A couple years back, a University of Michigan freshman named Elliot Measel wandered into the Robotics building. Elliot has always been fascinated with the field of robotics.  On that fateful day, he was interacting with a stubborn cyborg as it refused to learn how to play the piano.  Specifically, the concept of rhythm stymied the machine.  Elliot spent 8 grueling hours teaching the cyborg to play the classic Kindergarten staple “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” with smashing success!  Elliot was elated that he had taught the cyborg to be a master of rhythm. As he exited the robotics lab, Elliot heard what sounded like voices singing in the engineering atrium.  It was, in fact, an a cappella group which was struggling to keep a steady tempo and rhythm.  Fresh off his success with the cyborg, Elliot walked up to the group and proclaimed “I can help you become the best a cappella group on campus!”  The group huddled and extended an immediate offer for Elliot to join The Friars. Elliot’s inclusion into The Friars has elevated the group to new and wonderful heights.  The Friars are now routinely hailed as one of the most well known a cappella groups in all of Ann Arbor having mastered tempo and rhythm.  Upon graduation it is all but assured that Elliot’s musically trained cyborg will supplant him as the newest permanent member of “The Friars”!

Years ago, scientists asked the question: “Is it possible to create a boy so performative that it actually feels authentic?” This question led to years of genetic experimentation, eventually resulting in the world’s most performative man: Wesley Ramsey. With flower tattoos crawling up his forearms, multiple nose rings, and the perfect ratio of curly surfer hair to manly facial hair, Wes serves as a shining example to us all when we ask ourselves, “Does this tote bag make me look approachable?” To ensure his performative aura remained permanent, scientists had Wes raised by a loving lesbian polycule that exclusively votes Green Party. A “natural-born advocate,” Wes and his family spend their weekends attending tree-hugging rallies and protesting deforestation while drinking ethically sourced mushroom coffee. When he’s not providing “deep intellectual thoughts about the political and economic state of the world,” Wes can usually be found wandering through nature, thrifting at one of the eighteen stores he frequents, or going on double dates with his best puppet friend, Zorp. Wes brings the comedy to the group, because let’s face it: the only way to find love these days is to become so outlandishly funny that people can’t ignore you. Armed with repressed theater-kid energy and a dangerously goofy personality, there’s no telling what shenanigans Wes will unleash on stage.

Years ago, one bright morning on the distant planet Krypton, a miracle was underway. A baby was born with an incredible gift for music. His laughter sounded like celestial chimes, and he could manipulate sound waves with his thoughts, creating captivating melodies by warping reality itself. Kryptonians were amazed by the baby’s talents, but greatly feared the disruptions to their otherwise orderly society. Riots spread, villages burned, and chaos ravaged the lands. Many wanted the new baby imprisoned. “Lock him up! Chain his limbs!” they’d all scream. Recognizing the danger the baby faced, Superman intervened by balling the baby up and chucking him through space until he finally arrived at Earth. Crash-landing into a big tomato farm, the son of Superman was found by Mr. and Mrs. Villeneuve. “My tomatoes!” Mr. Villeneuve screamed as he ran towards the crash. The newlyweds adopted and named the baby Michael, and his human childhood quickly flourished. As he grew, he discovered how to hone his superhuman abilities, including his exceptional musical and performing talents. Then, while performing one day as Tevye at a charity flash mob in Metropolis, he caught the attention of music producers Lois Lane and Reilly Buckley, who envisioned him joining a legendary music group called "The Friars". Upon his quick admission into the group, Michael soon helped The Friars' music transcend genres and bring unity, joy, peace, and the end of hunger to people worldwide. Michael had found his true purpose, using his musical gifts to make the world a better place, just like Superman did. And so, the story of Michael, the Kryptonian baby with super music abilities, became intertwined with the legacy of The Friars, leaving an indelible mark on Earth's history and proving that the light of music could shine from even the farthest reaches of the universe.

Long ago, in a small Ann Arbor garden that mysteriously glowed under every full moon, Connor Casey emerged from the hollow of an ancient oak tree. His first cry was not a wail but a perfectly tuned baritone note that sent nearby chipmunks scurrying to form a choir in his honor. Legends say that as a child, Connor stumbled upon a hidden portal to Neverland while searching for edible mushrooms and ended up joining the actual national tour of Finding Neverland. Unfortunately, he was sent back to Earth after repeatedly out-singing the Lost Boys and throwing off the balance of the ecosystem. In his teenage years, it is rumored that Connor trained under a secretive sect of monks from “The Arb” who taught him the sacred art of singing to summon rain during droughts. Though he claims he’s studying Environmental Science, some suspect this is just a cover for his true identity: Nature Boy. When he’s not singing with The Friars, Connor can be found backpacking through enchanted forests, befriending owls, and rescuing rogue hikers by singing them back to civilization. With his buttery tones, mythical origins, and unique ability to hit a tune while sorting compost, Connor Casey is not just a Friar—he’s an Ann Arbor legend (and native!). If you listen closely on a still night, you might just hear his voice echoing through the Bell Tower, harmonizing with the Ann Arbor wind itself.

