Hi everyone! I am incredibly honored and excited to welcome you all to Counterparts’ 2023 Spring Show. This semester has been very eventful so far. From going on our tour to New Orleans, performing at the ILMUNC conference and for the Alumni Class Leadership Council, planning our upcoming album, and preparing for our Spring show, we certainly have had a packed semester. Becoming president of Counterparts has been such an honor, and it has been amazing to be able to sing with such a talented and kind group of people. I could not have planned and executed this show without my wonderful and extremely dedicated board members. A big thank you to Megan Higgins, Shreya Krishnan, Shreya Balasubramanian, Grace Gramins, Brandon Tsai, and Alain Welliver. We also have 3 amazing seniors graduating this year. I have had the privilege to become close friends with each of these seniors and I am sad to see them go, but excited to see where their future takes them. I am so proud of everything we have accomplished so far this semester, and I sincerely hope you enjoy the show!
Hello and welcome to our spring performance! This group has worked so hard to bring you the music you’re about to hear tonight, and we are so glad that you’re here to share this moment with us. I have been looking forward to music directing my collegiate a cappella group since my freshman year of high school, and I can’t imagine a more dedicated, passionate, and talented group of people to have made this dream a reality A quick thank you to my ‘parts for sticking with me through this semester; to past music directors Kwaku Owusu, Henry Platt, Sara Kate Silva, and Mia Ginzburg for being the best role models and friends I could ask for; and finally, to the seniors who have been instrumental in making Counterparts a home. Mia, Jack, and Vikram, words can not describe how much we’ll all miss you next year, and we can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve contributed to this group. On that note, we hope you enjoy the show!
2023
Vikram Dugar
Jack Franklin
Mia Ginzburg
2024
Megan Higgins
Brandon Kanell
Kai Kelly
*Vocal Percussion
Tenor*
Baritone
Soprano* Soprano*
Baritone Mezzo
2025
Shreya Balasubramanian
Celia Ginzburg
Julian Ha
Sarah Kim
Viktoria Olsson
Lee Reid
2026
Grace Gramins
Shreya Krishnan
Isaac Tang
Brandon Tsai
Alain Welliver
Viktoria Olsson
Megan Higgins
Shreya Krishnan
Shreya Balasubramanian
Alain Welliver
Grace Gramins
Brandon Tsai
President
Music Director Business Manager
Asst. Music Director
Social Chair
Publicity Manager
Alumni Relations
Mezzo* Soprano*
Bass Alto Soprano Mezzo*
Mezzo
Soprano
Baritone Bass Tenor
Act 1
Rumour Has It (OPB Adele)
Soloist: Kai Kelly
Arranged by: Shreya Balasubramanian
Plastic Hearts (OPB Miley Cyrus)
Soloist: Celia Ginzburg
Arranged by: Celia Ginzburg
Erase Me (OPB Lizzy McAlpine)
Soloist: Shreya Krishnan
Arranged by: Megan Higgins
No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (OPB Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer)
Soloists: Megan Higgins and Lee Reid
Arranged by: Megan Higgins
You Are the Reason (OPB Calum Scott)
Soloist: Jack Franklin
Arranged by: Henry Platt (CP ’21)
She’s So High (OPB Tal Bachman)
Soloist: Alain Welliver
Arranged by: Sara Kate Silva (CP ’22)
Hopelessly Devoted to You (OPB Olivia Newton-John)
Soloist: Vikram Dugar
Arranged by: Kwaku Owusu (CP ’20)
Act 2
Lovefool (OPB The Cardigans)
Solo: Mia Ginzburg
Arranged by: Mia Ginzburg
L-O-V-E (OPB Nat King Cole)
Solo: Brandon Kanell and Julian Ha
Arranged by: Mia Ginzburg
My Funny Valentine (OPB Frank Sinatra)
Solo: Viktoria Olsson
Arranged by: Megan Higgins and Alain Welliver
Back to Black (OPB Amy Winehouse)
Solo: Sarah Kim
Arranged by: Sarah Kim
La Vie En Rose (OPB Édith Piaf)
Solo: Grace Gramins and Isaac Tang
Arranged by: Megan Higgins and Grace Gramins
Fever (OPB Peggy Lee)
Solo: Vikram Dugar, Grace Gramins, Brandon Kanell, and Kai Kelly
Arranged by: Dan Coleman (CP ‘93)
Cheek to Cheek (OPB Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong)
Solo: Shreya Balasubramanian and Brandon Tsai
Arranged by: Shreya Balasubramanian
