Elyse Shenberger
Alto/Mezzo-Soprano
Business Co-Manager Member July 2019–July 2023, since XXXX 2025 Solos: First Try, Fire Arrangements: First Try, You Go Down Smooth, DCOM Medley, Don't You Want Me, Do You Wanna Do Nothing With Me?, Flowers, Made You Look, Stickwitu Elyse has been singing since her debut as Helen of Troy in her fifth grade musical, Odyssey Rock. She continued her love of singing at Penn as the music director of Dischord and for a short year in Boston with Collective Measures. She moved to Chicago in August of 2018 to pursue a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology at UIC (no, she cannot read your mind), and she joined The Uptones because she desperately wanted to once again sing beautiful music with beautiful people.
Apart from singing and mind-reading, Elyse enjoys running by the lake, exploring the local coffee scene and trying to befriend every dog in the city. |
Steve Boblak
Bass
Member August 2014–May 2019, June 2022–July 2023
Solos: Pony, You Are, Stacy's Mom, Beauty and the Beast (Disney Medley), Rock Bottom, Rather Be, Little Talks
Member August 2014–May 2019, June 2022–July 2023
Solos: Pony, You Are, Stacy's Mom, Beauty and the Beast (Disney Medley), Rock Bottom, Rather Be, Little Talks
Steve has been a member of The Uptones for years now. He wants you to know that you're just as special as anyone else.
Steve loves bulldogs and arranging music for his favorite a cappella group, The Uptones, the a cappella group of which Steve is a member.
Steve's favorite Uptones moments are:
In addition to the incredible people both past and present that make up the group, Steve's favorite thing is the new opportunity that each year brings. The continued growth of the group, Steve thinks, can be attributed to the quality of its members. And Steve is happy that he continues to get to be a part of it all!
Steve loves bulldogs and arranging music for his favorite a cappella group, The Uptones, the a cappella group of which Steve is a member.
Steve's favorite Uptones moments are:
- Performing a near-sold-out show in 2015
- Competing in Harmony Sweepstakes
- Surprising the group with new arrangements
- Recording in the studio
- ...and many more!
In addition to the incredible people both past and present that make up the group, Steve's favorite thing is the new opportunity that each year brings. The continued growth of the group, Steve thinks, can be attributed to the quality of its members. And Steve is happy that he continues to get to be a part of it all!
Chelsea Mann
Alto/Soprano
Member since August 2021 Chelsea grew up in Atlanta, GA and has lived in Maryland, New York City and then Chicago (since 2012). She has pursued a wide variety of musical interests, from commercial work to songwriting, to choirs and cover bands, which you can read more about here.
Chelsea graduated from Hamilton College, where she sang in an all-female a cappella group called Tumbling After. Shortly after moving to Chicago, Chelsea performed as the lead singer in a cover band called Little Expedition. After a few years of musical hiatus, Chelsea is thrilled to be joining the Uptones tribe! Chelsea has found the group to not only be talented but warm, spirited and a blast to spend time with as well. Chelsea is a recruiter in talent acquisition, as well as a licensed mental health therapist. In her spare time, Chelsea enjoys songwriting, watching all things HGTV, partaking in holiday-themed excursions (e.g. fall apple picking), and walks along Lake Shore Drive. |
Hannah Lacava
Alto
Member since July 2022 Bio and picture coming soon.
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Meredith FordSoprano
Music Co-Director Member since October 2017 Solos: Natural Woman, Stephen, Colors of the Wind (Disney Medley) Meredith hails from the great state of Minnesota. After a brief foray into the world of sports, Meredith found she was far more coordinated when playing piano and singing show tunes with her dad than trying to score baskets or goals… and the rest is history.
At Northwestern University, Meredith sang in Significant Others — Northwestern’s premiere all-female a cappella group — for four years, serving as music director for two. She also played mellophone in the NU Marching Band for 4 years (Go ‘Cats!). Meredith eventually became tired of singing by herself in the shower, and thus sought out The Uptones and, well, what a fun and supportive group of people she found! In her free time from her day job as a market researcher, she enjoys watching television shows of the sitcom or competition reality varieties (#1 Parks & Rec, #2 30 Rock, #3 Survivor, #4 Project Runway, in case you were curious), asking her parents to send pictures of her family’s cat, eating cheese, crossing books off her reading list, or slaving away over jigsaw puzzles. |
T. Isaac ShermanBass
Business Co-Manager Member since September 2017 Solos: Who Did That to You, Indigo, I'll Be There For You/Friends theme (TV Medley), Beauty and the Beast (Disney Medley) Isaac was born and raised a small child in Lakeview, Chicago, and during his formative years he developed a deep-seated distrust of anything related to sports. Growing up in Wrigleyville will do that to ya.
