DCappella
Biography
While the members of DCappella, Disney Music’s own a cappella collective, didn’t know each other prior to the formation of the group, the singers’ voices have melded together as one over the past few years. The talented six-piece group originally came together as a result of a nationwide search for the best vocal performing talent in a cappella and stage. Following a rigorous audition process in late 2017, the singers were flown to Los Angeles in January of 2018, where they were surprised with the news they’d been selected for the group. They immediately went into the recording studio to begin reimagining classics from the Disney songbook. DCappella’s first single, a reworking of “Immortals” from Big Hero Six, arrived that spring, and group made their official debut on the American Idol stage during Disney Night a few days later, performing favorites from The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and Aladdin.
Since then, DCappella unveiled a self-titled album in 2018, a holiday album titled Rockin’ Holiday in 2019, and a collection of Disney classics sung in Japanese. Over the past few years, the group has released dozens of singles and music videos, drawing inspiration from Disney’s animated favorites, Star Wars, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, and more. Their music has captivated a global audience and surpassed 152 million streams, with their videos surpassing 46 million views. Recently, the group was the first to shoot a music video at Oga's Cantina at Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World for “Cantina Band,” a take on the song composed by John Williams from the 1977 film Star Wars: A New Hope released for May the 4th. Their most recent six-song EP, Magic Reimagined, arrived in the spring of 2022.
DCappella has had great success performing live, as well. The group completed a 40-city tour throughout North America and Canada following their formation and sold out an 18-city tour through Japan. They are set to return to Japan in the summer of 2022, followed by a cross-country North American tour, “Deck the Halls with Disney Featuring DCappella,” that runs through the holiday season. They’ve also performed at iconic venues including Carnegie Hall, and as part of Disney's Beauty and the Beast Live in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl, The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration and ABC’s Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade.
Helmed by contemporary a cappella pioneer Deke Sharon, the group’s co-creator, music director, arranger, and album producer, DCappella embraces an array of styles and influences. Vocal percussionist Antonio Fernandez, who hails from Seattle, draws an extensive background in a cappella, while bass singer Joe Santoni, from Port Huron, Michigan, has years of experience performing live on stage. Atlanta’s Morgan Keene, a soprano, comes from Broadway, while tenor RJ Woessner, born in Chicago, has worked in film and TV, as well as with contemporary musicians. Orlando Dixon, the group’s baritone, previously found the spotlight on The Voice before becoming a background singer for various bands. Jacksonville, Florida’s mezzo singer Kalen Kelly is the most recent addition, joining the group in 2019 after building a vast resume of theatrical and a cappella live performances. Each member brings their unique background into the mix, resulting in a diverse collection of voices that gives new life to beloved fan favorites.
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