THE INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF COLLEGIATE
A CAPPELLA
DEAR FRIENDS,
Welcome to Varsity Vocals’ 26th season! Our enthusiasm for the art of a cappella is greater than ever after more than a quarter century of presenting the best student groups on stage and in the studio.
Our tournaments have grown from a handful of events to the massive showcase they are today, this year featuring more than 578 groups and 8,772 singers at 77 events across North America and the United Kingdom.
Our original tournament inspired the hit movie Pitch Perfect, based on the nonfiction book documenting the true story of rival groups competing against each other in our very own ICCA. The Pitch Perfect franchise remains the highest-grossing musical series of all time.
Despite the incredible growth and mainstream popularity we’ve enjoyed, our focus remains sharply on the promotion and development of the talent that crosses our stage. We believe competition fosters growth, as groups work together toward a specific goal and cultivate lifelong skills and relationships.
We provide insightful feedback from our highly qualified judges – but more importantly, our singers get to connect with a larger audience from across the country, learning from their peers and finding inspiration in other groups.
Two years ago, our 2020 tournament was sidelined mid-season by the pandemic, and we were unable to crown champions for the first time. In 2021, as a cappella groups were unable to gather to rehearse or perform, we adapted our program by challenging groups to create 4-minute music videos, recorded and edited remotely. The astonishing artistry and skill in these videos is a testament to the adaptability, ingenuity, and determination of our competitors, and we couldn’t be prouder.
This season, we are again challenged by the pandemic, as we attempt to present live events across thousands of miles in an ever-changing COVID landscape. Although some of our events have been postponed or converted to virtual, we are determined to see the season through. Many groups haven’t been able to compete live since 2019 – some students for their entire high school or college career. We are humbled more than ever by the importance of our role in setting the stage for the creation of so much magic.
We have seen a cappella make great strides from where it began on our stage 26 years ago, and we can’t wait to see how our 2022 competitors push the envelope. Committed to promoting our singers and energized by the incredible music they create, we look forward to another memorable season. Thank you for joining us!
Sincerely,
Amanda Newman
Executive Director
ICCA CENTRAL QUARTERFINAL
Binghamton University
Saturday, January 29th, 2022
WE'RE SOCIAL
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ABOUT VARSITY VOCALS
Since 1996, we have encouraged students worldwide to sing a cappella throughout their lives. Our programs include the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA), the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA), and the International Championship of A Cappella Open (The Open). We also annually produce The Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) and The Best of High School A Cappella (BOHSA) compilation albums.
Our a cappella competitions give top-notch a cappella groups the opportunity to showcase their talents for an international audience and to take home valuable feedback from our qualified judges. This year, competing groups will appear in venues all around the world, offering their energetic musical performances for your enjoyment.
The college tournament takes place from January through April in nine regions across the country and around the world. Each region holds anywhere from four to five Quarterfinals, and the top groups from each Quarterfinal advance to the Semifinal. The winning group at each Semifinal is named Regional Champion and advances to the ICCA Finals at The Town Hall in New York City on Saturday, April 23rd.
The high school tournament is now in its 17th year. The winners of each of seven Semifinal rounds will advance to the ICHSA Finals at The Town Hall in New York City on Saturday, April 22nd.
The Open Tournament celebrated its third year in summer 2019 and featured six Semifinals that lead to the Open Finals featuring those six Regional Champions, two Wild Card Champions, and our 2019 ICHSA and ICCA Champions. Those 10 groups competed in October 2019 at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
For a full tournament schedule, visit us at www.varsityvocals.com/events
ABOUT TONIGHT'S SHOW
The performance order was determined by random draw this afternoon and will be announced from stage.
Tonight’s performers will be evaluated on elements of their vocal and visual performance, which carry numerical weight. The highest and lowest score from the individual judges will be dropped for each group. Our judges may recognize exceptional performances with special awards as they see fit.
There will be a 15-minute intermission. After the final group has performed, a guest performer will entertain you while the scores are tabulated.
Because each group only has ten minutes to perform, we ask you to keep your applause to an enthusiastic minimum between songs. Please feel welcome to applaud as much as you want after each group has finished its set.
