiring Ben Bram as their producer and arranger. These usually consisted of the five of them sitting on a couch and performing cover songs live.
Several of the videos went viral, and Sony (the parent company of Epic) decided to give them another chance by placing them on one of their smaller labels, Madison Gate. They released two secular EPs and one Christmas EP on Madison Gate, all of which were strong sellers.
But when their cover of a medley of songs by Daft Punk not only went super−viral, but also won them their first Grammy, they were promoted all the way up to RCA Records, Sony′s top label.
They began writing and producing their own songs in addition to their covers, began putting out a Christmas album just about annually (which has become their best−selling genre), and have had multi−platinum album sales, sold−out world tours, and have won two additional Grammys.
Avi began getting burned out with all of the touring and heavy recording schedule, was suffering from anxiety and personal problems, and learned that his mother had been diagnosed with cancer in 2017. He announced he was departing from the group and taking some time away from the music industry.
Matt Sallee (from Baltimore) joined them in September 2017. He did only become official when they renewed their RCA contract in February 2018, but he recorded with them in September as a featured artist and went on their Christmas tour as a featured artist, as well. When he attended the audition for the group, he had already mastered the Bass part for most if not all their past catalogue. He was successful and has proved that he fits in well with the group.
If you think there have been other changes to the line up - look again. This is the ONLY change. Kirstie and Mitch are like chameleons and change looks frequently.
It is an often debated subject among the Pentaholics as to just how soon we introduce the "Beginners Guide" as we don't want to overdo the introduction. This is a compilation of snips of a whole load of songs which PTX have released. It highlights each member with some of their solos and then a brief history in video. It is quite long - 14+ minutes and is a little dated now (Feb 2020) but is a good watch ruclips.net/video/lDxIfwfCmQE/видео.html&pp=ygUdYmVnaW5uZXJzIGd1aWRlIHRvIHBlbnRhdG9uaXg%3D.
After a year away from music, Avi has now returned as a phenomenal solo artist in the Folk/Americana/Roots genre.
Ben Bram has been in charge of their production, including arranging and directing from the beginning. He is often referred to as the sixth member. Scott and Kevin are major players in the arrangements, but every member contributes. A good watch is "The Recording of Evergreen" where a camera was invited into the studio for the second week of recording.
Also, all members are songwriters for both Pentatonix and their own solo work.
Ed Boyer who mixes everything of theirs (even the HWB Livestream) is the one who pulled Ben Bram into the sing off in the first place.
They have Grammy wins for Daft Punk Medley, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Jolene featuring Dolly Parton. They were nominated for a 4th Grammy for their album Evergreen, but didn't win. Another nomination for Holidays Around the World album in the 2024 list!
Kirstie became a new mum which caused a pause in touring after their Evergreen Christmas tour 2021. Mid March 2023 Kirstie has announced that she is engaged to Ben Hausdorff, their videographer. They married 22/04/24! Not clear how the future is to follow, but Kirstie has announced that she is expecting number 2 in early 2025.
Not critical to the groups touring schedule, but Scott, Kevin and Matt are all married. Kevin and Matt with children.
They have a star on the Hollywood walk of fame installed in February 2023. They are the only a capella group with a star!
They came 3rd in the 2023 Masked Singer performing as "California Rolls" being unmasked in May 23.
2024 they have anounced a change of record label. Lets see where that leads.
Things you need to know because if you get these wrong Pentaholics will come after you with pitch forks and torches! Ha Ha!!
1- There is NO Auto-Tune; what you hear is actually what they sing. They really are that good. One exception is the 90's Dance Medley where Cher used autotune as an effect - so they had to.
2- What produces everything that you hear in the video, you see in the official video. If there is an instrument used in the music, you see it on screen. In the 2022 Christmas album, there are some instruments not featured throughout the album.
3- They never release something on video they can’t reproduce with the exact same quality live on-stage.
4. It is "Pentatonix" there is no "The".
A good ole fashioned MITCH SLAP never, EVER gets old!!! 😃😃😃😃😃
As you go through the journey(I suggest starting with the Sing Off), keep in mind that there has only been 1 member change; Avi (ah-vee, jesus in a beanie) left in 2017. Matt replaced him months later.
I mention this because Mitch (wide rim hat) and Kirstie (like thirsty) look different in nearly every video.
Lovea good Mitch slap! Merry Christmas
Pentatonix. A HUGE rabbit hole to go down. Oh Come All Ye Faithful is a different take that'll amaze you. Merry Christmas!
