Erika Cogliani
Position: President and Co-Founder
Hometown: Queensbury, NY (currently Silver Spring, MD)
Voice Part: Soprano I
Musical Experience: Erika has performed in over 20 musicals, taken several years of private voice lessons, and sang with another a cappella group before co-founding Capital Blend. 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. One of Erika’s favorite singing experiences was when her husband surprised her with the birthday gift of time in the recording studio to record a bunch of her favorite of Broadway showtunes. It was just for fun, but it’s a memory she will always cherish and her daughter enjoys listening to the songs when she’s sick of Disney music. 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 chorus and Madrigals, played alto saxophone in the band, and took piano lessons.
On Her iPod: Erika LOVES Broadway music, and if she’s not listening to a book on CD during her daily commute then you can bet her radio is tuned to the Sirius XM On Broadway station. Some of her favorite Broadway shows are: If/Then, The Bridges of Madison County, Rent, Wicked, The Lion King, Spring Awakening, and Ragtime. She also loves both old and new country music, and Top 40 pop.
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 most of all snuggling, singing, and dancing with her daughter.
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 ladies of Capital Blend at almost every rehearsal.
Hometown: Queensbury, NY (currently Silver Spring, MD)
Voice Part: Soprano I
Musical Experience: Erika has performed in over 20 musicals, taken several years of private voice lessons, and sang with another a cappella group before co-founding Capital Blend. 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. One of Erika’s favorite singing experiences was when her husband surprised her with the birthday gift of time in the recording studio to record a bunch of her favorite of Broadway showtunes. It was just for fun, but it’s a memory she will always cherish and her daughter enjoys listening to the songs when she’s sick of Disney music. 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 chorus and Madrigals, played alto saxophone in the band, and took piano lessons.
On Her iPod: Erika LOVES Broadway music, and if she’s not listening to a book on CD during her daily commute then you can bet her radio is tuned to the Sirius XM On Broadway station. Some of her favorite Broadway shows are: If/Then, The Bridges of Madison County, Rent, Wicked, The Lion King, Spring Awakening, and Ragtime. She also loves both old and new country music, and Top 40 pop.
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 most of all snuggling, singing, and dancing with her daughter.
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 ladies of Capital Blend at almost every rehearsal.
Contact us at capitalblend@gmail.com