Videotaping and non-flash photography for personal use is permitted during the concert, so long as you do not disrupt our performers or other patrons. Due to licensing regulations, we do not provide a video or audio recording of this performance.
TONIGHT'S COMPETITORS
Note to Self is Binghamton University's only community service-based a cappella group. They are dedicated to making the community a better and safer place and take part in various service activities, including cleaning up local gardens and making flower beds, performing in nursing homes, volunteering at the Ross Park Zoo in Binghamton, park cleanups, and more! Since they are focused on community service, Note To Self has the flexibility to sing all genres, from Sam Smith to the Mii Channel Theme song. Last year, they competed in the virtual ICCA and came in 2nd place at Semifinals. They record and release music on most streaming platforms, including Spotify and YouTube, and are fortunate enough to be able to go on yearly tours across New York and Canada. Although they missed out on the live ICCA and tour last year, they are so excited to be competing in person again and cannot wait to be a part of this incredible experience.
The Binghamtonics is Binghamton's oldest co-ed a cappella group! They’ve been making love to your ears since 1987!
The Harpur Harpeggios, affectionately referred to as The Pegs, is Binghamton University’s only soprano-alto a cappella group. This group originated in 1983 and has evolved into the Peg boppin’ 14-person group that it is today. The group performs a wide variety of music genres, from 60’s classics to modern pop hits arranged by the members. During the semester, The Pegs stay busy recording albums, performing at local gigs and invitationals, and prepping for their end of semester showcase. When not rehearsing, the group members study a wide variety of academic concentrations including neuroscience, nursing, music, and economics. Groups members also partake in a number of extracurricular leadership activities throughout campus and local community. Last year during the course of the pandemic, The Pegs continued to produce music by releasing two EPs, titled Virtual Reality and Graduation, on Spotify and Apple Music. These music video compilations were recorded separately in each of the member's individual homes and connected the group members together musically from afar. The Pegs are excited to be back performing at ICCA.
IC Tone Cold is Ithaca College’s newest all-gender a cappella group. Their focus is on collaboration and they love to get as many people involved in the music-making process as possible, from arrangers and choreographers to graphic, sound, and lighting designers, and everything in between!
Ithacappella is Ithaca College's only all-male-identifying a cappella group. The group was founded in 1996 as an all-male choir and converted to an all-male a cappella group in 1999 (not the current members, of course - otherwise they would all be in their 50s!).The group enjoys touring the east coast in an attempt to promote the pursuit of music as a creative outlet to the younger generation. They pride themselves on our performance and entertainment skills and hope you pride yourself on enjoying a cappella!
The Binghamton Treblemakers is the ONLY alternative/alternative rock (co-ed!) a cappella group at SUNY Binghamton. They have numerous songs in their repertoire encompassing this broad genre, featuring artists such as Paramore, Panic! at the Disco, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, and more. They perform at numerous events within the University and beyond, such as at different colleges, a cappella events, and fundraisers! They are a laid back, fun group of people that just love music, alt rock, and singing!
TONIGHT'S JUDGES
Allison Cranmer has been involved in a cappella since high school and immediately fell in love with the music and community. Immediately after arriving at college, she joined A Sharp Arrangement, SUNY Potsdam's only all-treble a cappella group. Starting in her freshman year, she served as the assistant music director and an arranger for the group. In her junior year, Allison became music director and led A Sharp Arrangement to its first ICCA Semifinal showing in the group's 25-year-long history. Following her student teaching placement, Allison returned to the group and again competed in ICCA, where they advanced to Semifinals a second time. Since graduating, Allison has taken a K-12 Vocal and General Music teaching position in Jasper, N.Y. She loves to share a cappella music with her students and hopes that they can find the same joy, passion, and community that she has enjoyed over the last several years.
