What Happened To Avi Kaplan Of Pentatonix?

The stunning transformation of Pentatonix, the a capella group formed in Arlington, Texas, that went on to become an international sensation, has over time included a transition of members (via Live About). Most notably, the group's original bass singer, Avi Kaplan, left a few years ago, and his spot was soon filled by Matt Sallee. Now with Sallee, Pentatonix continues to release music, including covers, original songs, and holiday tracks.

According to Live About, Pentatonix's career as a group began when they won the 2011 season of "The Sing Off," a singing competition series focused on a capella music. They went on to release several albums of covers, including Lorde's "Royals" and a medley of Daft Punk songs simply called "Daft Punk," and later transitioned to writing their own music. In the beginning, the group consisted of Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Kaplan, the latter of whom began releasing solo music in 2017. However, he isn't the first member to release solo music. Maldonado released her debut solo single "Break A Little" the same year (via YouTube) but remained in the group.

While Maldanado and the rest of the group's members pursued solo careers while remaining in the group, Kaplan ultimately left. But what happened to him?

Pentatonix's immense fame was a dream come true for Avi Kaplan and the rest of the band. However, this success was built on a grueling work schedule and came with significant drawbacks, especially for Kaplan. In May 2017, the group posted an emotional video on Facebook where Kaplan admitted that he'd always struggled with the band's fast-paced lifestyle.

"It's been extremely hard for me to not be able to see my family and friends when I need to, or when they need to see me. It's been really hard for me not to be able to just escape to nature when I'm feeling overwhelmed or when I just need time for myself," he said, tearing up.

Despite his love for Pentatonix and its fans, Kaplan explained that his decision to leave stemmed from not wanting to hold the group back. He thanked fans for their unwavering support and announced that he'd still be making solo music. After his last show with the band, he posted a final farewell in another Facebook post, "Maybe someday all 5 of us will sing together again like old times, but until then, I'm standing by. Always."

The truth about Pentatonix is that their music, whether covers or original, remains rather steadily in the pop realm. Kirstin Maldonado's solo music is also pop music, but a defining reason why she remained in the group while Avi Kaplan left is because his solo music isn't pop. Rather, as explained by Billboard, Kaplan thoroughly loved folk music before joining the a capella group, and he wanted to return to these roots, which meant leaving the group once and for all. Luckily for him, their countless albums and world tours provided him a large platform from which to bounce off.

Kaplan released his first solo music in 2017 and has continued to release music since. (Interestingly, later in 2017, Kaplan shared a failed relationship with YouTube personality Trisha Paytas, though the former Pentatonix member kept it a secret even though Paytas later revealed it on X, formerly Twitter.) As explained by Billboard, Kaplan continues to release music. His second EP, "I'll Get By," was released in 2020, and his latest single, "First Place I Go," was released in November 2021. 

In 2022, he released his second solo album, "Floating on a Dream," which included the highly successful single, "All is Well." The singer followed this with a 5-song EP in 2024 and announced on X that his Patreon would launch on December 13. From here, there are only higher goals to be met for a professional like Kaplan.

If Avi Kaplan's goodbye message gave you the impression that he has an introverted personality, you're not wrong. Since leaving Pentatonix, the singer has relocated to a rural forest in Tennessee and has shared even less about his personal life — much like he did during his alleged breakup with Trisha Paytas.

For years, however, rumors have swirledabout Kaplan secretly getting married after leaving the band. These claims seemed even more believable when two photos of Kaplan with a woman dressed in what appears to be a bridal outfit hit the internet. But a closer look immediately puts those rumors to bed, and not just because we know all the other Pentatonix members' real-life partners.

While the man in the photos is Kaplan, the woman is actually his sister, Esther Koop. Her Instagram post even spells out their relationship. "We have traveled the world together and made once in a lifetime memories along the way. I am so grateful for that!" Koop wrote. "Thank you for being an amazing brother and for always putting your heart into everything you do!" Sorry, Pentatonix rumor-mongers, this was not the secret bride you're looking for.