We are always looking to add talent to of our musical family. We are currently well represented in the areas of tenor and vocal percussion thus would particularly love to hear from talented soprano, alto and bass singers. Rehearsals are Thursday nights in Oak Ridge, New Jersey.
To arrange for an audition please call Mike Yannuzzi: 973-940-3024. Please be sure to let us know what part you would like to audition for.
Katie Quan - Soprano 1
The artist formerly known as Katie Carey, is the newest member of No Strings and thrilled about it! Katie holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. While at MSU, she performed opera scenes as Baby Doe (The Ballad of Baby Doe), Juliet (Romeo e Juliette), Regina (Regina) among others, and concluded her time there performing the role of Rosalinde in their production of Die Fledermaus. Katie has had the pleasure of performing with MSU’s Chorale, University Singers and Vocal Accord groups, both here and overseas. Notable performances include Verdi’s Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem, and Mendelssohn's A Midsummer’s Night Dream, all alongside the NJ Symphony Orchestra (NJSO), Brahms’s German Requiem, The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of Goddess with the Orchestra of St. Luke's at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, and Britton’s Rejoice in the Lamb with the Richard Alston Dance Company at Sadler Wells Theater in London. Katie has received several awards for her singing, including two Gold Medals at the Golden Key Music Festival, where she had the honor of performing as a soloist twice at Carnegie Hall.
In her post-collegiate existence, Katie has performed with the Light Opera of NJ in Basking Ridge and the Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company, where she was most recently seen in the title role of Patience by Gilbert & Sullivan. Katie works in the healthcare field as the Surgical Coordinator and Office Manager of Associates in Ophthalmology, in Livingston. She married her dream man (Kevin) in 2023 and they currently reside in Newton with their dream dog (Jerry). Katie loves a good jam band, the mountains, doing bad impressions and the Dallas Cowboys.
Shannon Craig - Soprano 2
Shannon is a vocal music teacher to students in grades K-5 and the proud director of the 4th & 5th Grade Chorus at Cater Elementary School in Middletown, NY. She holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Ithaca College and a master's degree in music education from The University of Connecticut. Shannon has sung in the past with the New York All-State Mixed Chorus, Ithaca College Women's Chorale, the Ithaca College Choir, the Middletown City Chorale and the Warwick Valley Chorale. She was also lucky enough to play the violin with the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra. She performed the soprano solo in Saint-Seans' Christmas Oratorio with the Middletown City Chorale, the role of Lily in The Secret Garden at Ithaca College, the role of Jesus in an all-female version of Godspell, and has been a member of various cast ensembles. Shannon has also directed and musically directed many student musical productions.
She lives in Middletown with her husband David, and daughter Annabelle.
Jennifer Kitchin - Soprano 2
Jennifer Kitchin is the Executive Producer at Genuine: The Real People Company.
For over 17 years, she has cast and produced the casting for numerous commercial campaigns including American Express, Lean Cuisine, Dove, State Farm, Go Daddy, Capital One and Aquafresh to name just a few.
She was recently featured as a very busy person in a short film for Jet Blue entitled Humankinda. Keep an eye out for her during your next Jet Blue flight!
Jennifer also holds a BFA in musical theater from the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music and performed professionally as a member of Actor’s Equity. Since moving to Sussex County, she has performed with Cornerstone Playhouse in “Me & My Girl,” “Annie,” “Something’s Afoot,” “Crazy for You,” “Nunsense,” and “Moon Over Buffalo.”
She performed with an a cappella group in high school and is glad to have the opportunity to do so again as an adult.
Jennifer’s proudest accomplishment is her amazing daughter, Natalie, who also enjoys music and theater.
Elizabeth Ward - Alto 1
Elizabeth Ward holds a B.A. in Music and Anthropology from Lawrence University where she studied voice, piano, and music theory. She also sang with the Concert Choir and performed in several musicals, including Into the Woods (Florinda) and The Fantastiks (Louisa). Prior to moving to New Jersey in 2009, she lived in Massachusetts where she sang for many years with Vox Lucens, a Boston-based Renaissance choir that focuses on historically-accurate works of the 16th century. She also taught music and directed Annie Jr. and Fiddler on the Roof Jr. at the Woodward School.
Liz currently resides in Sparta, NJ with her husband, two daughters and cats, and teaches Social Studies at Jefferson Township Middle School.
Joeleen Corrales-Lee - Alto 2
Joeleen serves as a special education teacher at Unity Charter School in Morristown, NJ. She holds a B.A.in English Literature from Boston University and a M.A. in Elementary/Special Education from NYU. In college, Joeleen sang in Boston University’s In Achord (a cappella group), BU’s Choral Society, BU’s Chamber Choir, and the Steinhardt School Madrigal Choir at NYU. She was runner-up for “Best Soloist” in the Northeast International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella 2001/2002 Semi-final Competition and sang the leading role of Mama Rose in her high school production of Gypsy. Joeleen makes her home in Ridgefield, NJ, with her husband James, and their twin boys, Lucas and Nate.
