Members

Anna Gill, She/Her

Soprano/Mezzo

Anna fell in love with a cappella when she joined her college group The MelUDees at University of Delaware in 2012. Official title - “Assistant Artistic Director”, unofficial title - “WUB” (Warm-Up Bitch). When she’s not forcing people to do lip trills, she can be found cooking enough food for 10 people, reading a Ruth Ware novel, buying plants - accidentally killing them - buying some more, listening to true crime podcasts, and just generally trying to adult in this millennial world. Anna can’t wait to perform for you!

Katie Ernst, She/They

Mezzo

Katie has loved to express herself through singing for as long as she can remember. She grew up singing in choirs in church, school and the community. Katie joined her first A Capella group, Upscale, in college. Now, she is beyond grateful for the opportunity to create music and memories with the Philly Accents. Not only great musicians, they are great friends. Other than singing, Katie is an avid animal lover. She enjoys exploring nature, hugging trees and observing the world’s small creatures. One day, she hopes to own a cottage farm with goats and ducks and maybe cows.

Jefferson Grubbs, He/Him

Baritone

Jefferson has been singing his whole life, from boys' choirs as a kid to the musical theatre program at Northwestern University to the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus and its select ensemble, Brotherly Love, and now the Philly Accents! For the past five years, he has worked at Settlement Music School, where he's helping to foster a love of and appreciation for music in a new generation of our city's youth. He's so happy to have found a musical home with this group of talented, good-looking weirdos.

Alex Karlesses, She/Her

Soprano/Mezzo

Alex Karlesses (also known as AOK) is thrilled to be a part of the Philly Accents and living in her favorite city on Earth! She has been singing since she could walk (her dad's video camera loved her), and is incredibly passionate about a cappella and musical theater. When she's not singing soprano or worrying about riffs, she loves uploading videos she sees of dogs around Philly to her Insta stories, saying her favorite catchphrase "did you see that thing on Twitter where ...", or lamenting about the Eagles.

Kevin Ryder Kelso (I), He/They

Founder & Tenor

Kevin Ryder Kelso (I) is the founder/music director of the Philly Accents! He is a tenor/bari/beatboxer, and does arrangements for the group as well. During the day, he works at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. A Cappella is a huge passion for him (ever since he fell in love with it at University of Delaware with the MelUDees), and he is so happy to have the opportunity to work with so many talented fellow musicians and friends! Look for his bright red hair and tattoos, you can't miss him!

Kayla Reiner, She/Her

Mezzo/Alto

Kayla is a music teacher from outside of Philly. Her love for a Cappella originated at the University of Delaware when she was in the MelUDees, where she served as president of the group and the DelAc a Cappella council. She is super excited to be singing again with such a talented group of people! Outside of anything music related, Kayla enjoys cooking, working out, finding creative ways to save money, and being outside.

Jaysen Rosario, He/Him

Music Director/Baritone

Jaysen still needs a bio!

Tim Smith, He/Him

Baritone

Tim Smith, hailing from a far-off land he calls "New Jersey," sings baritone in the Philly Accents. He got his start in A Capella with the i-Tunes during his time at The College of New Jersey, where he also played trumpet in the jazz band and (somewhat) taught himself guitar. Outside of music, he works as a Software Engineer, and enjoys gaming and tinkering with all sorts of tech during his time off. He's excited to be active in the Philadelphia community, and to perform for you!

Jarinat Sola-Rufai, She/Her

Soprano/Mezzo

Jarinat has always had a passion for music and has been singing since she could speak. She has sung in several choirs and ensembles, but realized her love for a capella during her college years at the University of Delaware. In her free time, she loves teaching herself guitar and ukulele. Outside of music, Jarinat is currently a student in medical school pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor. She is thrilled to be a part of the Philly Accents and can’t wait to continue sharing her love for music with this amazing group!

Chloe Weissman, She/Her

Mezzo/Alto

Chloe is a preschool teacher from south jersey who loves to hug, laugh, and create. Chloe has been singing her whole life and it is by far her biggest passion. She had a blast doing college A Capella at the University of Delaware (The MelUDees) and is beyond excited to continue that amazing hobby with the Philly Accents. This A Capella group is full of incredible people that are all musically talented and unique. Chloe loves this group and is beyond excited for many harmony filled years to come!

Eric Yang, He/Him

Baritone

Eric discovered his passion for a cappella at Dartmouth College, where he sang with the Dartmouth Cords. Since then, he's been harmonizing his way through various cities, including Boston, London, San Francisco, and NYC, mastering the art of the "dm bah dm" along his journey. In his free time, Eric can be found on travel blogs researching his next big trip or at a thrift shop looking for the next board game to add to his collection. He’s excited to be a part of Philly’s vibrant music community and to perform for you at the next Philly Accents show!