The voices of Dobbs 16 don’t just blend, they captivate. This high-energy a cappella student group from Masters sings covers and choreographs their own performances. They will often showcase arrangements created by former Dobbs 16 members, or from colleges. They competed in the 2025 International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) Northeast Quarterfinal on Feb. 9 at EMPAC in Troy, New York. This competition is hosted by Varsity Vocals, an international a cappella organization, and is one of the oldest a cappella competitions in the country. Dobbs 16 has been going since its earliest years, making it a longstanding tradition.
Jennifer Carnevale, Dobbs 16’s director and teacher, said, “When I started here, around 25 years ago, the director at the time took the group to this competition, so I inherited it as a legacy.” Also, this competition emphasizes sportsmanship, allowing students to appreciate each other’s work despite being on different teams.
This year, Dobbs 16 placed third, a significant achievement, as they have not placed in the past six years. According to Carnevale, the result offers the best of both worlds: they received recognition for their hard work, while having the freedom to move on from their competition set because they are not advancing to the next round. Additionally, James Fabian ‘26 was awarded Best Vocal Percussionist, recognizing his contributions to the group’s performance.
The group dedicated extensive class time and workshops to prepare for the event. Sienna Morin, who has taken on the role of choreographer, said, “How Dobbs 16 works is that, at the beginning of the year, we learn the first half of our repertoire, and then the first half of our songs, and then pick three songs for the competition.” Morin refined the choreography over spring break, and the group spent a full-day workshop learning it.
Beyond technical skills, what sets Dobbs 16 apart is their bond and diversity. Despite having many new members, the team’s dynamic thrives due to the welcoming nature of the returning members. Their ability to support each other and work together was key to their success. In addition to their strong camaraderie, Dobbs 16 stands out because of their diversity, both in musical taste and the members themselves. The group is made up of students with a wide range of interests outside of singing, which adds a unique energy to their performances. Carnevale said, “They genuinely like each other, they genuinely like what they’re doing, and they genuinely like what they’re singing and that translates on stage.”
This year’s setlist included Diamonds by Rihanna, Muddy Waters by LP, and Don’t Wake Me Up by Lianne La Havas. Amara Kaur ‘27 soloed in the song, Don’t Wake Me Up, and according to Kaur, the hardest part of doing a solo was the nerves before. Despite this, she knew that she had support from her fellow members and was prepared, which helped her calm down.
She said, “Careful thought goes into matching songs with soloists and appealing to judges, so I knew I was prepared.”
This careful selection process, combined with their sheer vocal talent made up of amazing soloists and group singers is why they are so strong. Also, they are strong because their teamwork and communication has led to a close-knit community that feels like family.
Morin said, “Not only do we have members who are strong in an ensemble, but we have so many individual voices that stand out, which makes our overall sound even more powerful.”
The members are Sienna Morin ‘25, Ross Manzano ‘26, Leila Gross ‘27, Alex Carnevale ‘25, Josie Leef ‘25, Samantha Weber ‘25, Alex Cooperstock ‘25, Saachi Bogavelli ‘25, Cathay Hee ‘25, Stella Ervi ‘27, Eileen Kang ‘26, Ava Munitz ‘27, Thomas Marrison ‘26, Jack Sobolewski ‘27, Henry Frasca ‘27, James Fabian ‘26, and Amara Kaur ‘27.
