Mel Daneke
Owner
+ RECORDING + Mixing Engineer | producer | arranger
Current Location: AUSTIN, TX
A New Jersey native, Mel Daneke is a contemporary performer, arranger, producer, and instructor. Mel graduated from Ithaca College in December of 2013 with a B.M. in Vocal Performance, minor in Audio Production, and also studied Music Education. While in college she performed in three of her own conceptual recitals and in the IC Opera Studio, Opera Workshops, IC Opera, Choral Ensembles, Percussion and Steel Band Ensemble, and smaller ensembles. She’s traveled to Germany performing in the International Performing Arts Institute to further her performance training. While at school, Mel was the conductor, arranger, and choreographer of Ithaca College’s female identifying a cappella group, Premium Blend.
Mel currently performs with two internationally renowned and award winning vocal band. Musae (Beatboxer + DJ) and Six Appeal (singer). She’s traveled extensively headlining and performing at festivals in Hong Kong, Taiwan, London, Edinburgh, Paris, Germany, and all over the United States. Her performances and CARA-nominated production has appeared on compilations like Sing, BOHSA, Voices Only, and Voices Only Forte.
Mel’s passion for music continues through teaching and sharing her musical knowledge. With an extensive knowledge of vocal techniques and pedagogy, she specializes in in-studio coaching and masterclasses. Her workshops (“Exploring the Voice”, “Vocal Percussion”, “Bodymind Awareness”) and masterclasses have been featured at Boston Sings Festival, SoJam A Cappella Festival, Kettering A Cappella Festival, Sing! Texas, UK Voices Festival, New Jersey A Cappella Festival, the National A Cappella Convention, and NJ American Choral Directors Association (NJ ACDA).
Mel has a knack for exploring and creating new sounds produced from the human voice. Her production work stems from a love of percussion and vocal music. Mel consistently draws inspiration from her diverse background in many styles of music, including Percussion Ensemble and Steel Band Music, EDM, R&B, Funk, Gospel, Opera, Glo-Fi, Rock, and Reggae. She fully believes that there’s diva/rock star inside of every performer, and she can help you find yours.
Andrew John Kim
Creative Consulting + Production
Current Location: new york, NY
Andrew John Kim is an A Cappella Producer, Recording Engineer and Arranger from New York City. He received his Bachelor of Music in Music Composition from Northwestern University and his Master of Music in Film Scoring from New York University. At Northwestern, Andrew was a founding member and music director of his collegiate a cappella group, Extreme Measures. He also founded, music directed, and arranged for the professional a cappella group, Backtrack. With Backtrack, Andrew had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall, the Beacon Theatre, the UN, during the Broadway show, Kinky Boots, and on the Steve Harvey Show. Andrew founded and currently manages and directs Iris Vocal Trio, winners of the 2018 International A Cappella Open.
Andrew Berkowitz
VIDEO EDITOR + PRODUCER
Current Location: honolulu, hi
Andrew "Berko" Berkowitz is a full-time touring a cappella musician and award-winning songwriter based in Minneapolis, MN. He works primarily as the Vocal Percussionist for the internationally-acclaimed and 2012 National Harmony Sweepstakes Champions Six Appeal Vocal Band. He has also worked as their chief video producer for the past 6 years, creating unique music videos that show off the band’s dynamic music style. 2-time Grand Prize Champions of the world’s largest a cappella competition, a founding member of 7 Days A Cappella at the University of Minnesota, and creator of a few a cappella musicals at the MN Fringe Festival, you could say that Berko has a sort of - fondness (obsession) - for vocal music.
When he's not making music or editing videos, Berko enjoys playing board games, trying to fix his bicycle, or cosplaying as Kylo Ren.
Nicky Brenner
RECORDING Engineer | producer | arranger
Current Location: New York, NY
Nicky Brenner is an a cappella performer, arranger, recording engineer and producer based in NYC. Nicky is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts/NSB where she earned a BFA in Acting/Musical Theatre. Nicky is currently the Music Director and Founder of VICE A Cappella, a 5-person all female a cappella group. Nicky was the Music Director of the NYU Cleftomaniacs and with them won the award for Outstanding Arrangement at the 2019 ICCA Quarter Finals in NYC. Nicky has been working for AJK Artist Management for over 3 years doing recording/editing/mixing for collegiate, semi pro and pro groups from all over the east coast and is very excited to continue her work with Viridian!
