The Works go way back

Who knew that our a cappella group's name could be taken from the side of a public works truck? But it's true.

Named for the Cambridge Public Works Department, "The Works" realized that our name we adopted was fun and had numerous relevant meanings, not having anything to do with sanitation, or road improvements.

In 1994, Boston-area residents Dan Gorin (Second Tenor) and Sarah Lazarus (Alto) met at Spring Sing, an annual gathering of a cappella singers, where Dan was performing with a Hartford-area group (The Spare Parts). Having watched her sister sing in Jersey Transit, and her mother lead one of the original Spring Sing ensembles (The Opposite Sextet), Sarah, was equally eager to join a group herself.

After our formation the group expanded with the addition other Boston-area singers whom we knew through their prior a cappella affiliations. In the early years The Works had several configurations, but ultimately, we grew to a sextet when Bev Jaques (Soprano) joined the original founders, followed by three former members of The Bosstones - Fred Jordan (Bass), Patrick Rafter (Baritone), and Dana Cetlin (Tenor). After Bev moved south to Savanna, she was replaced by Betsy Rosen (formerly of the Colgate Swinging 'Gates).

In recent years, our roster changed with the loss of several members, and the welcome addition of several songsters (listed in order of their joining The Works, with their voice parts indicated): Jill Blaszkowsky (Soprano), Sky Lance (Bass), Ruthanne Larsen Brown (Alto), and Carol Chernaik Rumpler (Mezzo Soprano).

While there's nary a braggart amongst us, each of our members has a solid singing pedigree. Check out our Bios page for details.

Decades after Dan and Sarah met by chance at Spring Sing 1994, The Works formally joined the American A Cappella Alliance, and have proudly performed at Spring Sing gatherings in Washington, Chicago, Princeton, Detroit, and Bar Harbor.

  2024 is the 30th Anniversary of the founding of The Works  
A historic achievement that we're celebrating by hosting Spring Sing 67 in Falmouth, MA (on Cape Cod)

Over the years, The Works has performed for audiences ranging from a 3,000-person conference at Disney World, to intimate private parties, and at venues such as schools, fundraisers, festivals, and corporate functions.

If you're looking to enhance a special event by adding an entertaining performance, let us know! We look forward to sharing our uniquely fun and melodic music with you and your audience.