Oh Come All Ye Faithful is THE BEST version I've ever heard!
Yep! Like nothing you have ever thought or heard.
PTX! THATS ALL!
Mary, Did you Know ... one of their best The Prayer ... oh, you can't believe what they can do ... try Bohemian Rhapsody too (on their couch). Now the one with the beard is no longer with the group (Avi), but his replacement Matt is just great too. Check out You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch. It's fantastic. Pentatonix doesn't just do covers, they enhance them. Also, they do NOT do any covers on video, that they can't do exactly the same live. Merry Christmas and wishing you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year from Canada.
Scott, Mitch, and Kirsten have been lifelong friends and graduated together from Arlington, TX.
First met when they were 9 and 10 years old
This is the original group in order of singing… Scott, Avi, Kirsten, Mitch and Kevin the beat boxer. In 2017 Avi left for personal reasons and was replaced by Matt so some of their songs will have Avi and some will have Matt. Scott, Kristen and Mitch have known each other since they were kids. They found Avi through a friend and they found Kevin online. Other songs to check out are Carol of the Bells, O Come All Ye Faithful, The Sound of Sikence, The Orayer and You’re a Mean One Mr Grinch. They won the Sing Off and you can see their journey on youtube
First exposure to a counter-tenor? Nice reaction. They have a good version of "Sound of Silence".
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, bringing many blessings. 🎄🎊
Merry Christmas and I hope you have a great New Year!! 🌲🙏🏻
One of my favorites is Mary Did You Know.
No loop. Their live version of this is a good watch to really see all the layers.
Amazing Grace and Radioactive are two of my favorites by them.
Everything you see and hear in the video can and has been produced live on stage. This is years of constant practice and creative minds.
Was waiting for the Mitch slap. 😊
They are the best! Tons of great songs. Recommend Sound of Silence, Kiss from a Rose and the Prayer.
PTX have amazing Christmas tunes, but so, so many others you'll enjoy. This is only the beginning. I wish I could start over at the beginning. Buckle up!
The members of #Pentatonix. In this video we have:
• First verse: Tall blond guy, Scott Hoying, lyric baritone. In describing a man's vocal range, "lyric" means that the actual range exceeds the nominal range. In Scott's case, he sings everywhere from about the middle of a normal bass range through a normal tenor range, with an excellent falsetto on top. In live performances Scott typically takes over the bass harmony line when their bass has a solo.
• Second verse: Bearded guy wearing a stocking cap, Avi (pronounced Ah'-vee, emphasis on the first syllable) Kaplan, lyric bass. Avi is an operatically trained basso profundo - his lowest notes have blown out speakers in live performances - but his range extends to somewhere in the middle of a normal tenor range. If this were a live performance you'd be hearing Scott singing the bass line during Avi's solo, but if you listen carefully you can hear the bass starting up during Scott's solo, and the voice doesn't change as it continues into Avi's solo. So what gives? Early on, they decided that when they're recording in the studio for release on an album, it's worth a small cheat to improve the audio quality. The bass records one track with the bass line for the entire song, and a separate track with his solo, which is then layered in over the bass track. And since this is an official video of a song that was released on an album, that's Avi you hear singing bass while he's also soloing in the baritone and tenor parts of his range.
• Third verse: The only woman in Pentatonix, Kirstin (also called Kirstie, which rhymes with thirsty) Maldonado. Kirstin sings everywhere from a low alto through coloratura soprano, the highest female range. And she has fantastic whistle notes on top of that. Lately Pentatonix has begun referring to her as an "alto soprano."
• Fourth verse: Guy wearing a wide-brimmed hat, Mitch Grassi (pronounced Grah'-see, emphasis on the first syllable), natural contratenor. No one is certain whether Mitch can sing higher than Kirstin or Kirstin can sing higher than Mitch; I suspect that it varies from day to day, though everyone agrees that Kirstin has better whistle notes. Mitch is known for his ethereally beautiful (some say "angelic") high vocals. Shawn Stockman, of Boyz II Men, said Mitch has "one of the prettiest voices I have ever heard in my life." Mitch switches seamlessly from chest voice to mixed voice to head voice. He has a range of just over six octaves. And we call that stunned look people get the first time they realize that the beautiful high voice is coming from a man, "being Mitch slapped." You've just been Mitch slapped. Don't let it worry you; it's happened to all of us, generally more than once because Mitch is full of surprises.
