When music acts have reunions it’s often years after they’ve broken up. Not this group. With the weather improving, a trio of NYC singers met in person for the first time in more than a year for a different kind of reunion.

There were lots of hugs, laughs and tears as the Amy Cervini, Hilary Gardner, Melissa Stylianou saw each other in person for the first time in more than a year, a painfully long time for the members of the swinging vocal trio Duchess. 

What You Need To Know

  • Amy Cervini, Hilary Gardner, Melissa Stylianou are the singers behind the trio Duchess

  • They live in different boroughs of NYC and for safety did not see each other in person at all during the pandemic until a recent outdoor reunion with masks on

  • The trio sings in the style of the Boswell Sisters and Andrews Sisters with a sound all their own
  • A year apart has been difficult emotionally and professionally and they hope they can perform on stage again outside very soon

"And I don't think I realized during that time how difficult it was to not see my friends, and ton not to have just something as simple as a hug," said Gardner holding back tears.

Hillary and Melissa traveled from Brooklyn and the Bronx to meet outside at Peter Cooper Village where Amy lives.

Melissa describes her friends this way: “If we were an Oreo, i'd be the soft center and they'd be the outside holding me up."

After so much time apart, they fall right back into step — almost. "Well I should be in the middle” laughed Gardner, who is the tallest member of the trio.

They've been doing virtual performances, but recording the parts separately is not the same. 

"I didn't realize how much I needed you guys in sounding good. I listened back to our latest thing. And I was like, ‘Na ah, that does not sound good Melissa,’” said Stylianou.

They're all excited about the prospect of singing in person again soon. 

"There's been a big push to start getting more outdoor shows happening in these warmer months, so that would be a dream come true for us to just get back on stage," said Gardner.

“ow they didn't offer, but they did mention singing outdoors. So of course, I asked them to sing a little something. And they did! 

The song is Heebie Jeebies. The group itself is inspired by the Boswell Sisters who also sang that song in close harmony.

As a female group, the members of Duchess recall encountering plenty of sexist attitudes, especially with pick up bands.

"And there'll be times where I'm explaining, you know, the lay of the land to a musician, and they will look to the male piano player who's not even in our band to to get assurance. And that automatically their opinion would be more valued than mine, having lived this music for six years, it just blows my mind that that's still happening," said Cervini.

Still, these best friends retain a sense of humor and empowerment, which only grows when they're together.