Not only does he have the voice of an angel, but he can tickle the ivories like no other. There is nothing more majestic than when Vikram “(ex) Rizzness Manager” Dugar sits down to play us some tunes on the piano in the middle of rehearsal (especially when we aren’t on break) It is no wonder he is our Officially Unofficial Assistant to the Assistant Music Director But beyond Vikram’s raw talent and voluptuous silky hair, Vikram is the glue that holds this group together. Whether through his inspirational speeches, freshman year Wawa fixation, or his remarkably calm demeanor, Vikram is a constant that we just can’t replace After today’s performance, you will be as HOPELESSLY DEVOTED to Vikram as we all are
Newly retired from his position as Supreme Ruler of Counterparts, Jack “In Terms of Next Steps” Franklin is here to slay the stage one last time. Other than being King of the A Cappella nerds, Jack is involved in literally everything on campus - from theaters to football fields to churches, you can find his fans everywhere If you ever need to find him, just look for the quintessential Moelis water bottle and “Commit Tax Fraud” hoodie combination as he bounces down Locust in his Golden Goose sneakers. When he’s not eating raw pasta or slapping Alain’s thighs, he can be found wrapped up in a conversation trying to be modest about how incredibly accomplished he issomething along the lines of “yeah, I’m going to be working in Seattle Oh yeah it’s in tech Oh it’s at this firm called Microsoft?”
(of course while using his business voice) The unofficial dad(dy) of CP, Jack is the kind of person to go out of his way to get to know each person in the group, and will always go above and beyond for us (including saving people with nut allergies’ lives) He has truly made CP feel like home, and we will miss him (and his crazy endeavors) so much Jack and his angelic voice Are the Reason that everyone will leave this show teary-eyed
If you ever see a stunning brunette casually running half marathons on the street, it’s possible you ’ ve spotted Mia “Mother of Music” Ginzburg! Lover of all things jazz and pop, our former MD writes killer arrangements, gives the most philosophical music theory lessons, and helps elevate our group sound But Mia is so much more than our beloved ex-music lady she’s a Game of Thrones stan, although she has questionable choices in ships, everyone ’ s literal mother, and the ‘part you will frequently find yourself giggling alongside She’s known to spontaneously yell “BRR” when she’s cold, lest you mistake the true nature of her body temperature at any given moment Most importantly, Mia is a supportive friend who’s always there to offer encouraging words and lift her friends up when they feel down. To know her is to Love her, and you’d be a Fool to not savor every second of her final show stopping performance tonight
Have you ever walked into Platt and heard an angelic voice coming from down the hall? If so, you ’ ve probably encountered Megan “listen to this collegiate a cappella video” Higgins, Counterparts’ newly-minted Music Director. Megan has come all the way from her native corn fields to Philadelphia, PA to bless us all with her outstanding musical talents Her arrangements alone will bring you to TEARS, and once she starts singing there’s no stopping the water works Megan is passionate about many things, namely the Fairfield High School Trojan’s basketball team and her dream to find her perfect bird husband. Truly though, Megan is one of the most passionate people you will ever meet, and her devotion as Music Director to Counterparts shines through in every song you will hear tonight – it is all thanks to Megan Alright, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, let’s wrap up this show bio so we can finally hear Megan sing!
Have you ever encountered an individual that radiates joy in a way that warms you from the inside out? If not, sorry that totally sucks In that case, you should find your nearest Brandon “Heyyyy recordinggg” Kanell and hold him tight, he actually really likes that. If he's not sitting in Lee’s lap or rizzing our rehearsal recordings, he’s probably out and about physically or mentally as he embodies his International Relations major persons In Brandon you will find a dance partner, a confidant and a vibrato so brassy you could settle in its sound waves To know Brandon is to love him Yeah I said it, L-O-V-E. And you'll certainly also love his beautiful performance.