Kevin Doherty is a musician and educator who found a lifelong love of collegiate a cappella during his first month of college in 1998, when saw Binghamton’s Rhythm Method perform in a dorm lounge. He went on to become the group's music director, and produced and engineered an album before graduation. One of his greatest joys was being a member of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, the primary chorus for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops, with whom he performed in venues around the world for over 12 years. Kevin currently spends his days directing five choruses, giving voice lessons, and teaching music at the Middle and High Schools in Waverly, N.Y. He is also in his sixth year as musical director for the Valley Chorus, a community chorus based in the twin tier, and performs with the Southern Tier Singers’ Collective, a semi-professional choral ensemble in the Binghamton area. He is also an active tenor soloist, bass player, and drummer. Kevin holds a bachelor’s degree in music with a concentration in vocal performance from Binghamton University and a master’s degree in music education from the Boston Conservatory. He loves having the opportunity to aid the development of young singers and watching the a cappella art form evolve by judging for Varsity Vocals. Kevin lives in Sayre, Pa. with his beautiful wife, their three children, a dog, a cat, and a ferret.
Katelyn Marasco is currently a music teacher in the Brockport Central School District. She previously taught general music in the Greece and Hilton Central School Districts, as well as choir at Wheatland-Chili High School. She received a Bachelor of Music in music education from Nazareth College, where she was the director of their a cappella group, Call4Backup. Katelyn holds music certifications from Eastman School of Music and after completing her Master of Science in education, she sang with the local a cappella group, Cut Off. Cut Off released their debut EP on iTunes in 2013, with which Katelyn was nominated for a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) for Best Soloist. She currently performs locally in a female acoustic trio, The Genesee Three, and is excited to be returning as a judge for ICCA this year.
John R. Starr is the former music director and vocal percussionist of The Songburghs, a co-ed a cappella group from the University of Pittsburgh. He led his group to three back-to-back ICCA Semifinals appearances from 2018 through 2020 and holds an Outstanding Vocal Percussion award for their entire 2019 set. His a cappella arranging work can be found on their first two EPs, Forward and Orbit, and he has frequently arranged and edited arrangements for other collegiate groups. John is a classically trained pianist and has arranged music for jazz bands, choral groups, small orchestras, in addition to a cappella groups.
SPECIAL THANKS
Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Bryce Mckracken, RDX Production, David Rabizadeh, and The Binghamton Crosbys; the team from the Anderson Center: Kirsten Knox, Marnie Wrighter, Daniel Sonnen, and Annette Burnett; our judges, hosts, competitors, volunteers, partners, and producers; and you, the audience, for supporting Varsity Vocals programming.
Amanda Newman
Executive Director
Dave Rabizadeh
ICCA Director
Elise Hackl-Blumstein
ICHSA Co-Director
PA/MA Program Coordinator
Andrea Poole
ICHSA Co-Director
Lucy Jacobs
The Open Director
ICCA West Producer
Andrew Poole
Director of Digital Media
Erica Tackett
Director of Marketing & Social Strategy
Emily Flanders
Director of Adjudication
ICCA Great Lakes Producer
Emily Sucher
Director of Publications
Patty Floyd
Accountant
Virginia DeMoss
Album Production Coordinator
Sara Yood
Senior Producer
Holli Kitching
ICCA Mid-Atlantic Producer
Lindsay Howerton-Hastings
ICCA South Producer
Leah Alrutz
ICCA Midwest Producer
Bronwyn Jensen
ICCA Southwest Producer
Gemma Davies
ICCA United Kingdom Producer
Christopher Witham
ICCA United Kingdom Producer
Emily Benjamin
ICCA Northeast Producer
Arvin Zabalerio
ICCA Central Producer
Jillian Kimberlin
ICHSA Mid-Atlantic Producer
Danielle Sutherland
ICHSA Midwest Producer
Jake McVey
ICHSA Northeast Producer
Donald Paradis
ICHSA South Producer
Cameron Clemons
ICHSA West Producer
Courtney Jenson
Associate Producer/Emcee
Ben Garza
ICHSA Southwest Producer
Katherine Mosher
ICHSA South Day-Of Producer
Bri Decerio
ICHSA West Day-Of Producer
Jake Yoakum
ICHSA West Day-Of Producer
OUR TEAM
We have an amazing team of people who work tirelessly to make our programs so valuable for our singers and audiences alike — and they all do it while holding down full-time day jobs, too!
The top two placing groups will advance to the 2022 ICCA Central Semifinal.
BRING THE HARMONY HOME
Find your favorite groups on The Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) and The Best of High School A Cappella (BOHSA), available for purchase on Apple Music and Amazon Music!
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