Our Members

Kol Sasson is more than just an a cappella group – we're a family. Our members come from all over and have a variety of backgrounds, but we all share a love for Jewish music and culture. Whether we're performing for a packed house or just practicing in our rehearsal space, we always bring our best to the stage. Get to know our members and see how we each contribute to the unique sound and energy of Kol Sasson.

Ella La Fiandra

Sophomore • Soprano • President

Ella is a kinesiology major from Baltimore, Maryland. When she’s not singing with Kol Sasson she enjoys reading, crafting, baking, and hanging out with her friends and family. She especially loves playing with her dog, Nola.

Sarah Blackman

Senior • Mezzo/Beatbox • Musical Director • Album Coordinator

Sarah is an animal science and psychology double major from Ellicott City, MD. She enjoys singing, drawing, and spending time with her family and friends. Sarah especially enjoys chilling with her dog, Dioji :)

Zoey Chazin

Sophomore • Mezzo • Vice President/Business Manager

Zoey is a Global Public Health major and Spanish minor, from Brooklyn, NY. In her spare time she can be found hanging with friends, enjoying Dan Brown Novels (her favorite), or watching murder mysteries. A fun fact: she is also on the Women’s Club Rugby Team.

Michael Chernak

Senior • Tenor/Beatbox • Album Coordinator • Tour Coordinator

Michael was born in Baltimore, MD (unfortunately), but has since moved to Highland Park, NJ (also unfortunately) when he was 12. He loves stuffed animals, video games, and Brandon Sanderson, and is always ready to reference an obscure/SpongeBob meme. Right now, Michael is studying Physics, but is considering a second major in Astronomy!

Jess Daninhirsch

Senior • Alto • Social Media Coordinator • Fun Coordinator • Alumni Liaison

Jess is a journalism major and history minor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When she’s not singing Kol Sasson songs, you can find her dancing with UMD's Israeli dance group Avirah, taking photos of literally everything, watching movies, and taking extensive notes on the cinematography (because she’d also love to work in the film industry if she’s not a traveling photographer for NatGeo), or taking walks with her family, friends, and/or dog Charlie.

Zachary Dankowicz

Sophomore • Bass • Musical Director

Zachary is from Rockville, MD. He is majoring in Environmental Science & Technology with a minor in Entomology. When not singing, he enjoys Israeli folk dancing, photography, and working on his research in the fly collection of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

Alex Geretz

Sophomore • Baritone • Fundraising

Alex is a math major from Minneapolis, MN.

Logan Haerian

Sophomore • Bass

Logan is a French and physics double major from Baltimore, MD.

Jordan Hershaft

Sophomore • Baritone •

Social Media Coordinator

Jordan is an aerospace engineering and music composition dual degree seeking student from Fairfax, VA. Outside Kol Sasson, Jordan likes to hike, build high-powered rockets, and hang out with his family, friends, and his dog, Roxie.

Taimur Raja

Senior • Tenor/Beatbox •

Costume Coordinator

Taimur is a psychology major who hails from Ellicott City, Maryland. As a major cat person with a little fur baby named Shino, you can rest assured that he uses classical conditioning in order to teach his cat new tricks! He can also be found making a plethora of dad jokes and playing a worrying amount of Pokemon!

Tekoa Sultan-Reisler

Senior • Alto • Tour Coordinator • Costume Coordinator

Tekoa is from Silver Spring, Maryland, and is majoring in Environmental Science and Policy. Besides practicing hard for Kol Sasson, Tekoa loves crocheting, embroidering, and general crafting. She is always down for ice skating or a museum. Her best subject is obscure One Direction trivia.