One cold day in 2006, Jack Kernan, a young boy from the far north reaches of Michigan, got lost in the icy tundra that occurs in the winter. He wandered for many days in a blizzard, becoming chilled to the bone. Jack let out a wail of desperation to the empty winter surrounding him, and suddenly a light appeared before him. The mysterious light-being had heard his prayer and gave Jack shelter from the cold. The light-being revealed itself to be a Muse and took Jack into its heavenly realm, healing him of his shivers. The Muse made a special soup to give to Jack, and Jack ate it vigorously. The soup was special because it contained a fraction of the Muse’s power. Since that fateful night in the blizzard, Jack was blessed with music flowing through his veins from the Muse’s magic soup. Spring emerged, and Jack left the being of light. He could hear with perfect pitch the buzzing of the bees, and the rhythms of flower petals colliding in the wind. Jack traveled far south following the music of the winds until he found himself at the University of Michigan Bell Tower on central campus. He heard the pristine melodies emerging from the 8th floor practice room from the Friars, and knew at that moment that he was meant to be a part of that group. To this day, Jack continues to bless the Friars with his power from the icy Muse to make the best and perfectly tuned harmonies possible.

It was a frigid and windy day on the shores of Lake Michigan, among the bustling streets of Chicago, when a baby who would come to be known as Jonah Schloerb appeared in the basement of Soldier Field. He was mysteriously wrapped in a bearskin and, despite being a cute baby, he looked a little… ferocious. He was soon taken in by a loving family who raised him as their own, but as the years passed and he grew into a strapping young man flashes of his unknown beginnings began to show. He could roar like nobody’s business, his sense of smell was immaculate, and he possessed inhuman strength and speed! Nobody stood a chance on the football field against Jonah. It was almost like he was half-bear… Trying to take advantage of his unique abilities, Jonah tried out to be the mascot of the Chicago Bears, but they turned him away for chasing away excited fans and eating raw fish he caught in the Chicago River with his bare hands. Discouraged, he decided to go for the next best thing: being a University of Michigan Wolverine! That’s close enough to being a bear, right? Once he was in Ann Arbor, Jonah followed his nose to what he knew would be his next conquest - The Friars. Little did anyone know, but bears actually have angelic singing voices, and Jonah was no exception. He wowed the Friars with his majestic voice and superhuman strength, and the rest is history. 

Years ago, one bright morning on the distant planet Krypton, a miracle was underway. A baby was born with an incredible gift for music. His laughter sounded like celestial chimes, and he could manipulate sound waves with his thoughts, creating captivating melodies by warping reality itself. Kryptonians were amazed by the baby’s talents, but greatly feared the disruptions to their otherwise orderly society. Riots spread, villages burned, and chaos ravaged the lands. Many wanted the new baby imprisoned. “Lock him up! Chain his limbs!” they’d all scream. Recognizing the danger the baby faced, Superman intervened by balling the baby up and chucking him through space until he finally arrived at Earth. Crash-landing into a big tomato farm, the son of Superman was found by Mr. and Mrs. Villeneuve. “My tomatoes!” Mr. Villeneuve screamed as he ran towards the crash. The newlyweds adopted and named the baby Michael, and his human childhood quickly flourished. As he grew, he discovered how to hone his superhuman abilities, including his exceptional musical and performing talents. Then, while performing one day as Tevye at a charity flash mob in Metropolis, he caught the attention of music producers Lois Lane and Reilly Buckley, who envisioned him joining a legendary music group called "The Friars". Upon his quick admission into the group, Michael soon helped The Friars' music transcend genres and bring unity, joy, peace, and the end of hunger to people worldwide. Michael had found his true purpose, using his musical gifts to make the world a better place, just like Superman did. And so, the story of Michael, the Kryptonian baby with super music abilities, became intertwined with the legacy of The Friars, leaving an indelible mark on Earth's history and proving that the light of music could shine from even the farthest reaches of the universe.

