Before performing hit Christmas songs on massive stages across the globe, Pentatonix’s bass singer, Matt Sallee, was serenading Bostonians at Faneuil Hall’s annual tree lighting ceremony.
“I remember it being so magical because it would also sometimes be snowing,” the Berklee College of Music alum told MassLive. “It would just be like this winter wonderland.”
Sallee was back at Berklee Monday ahead of Pentatonix’s show at the DCU Center in Worcester Tuesday night, Nov. 19.
The three-time, Grammy Award-winning group is currently on the “Hallelujah! It’s Christmas Tour,” which is bringing the holiday spirit to 25 cities across the country.
But no matter what city he’s in, Sallee still holds his time at Berklee close to his heart.
“I’ve looked back fondly on those memories and think about that as we travel,” Sallee said. “I will never forget those four or five years.”
Sallee said he “wouldn’t be in Pentatonix without coming through” Berklee. The Maryland native graduated from the college in 2016 and last visited campus in 2018 to support a friend.
This time around, Sallee participated in several student-oriented sessions, including a Q&A session moderated by voice professors Nichelle Mungo and Tom Baskett, a rehearsal for the school’s upcoming Mariah Carey tribute concert, as well as rehearsals for Upper Structure and Pitch Slapped — Berklee’s a cappella groups.
This was a full-circle moment for Sallee, who was in Pitch Slapped during his time at Berklee. Sallee was inspired to join the group after watching it on appear on the NBC singing competition “The Sing-Off” in 2010.
“I remember watching it from home and being like, ‘Man, I want to do something. I want to be in Berklee’s Pitch Slapped,‘” he said.
Sallee hit the ground running his freshman year by refining his bass singing skills and meeting key players in the a cappella community, from producers to fellow singers. Along with Pitch Slapped, Sallee won the International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) in 2014.
After graduating from Berklee, Sallee joined The House Jacks — a professional a cappella quintet based out of San Francisco, California — and reconnected with Ben Bram (co-founder of Pentatonix), who Sallee previously met during his time at Berklee.
After the producer invited Sallee to audition for a “secret” upcoming a cappella tour, he was chosen as Pentatonix’s bass singer in 2017 following the departure of original bass singer Avi Kaplan. Sallee credits Kaplan for his seamless transition into the historic group after meeting the singer before officially taking his place.
“He gave me some of the best advice and was so kind to me,” Sallee recalled. “He’s like, ‘Really be you, don’t try to be me and fill my shoes.’ He’s like, ‘Just take that pressure away. You don’t need it. I’m not thinking about it. I’m happy.’ … you know, all the things that I needed to hear and it really gave me the full green light to be like, ‘Oh, I can be me.’”
Pentatonix’s first official release with Sallee were songs from the group’s deluxe version of “A Pentatonix Christmas,” which was released in October 2017. Sallee has since provided vocals on all of Pentatonix’s studio albums, including their “Greatest Christmas Hits” album in 2023.
Pentatonix’s most recent release, “Meet Me Next Christmas,” dropped on Nov. 1 and embarked on the “Hallelujah! It’s Christmas Tour” on Nov. 14.
The tour will wrap up just before Sallee celebrates his first Christmas with his daughter, Maliyah, who he and his wife, Sarah Sallee, welcomed in August.
“She already responds to music so well,” Sallee said while mentioning how his daughter has started to kick her legs and dance to the rhythm.
“I’m excited to introduce Christmas music to her and to get our tree and just create our own traditions with her as she grows and gets a little older and starts to love Christmas even more,” the new dad added. “It’s my favorite holiday and my wife’s, too. So she’s going to love it. I can’t wait.”
Those looking for last-minute tickets to see Pentatonix’s Worcester show can click here.