Katherine Bodor
Arranger
Current Location: Minneapolis, MN
Katherine is a professional composer and arranger from Minneapolis, MN. She has an MM in Composition from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and her musical focus - whether arranging for voices or writing for contemporary chamber ensembles - is on layering, texture, and nuance within emotional story arcs. Katherine’s choral and chamber music has been premiered throughout the US and internationally, and as an arranger, she works with high school, collegiate, and professional ensembles to unlock the depth of their vocal expression. Her work is featured on compilations such as Voices Only & BOHSA, and her arrangements have helped clients make it to the ICCA Open finals as well as advance in ICCA/ICHSA. She regularly judges for Varsity Vocals competitions, masterclasses and teaches at CASA festivals, and dives into score study with her composition and arranging students to pick apart effective music note by note. Count on Katherine for passionate, nuanced arrangements that bring out heartfelt, emotional expression - because that’s what it’s all about.
David Shane
EDITOR
CURRENT LOCATION: boston, ma
Based north of Boston, MA, David is an aspiring recording engineer, producer, and performer of many different types of genres and music - especially a cappella. He is currently studying at Ithaca College where he is working towards his B.M. in Sound Recording Technology with a concentration in Cello Performance and is projected to graduate in the spring of 2021. His degree and his job at IC, Ithaca College Recording Services, has allowed him to explore his love for both live sound reinforcement and studio recording. He has worked with many different types of musicians and groups at IC ranging from choruses and orchestras, to jazz bands, even to a beatboxing flute artist.
Outside of college, David loves to work with various artists and groups on recording projects to help their music come alive. His most recent works include editing and mixing virtual recordings of Over The Rainbow for Ithacappella, as well as Earth Song by Frank Ticheli for First Church in Wenham, MA. He also enjoys producing, recording, and creating his own music influenced by various genres such as classical, jazz, rock, indie, electronic, and a cappella music.
Performing is also a very important part of David’s life. In college, he has been a part of many performing groups such as the IC Madrigal Singers, Chorus, Chamber and Symphony Orchestras, and multiple student-organized bands playing drums. One of the most important and impactful performing groups to him is Ithacappella - Ithaca College’s all-male-identifying a cappella group - where he sings bass, vocal percussion, and is the group’s Sound Manager. This group influenced and brought him his love and passion for the human voice, its endless capabilities, and a cappella.
Zach Jordan
Intern
Current Location: Clemson, SC
Born and raised in Cayce, SC, Zach Jordan is an aspiring arranger, performer, producer, and recording engineer with big dreams and an even bigger heart.
As a full-time student at Clemson University, Zach is pursuing two degrees: a B.S in Electrical Engineering and a B.A. in Performing Arts, with a concentration in Audio Technology and a minor in Music.
In his time at Clemson, Zach has gained a wealth of performance experience through his involvement with the university’s band and choral departments. Some of his fondest memories in college include performing new and commissioned works in Cantorei, completing band-related service projects with his brothers in Kappa Kappa Psi, and conducting the Clemson University Tiger Band at halftime in the 2019 and 2020 National Championship games.
Zach has always had a passion for vocal music, but his love for a cappella production started to blossom when he became a member of TIGEROAR, Clemson University’s all male-identifying a cappella group. As the group’s lead arranger, recording engineer, and student music assistant, Zach has seen his work showcased in Clemson’s Vocal Arts Series and Sounds of the Season concerts, as well as in countless gigs and live performances for the Clemson community. His productions for TIGEROAR and TakeNote (Clemson’s all female-identifying a cappella group) were collectively viewed over 10k times on Facebook and Instagram in 2020, and he hopes to continue pushing boundaries in his final semester of college.
Zach knows that the most important aspect of a cappella performance is making the most out of every moment, and at every stage of the process, you can rely on Zach for a creative, thoughtful, and exciting product.