KJ McAleesejergins

“A well known vocalist, vocal instructor, and ensemble coach throughout the United States and Europe. He served in the United States Army; as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, as well as a vocalist for the Army National Guard. KJ is also known as a multi-instrumentalist and performs in several ensembles while running a recording/production studio in NY called

"Live Loud Studios".

A 20-year U.S. Army veteran, KJ served as a paratrooper with the elite 82nd Airborne Division and as a featured vocalist for the Army National Guard, combining discipline, leadership, and musical excellence throughout his military career.

In addition to his vocal work, KJ is a skilled multi-instrumentalist and the founder of Live Loud Studios in New York—a full-service recording, production, and teaching studio dedicated to empowering artists and educators alike. His passion for excellence, both on and off stage, continues to inspire musicians and ensembles around the world.

Book Now

We’ve had the pleasure of working with KJ since 2023, and the experience has been nothing short of amazing. Whether in person or through online sessions, his coaching has consistently elevated our quartet’s vocal abilities. As a multi-talented musician himself, he has an incredible talent for hearing every nuance in our voices. His professional yet approachable demeanor puts you at ease from the start and leaves you with a positive and productive experience. We are proud to call him coach and friend. 

- Rewind Quartet 


In short, KJ is an exceptional coach. He holistically coaches, considering all judging categories. He’s incredibly funny and enjoyable to work with, while simultaneously keeping the coaching session focused and highly productive. KJ is both encouraging and direct in his methods, providing crystal-clear instruction that creates immediate impact. Every session we’ve had with him has been an absolute game changer and a blast! We have gained several paradigm-shifting techniques and methods we’ve been able to apply to not only our performances, but our rehearsals as well!

- Nick Collins - Limitless (Mixed Quartet)


Our quartet did a full weekend retreat-style coaching experience with KJ and it was beyond amazing! First of all, KJ created an incredible  environment for us to learn and grow as singers and performers while also having a blast. It was challenging, fun, and dynamic.  He helped us individually as singers and performers, and collectively to find our strengths and build on them as a group. KJ deployed a massively wide-ranging skill set that helped us with pretty much every single aspect of our singing and performance, including the following: tuning and balance of chords, changing lyrics for greater emotional impact (dramatic & comedic), rearranging a chord progression ending on a different inversion that worked better for our voices, co-developing comedic themes, staging and delivery for a parody song, etc. It felt like we were in a master class for quartets!

We highly recommend working with KJ for your ensemble, quartet, or just as an individual singer/performer. He is a phenomenal coach and we guarantee you’ll have a great time while learning more than you thought you could.

- Ken Martin - Never Too Late (Men’s Quartet)



KJ is a master at giving singers techniques that are appropriate to their level, but also push them to realize their untapped potential.  As a professional, he is able to present and demonstrate advanced vocal techniques in a way that is accessible to the average singer. He has transformed not only the overall quality of our chorus, but has also lit a fire in all of our members that has resulted in membership growth, as well as past members deciding to join the risers again after being away for many years. I cannot recommend him highly enough.

- Joseph Hudson - The Mad Hatters Chorus (Men’s Chorus)



Working with K.J. has transformed our quartet's sound! We felt an immediate improvement in our vocal technique, blend, and overall performance within the first 20 minutes of our session with him. He has an incredible ability to recognize each individual's voice and guide us in a way that enhances our individual voices and allows them to shine, while simultaneously bringing our unit sound as an ensemble to a place we’ve never been. His approach is not only professional and with expert knowledge, but also extremely personable and encouraging. We are so grateful for the expertise and support he has provided – it has truly taken our quartet to the next level! We not only gained a forever coach, but a lifelong friend!

- Christy Hedrick - Triple Trouble (Women’s Quartet)


Having KJ as a coach has been a phenomenal experience for us. Every time we work with him, we walk away having taken a giant step forward—both as a quartet and as individual singers. His deep understanding of the Barbershop style is evident in every coaching session. He knows exactly how to bring out the best possible sound from us at every moment, helping us refine details we had never even considered before. He guides us in transforming our charts from mere notes on a page into performances full of artistry and emotion.

Beyond his singing and performance expertise, KJ is a fountain of creative ideas, constantly helping us elevate our charts and delivery. Not only is he a brilliant coach and mentor, but he is also one of the kindest and most encouraging people we have met in Barbershop. He makes our coaching sessions fun, pushes us to grow without ever making the process feel discouraging, and genuinely cares about our success. He is an invaluable coach, and we cannot recommend him highly enough. If you're looking for someone to take your quartet to the next level, KJ is the coach to do it.

- Dan Hoke - Catalyst (Men’s Quartet)  

Here's what I came up with I hope it's ok!: KJ is one of the most passionate and effective coaches I've ever had the joy of working with. He's got this amazing energy and love for barbershop that he puts into every session, and it's catching. One of the things that impresses me most is how great he is at giving feedback—he's honest, kind, and constructive, and always leaves you feeling encouraged and eager to get to work on improving. His coaching always makes a difference, whether it’s with me individually, with my quartet, or with my choruses. I’ve grown so much because of his guidance, and I’m incredibly grateful for the time I’ve gotten to work with him.

- Abigail Eggertsen - Astronotes (Girls Youth Quartet)

KJ is a joy to work with. He connects quickly and easily creating a fun and comfortable space to grow. He uses humor to keep the room light while making progress a challenging and enjoyable process. His background as professional singer and barbershop champion bring a wealth of knowledge to sessions. While his ability to meet singers were they are at and build a bridge to growth offers a great feeling of accomplishment at the end of a session. I highly recommend KJ!! 

- Keith Harris - Gotham Chorus (Westchester Harmony)

"Bringing in KJ McAleesejergins, as a guest coach, during our contest prep was one of the best decisions we made this season. He brought a wealth of barbershop knowledge and an ability to communicate it in a way that truly resonated with the singers. His focus on tuning, musical interpretation, and authentic storytelling aligned perfectly with our goals, and he offered fresh perspectives that elevated both our musicality and our confidence. What impressed me most was his ability to challenge the chorus while maintaining a positive, motivating atmosphere. The growth we saw in just one session was remarkable. We're incredibly grateful—and already looking forward to the next opportunity to work with him."

- Tiana Sandh - Director of Sisters of Sound (Harmony Inc. Area 6)

I’ve had the honor of directing Anchorage Sourdough Chorus and Alaska Sound Celebration Chorus, both high-performing women’s barbershop choruses, for the past 28 years. Over that time, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many talented coaches—and this spring, it was a true privilege to work with  KJ McAleesejergins.

KJ brings an infectious energy, deep passion, and a wealth of barbershop expertise. He coached us across all pillars of the craft/music, expression, sound, and character development, meeting each challenge with flexibility, respect, and a touch of humor. His professionalism and warmth made an immediate impact on my singers, and the progress we made during his visit was both measurable and memorable.

If you're looking for a dynamic and inspiring coach who can connect with your singers and elevate your performance, I highly recommend KJ. BOOK HIM NOW, you won’t regret it!

- Peggy Benton - Director (Alaska Sound Celebration)

Book Now