Dobbs 16 Sings Its Way to the Top

4/8/2026

Dobbs 16, the School’s contemporary a cappella group, has been hitting all the right notes this spring.

Winning first place at the Northeast regional quarterfinals at the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) made them one of the top 5 a cappella groups in the region.

When they advanced to the semifinal round, they came in second place among the top contenders, placing them among the top two groups in the Northeast and one of the top 14 a cappella groups in the country.

This year’s Dobbs 16 members are Isabella Cardace ’27, Annette Choi ’26, Stella Ervi ’27, Jim Fabian ’26, Henry Frasca ’27, Leila Gross ’27, Eileen Kang ’26, Amara Kaur ’27, Liam Lapenna ’27, Ross Manzano ’26, Ava Munitz ’27, Laura Peralta ’27, Jack Sobolewski ’27 and Ayalah Spratt ’26.

Jennifer Carnevale, Dobbs 16 director and chair of the Department of Performing Arts, is “incredibly proud of their diligent preparation and skilled execution, regardless of how they placed.” She noted how her students have “grown exponentially in their ability to connect with each other to present an impactful performance as a single unit. This takes keen listening, personal reflection and thoughtful practice.”

During the quarterfinal round, Sobolewski took home Outstanding Soloist honors while Fabian earned Best Vocal Percussionist accolades. At the semifinals, Kaur received the Best Soloist award and Fabian earned another Best Vocal Percussionist trophy.

The winning set included: “Movement” by Hozier, “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson and “Holding on to Good” by Delta Rae, with the first two songs arranged by Eden Leach ’23.

When Fabian performed “Movement” with his a cappella teammates, it struck a familiar chord.

“It is a song I've been listening to since 2022, when my sister, Masters alumna and former Dobbs 16 member Annie Fabian ’22, showed it to me. It was kind of a full-circle moment, which made it quite meaningful. It also, being the climax of the set, had my most intricate patters and riffs, which makes it incredibly fun to perform on stage.”

Fabian reflected on what he will miss most about Dobbs 16: “All of the friends I've made, and the chance to compete next year with this incredibly talented cohort. Those will be incredibly hard things to give up.”