• The fifth member of Pentatonix (PTX for short) is Kevin Olusola (pronounced Oh-loosh"-oh-luh', primary emphasis on the second syllable, secondary emphasis on the fourth), beatboxer extraordinaire. We don't get to hear Kevin sing as often as we'd like because he's generally too busy being the entire percussion section, but when he does sing he has a lovely tenor voice that occasionally descends to the uppermost reaches of a baritone range. He's also known for the beauty of his falsetto, which goes higher than Mitch's and Kirstin's voices. Kevin has perfect pitch. He began piano lessons at age 4, cello at age 6, and alto saxophone at age 10. When he was a teenager he performed at Carnegie Hall twice, once on the cello and once on the saxophone. He beatboxes while playing the cello, which he refers to as "celloboxing." He graduated from Yale in 2011 with a pre-med major and had already been accepted to Yale Medical School when he gave up his dream of becoming a surgeon to pursue his dream of becoming a professional beatboxer instead. He speaks five languages fluently: English, French, German, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. He's one of the kindest people in the world, and when he laughs the whole planet seems like a brighter place.
In 2017 Avi found it necessary to leave Pentatonix, for a variety of personal reasons. He has since gone on to have a very successful solo career, and I strongly recommend subscribing to his RUclips channel, which you can find here: youtube.com/@AviKaplanMusic
Avi's replacement joined in either late 2017 or early 2018 (depending on how you figure it) and has now been with Pentatonix longer than Avi was. You'll see him in all of their newer videos:
• The second black member of Pentatonix is Matt Sallee (pronounced Suh-lee', emphasis on the second syllable), lyric bass. In addition to being the newest member of Pentatonix Matt is also the youngest member, and I'm told that bass voices improve with age. Matt's range seems to be growing on a daily basis right now. His lowest notes don't blow out speakers (though that may change within a year or two). But on his high end Matt is very close to matching Kevin's falsetto.. To find his current range I recommend listening to a recent live performance of "Hallelujah." You can find one here: ruclips.net/video/Se0BmDdZuX0/видео.html Matt's arrangement of the second verse seems to be designed to show off his full range, which is astonishing. I believe Matt has the largest range of any member of Pentatonix, past or present, though Scott is getting close to matching him.
Merry Christmas 🎄 you should check out their cover of Bohemian Rhapsody. It’s great, they even do Brian’s guitar solo. So good ❤❤
You need to check out their cover of "The Prayer" and "Kiss From a Rose" official videos.
That was awsome Merry Christmas to you and your family my Christin brother.
Wish I could press the thumbs up 10 more times. Loved the Mitch slap but appreciated the overall understanding of just how good they are. Would love to see you react to the live version(s). Oldest first so you can see the growth together. 😊
This song always makes me cry tears of joy. It speaks to my heart. Love this group
Avi Kaplan, who sang bass (and looks like a picture of Jesus), hit a bass note during a concert in Japan that blew a speaker.
AHA! i Singapore!! FABULOUS!!!!!
Merry Christmas! This is such a beautiful performance to unwrap.
Pentatonix formed as a group when they were preparing for the televised a capella competition The Sing-Off. Kirstin (soprano), Scott (blond), and Mitch (wide-brim hat) had sung together in high school. While in college, Scott found out about the Sing-Off and asked his old schoolmates to join him. It was suggested that they add a bass and beatboxer. They met Avi Kaplan through a mutual friend and found Kevin Olusola from a youtube video. Kevin agreed to join them "temporarily" long enough to audition, with plans to start med school afterwards. Not only did they successfully audition, they won Season 3 of the Sing-Off. Spoiler: Kevin never went back to med school! There has only been one change in the line-up. Avi Kaplan left the group about three years in and was replaced by Matt Sallee. You need to check out Home Free's cover of Ring of Fire which features Avi as a guest artist.
Actually Avi Kaplan left after 6 years, in September 2017, and released his first song, "Change on the Rise" in March 2019. He has since built up quite a diverse catalog, about 90% of which are original pieces, and has toured the US. Canada and Europe a few times. Since you're involved in audio production, you might enjoy this version of Avi's "All Is Well", recorded by 7 Layers Sessions in an Utrecht, Netherlands church during his 2022 European tour. I don't need to tell you the effect performing in a church can have on acoustics and reverb. This song is a great example of that. ruclips.net/video/sNjbAAjF4Tg/видео.html
@@charlottevan_8 Thanks for the correction - it seemed like he wasn't with PTX that long.
Tim Faust and Avi Kaplan are arguably two of the deepest bass singers out there. Ring of Fire is amazing.
