Performer Line-Up
Saturday, May 30th, 7:05pm – 10pm
Times below are all approximate – tune in early to avoid missing a performance!
Click on performers’ names to learn more about them.
7:05 – 7:30
- Allison Leah
Allison Leah
Allison Leah is a songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist born and raised just north of New York City. A jingle-singer turned folk-pop artist, Allison spent her earliest years in the studio recording familiar jingles like the “Hess Truck” Commercial, as well as her own original music. Her exposure to the industry from a young age created her love of music, and her determination to forge her own path in the field.
- Ken Denison w/ John Hanlon & Jack Denison
Ken Denison w/ John Hanlon & Jack Denison
Ken Denison (vocals), John “Hank” Hanlon (guitar, card shark), Jack Denison (drums)
- Sylvia Rowe
Sylvia Rowe
Sylvia is an accomplished vocalist who is a regular highlight of the Huguenot Cabaret and a lead singer in local bands Glenwood and Coyote Lockout.
- Stellar Wolfs
Stellar Wolfs
Matt Dean (Drums & Vocals), Atakan Oguz (Bass), Jason Jeffries (keyboard), Anthony Passante & Kayvan Darouian (guitar)
The Stellar Wolfs formed on April 5th, 2014 when they came together to do a number for that year’s Huguenot Cabaret. The original five members lived on Stellar Avenue and Wolfs Lane (hence the name). They had so much fun doing that one number that they started getting together to learn more songs and before long were playing block parties, neighborhood dive bars and various community fundraisers. Some of the faces may have changed, but six years on they’re still having fun making music with friends and neighbors and raising money for good causes.
- Warren Banholzer w/Desmond Yuen & Jack Smith
Warren Banholzer w/Desmond Yuen & Jack Smith
Warren Banholzer (guitar & vocals), Desmond Yuen (guitar), Jack Smith (Electric Mandolin)
7:30 – 8:00
- Jennie Driesen & Family
Jennie Driesen & Family
Jennie (vocals), Helen (guitar), Henry (percussion), Jeremy (keyboard thingy?), Louise (ball fetching, running and being exceptionally cute).
The Driesens are a nice-enough family that used to live in Pelham.
- Mary Comerford w/ Maria Comerford
Mary Comerford with Maria Comerford
Mary (vocals), Maria (keyboard)
- Andrew Wood w/ John Terio & David Yang
Andrew Wood w/ John Terio & David Yang
Andrew Thurlow Wood, aka Thurlowood, is the singer and keyboardist for guitar/electro powerpop group Bridges + Powerlines. B+P (“an appealing indie quartet searching for the perfect modern three-minute hit song” – The New Yorker) released five records from 2006 to 2016, opened for high profile shows across the US with multiple appearances at SXSW, worked with producers such as Chris Zane (Passion Pit, The Walkmen) and Kieran Kelly (Sufjan Stevens), and had songs prominently featured in Shameless and other shows and films. Andrew has just released in Spring 2020 his first solo record under his solo artist name Thurlowood on all streaming services. For Pelham CouchFest he collaborated with the two mustachios Jon Terrio and David Yang. Jon Terrio edited the video for the combined performances.
- Desmond Yuen
Desmond Yuen
Desmond Yuen is a talented musician who has been playing in the area for years – in bands and local shows including The Huguenot Cabaret and The Picture House’s Not So Silent Night. He plays guitar, ukelele and bass.
- Megan Kim & Lauren Dunkelburger
Megan Kim & Lauren Dunkelburger
Megan Kim lives in Pelham with her husband and two young children (4 and 2). She holds a degree in music business and has been working in the concert industry since 2006 and teaching piano at Premier Music Studio since 2018. She is a current member of the Pelham Larks and Huguenot cabaret.
Lauren Dunkelberger, a Cape May, NJ native, is a local musician who holds a degree in piano performance. She has taught piano in the lower Westchester area since 2002 and in 2018 expanded her business, Premier Music Studio, which offers private, in-home music instruction. Lauren has lived in Pelham since 2011 with her husband and young son (9).