If you ever need someone to help you write a very special type of book, look no further than our illustrious Kai “Wattpad” Kelly Yes she does the cooking, yes she does the cleaning, but she also keeps us all laughing with her out of pocket humor This incredible vocalist (if you haven’t heard her sing yet, you ' re in for a treat) always has everyone ’ s best interest in mind and at heart, moving with grace and kindness throughout every day If you want to take a dance class, please let Kai know, she’s been dying to go to one If you think you’ll outdance her, however, we wish you the best of luck From having incredible language skills to being at the forefront of medical science, Kai is bound to make an impact on the world as big as the impact she has on us. Rumor Has It that her performance tonight is going to be out of this world!
Rumour has it someone has been staking out the Huntsman third floor computer lab frantically arranging the best set list CP has performed Who is that you say? None other than Shreya “Mastermind” Balasubramanian! When she’s not planning to take over the world with her genius computer science skills or masterminding the next relationship between her friends, she can often be heard laughing across campus or be seen sneakily touching fellow CP member’s mom ’ s Shreya’s “cheeky” jokes, coupled with her caring nature that makes everyone feel like they are heard and seen in the group, adds a light to rehearsals that we are excited you all get to glimpse tonight Our beloved AMD is often seen frequenting William’s Cafe (we've heard she’s dating one of the best baristas ~ gasp), studying diligently in Pret a Manger, or masterminding the next cozy sweater to crochet in her dorm It goes without saying that Shreya will blow you all away with her warm jazzy voice, so buckle up and get ready to go out together with Ms. Balasubramanian and the rest of CP Cheek to Cheek
Counterparts’ designated over-sharer and aggressive hand motion extraordinaire, Celia “Crazy High Belt” Ginzburg always has something up her sleeve. Celia always brings her best self and a hot take to rehearsal, with the notable exception of shoes (maybe they constrict her vocal cords?) Off the stage, you can almost certainly find Celia studying in a Huntsman GSR, attending a sorority function with her SiSDTers, indoctrinating high schoolers during a Kite and Key tour, or strutting down Locust with a Pret cold brew. She may be the youngest of the Ginzburg duo, but her voice is as big as they come We’re 100% sure she’ll win over your Heart with her performance tonight
Julian “Guy who carries a skateboard but doesn’t skate” Ha has an unforgettable deep bass voice A guy that wears many hatsyou can also find him busy serving delicious drinks as an amazing barista at Williams Cafe, hanging out with his brothers of AKPsi, or fearlessly leading the MUSE Social Impact Committee This major Swiftie, always wears the coolest jewelry He is always ready for a new adventure and loves to explore. He is quick-witted and never fails to make everyone laugh during rehearsals, however he always ensures we stay on track He is a kind soul who cares about his friends We are very grateful to have Julian in our group and absolutely L O V E him!
She can do it all From making art, to styling clothes, to singing tenor sometimes, to referring to herself as a random set of numbers, Sarahbelle “kimbellesarahbelle“ Kim with her unique platform shoes always grabs everyone ’ s attention She has a wealth of talent and walks into every rehearsal with a smile. Her calmness brings peace to the group She’s always up for a good adventure and craft and comes to rehearsal with an additional clip in her hair each time We are so grateful to have Sarahbelle in our group Her soulful voice will take you Back and if you ' re not careful, her talent may cause you to Black out Get ready for Sarahbelle Kim!
If you find someone with a million spreadsheets and to-do lists open doing pomodoro in Huntsman 3rd floor comp lab, listening to a secret playlist that no one is allowed to see, chances are you ’ ve happened across the President - sorry Prime Ministerof Counterparts, Viktoria “Creskendo” Olsson. Vicky is one of the kindest people you will ever meet, unless you talk during rehearsal - in which case be prepared to face her piercing blue scandinavian eyes Her skills span wearing bright and colorful outfits, being an empath (especially about dead succulents), spilling first and last names at Bombay Dhabba, playing drums, and much more - just don’t ask her to snap for you (keep an eye out during Route 66 for a fun surprise) Vicky’s ethereal voice will captivate you and make you swoon - after hearing her sing, you’ll want her to be your Funny Valentine
Who’s that squandering her entire wallet on tiny beads shaped like zoo animals? It’s Lee “Will eat you on a deserted island” Reid Our incredible Lee may not know what a half step is (shhh) but she is a consistent showstopper, even outside of Counterparts. You can find this fountain of creativity and force of nature all over campus She’s the fearless leader of Alloy Media, a jewelry maker, planner of Penn’s own Met Gala (is that copyrighted?), and a helping hand for shows that aren’t even hers (shoutout WAVe) Not only is she a genius and a visionary who can do the splits right here right now, but Lee is also a dear friend. We know we can always count on her, whether it is for the best piece of advice you ’ ve ever heard or just to be silly and make us laugh Wait! Look over there! Is that Jules or Vikram? No It’s simply Lee in clever disguise Be careful, or she’ll cartwheel right into your heart (and eat you if you crash with her on an island). Now Enough is Enough, get ready to hear Lee’s talent shine!