They are the masters of Acapella. I am sure one of us Pentaholics will fill you in about all the info. Their catalog is huge. Their fan base , wel 20,4 M on youtube. That for a Acapella group.
Only 1 thing to remember; since they won the sing off 2011 only 1 MEMBER left the group amicably- the deep bass Avi Kaplan and Matt joined the band. Kirstie (rhymes with thirsty) and Mitch the high counter tenor changes Their appearances so often. Then Scott is the blonde and Kevin is the beatboxer/ cello player/ tenor singer.
From a absolute Pentaholic. Greetings from South Africa
Oh my word, what a wonderful reaction! They can be so moving and are uber talented. From 3 friends in high school to stardom! Other ppl will give you their background. I'm mega excited to follow your journey with them. Over the moon happy that you love them so much. Merry Christmas! You've given me a gift today with this. Thank you so much. 🥰❤🎄 The Prayer and Amazing Grace are also very moving. But spiritual music isn't all they do. They have fun, do so many Christmas songs, write original music and cover many genres too.
RIGHT ON XMAS DAY. LATE AFTERNOON HERE. AMEN FOR THAT. GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA
Merry Christmas Steven. Thank you for a great 2024 of music.
My favorite part is at the end where they raise you up to the heavens and then gently lower you down to the cradle
Oh Yeay, Welcome to the PTX world. My favorite is Mary Did You Know. Its amazing and I think you will be blown away. Thank you for what you do. I always enjoy your reactions and authenticity. Welcome to the rabbit hole.
Really appreciate that and so glad to have you here! 😁
Avi base line is so beautiful and rich... you should react to Avi Kaplan solo music. Is mind blowing ❤. Hugs from Chile 🇨🇱 🤗 ❤
Love your reaction! Especially what is called the Mitch slap. He does it every time. You have got to listen to "Mary Did You Know" and "The Prayer" Also "Oh Holy Night"
Just here for the Mitch slap. 8/10…did not disappoint.
I absolutely LOVE their version of "Mary Did You Know" it is phenomenal! And Tis the season!!! It would be great if you could play that next! The song lyrics were written by Mark Lowry, and the first time I heard it he was with a gospel show called The Gaither's. It is beautiful and you won't be sorry. ~ big fan ~ Beth Ann
Scott, the first soloist, Kirstin/Kirsty the lady and Mitch, the high pitched male attended High school together and sang together. NBC was having their A Capella sing off and Scott was desperate for them to participate.
Avi, , second soloist and the bass (Classically/operatically trained) had just received an invitation to be the principle bass for the L.A. Opera House the day before. The sing off was
two days away and he desperately needed a profound bass. He knew of Ben Bram the extraordinary arranger and gave him a call. He asked Ben where he cold find a great bass and ben immediately told him to call Avi and gave Scott Avi's number. Scott called Avi and Avi immediately put away the Opera position for the possibility of the group doing well.
At the same time, Scott was desperately looking for a beat boxer on the internet.
He ran across a video of Kevin which already had a great number of views and like Avi had to hunt him down. Kevin had just graduated from Yale in pre-med and his plans were to enter med school. He had been learning languages like Mandarin Chinese as his plans were to become a
Medical Dr. and become a medical missionary in China but he thought the sing off would be done and he also came on board. Avi already lived in L.A. where he had graduated University.
Again, all of this happened in 2 days.
in my personal opinion, Avi is the greatest bass out there today though there are some great ones like Geoff Castellucci and Tim Faust.
Avi just has that sound that resonance the others do not.
They won the sing off and the rest is history.
The sing off was grueling and they immediately began touring, making albums without a break for 6 years. Avi's mother had a relapse of cancer and He could not even get away to go home to be with his parents and he had a complete breakdown. He left the group and went into hiding for the better part of 3 years. He was with his parents a lot, then he and a friend headed out into the wilderness to camp for quite awhile. After the camping, time he headed to Israel to visit his
grandmother and his brother. Spent a lot of time hiking the Galilee then headed to his cabin he had purchased in Tennessee. The cabin sat on 1000+/- acres of land and it gave him solace as he mended.
I have not kept up with Pentatonix since Avi left the group. He just added such greatness no one else could.
You should check out some of his songwriting and solo work if you have some time.
Avi Kaplan
PTX... A GIFT FROM GOD.
You need to wear headphones when listening to Pentatonix.
See community post! 😁
I would much rather see this at Superbowl half time
IKR, ditto!
Yes!!
Merry Christmas!!!