Founded in the fall of 2004 under the name “Underground Sound,” InVox is a co-ed a cappella group of young professionals from Chicago, IL. The name InVox is derived from the Latin vox meaning voice. The members of InVox use their voices to push the limits of contemporary a cappella in order to bring new life to songs across a wide variety of genres. From the standards of yesterday to the hits topping the charts today, InVox reinterprets and reinvents each song with skill and enthusiasm. Whether it’s performing at a local watering hole, on a stage in a theatre or caroling in a hospital, InVox provides entertaining experiences to its audiences through unique charm and an engaging performance style.
current Group members
Annie Bennett
Voice Part: Soprano
Where I'm From: Evanston, IL
Day Job: Opera Singer
Things I Like: My pets, dark beer, and being told I act like a mezzo
Things I Dislike: Waking up before 9AM, tomatoes, and bad drivers
Guilty Pleasures: Astrology memes and doing shots of malort
Favorite Quote: "Yo trabajo duro como en madera y yeso" - Jack White
Emilee Lales
Voice Part: Mezzo-Soprano
Where I'm From: Crystal Lake, IL
Previous Group: Medusa at The University of Chicago
Day Job: Pharma Ad Executive, Wedding Planner
Things I Like: Musical Theatre, To-Do Lists, Podcasts, Attention
Things I Dislike: Mansplaining, Celery, Singing-competition television
Guilty Pleasures: Diet Coke, Instagram rabbit-holes
Favorite Quote: "Be relentless. Be ambitious. Be excellent." - Roxane Gay
Jonathan Carpenter
Voice Part: Baritone
Where I'm From: Hamden, CT
Previous Group: Harvard Din & Tonics, Harvard-Radcliffe Veritones, Eight Tracks
Day Job: Product Support Specialist
Things I Like: Theater, biking, corgis, iced coffee, horror movies
Things I Dislike: Waiting, early mornings, the mail room in my apartment building
Guilty Pleasures: Eating Ice cream In the bathtub, spending way too much money on ingredients for a single intricate recipe, TikTok
Favorite Quote: "Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it? I always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it." - Daisy, The Great Gatsby
Jordan Gerlach
Voice Part: Mezzo-Soprano
Where I'm From: Madison, WI
Previous Group: UW-Madison Pitches & Notes
Day Job: Law Student
Things I Like: Wisconsin sports, toddlers mispronouncing words, a little something sweet after dinner
Things I Dislike: Snakes, people who leave the price tag on gifts
Guilty Pleasures: Pimple popping videos
Favorite Quote: "Do I regret it? Yes. Would I do it again? Probably." - Nick Miller
Jordan Riebe
Voice Part: Bass
Where I'm From: Roseville, MN
Previous Group: Loyola University Chicago's Loyolacappella
Day Job: Partner Investment Specialist
Things I Like: Running, Peanut butter, Reading, Banana bread at work
Things I Dislike: Lasagna, Daylight savings time, Russell Wilson
Guilty Pleasures: 7/11 Hot Dogs and The Plain White T's
Favorite Quote: "We all like dealing with reality the best we can" - A man talking to himself on the Red Line.
Luke Lones
Voice Part: Baritone/Bass
Where I'm From: Dallas, TX
Previous Group: Washington University After Dark
Day Job: Software Developer
Things I Like: Board games, good riffers, Survivor, chili
Things I Dislike: Small talk, that I can't riff, the news, sand
Guilty Pleasures: Thinking originals are a cover because I'd only heard the song a cappella; pretending to be a judge on The Voice and watching with my back turned
Favorite Quote: "Literally every song is better a cappella." - Andy Bernard
Namrata Vakkalagadda
Voice Part: Alto
Where I'm From: San Jose, CA
Day Job: MBA Student at University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
Things I Like: Chocolate, cats, anything that sparkles, the color pink
Things I Dislike: Weaponized incompetence, being wrong, when people don't like my cat
Guilty Pleasures: Cozy blankets
Favorite Quote: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do." - Mark Twain
Sam Kramer
Voice Part: Tenor
Where I'm From: Madison, CT
Previous Group: Emory University's Dooley Noted
Day Job: Digital Analyst at Accenture
Things I Like: Photography, Geocaching, Video Games
Things I Dislike: Mashed potatoes (I know!), Germs
Guilty Pleasures: 90 Day Fiance, Naked and AFRAID
Favorite Quote: “Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment!” - Albus Dumbledore
Sarah Takacs
Voice Part: Alto
Where I'm From: Greendale, WI
Previous Group: UW-Madison Pitches & Notes
Day Job: Marketing Analyst
Things I Like: Cooking, baking, reading, sports, my dog
Things I Dislike: Being a responsible adult, loud neighbors
Guilty Pleasures: Werewolf romance novels
Favorite Quote: "My favorite's Gouda!" - She's the Man
Scott Gelb
Voice Part: Tenor
Where I'm From: West Windsor, NJ
Previous Group: University of Miami's BisCaydence
Day Job: Data Analyst at NielsenIQ
Things I Like: Singing, tea, baking, running, basketball, InVox
Things I Dislike: this question
Guilty Pleasures: Playing Minecraft
Favorite Quote: "Is there anything more capitalist than a peanut with a top hat, cane, and monocle selling you other peanuts to eat?"
Tom McLees
Voice Part: Baritone/Bass/Vocal Percussion
Where I'm From: Chicago, IL
Previous Group: Voices In Your Head at the University of Chicago
Day Job: Newest staff member of The Lira Ensemble
Things I Like: F***Ing around
Things I Dislike: Finding out
Guilty Pleasures: Dad Jokes
Favorite Quote: ______ (edited)
Tongjia Shi
Voice Part: Tenor
Where I'm From: China
Previous Group: N/A
Day Job: Software Engineer
Things I Like: Music, keeping promises, quality education
Things I Dislike: Wasting
Guilty Pleasures: Cleaning
Favorite Quote: "You never forget what happened once...you just can't remember."