Our resident singer-songwriter, publicity manager, and campus socialite, Grace “Fortress” Gramins is always sprinting somewhere on campus Whether it’s a Saturday afternoon or Tuesday night, you ’ re bound to find Grace out and about living her best life and making new friends everywhere she goes She’s always got a hot take or a timely joke to bring a smile to your face, and there is truly nothing better than watching her girlboss down Locust with her pink tinted sunglasses on and Starbucks in her hand, truly embodying La Vie en Rose and making every boy turn their head You’re also sure to hear her latest single “Feel It In the Air'' blasting at various locations on campus throughout the day, which will undoubtedly make you want to break out into its accompanying TikTok dance taking Penn by storm (we see you @locustladies123) We love our immensely talented Gracie Gurlie and we can’t wait to watch her blow you all away with her ~jazzy~ side tonight
We know why you ’ re all really here at the CP show: to see Shreya “Hershey Kiss Tooth Fairy” Krishnan Shreya’s kindness and generosity are only matched by her genuine, sincere care of those she cares about Her approach to her friendships is also reflected in her selfless dedication to her role of Business Manager. Here are the highlights: Position? Business manager. Family? Loving and supportive Mood? Either 100% active or 100% tired, no in between Organizational ability? Wharton Business School Gross revenue? 1 4 billion Hershey kisses Recently acquired skills? Knee-slapping, tour management, etc After all those stats, can you believe she’s ALSO a wickedly talented soprano? You’ll love her performance just as much as we do her; after you hear Shreya sing, you won’t be able to ERASE this performance from your mind
If you hear “That’s Life” (Chris’ Version), you know Isaac “John Legend (‘99)” Tang is near Isaac is one of Counterparts’ #1 fans, constantly perfecting the runs found in “With You”, and even rivaling Megan with some of his CP knowledge Don’t be fooled by his K-Pop star looks or his striking similarity to legendary Counterparts alumnus John Legend (‘99), as Isaac puts almost as much effort into planning his life as he does into Clash of Clans, meaning he is one of the most organized and driven people out there He radiates a classic Florida vibe, as he is often seen photosynthesizing during a sunny day, chatting it up with his equally Floridian girlfriend, and talking to Alligators (la la la la la) Isaac is the heart and soul of the group, and will always be there for a hug or the greatest massage you have ever had in your entire life. Seriously, you have never felt better than right after receiving one of Isaac’s deep tissue massages He gets really deep Isaac is one of the goofiest yet simultaneously kindhearted people this group has ever seen Being with Isaac is like viewing La Vie en Rose, and we know you’ll definitely be seeing life in a new light after you hear him sing
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a networked system? No! It’s Brandon “The Wannabe Baritone” Tsai Yes, he’s one of our signature basses, always holding up the foundation for those crunchy chromatic chords. Yes, he actually will finish that massive cis homework in a few hours And no, Brandon, you’ll always be on bass ;) True-false statements aside, if you get to talking to him, you’ll quickly realize that he’s a truly dependable, caring, supportive, and kind friend, with a thirst for knowledge that most can only dream of. We know by the end of the show you’ll be wishing you were dancing Cheek to Cheek with him just as much as we do! Oh, and P S: Don’t go snooping in his backpack: you might find something you won’t expect! (it rhymes with sandpuffs!)