- Michael Fawcett
Michael Fawcett
Michael Fawcett began his musical career in Nashville, as a studio singer and a singer/dancer at Opryland USA, while studying Voice and Music Business at Belmont University. He has since performed across the country and around the globe in dinner theaters, cruise ships and concert venues large and small. He’s an honorary Pelhamite, through his involvement at Christ Church and in the Huegenot Cabaret.
- Coyote Lockout
Coyote Lockout
(Roland Rogers, Miles East, Sylvia Rowe)
With only a few acts to go before their debut at the Huguenot Church Cabaret, with a bluesy acoustic version of Micheal Jackson’s “Billie Jean”, the duo of Roland Rogers and Miles East watched nervously from the back of the auditorium as Sylvia Rowe, backed by Mark Sedgwick on guitar, began to sing an epic version of Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock”. As the song ended and Sylvia sang the last angelic note, their nervousness had drifted into anxiety. How does anyone follow that? To the relief of Roland and Miles, “Billie Jean” was a hit and as another successful cabaret was being celebrated later that evening, a mutual admiration between Sylvia and the duo was secretly developing. Thus began a shy musical courtship that lasted two more cabarets before Roland and Miles finally got up the nerve to invite Sylvia (equally nervous, to their surprise) to collaborate. It became clear in that first of many rehearsals that the sound and the joy they derived from singing together was undeniable. Inspired by the localizations of acts like The Lone Bellow, Nickel Creek, and BAILEN, Coyote Lockout applies their three-part-harmony acoustic approach to reimagined popular music from the 60’s through today. Their repertoire includes interpretations of songs from acts as varied as Patsy Cline, Van Morrison, Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, Genesis, Journey, Duran Duran, and Death Cab for Cutie. Recently they have ventured into original material.“ Deeper Wounds”, written by Miles East and Coyote Lockout’s first original song – makes its debut here at CouchFest. - Andrew & Lucy Cole
Andrew & Lucy Cole
Andrew is the lead singer / songwriter of the band Andrew Cole & The Bravo Hops, which formed in the summer of 2014 and has released four albums of original music, most recently “Sparrow Fly” in April 2020. Their album “River Talk” was #1 on Roots Music Report’s Alt-Country chart in June 2019. In addition to gigs at local + NYC venues like Rockwood Music Hall, the band often performs at fundraisers of local non-profits and every year they donate a portion of their music sales and gig proceeds to a variety of causes including music education. Andrew’s daughter Lucy, a 6th grader, has regularly joined him in performing at The Picture House’s annual ‘Not So Silent Night’ holiday show.
8:00 – 8:30
- Paul Romanello
Paul Romanello
Paul has been the Artistic Director of SOOP Theatre Company since its inception in 1998. Over the years, the company has produced many projects in NYC including John Patrick Shanley’s Italian American Reconciliation and Anthony Pennino’s Italian American Cantos. The SOOP Theatre Arts Repertory (SOOP’s educational arm for kids) now in its eleventh year, offers workshops, private voice/piano lessons, acting coaching and main stage performance opportunities. Paul has an extensive acting background, most recently appearing opposite Broadway and Sirius Radio personality Christine Pedi in the SOOP production of Love Letters – Past SOOP Acting Company credits include Salieri in Amadeus (establishing the company’s professional presence here in Westchester) followed by the role of Michael in God of Carnage. Paul has directed, coached and taught extensively throughout NYC and Westchester
- Nat Osborn
Nat Osborn
Originally from Pelham, Nat is a songwriter and band leader based in New York. He fronts the Nat Osborn Band, a Brooklyn based seven-piece band that takes the best elements of soul, funk, indie-rock, and jazz, folk; Hawthorne, an indie-folk band based out of New York City, and assorted other projects. When his schedule allows, Nat comes back to Pelham to perform in the Huguenot Cabaret.
