Katie Burke

Andi Avalos and Katie Burke met on their first day at Carl Sandburg High School and since that day, the two have been inseparable. They call themselves "a package deal." Katie and Andi began singing together in a show choir group, Take a Bow, which performed exclusively for charity. That experience sparked a passion for combining entertainment and volunteerism. While Andi and Katie went to different universities, North Central College and the University of Nebraska respectively, they kept up their music. Distance didn't stop them from writing songs together. Countless tracks, videos and lyrics were sent back and forth until they could regroup during winter and summer breaks. Then, everything got real. They became "The Long Lost," a female-fronted group that blends classic American music with modern-day tales. The two have a collective voice and their sound evokes the rootsy feeling of growing up in the Midwest. The band has produced albums and performs regularly; oftentimes for charitable events benefitting veterans, animals and the arts.