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About
Ball in the House
Following in the path of classic harmony groups like Boyz II Men, The Temptations, and Take 6, with a mix of the classic and the contemporary, the five-member vocal band Ball in the House brilliantly blends a wide range of influences, from classic R&B to pop, hip-hop & gospel. With their extensive tour schedule (averaging 250 dates a year), Ball in the House reaches millions and is arguably one of the hardest working, most successful indie bands today. They have performed with such artists as The Beach Boys, Gladys Knight, The Jonas Brothers, Jessica Simpson, Fantasia, Blondie, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, KC & The Sunshine Band, Kool & the Gang, and numerous others. All a cappella, but a sound that will astound and amaze you. 5 Guys, 5 Voices, THAT'S IT... A review from the Boston Globe put it very succinctly - "Ball in the House has everything you would expect to find in a successful pop/rock band....the one thing it doesn't have is instruments."
Dave Guisti
I was born and raised in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and my love for music started in the first grade. I was in the play Pinocchio, where I sang my first solo, "I Got No Strings." I was hooked.
I attended the Boston Boys Choir from 5th to 8th grade where we sang in church everyday. We also took piano lessons and learned music theory. That is when I first met Jon J. We both grew up in Dorchester and often traveled to and from the choir school together on the M.B.T.A.
After performing in many musicals during my junior and senior years of High School, I attended Berklee College of Music. I was a vocal performance major.
I went on to be the musical director at St. Ambrose Parrish in Dorchester, MA. There, I was cantor, director of a children's choir, and performed with the Spanish choir. My time there was one of the best times of my life. I met up with Jon shortly after being at St. Ambrose, and the rest is history. I have been with Ball in the House for many years now. I am still very passionate about what we do. Through our outreach with students, we are able to share all that we have learned throughout our lives with them. Hopefully inspiring them to perform. To see that music is cool. You don't have to choose between sports and the arts. You can get involved in both. I try to tell students that music is such a positive way to express yourself. No matter where you are from, how you look, and what your personal beliefs are, music is a beautiful universal language. I am so honored to be part of Ball in the House . My bandmates and I are very lucky guys.
Jon Ryan
I grew up in Boston, but was never much into music as a kid. It all changed for me back in 5th grade, when I met Dave at the Boston Boys Choir School. We studied music pretty intensely, learning to sight read, singing every day in church and other venues, and also learning to play the recorder, piano, and hand bells. Later in high school, I discovered the magic of keyboards and drum machines and took up bass as well.
At Skidmore College, the small school setting allowed me tons of musical experience outside the classroom as I majored in music inside the classroom. This is where I got the a cappella bug in a group there (Bandersnatchers), in addition to playing in a band, piano accompanying, singing in chorus, and instrumental and vocal arranging. After graduating with music honors, I sang in various a cappella groups, including the Vineyard Sound, while teaching elementary music and piano lessons. I continued to arrange vocal music, both for my own groups, as well as others.
I had always loved rhythm, even more than singing, but never really knew much about beatboxing until I saw Andrew Chaikin perform with the House Jacks. With his amazing performance as inspiration and wanting to perform full time myself, I started Ball in the House and worked on beatboxing until I could go for an entire show. Now here we are and I'm blessed with being able to do this for a living.
Ryan Chappelle
I come to Ball in the House from Lincoln, Nebraska, where I have been singing and performing for a number of years. After discovering my love for singing at an early age, music was always a big part of my education. I auditioned and was accepted into select choirs throughout my middle and high school years. It was in high school that I started my first a cappella group with three friends. This group was put together for a school talent show and went on to release a CD before graduation. It was this involvement that led to a music scholarship to Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska where I participated in many specialized performing choirs and had a lead in the college musical. During these years, I was also taking classes in music theory and history, as well as performing with various semi-pro acts around the Lincoln area. I graduated in 2003 with a degree in business marketing from Peru State College.
After college, I joined Lincoln's premier a cappella group, No Better Cause, and toured venues, including schools and performing arts centers, throughout the Midwest.
After I saw an audition notice for Ball in the House on an a cappella web site. I flew to Boston, met with the guys, and got the callback a few weeks later. I made the move to Boston where I have since been touring and performing all over the nation with Ball in the House.
Nels Urtel
I was born and raised in south-central Minnesota in a town named Mankato. A son of educators and musicians, I found music to be important to me and everyone around me. My father was my high school choral director and my whole immediate family impressed upon me the fun and importance of singing. However, it was at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where music developed from a pastime to a passion. I was heavily involved with the rich and talented choral program there under the direction of Dr. Gary Schwartzhoff and shared some amazing experiences with amazing people. I was able to travel all around the country and the world. I was fortunate enough to be a part of two international tours; a four-country European tour and a tour to Argentina. Though I loved the choral singing and training I received there, I also became involved in many other musical ensembles. I had the opportunity to sing with the award-winning UWEC Jazz Ensembles, I sang for an a cappella group called Fifth Element, for an 11 piece funk band, and played guitar, mandolin and sang for a progressive folk band called Beacon James. Though I was able to participate in all types of music, a cappella remained a great interest of mine. After I graduated in May of 2010, I spent some time with the now defunct Inpulse from Minneapolis and subbed in with a couple different a cappella groups in the Midwest. Now I am proud to be the ?new guy? in Ball in the House! After a cross country trip in a U-Haul with my father, I?m very excited to be in the Boston area with these wonderful guys and traveling all across the country. I am so grateful that I get to combine music and travel into one, awesome job!
Suranjan Sen
Raised in the hills of east Tennessee, I'm proud to be bringing some southern soul to Boston. I knew I wanted to sing with a group of guys ever since I was introduced to the Temptations at age ten (man those guys could sing). From there my interest turned to classical then jazz and now full circle back to soul! I first got into a cappella in college, where some friends and I founded the Vanderbilt Melodores. I had so much fun singing with and directing them that when I had the opportunity to do this for a living I couldn't believe it. Music (along with food) is my passion. I can't wait to share it with you! (y'all)
New Album
Next Event
Tue, May, 21, 2013
Lenape Valley Re.HS
Stanhope, NJ
Mailing List
Latest Podcast
Check out the March edition of the New Ball in the House Podcast. Ryan and Jon J. give a quick update from the road and talk about upcoming shows and cool happenings with the band.