Zoë Makofske - Alto 2
Zoë Makofske grew up with music all around her. Her father, a classical tenor, taught her about all different kinds of music from the time she was a baby. Her love of music eventually led her to music school where she discovered jazz! It was then she decided to move to Boston to learn from the session musicians. She did eventually return to school to study vocal jazz.
As a professional musician Zoë has worked as a freelance jazz singer, most notably with her husband, jazz guitarist/music therapist Adam Makofske; sung with original rock band Division By Zero; numerous wedding bands including The Lawton Street Band; the Montclair State University Concert Choir and was a featured soloist with the Keene State College Concert Choir, UMass Amherst Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Concert Choir, and Montclair State University Vocal Jazz Ensemble. She now possesses her M.A.T. in Music Education from Montclair State University and her Early Childhood Montessori credential from Westside Montessori School.
Zoë lives in Mahwah, NJ with her husband Adam and their sons Wesley and Casey. She is a Montessori teacher of 3-6 year olds at the Village School in Waldwick, NJ and is also a doula and lactation counselor. Zoë loves cats, coffee, yoga, books and pajamas.
Antonio Endriga - Tenor 1 | Vocal Percussion
Antonio Endriga is the newest member of No Strings. Originally from Massachusetts, he is a founding member of the a cappella group The Doo Wop Shop which was started in 1993. He also sang in the Vocal Jazz ensemble while matriculating at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is a former music teacher for the Iskwelahang Pilipino Rondalla in Boston - a string ensemble that plays a mix of traditional and contemporary Filipino music.
Most recently he sang with the Princeton University based a cappella group Stay Tuned and also with the Voice of Rock Project in Chester, NJ.
He is excited to be bringing his talent as a vocal percussionist and tenor to the group.
Mike Yannuzzi - Tenor 2
Mike is a retired vocal/general music teacher. Mike had taught in various school systems for over 13 years. He holds an MA in music education, from Montclair State University.
Mike has sung with The Orpheus Club, Ridgewood, NJ, the choir of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark, NJ, and has also sung with the Opera Workshop at the Mannes School of Music in Manhattan. For over twenty years, Mike has served as the choir director of the Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, in Oak Ridge, NJ.
Mike has been very active in Community Theater, as an actor, director and musical director. Some of his favorite roles have been Judas in
Jesus Christ, Superstar, Harold Hill in
The Music Man, and Sancho Panza in
Man of LaMancha.
Mike has been a member of the band
Sandy & the Wanderers for over 30 years, and have opened for the likes of Andy Williams, Asleep at the Wheel, and the Charlie Daniels Band. Mike is also the co-musical director for
The Steve Ames Show, on Comcast cable.
Steve Gale - Tenor 1
Steve has been an enthusiast of singing since the late 80's, where he was introduced to theater at Pax Amicus in Budd Lake. After appearing in many chorus roles in shows like Jesus Christ Superstar, Shenandoah and Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Steve provided the voice of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors and portrayed Emile Debeq in South Pacific.
In 2007 - after an entirely too long hiatus from singing - Steve became involved with the start up of the 4 part vocal group The Acappella Rock Shop, and in 2010 left to pursue his dream of creating an a cappella project focusing on the genre of classic rock. The Voice of Rock Project had a 4 year run, appearing on cable, old fashioned radio and taking the stage on several occasions. Also producing most of the groups arrangements, Steve filled in tenor, bass and lead parts as well as occasional vocal percussion as needed.
Ralph Wallace - Bass
Ralph Wallace has performed professionally with many local theatre groups. Favorite regional roles include Cliff Bradshaw in
Cabaret with Black River Playhouse, Luther Billis in
South Pacific with Ridge Summer Players, Scapino in
Scapino with Trilogy, Sir Harry in
Once Upon a Mattress with The Barn Theater, and Joe the Bartender in the original musical,
Joe’s Bar. He was a featured performer at Lovey’s Showcase for 5 years, and for the last 15 years, Ralph has been involved with The Growing Stage-Children’s Theater of New Jersey. Ralph sang for 16 years in the barbershop quartet Once Over Lightly and founded the critically acclaimed jazz vocal group
6*2*5. 6*2*5 appeared in clubs in Manhattan and across New Jersey, performing with musicians such as Mitch Schechter, John Arbo and Gary Mazzaroppi, among others. Ralph makes his home in Netcong, NJ.
ABOUT NO STRINGS A CAPPELLA
No Strings A Cappella of Sussex County New Jersey was formed in August of 2013 offering a mixed repertoire of popular and jazz as well as classical. We want to reach more people in more places with our unique music. Indoor or out, formal or casual, on the move or on stage No Strings Acappella can provide a performance customized to your entertainment needs.
We are excited to bring our zest for acappella singing to audiences in New Jersey, New York and PA.
Funding has been made available in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through the State/County Partnership Block Grant Program, as administered through the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council.