Grammy-winning a cappella group Pentatonix has racked up over six billion YouTube views and sold 10 million albums—a stunning achievement for singers who use nothing but their voices.
But their latest album marks a dramatic shift: for the first time ever, they’ve added instruments.
After 14 years of proving that voices alone could dominate the music industry, the quintet is breaking their own rules.
And according to founding member Scott Hoying, the evolution was necessary.
From High School Trio to Grammy Winners
Three core members—Kirstin Maldonado, Scott Hoying, and Mitch Grassi—have been harmonizing since their teenage years in Arlington, Texas.
Hoying met Grassi through theater when both were just ten years old. He connected with Maldonado in freshman English at age 14.
Their vocal combination proved magical from day one: a soprano, baritone, and countertenor whose frequencies blended in unexpected ways.
Our different timbres make such a specific sound when the frequencies of our voices come together, like they all play such a vital role. When they’re all together, it feels like this hug. It’s really magical, actually.
Grassi’s countertenor range—incredibly high and distinctly feminine—wasn’t always celebrated, especially growing up in Texas.
It is incredibly high, and it got made fun of a lot while I was growing up. Yeah, growing up in Texas, you know, it was very different and it’s a little feminine, so it was like, ‘Get him outta here.’
Building a Quintet Through Desperate YouTube Searches
When the trio decided to audition for NBC’s “The Sing-Off” in 2011, they discovered bigger groups had better odds of winning.
They quickly recruited bass singer Avi Kaplan, then realized they needed something more: a beatboxer.
And so, in an act of desperation, we literally went on YouTube and typed in ‘beatboxers.’ The first video to pop up was a video of Kevin playing cello and beatboxing at the same time.
That video featured Kevin Olusola, a Yale pre-med student who could simultaneously play cello, sing, and beatbox.
Convincing him to abandon medical school wasn’t easy—his parents certainly didn’t have “professional beatboxer” on their vision board for their son’s future.
Winning Big, Then Getting Dropped
Pentatonix won “The Sing-Off” grand prize: $200,000 and a coveted record deal.
Within a month, that record company dropped them.
The label wanted instruments backing their vocals—the exact opposite of what made Pentatonix unique.
They asked us, ‘Hey, will you guys put any instrumentation behind what you all do?’ And we said, ‘We literally just won an a cappella TV show.’
Hoying remembers the group’s firm response—and its swift consequences.
We were just like, ‘No, we don’t like that idea.’ And they were like, ‘Okay, then we’ll drop you.’
YouTube Became Their Record Label
Rejected by traditional music industry gatekeepers, Pentatonix turned to YouTube—and found their real audience.
Within twelve months, they’d amassed four million subscribers.
Their cover of “Little Drummer Boy” cracked iTunes’ Top 10 and stayed there for four weeks, proving a cappella could compete commercially with instrumented pop music.
Behind the scenes, co-founder and producer Ben Bram crafted increasingly complex vocal arrangements that showcased each member’s unique abilities.
Success Came With Brutal Costs
As Pentatonix’s star rose, their workload became punishing.
In 2014 alone, they released three complete albums. They toured nine months every year, leaving almost no time for personal lives.
You never got to recharge and be at home, or see your friends or your loved ones. It was, like, really, really brutal.
Maldonado’s words underscore how demanding constant touring became for the group.
In 2017, bass singer Avi Kaplan made a stunning announcement: he was stepping back from Pentatonix.
Tour life didn’t suit him, and the group was in their prime—still hungry to perform.
Enter the Superfan Who Knew Every Part
After a nationwide search, Pentatonix found their new bass: Matt Sallee from Maryland.
Sallee wasn’t just talented—he was a devoted Pentatonix fan who’d already learned every bass part they’d ever recorded.
To be able to come into the group and to be able to continue its legacy was something that I cherish very deeply, and I took very seriously.
His addition gave the remaining members hope they could sustain their vision.
We were so excited and relieved and grateful that, like, oh, we can see the vision for the future, we can keep this going.
Breaking Their Own Rules After 14 Years
After nearly a decade and a half defending pure a cappella music, Pentatonix shocked fans with their newest album, “Christmas in the City.”
It features instruments.
The same group that walked away from a record deal because they refused to add instrumentation has now embraced it.
I feel like it was time to evolve and do something new.
Maldonado explained the shift as necessary artistic growth.
Because if you put limits on your artistry, then you won’t grow.
Five of their last six albums focused on Christmas music, and their current tour is decidedly holiday-themed.
Members insist they’re not abandoning a cappella completely—just expanding their creative palette.
Making Harmony Cool for a New Generation
Beyond commercial success, Pentatonix transformed cultural perceptions of vocal music.
Over 1,200 a cappella groups now exist on college campuses—a dramatic increase from when Pentatonix started.
I think we’ve made harmony and singing, I feel like we’ve been part of what made it cool. There’s, like, over 1,200 a cappella groups in colleges now.
What was once considered nerdy or uncool became aspirational.
I think Pentatonix really gave the choir kid a voice, a platform to feel seen.
Sallee’s observation captures their broader cultural impact beyond sales figures and streaming numbers.
Surviving Success Through Low Egos
Spending years living, traveling, and working in close quarters could destroy most groups.
When asked about interpersonal conflicts, Sallee joked there’s plenty—but the group credits their lack of massive egos for their survival.
I don’t think we all have, like, crazy egos that are, like, getting in the way of being able to communicate clearly with each other.
Now marriages and children are changing their priorities and schedules.
But with three Grammys, millions of albums sold, and billions of views, Pentatonix has already cemented their legacy—whether they stick to pure vocals or continue exploring new sounds.