A widely ranging program that stretches from Beethoven and Gershwin to Elvis, Stevie Wonder, the Bee Gees, the Temptations, Neil Diamond and others will be presented here Sunday, March 16, when the Fredericksburg Music Club presents Backtrack Vocals in concert.
Seating for the 3 p.m. program in the sanctuary of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, 1800 North Llano -- the FMC’s sixth concert in its 2024--2025 eight-concert season -- will begin at 2:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. The performance is free, although goodwill offerings are welcome.
Backtrack Vocals is a five-member professional a cappella group based in New York City recognized for innovative vocal and beatbox arrangements that transform a wide range of genres, including pop, funk, Motown, standards and Broadway tunes, among them popular favorites like “Someone To Watch Over Me,” “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” “Sweet Caroline,” Over The Rainbow” and “Can’t Help Falling In Love.”
Since their inception on YouTube in 2013, thanks to a versatile repertoire, they have gained over 113,000 subscribers and 13 million views, leading to performances across the U.S. and internationally in countries like Vietnam and Kazakhstan.
The five members of the group include:
Mike Hinkle -- Co-president Hinkle, who joined the group in 2017, is an actor and singer from Wilmington, DE, who attended Cab Calloway School of the Arts, focusing on musical theatre, drama and vocal performance. He received a BFA from New York University's Tisch School of the arts in drama.
Chrissy Aloisio -- A singer, dancer, actress and teacher based in New York City, Aloisio began singing in church choir at the age of 9. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Delaware. Before joining the group in 2021, she performed professionally in musical theatre, directed shows for children and taught various performing arts disciplines.
Max Addae -- A vocalist, music technologist and award-winning vocal arranger based in Brooklyn, NY, Addae developed his love for singing in church around the age of 6. He continued his musical pursuits through advanced choral ensembles, musical theatre and contemporary a cappella in high school and college in addition to pursuing graduate studies at MIT.
Michael Crisol -- A professional beatboxer from the Bronx, NY, Crisol has been competitively beatboxing since 2016 in cities across North America, including Boston, Atlanta, New York and Toronto. As of 2022, he is ranked as the 16th best beatboxer in the U.S.
Beyond their performances, Backtrack Vocals is dedicated to music education. The group has conducted programs at over 250 schools worldwide by offering assemblies, workshops and clinics on topics like beatboxing, group vocal improvisation and pop vocal techniques as they work to help students discover and develop their unique voices, promote inclusivity and provide engaging insights into a cappella music.
Backtrack Vocals’ achievements include winning New York’s Got Talent Season 6 in 2019, being featured on “Voices Only” (vol. 2) in 2018 and winning Steve Harvey’s Sing-Off in 2017. They have also appeared on platforms such as NBC, FOX, PBS, Broadway’s “Kinky Boots” and HBO’s “PAUSE with Sam Jay.” In December 2020, they made their movie debut in “A Ring for Christmas,” and in June 2023 they performed and were interviewed on Kazakhstan’s national morning show “ОЯН!”
In addition to freewill offerings given at the door March 16, that afternoon’s performance is also being partially funded by donations from members of the Fredericksburg Music Club. Membership cards for individuals and corporate sponsors wishing to join the Fredericksburg Music Club will also be available at the door.
More information about the FMC or assistance in joining the organization is also available online at http://fredericksburgmusicclub.com/.