DCappella was an a cappella group formed via a national search and run by Disney Music Group featuring Disney songs. The group originally consisted of Antonio Fernandez, Joe Santoni, Morgan Keene, Orlando Dixon, RJ Woessner, Shelley Regner, and Sojourner Brown: Kalen Kelly and Kelly Denice Taylor joined the group after Regner and Brown left. Deke Sharon was DCappella’s co-creator, music director, arranger and producer.
History DCappella was conceived in 2012 with auditions starting in November 2017. Translation: Interview with Disney's first a cappella group, “Dicapella”! Talking about emotional memories with Disney. Then it was announced in December 2017 as being formed by Disney Music Group through a nationwide search for talent run by Deke Sharon. Plans at the time was for a seven member group, soprano, mezzo, alto, tenor, high baritone, low bass and vocal percussionist. On April 29, 2018, the seven members were confirmed to be Newsies star Morgan Keene as the soprano, Pitch Perfect star Shelley Regner as the mezzo, Tony Awards performer Sojourner Brown as the alto, Saturday Night Live performer and former The Sing Off contestant RJ Woessner as the tenor, The Voice finalist Orlando Dixon as the baritone, Hunkapella member Joe Santoni as the bass, and American Music Machine member Antonio Fernandez as the vocal percussionist. In January 2018, a list of 14 member was released, as at the time, Disney planned for two separate touring teams within DCappella group but settled with one group of seven instead.
Disney Music released the group's first single, "Immortals" from Disney's "Big Hero 6" on April 27, 2018. DCappella made its first appearance on American Idol's Disney Night April 29, 2018. The group gave its first concert performance over Memorial Day weekend 2018 as the opening act to Disney's Beauty and the Beast Live in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl along with ABC's first Idol winner Maddie Poppe. The group's debut self titled album was released on November 16, 2018.
DCappella's first tour started in Jacksonville, Florida, in January 2019 and ended two months later in Oakland, California. Regner was replaced as mezzo by Kalen Kelly in May 2019. On October 25, 2019, they released their first holiday album called Rockin Holiday. In March 2020, Brown was replaced by Kelly Denice Taylor. Taylor left the group on May 9, 2022 and Woessner left on February 20, 2023. The group disbanded on June 3, 2023.
Members Vocal percussion Antonio Fernandez RJ Woessner (when Antonio is singing) Tracy Robertson (2018) Bass Joe Santoni Jojo Otseidu (2018) Soprano Morgan Keene Holly Gyenes (2018) Baritone Orlando Dixon Antonio Fernandez (when he is singing) Jessie Nunn known as J.None (2018) Mezzo Shelley Regner (April 29, 2018 – May 22, 2019) Kalen Kelly (2018, May 22, 2019 – June 3, 2023) Alto Sojourner Brown (April 29, 2018 – March 18, 2020) Kyana Fanene (2018) Kelly Denice Taylor (March 20, 2020 – May 9, 2022) Tenor RJ Woessner (April 29, 2018 – February 20, 2023) Connor Smith (2018)
Timeline
Lineup Period Baritone Bass Soprano MezzoAlto Vocal Percussionist TenorApril 29, 2018 – May 22, 2019Orlando DixonJoe SantoniMorgan KeeneShelley RegnerSojourner BrownAntonio FernandezRJ WoessnerMay 22, 2019 – March 18, 2020Kalen KellyMarch 20, 2020 – May 9, 2022Kelly Denice Taylor
Music
Albums All music are arranged by Deke Sharon
Singles
*The lead vocals in these songs are sung by Antonio Fernandez. RJ Woessner takes the vocal percussionist role in these cases.
Appearances and presentations American Idol (ABC) Disney Night, April 29, 2018 performing Disney Medley Disney's Beauty and the Beast Live in Concert (Hollywood Bowl) Memorial Day weekend of May 28, 2018 opening act The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration (ABC) Thursday, November 29, 2019 Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (ABC) December 25, 2019 performing "Last Christmas" Total Vocal fifth annual concert (Carnegie Hall) March 24, 2019
Tours Live A Cappella Concert Experience (January to March 2019) US, 40 stops in about two months with a special “Friend Like Me” Meet and Greet Experience packages National tour (August to September 2019) Japan, 9 stops Translation: Disney a cappella concert “Dicapella”. 2nd National Tour (August 5 – September 9, 2022) Japan, 7 stops
Awards
!colspan="5" align="center"| A Cappella Video Awards (AVA) |- |rowspan=5| 2019 |rowspan=5| "Immortals" | Best Rock Video
| Outstanding Special/Visual Effects | |rowspan=4| |- | Outstanding Video Editing
|Best Soundtrack Video
| Best Video by a Professional Group
!colspan="5" align="center"| Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARA) |- |rowspan=4| 2019 | Deke Sharon for "Immortals" | Best Professional Arrangement for a Non-Scholastic Group | |rowspan=4| |- | DCappella | Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARA) Best Debut Album
| "Immortals" | Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARA) Best Rock Song
| "The Glory Days" | Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARA) Best Soundtrack Song
References
External links
, PR website