He found solace in song, and at 13, he joined the Chicago Children's Choir. He had developed early and started his singing career as a bass. He was very happy in this part and hasn't thought about singing much above middle C for 14 years. In college, he sang briefly with Suspended before getting sucked into the vortex of theater school. He now works as an operations manager with a logistics management company. Isaac joined The Uptones because he was tired of singing the same three low country songs at karaoke all the time. |
Will HovermanTenor
Member since December 2019 A Minnesota native, Will graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2018 with a degree in Political Science, Journalism, Strategic Communication and French. During his time in Madison, he was a member of the red-jacketed men’s a cappella group The MadHatters.
By day, he works in digital marketing and analytics for an independent media agency in downtown Chicago. In his spare time, he enjoys fitness, podcasts, vegetarian cooking, bourbon manhattans, and spending time with his dog, Rémy. |
Max Krueger
Baritone/Bass
Member since July 2019 Max is back home in Chicago after graduating with a degree in math from Muhlenberg College. There he was part of Noteworthy, a Broadway-based a cappella group. In his spare time, Max loves cooking, baking, and bartending, along with figuring out what to do with life now that he’s an “adult.” He’s very excited to be part of such a cool group of singers!
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Cami MampieriSoprano/Mezzo-Soprano/Alto
Music Co-Director Member since September 2015 Solos: Home, Over the Rainbow, Closer, Circle of Life (Disney Medley), All I Want for Christmas is You Ever since her first solo in kindergarten, music has been an huge part of her life. A cappella was a memorable part of her time at Notre Dame, where she was music director of Harmonia, an all-female a cappella group (commonly mistaken for the Barden Bellas). She joined The Uptones because she wanted to continue singing with fellow aca-nerds.
When she's not forcing The Uptones to sing in exciting formations, you can find her doing outdoor activities, analyzing numbers for her job, or planning Uptones social gatherings! |
Becky HieberMezzo-Soprano/Alto
Business Co-Manager Founding Member Solos: Wannabe (Boy Bandpalooza), A Whole New World (Disney Medley), Free to Be Me, I Choose You, Story of My Life, Hold On, Hit Me With Your Best Shot Becky is the sole remaining original member of The Uptones. She’s sung since her middle school days and eventually went on to be the musical director of her college a cappella group, Lake Affects, at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She joined The Uptones because she wanted to continue singing when she graduated from college. The thing she loves most about the group is the great bond she has with them.
Becky teaches fifth grade at an elementary school in Skokie. She loves being outdoors and spending time with her family, including her son, Carson. |
George AbitanteTenor
Member since December 2016 Solos: Don't Stop Me Now, Castle on the Hill, Stacy's Mom, Circle of Life (Disney Medley) George joined The Uptones so he could continue singing after graduating from the University of Chicago, where he sang with Run for Cover. He soon found that The Uptones is not only a phenomenal group to sing with, but is also composed of phenomenal people, and he is grateful to be a part of such a special group.
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Ian MateoTenor/Baritone
Business Co-Manager Member since January 2010 Solos: Everybody (Boy Bandpalooza), Stacy's Mom, Under the Sea (Disney Medley), Iris, Shut Up and Dance, Odds Are, Demons, Man in the Mirrors, Happy Together A proud Chicago native, Ian’s interest in contemporary a cappella began over a decade ago. He even traveled the country to watch collegiate groups perform and compete before eventually joining The Uptones.
Being part of The Uptones has allowed him to sing and have fun with some of the most talented and diversely entertaining friends one could have. He loves a solid dim sum meal, being a cat daddy, the Eurovision Song Contest, exploring Montréal, and a good hair day. Ian works for a global building materials distributor in the Chicago Loop. |
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Position Member since Month Year Solos: [] Bio goes here.
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