Here’s why Avi Kaplan decided to leave Pentatonix. The a cappella group are best known as the winners of the third season of NBC’s The Sing-Off – a victory made all the more impressive by the fact Pentatonix only formed just a day before they auditioned. During the season, Pentatonix faced off against fierce talent in the form of collegiate a cappella groups including Howard University’s Afro Blue and the University of Rochester YellowJackets. They triumphed in the end and managed to win over judges and viewers with their arrangements of The Buggles ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’ and ‘Dog Days Are Over’ by Florence and the Machine.

Since their victory on The Sing-Off Pentatonix have had a very successful career, releasing several chart-topping albums featuring a cappella covers of pop tunes and Christmas songs alongside original arrangements. The group have toured extensively across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia and have had cameos in shows and movies like Bones and Pitch Perfect 2. In between all that, they managed to fit in no less than three consecutive Grammy wins for three very different songs – their ‘Jolene’ collaboration with Dolly Parton, a Daft Punk medley and their version of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’.

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After all of Pentatonix’s success, it came as quite a shock to fans when bass vocalist Avi Kaplan stated in May 2017 he would be leaving the a cappella outfit after six years. Kaplan made the announcement in an emotional video posted to the group’s Facebook in which he was surrounded by fellow band members Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola and explained his decision to leave.

Kaplan stated that though his six years with Pentatonix had been an amazing experience, he struggled with the fact the group’s massive success and constant touring meant he was often separated from family and friends for long periods. The split was amicable and Kaplan performed his last show with Pentatonix in September 2017 in Vermont with new member Matt Sallee taking his place shortly after.

Kaplan hasn’t completely left the music industry, however, but he’s more focused on folk music than a cappella arrangements these days. He released his debut solo EP Sage And Stone under the moniker Avriel & The Sequoias in summer 2017 and released a further four singles in 2019. He also embarked on his first solo tour though luckily its eleven dates were a lot less demanding than the kind of touring he did with Pentatonix.

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