When he’s not busy greeting absolutely everyone throughout the entirety of Penn’s campus, Alain ”What the Balls” Welliver can either be seen with a giant burrito doing computer science work, talking about cars, or professing his devotion to his girlfriend Without question, Alain is one of the most inquisitive people we know, who is always questioning the who, what, when, where, why’s of the universe His devotion to faith, getting to know each and every member of the group, and his passion for running at just about any hour of the day makes him a key member of the group Alain is without question “High”, on life and we are excited for you all to be a part of the ride tonight!
O U R M U S I C
Be sure to check out our music on Spotify and Apple Music!
Penn Counterparts
Our links!
Listen to our recent album, With You on major streaming platforms
Jack, you have enriched our lives with music since the day you were born! Congratulations on your final Counterparts Performance. We love you and are so proud of you. Congrats to all the Counterparts on a fantastic show!!!!
Mia and Celia, you are stars!
Mia, congratulations on your last show - you rock it! Congratulations Counterparts!
Continue to be the Shining Star that you are Kai!! Love from Quinn and Dad
Thank you to all listed for contributing to the CP legacy and making it what it is today!
Colleen Dempsey 1984
S David Eisenberg 1984
Andy Bender 1985
Alice Merjan 1985
James Thomas 1985
Patricia Dowell Bright 1986
Angel Asselin D’Antonio 1986
Pamela Gerfeild Hoskins 1986
Roland Kratzer 1986
Andrew Martin 1986
Ed Schultheiss 1986
Ann-Marie Yost 1986
Christine Albertsson 1987
Susan Baer 1987
Donal Bux 1987
Madelyn Levine Danoff 1987
Julie Holland 1987
Kenny Matz 1987
Stephanie Tuck 1987
Sheryl Huggins 1988
Doug Jabara 1988
Alexandra McKay 1988
Andrew Cohen 1989
Weir Harmon 1989
Lolita Jackson 1989
Steven McAlister 1989
April DeMuth Rognone 1989
Joey Sayson 1989
Lenora-Helene Ausbon 1990
David Borgenicht 1990
Angela [Cooley] Bulhof 1990
David Lee 1990
Louise Pennington 1990
John Ruocco 1990
Miriam [Baguio] Salerno 1990
Greg Sirota 1990
Angela Ai 1991
Jon Coopersmith 1991
Rico Kanthatham 1991
Jeff Morrison 1991
Erik Smith 1991
Christina Tempelaar-Lietz 1991
Rick Aronstein 1991
Jen [Silverman] Kitchin 1992
Winsome Lee 1992
Brad Richards 1992
Douglas Rodenberger 1992
Marissa Sifontes 1992
Lisa Wachtell 1992
Kate Grant 1992
Dan Coleman 1993
Sarah Hamilton 1993
Seema [Desai] Iyer 1993
Ashley Paine 1993
Sean Aherne 1994
Seth William Goren 1994
John B. Hedges 1994
Erik Sandorff 1994
Bennett Viseltear 1994
Karyn Wachtell 1994
Sangho Byun 1995
Shari [Bart] Gottlieb 1995
Geetanjali Datta 1995
Lester Grant 1996
Graham Robinson 1996
Amy Walter 1996
Tracy Greenberger 1997
Jessica Kahn 1997
Monica Mehta 1997
Thais Stiklorius 1997
Alyssa [Deaven] Pera 1998
Dennis La 1998
Nate Chinen 1998
Gabriel Aherne 1999
Sloan Alexander 1999
Jonathan Kaufman 1999
Denise Sandole 1999
John Stephens 1999
Yodit Telkemariam 1999
Debbi Bauml 2000
Matt Lintner 2000
Kristin Meyer 2000
Erin [Murphy] Barzilay 2000
Jordan Rockwell 2000
David Caldwell 2001
Maria De Maio 2001
Josh Duncan 2001
Thank you to all listed for contributing to the CP legacy and making it what it is today!
SAC
PAC ACK
Laurie McCall
Megan Edelman
Sara Outing
Amanda Labonte
Jessica Lin
Dina Zhanybekova
Kevin Li
Jesse Zhang
Michael Lentskevich
Iron Gate Theatre Staff
PAC Shop
Visual Sound
Penn Lens
noteflight.com
And, with love, our families, friends, and alumni!
