Erika Cogliani
Position: President and Co-Founder
Hometown: Queensbury, NY (currently Silver Spring, MD)
Voice Part: 1st Soprano
Musical Experience: Erika has performed in over 20 musicals, taken several years of private voice lessons, and sang for two and a half years with the local Laurel-based a cappella group, The Studio Singers. She currently performs regularly in local cabaret nights in the DC metro area and performed a solo cabaret show with her husband at the piano in 2009 at the Bethesda Theatre. This year, Erika will be heading to the recording studio to record her first ever solo album of Broadway showtunes. Unfortunately, it won't be available for purchase as the studio time and CDs she'll be getting are a birthday present from her husband and just for fun! In her first job out of college at a Public Relations firm, Erika co-founded the band, Immediate Release, and played several gigs in the Boston area with the band. The most notorious gig was the company's 10th Anniversary party in which Immediate Release opened for the headliners of the evening, C & C Music Factory, who you may remember for such hit songs as Things That Make You Go Hmmmm and Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now). Erika majored in both Communications and Theater Arts at Boston College and spent two summers at NYU's prestigious Tisch theater program, CAP21. In college she sang in the Boston College Chorale (where she met her husband), and traveled with the Chorale to perform in some exciting locations such as Vienna, Prague, Dublin, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. In high school she sang in the Madrigals group and in the Chorus, played alto saxophone in the band, and took piano lessons.
On Her iPod: Erika loves Broadway and Country music, and is currently obsessed with anything from the Glee soundtracks! Her favorite Broadway shows are: Rent, Wicked, The Lion King, Spring Awakening, and Ragtime. Her favorite country artists are: Lady Antebellum, Dixie Chicks, JoDee Messina, Chely Wright, Pasty Cline, Taylor Swift, Sara Evans, Sugarland, Phil Vassar, Rascal Flatts, and Kenny Chesney. Erika also enjoys music by Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Gavin DeGraw, Matchbox 20, John Mayer, and Josh Groban.
Other Interests: Erika is an avid tennis player and enjoys ballroom dancing with her husband. She is also a part-time professional photographer and enjoys shooting travel photography, headshots, and kids portraits. In her free time she loves traveling, attending theater events, skiing, camping, and shopping.
Fun Fact: Erika was married in February 2007 in Costa Rica, and then again in July 2007 in Italy - to the same man! Since her husband's extended family in Italy couldn't travel to Costa Rica, the in-laws decided to host a second wedding/party in Italy so everyone could celebrate! Erika's husband, Leland, is now the unofficial Betty Crocker of Capital Blend, and provides baked goods for the the ladies of Capital Blend at almost every rehearsal.
Hometown: Queensbury, NY (currently Silver Spring, MD)
Voice Part: 1st Soprano
Musical Experience: Erika has performed in over 20 musicals, taken several years of private voice lessons, and sang for two and a half years with the local Laurel-based a cappella group, The Studio Singers. She currently performs regularly in local cabaret nights in the DC metro area and performed a solo cabaret show with her husband at the piano in 2009 at the Bethesda Theatre. This year, Erika will be heading to the recording studio to record her first ever solo album of Broadway showtunes. Unfortunately, it won't be available for purchase as the studio time and CDs she'll be getting are a birthday present from her husband and just for fun! In her first job out of college at a Public Relations firm, Erika co-founded the band, Immediate Release, and played several gigs in the Boston area with the band. The most notorious gig was the company's 10th Anniversary party in which Immediate Release opened for the headliners of the evening, C & C Music Factory, who you may remember for such hit songs as Things That Make You Go Hmmmm and Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now). Erika majored in both Communications and Theater Arts at Boston College and spent two summers at NYU's prestigious Tisch theater program, CAP21. In college she sang in the Boston College Chorale (where she met her husband), and traveled with the Chorale to perform in some exciting locations such as Vienna, Prague, Dublin, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. In high school she sang in the Madrigals group and in the Chorus, played alto saxophone in the band, and took piano lessons.
On Her iPod: Erika loves Broadway and Country music, and is currently obsessed with anything from the Glee soundtracks! Her favorite Broadway shows are: Rent, Wicked, The Lion King, Spring Awakening, and Ragtime. Her favorite country artists are: Lady Antebellum, Dixie Chicks, JoDee Messina, Chely Wright, Pasty Cline, Taylor Swift, Sara Evans, Sugarland, Phil Vassar, Rascal Flatts, and Kenny Chesney. Erika also enjoys music by Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Gavin DeGraw, Matchbox 20, John Mayer, and Josh Groban.
Other Interests: Erika is an avid tennis player and enjoys ballroom dancing with her husband. She is also a part-time professional photographer and enjoys shooting travel photography, headshots, and kids portraits. In her free time she loves traveling, attending theater events, skiing, camping, and shopping.
Fun Fact: Erika was married in February 2007 in Costa Rica, and then again in July 2007 in Italy - to the same man! Since her husband's extended family in Italy couldn't travel to Costa Rica, the in-laws decided to host a second wedding/party in Italy so everyone could celebrate! Erika's husband, Leland, is now the unofficial Betty Crocker of Capital Blend, and provides baked goods for the the ladies of Capital Blend at almost every rehearsal.