Long ago, in a small Ann Arbor garden that mysteriously glowed under every full moon, Connor Casey emerged from the hollow of an ancient oak tree. His first cry was not a wail but a perfectly tuned baritone note that sent nearby chipmunks scurrying to form a choir in his honor. Legends say that as a child, Connor stumbled upon a hidden portal to Neverland while searching for edible mushrooms and ended up joining the actual national tour of Finding Neverland. Unfortunately, he was sent back to Earth after repeatedly out-singing the Lost Boys and throwing off the balance of the ecosystem. In his teenage years, it is rumored that Connor trained under a secretive sect of monks from “The Arb” who taught him the sacred art of singing to summon rain during droughts. Though he claims he’s studying Environmental Science, some suspect this is just a cover for his true identity: Nature Boy. When he’s not singing with The Friars, Connor can be found backpacking through enchanted forests, befriending owls, and rescuing rogue hikers by singing them back to civilization. With his buttery tones, mythical origins, and unique ability to hit a tune while sorting compost, Connor Casey is not just a Friar—he’s an Ann Arbor legend (and native!). If you listen closely on a still night, you might just hear his voice echoing through the Bell Tower, harmonizing with the Ann Arbor wind itself.

In August of 1942, a top-secret project was launched in order to construct a weapon of mass destruction. This project, known as the Manhattan Project, spanned over three years and culminated in the creation and testing of the atomic bomb. This initial test was declared a success at first, however after the bomb’s damage was surveyed, an infant was found close to the scene: a young Leo Parikshak. There was little to no damage to the child, however, there was minimal radiation found in several hair follicles. Luckily this led to no health risks as Leo grew up, only resulting in his hair occasionally changing colors, from blood red, to royal purple, to golden blonde. Today you will find Leo singing his heart out alongside the other Friars. With a boisterous chest voice and a smile that could brighten even the darkest of rooms, Leo absolutely has a nuclear presence in the Friars.

Austin started as a dedicated and respected biology student, always fascinated by the intricate details of life. His days were consumed by studying genetics, cell biology, and the hidden forces that governed the natural world. But as his studies progressed, he began to question the limits of nature. What if the body could be perfected? What if diseases could not just be cured, but eradicated completely, or even eliminated before they could manifest? His curiosity grew into obsession, and soon he was experimenting with genetic editing beyond the scope of his coursework, injecting cells with untested CRISPR constructs, modifying genes in ways never approved by his professors. The thrill of discovery gave him an intoxicating sense of power, and slowly, the line between scientific pursuit and dangerous ambition began to fade. Austin’s experiments became more radical, more unethical. He began testing his modifications on living organisms—at first, simple animals, then more complex creatures. Each success, each mutation he perfected, drove his deeper into madness. He believed that he was on the verge of creating a new breed of superhuman—a race of beings immune to disease, capable of extraordinary strength and intellect. But the darker truth was that he was no longer seeking knowledge; he was seeking control. The more he manipulated the genome, the more he saw himself as a god-like figure, capable of shaping life as he saw fit. His lab, once a place of curiosity and learning, became a tomb for his humanity, where he worked tirelessly in isolation, convinced that he alone had the right to rewrite the very fabric of life. In his final step of testing, Austin decided he needed to test his findings on humans. His sinister quest for genetic supremacy has found him nine new unknowing subjects to toy with, the Friars.

When he was just a wee lil’ man growing up in the dusty plains of Oklahoma, young Rayan yearned to escape the country. Despite being an ALL STAR SEVEN sport athlete in elementary school, he wondered “What more is there to this silly little life I am living?” One day, he ventured down into his parents dingy basement, and there, Rayan unearthed old and moldy remnants of a time long past, the days of crooners (though not as far back as the original Sooners). Upon hooking them up to a tarnished and lusterless record player of old, his musical brain realized how much more there was in the music world than honky tonk and loving your oversized pickup truck (not at all compensating for anything… no chance… right??). Sinatra’s repertoire was unmatched in Rayan’s growing adolescent head noodle. My Way, Strangers in the Night, Come Fly With Me, Summer Wind, and Fly me to the Moon… OH FLY ME TO THE MOON. Not just his mind but Rayan’s heart was growing… What is LOVE? What is LIFE? How does one love life? How could he continue and strengthen his romantic awakening? Why of course he trained his wee lil’ bladder and worked up the courage to once again hop on the transit line and get out of Oklahoma. This time to a musical showing, one that featured the modern reincarnation of THE GREAT FRANK (of the family name Sinatra of course). The one and only… Michael Bubbles. It was like the great modern crooner himself was speaking directly to Rayan, he had been enlightened. His life had been forever changed. What next? How could he be the next one in line of the great crooners of history. That is what led him here, to the University of Michigan, to the Friars. The Friars, who else…? The Friars greatly pride ourselves on our croonniness and suave ways with wooing crowds of middle-aged folks WORLDWIDE. And Ray Ray… he fits the bill.

