Pentatonix gather up for one last hug as a quintet with Avi Kaplan during their concert earlier this week in Vermont.
The concert marked their last ever performance together with Avi before he left the group. He announced he was leaving earlier this summer.
“Tonight was my last show with PTX. it is a night I will never forget. It is the end of a chapter and the beginning of one, for me and for all of us. I can’t tell you how much I love and appreciate each and everyone of you,” he wrote on Twitter just moments after stepping off stage.
Avi continues, “The outpouring of love today and tonight has been beyond humbling. I’ll never ever have the words to truly express what you all mean to me. You all have made my dreams come true.
“I would’ve have imagined in a million years experiencing all I have and connecting with all the people I have. Every moment has been a blessing. As I leave this chapter, I want you to know that I’ll always do my best to bring light with my voice and music.
“I will put everything I have into what I do next. I will never forget all you’ve done for me and all of us in PTX. Maybe someday all 5 of us will sing together again like old times, but until then, I’m standing by. Always.”
Watch Pentatonix‘s final performance with Avi below:
“Yea,” Kirstin Maldonado told People about if him leaving was a surprise. “But, we just want everyone to be happy.”
Kirstin also talked about what’s ahead for the group — and that means finding a new bass for the a cappella band.
“We’re going to be working on finding a new person, and it will just be a new chapter for us,” she says. “I’m looking forward to what that new chapter will be. It will be different, but I think it needs to be.”
“You’re adding a new person in and they’re going to bring whatever special quality they bring and we’re going to be transformed because of that and make a new group.”
But don’t fear — he’ll still be on the upcoming tour and he also has his own EP coming out next month.
Avriel & the Sequoias will drop his debut EP, Sage and Stone on June 9th.
The EP “recall the sounds of modern indie folk artists” with the five tracks titled, “Sage and Stone”, “Quarter Past Four”, “Fields and Pier”, “Song For the Seeker” and “Sweet Adeline”.
“Folk music is everything to me; it’s where I come from; it’s home,” Avi shared. “It lifts me up. It inspires me. It intrigues me. And it heals me. I can only hope that the people who find it feel the same.”
Get a sneak peek of his EP below and stay tuned for more!
The bass singer revealed the news in a new video on the a capella group’s Facebook page and revealed his plans going forward.
“If you have watched, know that this is exactly what I would have said in the video, if filming it wasn’t one of the toughest things I’ve ever had to do,” Avi shares in a touching note to fans. “This morning, I announced that I will be taking a step back from PTX.”
He adds, “I’ve struggled with this decision a lot. It has been the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life. Before I explain why, I want you all to know that the past 6 years have been the most unbelievable years of my life. The things we’ve accomplished, the places we’ve seen, the people we’ve touched with our music� It surpasses anything that I could have ever dreamed up for my life.”
His reason is a good one – family time.
“It’s been hard for me not to be with my family and friends when I need them or when they need me. It’s been hard to not be able to escape into nature when I’m feeling overwhelmed or just need some time to myself.”
Avi continues, “I do want you all to know that I’m still going to be doing music and I’m going to be doing it with my whole heart. I will ALWAYS do my best to lift others up with my voice. I hope that you’ll all support my decision and that you can understand where I’m coming from. And regardless of anything, I just want to thank you for all that you’ve given to me. I have been so unbelievably blessed and humbled to be a part of all your lives in any way and I wanted you to hear this from me. From my voice. And from my heart.
I love you all deeply and I thank you for everything. Truly.
Avi will still be performing at Pentatonix‘s upcoming shows.
“It’s been so heartwarming to see all of the love & support for our brand new #PTXFallingInLove video!” PTX later tweeted after getting a ton of praise from fans.
Watch the “Can’t Help But Falling in Love” cover below and tell us what you think!
“Wow! Four years ago we met for the first time as a group as we were rehearsing the day before our audition on The Sing Off. Four years later we won a Grammy, sold a platinum selling album, and tour the world… all because of you. Thank you so so much. ?? #Happy4thAnniversaryPTX,” they wrote.
Pentatonix‘s track from the Finding Neverland soundtrack was also just released! Listen to their version of “Stars” below!
Pentatonix – Finding Neverland – ‘Stars’ Lyric Video