- Louise Kelly, Sarah Whitney McCormack, Kristi Findikyan, Sylvia Rowe & Marya Carter
Louise Kelly, Sarah Whitney McCormack, Kristi Findikyan, Sylvia Rowe & Marya Carter
Louise, Sarah, Kristi, Sylvia and Marya have been performing together at Huguenot Cabaret for years, performing a capella arrangements by Louise Kelly. They are now scattered across the eastern seaboard but are still making music together, and are learning how to collaborate remotely.
- Valerie Lemon
Valerie Lemon
Valerie Lemon has performed across the United States as a concert soloist for Award-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch. Their 12-year association resulted in Mr. Hamlisch writing a solo act for her that has been performed around the globe.
Valerie’s special love for cabaret and live performing has resulted in three cabaret shows; The Way of the Heart, which is a more personal account her life and The Jane Froman Song Book which celebrates the life and music of Jane Froman, the legendary singer of the Thirties, Forties and Fifties. CD’s are available of both shows at CD Baby.com or through her website www.ValerieLemon.com
Valerie’s most recent cabaret show is honoring her dear friend and mentor Marvin Hamlisch, called Marvin and Me.
Valerie is a nine-year veteran of The Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention at Rose Hall–Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Valerie studied at The American Musical Dramatic Academy and the Stella Adler Studio. She has also appeared on the stage in past years in Colette, starring Diana Rigg, The Student Prince, Closer Than Ever, Blue Window, A Dance For Rylie just to mention a few.
Valerie’s other loves are her husband Bob Rendon, her daughter Marianne Rendon who is a graduate from The Juilliard School’s Master Program of Drama. When not performing you will often find Valerie playing and loving her four rescue cats: Moose, Lobo, Petey and Tommy.
Valerie loves being a part of this wonderful community!!!!
- Liz Massie & Karen Pursel
Liz Massie & Karen Pursel
Liz Massie moved to Pelham in 2012 and still can’t believe her luck. To my Pelham friends: you guys are the absolute bomb!
Karen Pursel is trying to figure out how the heck to do (quarantine, Social distancing, 3 meals a day/7 days a week, home schooling) and this bio.
- The Pelham Larks
The Pelham Larks
The Pelham Larks, a women’s singing group established in 1951, is based in the Town of Pelham, NY. The Larks provide music therapy in 4-part harmony, both accompanied and a cappella, in Pelham and surrounding communities.
Performing in this number: Jennifer Cheng – voice & piano, Megan Kim, Dawn Savio, Donna Randles, Emily Goode, Suzanne Auclair, Kim Jaimes, Lynne Dintrone, Dana Thayer, Teri Michigan, Claudia Wallis, Jean Ostlund, Kathi Mangan
- Warren Banholzer
Warren Banholzer
Warren Banholzer writes and performs his unique brand of Roots Rock and Americana on acoustic guitar which he blends with harmonica, foot percussion and banjo. His solo performances include his originals and interpretations of popular as well as obscure covers. His new single “Staw Town” will be released on Spotify and other major platforms in early June. His first full length album is due out in early summer.
8:30 – 9:00
- Jack & Madeline Smith
Jack & Madeline Smith
Jack plays a myriad array of instruments (including guitar, ukelele and mandolin) and began performing in Pelham in the last few years at Huguenot Cabaret, the Pelham Picture House’s Not So Silent Night and other gigs.
His daughter Madeline is a student at Pelham Middle School.
- Austin, Andrew & Louise Kelly
Austin, Andrew & Louise Kelly
Austin (guitar, vocals), Andrew (bass, vocals), Louise (keyboards)
The Kellys have been doing musical performances for a while all over Pelham! They were bored in quarantine and decided to write a song. Well, actually Louise wasn’t bored because she was busy organizing this event, but she was thrilled to collaborate with her sons on this number.