Jonathan “JGos” Gosbee is truly one of a kind. You really don’t know how to place him in your mind. On one hand he is a top 100 overwatch player in the state, but on the other hand he’ll sink a three pointer without looking despite barely being 5 '10". Honestly the first time I saw him driving I was shocked because I didn't think that he was old enough to have his drivers license yet. (This was his sophomore year of college and I’m a year younger than him.) JGos has one of the strongest falsettos you will ever hear and truly captivates the audience every time he gets on stage. You really have to listen carefully though when talking to him, otherwise you’ll miss the second half of whatever he just said. Although relatively soft spoken he has some of the best comedic timing, saving only the funniest bits for the perfect moment. When he inevitably takes the stage, please refrain from the following statements: “why is there a first grader on stage?”, “Aww he gets to sing with the big kids” and “man get that kid a sandwich”. We truly hope you enjoy seeing Jonathan Gosbee on stage with The Friars, it is a treat for the eyes and ears. 

Ryan “ROSHAUGHN” O’Shaughnessy isn't just your ordinary Friar. With a lively personality, extensive Pokémon card collection, fire dance moves, and (hot take) best vocal stims in the group, Ryan brings the energy to every rehearsal and concert. He even sings sometimes, with a falsetto so beautiful (rumor has it) angels may be able to hear his melodious caroling. Ryan comes from Long Island, New York, but I couldn’t think of anything funny about Long Island so I’m just gonna throw it in here awkwardly… When Ryan isn’t singing, he’s educating the youth with his immense wisdom and knowledge! Ryan is studying secondary education with a focus in math, and will begin student teaching next semester. Hopefully his students will learn how to count to eight (something the friars don’t excel at). It goes without saying that Roshaughn is an awesome dude and great singer, and the friars wouldn’t be the same without him!

When he was just a wee lil’ man growing up in the dusty plains of Oklahoma, young Rayan yearned to escape the country. Despite being an ALL STAR SEVEN sport athlete in elementary school, he wondered “What more is there to this silly little life I am living?” One day, he ventured down into his parents dingy basement, and there, Rayan unearthed old and moldy remnants of a time long past, the days of crooners (though not as far back as the original Sooners). Upon hooking them up to a tarnished and lusterless record player of old, his musical brain realized how much more there was in the music world than honky tonk and loving your oversized pickup truck (not at all compensating for anything… no chance… right??). Sinatra’s repertoire was unmatched in Rayan’s growing adolescent head noodle. My Way, Strangers in the Night, Come Fly With Me, Summer Wind, and Fly me to the Moon… OH FLY ME TO THE MOON. Not just his mind but Rayan’s heart was growing… What is LOVE? What is LIFE? How does one love life? How could he continue and strengthen his romantic awakening? Why of course he trained his wee lil’ bladder and worked up the courage to once again hop on the transit line and get out of Oklahoma. This time to a musical showing, one that featured the modern reincarnation of THE GREAT FRANK (of the family name Sinatra of course). The one and only… Michael Bubbles. It was like the great modern crooner himself was speaking directly to Rayan, he had been enlightened. His life had been forever changed. What next? How could he be the next one in line of the great crooners of history. That is what led him here, to the University of Michigan, to the Friars. The Friars, who else…? The Friars greatly pride ourselves on our croonniness and suave ways with wooing crowds of middle-aged folks WORLDWIDE. And Ray Ray… he fits the bill.

One brisk day upon the peak of the Rocky Mountains, a small infant named Andrew Mazurek emerged from the cliffs. Shivering, he would have struggled to survive alone, but he was luckily spotted by the king of a local herd of Broncos. King Thunder saw the poor lonesome soul, and adopted him to be a part of the bronco family. For the next eighteen years, Andrew was taken in by the broncos, grazing and foraging with the herd, sleeping while standing straight up, and eating sugar cubes (which have been proven to cause perfect pitch) whenever he could find them. But upon his 18th birthday it became clear that young Andrew was not truly a bronco, but a young human! The broncos became enraged at their mistake and booted Andrew off of the Rocky peaks with their mighty hooves. The Herculean kick sent poor Andrew flying off the mountain, where he was picked up by the wind and blown all the way to Ann Arbor, Michigan where he fell safely into the North Campus pond. Luckily for Andrew, the Friars happened to be singing on the shores when he fell in, and after saving him from the depths of the pond and hearing his high-pitched, resonant screams, they decided to adopt him to the group, where he has been singing ever since.

One brisk fall morning, Caleb Lorenz found himself on a routine walk in the forests of North Campus. Being a cyborg, he was attracted to anything that made him feel more humanlike, such as a cool gust of wind brushing through his hair, or the sound of leaves crunching under his feet. But nobody, not even Caleb, could’ve calculated what was about to unfold. It came in a flash - BANG! Suddenly, he was unconscious on the ground, falling victim to a targeted EMP sent out from the Robotics building. See, dozens of humanoid robots had recently escaped and scattered themselves across North Campus, and while trying to recapture them, the researchers mistook Caleb for one of their robots. In an effort to limit his movement speed and decrease the chance of another breakout, they promptly replaced the air in his pneumatic cylinders with an ultra dense gas known as sulfur hexafluoride. There was just one problem. Caleb didn’t have any pneumatic cylinders. He didn’t even have any cylinders. They mistakenly pumped this gas into his lungs! Upon waking up, Caleb informed them of their mistake, quickly realizing that his voice was now much lower than before. He ran to the doctor’s office, but grew out of breath much more quickly than he was used to - his lungs were working extra hard trying to cycle all of this heavy gas out of his body. Stopping to take a break, he heard an angelic chorus from around the bend. It was the Friars! He rushed over and begged to sing with them - he knew this would help. So, he sang his heart out with a booming bass sound, emptying his lungs of enough of the sulfur hexafluoride to breathe normally again. In the process, though, he realized that this was the feeling he’d been looking for all along - he finally felt human! To this day, Caleb continues living his best life in the Friars, using his resounding bass voice to anchor every song.