

Meet Our Members

Soprano & Artistic Director
Allison Gaines
BMA Voice Multidisciplinary Studies '25
Allison (she/her) is a junior BMA Multidisciplinary Studies major concentrating in Voice, sings soprano in Touch of Blue, and is the ensemble’s new Artistic Director. She is originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and her birthday is June 9th! A fun fact about Allison is that she played violin for 7 years prior to her vocal studies. Some of her hobbies are playing ukulele, practicing yoga, making coffee, and the most shocking of all…singing! Her favorite jazz standard is “Smile”. Allison is looking forward to singing our repertoire with all of our new members in Touch of Blue.

Alto & Marketing Manager
Victoria Rose Pinto
BM Voice Performance & PAME Minor '24
Victoria (she/her) is a senior Voice Performance major minoring in Performing Arts Management & Entrepreneurship through EXCEL, sings alto in Touch of Blue, and is the ensemble’s Marketing Manager. She is originally from Brooklyn, New York, and her birthday is on June 14th! A fun fact about Victoria is that she used to play left defense on a soccer team. Some of her hobbies are painting, going to sporting events, and going on new adventures! Her favorite jazz song is currently “Give Me The Simple Life” performed by Lorez Alexandria. Victoria is looking forward to discovering new ways to digitally interact with our community, and performing and experimenting with so many new faces in Touch of Blue.

Business Manager
Lucy Koukoudian
BA Creative Writing & BMA Voice '24
Lucy is ToB’s business manager. She is majoring in Voice Performance and Creative Writing. She is so excited to continue her journey with this amazing ensemble! Other passions aside from singing include: collecting corduroy clothing, baking pancake-scones, and early 2010s popular culture.

Baritone
Henry Baratz
Social Theory '26
Henry (he/they) is a sophomore Social Theory and Practice major, and sings baritone in Touch of Blue. They are originally from Chevy Chase, Maryland, and his birthday is on August 7th! A fun fact about Henry is that they were blessed by Dolly Parton in the womb right before he was born. Some of their hobbies are writing, collaging, going on little walks, fun arts and crafts moments, hiking, and dancing with friends! His favorite jazz songs are “Lullaby of Birdland” covered by Amy Winehouse and “Moon River” covered by Nancy Wilson. Henry is looking forward to learning a bunch of really challenging but wonderful tunes and getting to know the other members better in Touch of Blue

Soprano
Sydney Flisser
PPE: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics '27
Sydney (she/her) is a freshman planning to major in PPE: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and sings soprano in Touch of Blue. She is originally from Port Washington, New York, and her birthday is June 21st! A fun fact about Sydney is that she has ridden a camel on multiple occasions. Some of her hobbies are running long distances, baking, and learning languages — maybe not at the same time, but why not give it a shoot! Her favorite jazz song is “There Will Never Be Another You“, and she strongly believes that Chet Baker sang this to himself in the mirror for positive affirmations. Sydney is looking forward to improving her skills as a jazz musician and singing killer harmonies in Touch of Blue.

Alto
Naomi Wolfe
PAT: Performing Arts Technology '26
Naomi (she/her) is a sophomore Performing Arts Technology major, or PAT, and sings alto in Touch of Blue. She is originally from Newton, Massachusetts, and her birthday is on October 11th… #librababy! A fun fact about Naomi is that she is archery instructor certified. Some of her hobbies are consuming media and making really good omelets! Her favorite jazz artist is Hiatus Kaiyote. Naomi is looking forward to singing with such an incredibly talented group of people and improving her own skills as a vocalist in Touch of Blue
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Tenor & Music Director
Dawson Trotman
BS Earth and Environmental Science & BMA Voice Performance '24
Dawson (he/him) is a senior double majoring in Voice Performance and Earth and Environmental Science, sings tenor in Touch of Blue, and is the ensemble’s new Music Director. He is originally from Berlin, Connecticut, and his birthday is March 4th! A fun fact about Dawson is that he loves plants. Some of his hobbies are running, reading (he loves the classics!), hiking, and eating really good food with really good friends! His favorite jazz song is “What Reason Could I Give” by Ornette Coleman. Dawson is looking forward to learning and digging into such a cool and diverse set of music in Touch of Blue.

Bass
Zak Kerhoulas
BSE Computer Engineering & BS Sound Engineering '25
Zak (they/them) is a junior double majoring in Sound Engineering and Computer Science, and sings bass in Touch of Blue. They are originally from London, Ontario, and their birthday is October 27th! A fun fact about Zak is that one time when they were little, they sneezed out what looked like a chunk of their brain, and they think that explains a lot. Some of their hobbies are doing crosswords, attempting Australian accents, and giggling. Their favorite jazz artist is Esperanza Spalding. Zak is looking forward to another semester of making music with some beautiful and new friends in Touch of Blue.

Soprano
Brooke Arnold
Choral Music Education '24
Brooke (she/her) is a senior Choral Music Education major, and sings soprano in Touch of Blue. She is originally from Fraser, Michigan , and her birthday is on March 2nd! A fun fact about Brooke is that she just bought a DJ board and is learning how to DJ. Some of her hobbies are dancing, songwriting, going to Mash (the best bar in Ann Arbor), and watching RuPaul’s Drag Race with her best friends! Her favorite jazz artist is Herbie Hancock, especially his 1976 album “Secrets”. Brooke is looking forward to a fun, comfortable, collaborative, and enjoyable rehearsal environment in Touch of Blue.

Alto
Aliya Spieske
History & Economics Minor '25
Aliya Spieske (she/her) is a junior History major and Economics minor, and sings alto in Touch of Blue. She is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and her birthday is on November 26th! A fun fact about Aliya is that she loves cringy teen romance books. Some of her hobbies are reading, baking, and watching and playing sports! Her favorite jazz song is “The Man I Love“ performed by Ella Fitzgerald. Aliya is looking forward to getting to know everyone in the group while learning some amazing music in Touch of Blue.

Baritone
Tommy Hodgman
Jazz Trombone & Music Education '26
Tommy (he/him) is a senior double majoring in Jazz Trombone and Music Education, and sings baritone in Touch of Blue. He is originally from Tecumseh, Michigan, and his birthday is on August 10th! A fun fact about Tommy is that he has binge watched The Walking Dead four times. Some of his hobbies are cooking, laughing with friends, and enjoying the seasons! His favorite jazz song is currently “Jig a Jug” by Joshua Redman. Tommy is looking forward to finding the rare musical moments that feel magical when everything comes together perfectly in Touch of Blue