- Violet Massie-Vereker w/ Liz Massie
Violet Massie-Vereker w/ Liz Massie
Violet (guitar & vocals), Liz (vocals)
Liz Massie moved to Pelham in 2012 and still can’t believe her luck. To my Pelham friends: you guys are the absolute bomb!
Violet Massie-Vereker graduated from PMHS in 2019, where she founded the Acapelicans. She’s taking a gap year and working for the Sunrise Movement. #GreenNewDeal
- Anna, Maria & Biddy Comerford
Anna, Maria & Biddy Comerford
Maria (keyboard & vocals), Anna (guitar & vocals), Biddy (drums)
- Liam Ginsburg
Liam Ginsburg
Liam Ginsburg is a seventh grader at Pelham Middle School, where he plays piano in the Middle School Jazz Band. Liam began taking classical piano lessons as a four-year-old, and transitioned to jazz piano last summer through a program at Manhattan School of Music. In addition to piano, he plays drums, electric bass, and the ukelele.
- Malia McLellan
Malia McLellan
Malia McLellan is a current sophomore at Pelham Memorial High School. She misses her friends from school and from her musical theater life very much. She hopes that sharing her love for music can offer an escape from the current world situations.
- Backwater Groove
Backwater Groove
Backwater Groove is composed of 5 PMHS students and has been performing since mid-2019. The band is comprised of seniors Stephen Tahbaz on saxophone and Lucas Matos on bass, juniors Jack Denison on drums and Max Cuomo on piano, and sophomore Shep Solimine on guitar. Enjoy their socially distanced jam.
- Emma McNulty
Emma McNulty
Emma is a senior at PMHS who was a part of the theatre community in Pelham. After the cancellation of Sock N’ Buskin’s “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” she is very excited to get the chance to preform for Pelham Couch Fest!
9:00 – 9:30
- Brian McFarland & Emmett McLaughlin
Brian McFarland & Emmett McLaughlin
Brian is a senior at PMHS who is heading to Villanova in the fall, Emmett is a Junior at PMHS.
- Shep Solimine
Shep Solimine
Shep Solimine is a sophomore at PMHS. He is a member of several bands and plays on the ice hockey and tennis teams. He has been playing guitar for four years.
- Oliver Tam
Oliver Tam
Oliver Tam is a sophomore at Pelham Memorial High School. He enjoys performing with the PMHS Sock’n’Buskin Drama club, local theatre companies in Westchester, and the Acapelicans, the high school acapella group.
- Natalie, Ava & Audrey Pursel
Natalie, Ava & Audrey Pursel
Natalie (10th grade), Ava (8th grade), and Audrey (5th grade) have all been performing in musicals since early elementary school. This is the 2nd song they performed together as a band! Looking forward to more gigs together in the future.
- Maggie Solimine w/ Timmy Solimine
Maggie Solimine with Timmy Solimine
Maggie Solimine is a 2019 graduate of PMHS. She will be attending Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music in the fall where she will study Musical Theatre.
Timmy Solimine is a 2018 graduate of PMHS. He is finishing his sophomore year at Bowdoin College where he is a member of the Meddiebempsters a cappella group and the rugby team. He is double majoring in chemistry and physics.
- PMHS Orchestra
PMHS Orchestra
PMHS Orchestra (asterisks denote a PMHS senior)
Violin
Albert Ai, Concertmaster*
Honor Durham, Principal
Brett Bober
Lukas Glist*
Allison Lange
Audrey Levenson
Ann Liu
Emily Nakayama*
Mark Tarazi
Emma VanPraagh
Sophie Xu*Viola
Mila Panchich, Principal
Naiya Gonzalez-Breen
Julianna Lieggi
Oscar Raso
Nadine WhalenCello
Matyas Spunberg, Principal*
Guy Eustace (using piano)*
Bruno Hochberg
Dylan Lee
Benjamin Levine
Graham YuenBass
Lucas Matos, Principal*
Conductor
Dr. Michele Zanky
Media Technician
Steve Rovida
- Maria Comerford
Maria Comerford
Maria Comerford (keyboard & vocals) is a senior at PMHS
- Bella Rosado
Bella Rosado
Bella is a freshmen at Pelham Memorial High School. She has a great love for musical theater and has taken part in several productions with Soop Theater Company, The Pelham Children’s Theater, PMS Drama Club and PMHS’s Sock and Buskin. Bella was to perform the role of Miss Jones in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and, although sad that she didn’t get to have the experience with the cast, she is looking forward to many more memorable theater performances. She is excited and honored to be a part of Pelham’s Couchfest!