Ever since the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series came out, it’s been common knowledge that Greek Gods are still around today and can disguise themselves as humans. Now you would think that these gods would take unsuspecting personas in order to blend in, but when it comes to Apollo, the God of Music, you would be dead wrong. Instead, Apollo chose to become a student at the University of Michigan who plays the snare drum in the marching band and sings in the Men’s Glee Club. Not only is he openly displaying his god-like musical powers through these ensembles but he is also seen playing the acoustic guitar, the piano, the talk box, the bass guitar and the drums. Under the alias “Carter Krumins”, he was instantly accepted into the Friars due to his angelic tenor voice. After the rest of the group found out about his true identity, they swore to secrecy and to only use his power for the sake of entertaining audiences. And now that you, the reader, know his true identity, you too must swear to never speak about it in public. If you don’t comply, there will be consequences…

In the warm, crystal blue waters of Canton, Michigan lies an island full of rich, prosperous citrus trees. The fields are lined with grapefruit, limes, pomelos, and, most importantly, oranges. About 20 years ago, one particularly radiant orange was picked off the tree. It was perfectly dimpled with undamaged skin and a particularly fragrant smell. The farmer who picked this orange knew it was special, and stored it away to prevent it from being sold and eaten. The farmer made it a shrine and laid the orange to rest there. About a week later, the orange disappeared from the shrine. In its place stood a gentleman, clad in a neon orange suit from head to toe. The farmer approached the young lad, unsure who let such a handsome, well-dressed young man into his home. The man of orange turns around and, in a silky deep register, introduces himself: “The name’s Dillon Wright, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” The farmer gazes at him, stunned. He’s stumbled upon something magnificent. After all, this clearly wasn’t your average orange. As Dillon hummed a tune and buttoned up his jacket, the farmer knew what he must do. He takes The Orange Man™ out of Canton to the pristine verdant grounds of the University of Michigan to see a performance by none other than The Friars. Upon entering Rackham Auditorium, Dillon knew this was his destiny. He has been blessing the Friars with his resonant bass voice and tastefully niche fashion ever since. If you ever catch a whiff of citrus in the air, just know you are in the presence of greatness.

There are a few times in life when you experience something extraordinary twice. You know what they say twice is nice! This is the story of a 6’4 Man. In the time of the dinosaurs a baby boy was born. For some odd reason this baby boy smelled like sweet and succulent cherries. No one truly knows where this baby boy came from but he was found by a group of Triceratops about 65 million years ago. Nevertheless, Terror was coming to Dino Land a.k.a Jurassic Park and the Triceratops knew this baby boy was meant for greater things. So, they did what any sane Dinosaur parent would do, they went to the soon to be Bill Nye's science lab and put him in a cryogenic freezing unit set to the year 1999. Over the years the capsule traveled around and landed in Traverse City, MI. On February 15th the boy was found and was named Benjamin Devries. Ben was an adventurous child as he took up hobbies like soccer, skiing, and hiking. Ben grew extremely tall and extremely old! Yet, he has one of the most beautiful voices that will grace your earlobes! Ben Acquired the ability to roar just like Katy Perry and his old Dinosaur Herd. Ben learned how to grow as a musician from many great singers like Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, and James Taylor! Ben has a smooth low voice and an incredible Falsetto, he is very versatile! That is why Ben decided to attend University of Michigan for his ungrad year! During those years Ben successfully auditioned and joined both UMMGC and Friars! In 2021 Ben graduated from U of M (Undergrad) in 2021 with a BSE in Industrial and Operations Engineering! Our lovely Ben has the brightest smile that lights up any room he walks into. If you ever need to get his attention you can say any of the following: Benny, Big Ben (Like the Clocktower), Big Unc, Grandpa, Gramps, just to name a few. Now, Ben is an Old Man and He is Back at the University of Michigan… Again as a graduate student attending the School of Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) with his area of study being Sustainable Systems! He once again for the SECOND TIME IS A FRIAR and is in the UMMGC! Ben wants to contribute to building a better future for Michigan, The Great Lakes region, America, as well as the entire World! Big Unc is very wise yet obnoxious and has a big heart! When he is not singing with the Friars, you can find him on a sandy northwestern Michigan beach or his grandparent's cabin! Keep an eye out for the only Friar with a cane!