Meet the Tone Rangers!
Meet the sonorous rough riders who sing notes so swarthy you'll be saying "Hi-Yo, Silver!"
Kenyon
Peter
First Tenor Peter Nissen makes beautiful noises in the high register that only the Whiffenpoofs from his alma mater of Yale can emulate. Not only does he sing high, he aims high, and perhaps, he is high. In fact, Peter is an entrepreneur and patent holder, after years as an Emmy-winning producer of television, an exploding catastrophe of an industry from which he ran with his pants on fire.
In a world of specialists, Second Tenor/Baritone Kenyon Erickson finds joy in having no specific skill (or voice part). Kenyon sprang from the U of Utah and Cornell University Glee Club & Hangovers with diverse skills (engineering, music education, and hospitality administration) and a pitch pipe. For lo these many years, he has had as much success directing the group as he did leading a choir of six year olds at church. Since helping Gil found this group, he has run the equivalent of 1.3 times around the Earth, never once touching the Equator. Watch for Kenyon in a Bollywood movie next.
Mike
Brooks
Baritone Michael Beresik discovered a cappella music in college as a member of Yale's Alley Cats and Whiffenpoofs, singing everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the Great Wall of China. He enjoys long walks on the beach, romantic evenings by the fire, ... oh, sorry, wrong bio. Mike left his job as a Capitol Hill staffer after he realized that the Rangers' $3.6 billion dollar National Endowment for the Arts grant was never going to materialize.
Our newest Ranger, First Tenor Brooks Allen, was created from spare parts found in New Haven by a group called the Duke's Men. Trade agreements are his specialty and llama racing is his favorite hobby.
John
Gil
Bass John Bader marked 20 years of singing with the Tone Rangers in 2014. He wondered how this happened. Did he forget to quit? Has he been in a daze or stupor for more than two decades? These existential questions are troubling, so he takes comfort that (a) he likes to do this, and (b) that he has a great job. He has been singing a cappella since he joined in the Yale Alley Cats then the Whiffenpoofs. Dr. Bader (yes, Ph.D.) happily leads the Fulbright Foundation.
Second Tenor Gil Keteltas is a founding member of the Rangers and a decorated veteran of Cornell's Glee Club and Hangovers. Although Gil is a lawyer by day, he is generally likable and works and plays well with others (a reputation he solidified in second grade). If you would like to hire us for gigs anywhere in the world, e-mail Gil here.
Gene
Mox
Bass Gene Stromecki is employed by a large technology company doing large technical things. He is a graduate of Cornell University where he sang with the Glee Club and Hangovers (with Kenyon). He has sung with the Master Chorale of Washington, the Chorus of the Washington Opera, and the Choral Arts Society of Washington. Gene enjoys hobbies such as yodel tag, craft beer snobbery, and liver exchange. Gene is a Buffalo sports fan and is very sensitive on this subject.
Second Tenor Mox Weber is a ventriloquist, often participating in rehearsals by throwing his voice from home. The only Ranger who can actually sightread and memorize music, Mox hopes to expand our horizons to include exercise videos (The Toned Rangers) and genetic research (The Cloned Rangers)
Jamie
Second Tenor Jamey McNamara enjoys singing in groups with goofy names. Prior to joining the Tone Rangers, he performed with the Brown Derbies of Brown University and Take Note!, a mixed-voice a cappella group based in Washington, DC. Jamey has dedicated his professional life to "reinventing human resources" within the Federal government. When not sporting his vinyl pocket protector, Jamey watches an ungodly amount of reality TV.
Tone Rangers: In Memorium
For our cherished alumni, we humbly share this thoughtful tribute.