9:30 – 10:00
- Timmy Solimine
Timmy Solimine
Timmy Solimine is a 2018 graduate of PMHS. He is finishing his sophomore year at Bowdoin College where he is a member of the Meddiebempsters a cappella group and the rugby team. He is double majoring in chemistry and physics.
- Meredith Heller
Meredith Heller
Meredith Heller is a senior at PMHS. Next year she’s planning on attending Manhattan School of Music to get her BM in Musical Theatre. This year she was supposed to be playing Rosemary in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at the high school. Although that was unfortunately cancelled she’s so grateful to have an outlet (like PelhamCouchFest) to continue doing what she loves.
- PMHS Acapelicans
PMHS Acapelicans
The Acapelicans are Pelham Memorial High School’s very first a cappella group. The Acapelicans are a completely student-led group by their wonderful co-directors Ella Burns, Sophia Leung, and Nya Haseley! They are so excited to share this video performance with you today and hope you enjoy! If you want to see more, tune into their Instagram @acapelicans for more fun video performances! Stay safe!
Performing in this video are: Ella Burns, Allison Feldman, Nya Haseley, Vikram Jallepalli, Sophia Leung, Ulysses Conrad, Austin Kelly, Emma Koonce, Malia McLellan, Oliver Tam, Audrey Leung & Audrey Levenson
- Caitlin Winston
Caitlin Winston
Caitlin is a sophomore at Pelham Memorial High School. She is currently studying vocal performance, musical theater, and music theory at Manhattan School of Music Pre-college on Saturday’s. She has previously studied at SOOP theater company, and has been singing with the Huguenot Memorial Church since she was 3. She has been a part of numerous productions at SOOP, PMS Drama, PCT, and Sock’n’Buskin. Caitlin is thrilled to be a part of Couchfest!
- The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch is a band that’s been together since birth. Having played at venues ranging from Siwanoy Elementary School to Pelham Together’s Summerfest, they just love to share the music that they grew up listening to.
- Emmett McLaughlin & Brian McFarland w/ Greg McFarland & Paul McLaughlin
Emmett McLaughlin & Brian McFarland w/ Greg McFarland & Paul McLaughlin
Emmett McLaughlin (PMHS Junior) and Brian McFarland (PMHS Senior) with the help of paid studio musicians Greg McFarland and Paul McLaughlin perform Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry
- PMHS Chorus
PMHS Chorus
PMHS Chorus:
(Seniors denoted with an asterisk)
Leila Brady
Ulysses Conrad
Sophia DesMarais
Carrie Dudek
Allison Feldman – soloist
Jack Finegan*
Taylor Goche* – soloist
Alexandra Hart
Nya Haseley-Ayende
Andrew Kelly
Austin Kelly
Ava Knickerbocker
Ethan Lee – soloist
Sophia Leung
Audrey Levenson
Nicholas Lieggi* – soloist
Dale Martin
Malia McLellan
Katie O’Connor
Daniel O’Keefe
Arthur O’Sullivan*
Ava Pedorella
Natalie Pursel – soloist and video editor
Rosie Spagnuolo*
Cristina Stefanizzi
Oliver Tam- soloist
Emma Van Praagh
Haley Wall
Elizabeth ZusinMaria Abeshouse, Director
Natalie Pursel, Video Editing