THE INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF HIGH SCHOOL
A CAPPELLA
ICHSA MID-ATLANTIC QUARTERFINAL
Northern Highlands Regional High School
Saturday, January 22nd, 2022
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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 18th.
The high school tournament is now in its 15th year and continues to grow every year. We are now holding Quarterfinal rounds in all of our regions, and the 2020 season will feature the largest high school tournament field in our history. 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 17th.
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
The Highlands Belles is a treble-powered group from Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, N.J. The Belles are proud to follow in the footsteps of the musicians who have come before them and share in their legacy. Over the years, The Belles have competed at SingStrong Chicago, National A Cappella Convention (NACC), Boston Sings (BOSS), and (of course) ICHSA. After a year of virtual rehearsals, they are so grateful to be back in person, strengthening the bonds that make ensemble singing so amazing and unique. The Belles are also thankful for the kind custodian who brings leftover muffins from Board of Education meetings! They can't wait to take the stage in front of a live audience and share their love and light!
Highlands Harmonics is a mixed a cappella group from Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, N.J. They have advanced to the ICHSA Semifinals and placed 3rd at the SingStrong NY competition twice each. They have performed at the NACC in Memphis, Tenn., the Highlands A Cappella Festival, and as the guest group at several ICHSA competitions. Highlands Harmonics is excited to participate in this year's ICHSA competition and to make new friends who share their love of a cappella singing. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Rebel Remix, formerly known as Rebel Yell, is one of Howell High School's varsity a cappella teams. Founded in 2002, it is one of the oldest high school contemporary a cappella groups in New Jersey. Rebel Remix is a mixed ensemble that focuses on blend, rhythmic trickery, and tons of fun!
Rebelation, from Howell High School, is a mixed a cappella team. Some of the singers are also Marching Rebels so this group works rehearsals around HHS's marching band schedule. Rebelation has taken many forms over the years, but this year it is fueled by 22 young ladies and one man (not that that matters).
Founded four years ago by five students in the a cappella program, Reverb is Howell High School’s newest team! This mixed ensemble is filled with musical theatre performers and features high energy, lots of faces, and a big bucket of sass!
The Bee's Knees from Bayonne High School was founded in 2018 under the direction of Samantha Hitchell and Theodore Cherney. Both directors competed in the ICCA from 2013-2016 with Vocal Point from the University of Delaware. The Bee's Knees is composed of current Bayonne High School students in grades 9 through 12, many of whom are involved in various music and theatre programs at the school, including the award-winning Bayonne High School Marching Band. The Bee's Knees perform at community events, clinics, a cappella invitationals, and concerts.
The Nocktaves is a mixed-gender a cappella group that formed in 2018 after attending an ICHSA event. They perform in school concerts and other events. In 2021, they were awarded 3rd place at the Mid-Atlantic Semifinals. They were recently honored to perform the national anthem at a Yankees game (via video).
The Ram Jams is the auditioned a cappella ensemble within the Ramsey High School Choral program. The Ram Jams frequently perform at events throughout the North Jersey area and within the Ramsey community. This past year, The Ram Jams performed at the Empty Sky memorial ceremony alongside the U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers Chorus and the National Chorale. In their most recent competitive season, The Ram Jams were named Mid-Atlantic Champion and advanced all the way to ICHSA Finals.
The Spartones was founded in the fall of 2019 at Steinert High School in Hamilton, N.J., by their new choir director, Miss Madelyn Curtin. Since then, Spartones has become an unbreakable musical family. They take every opportunity to perform and are excited to be making their in-person ICHSA debut after competing virtually last year. They are so grateful to be back in person, singing and making music every day. Enjoy the show!
Treble Makers is an audition-only student group at West Morris Mendham High School. The group performs a wide variety of music, but mainly jazz and pop standards. Treble Makers performs for all sorts of events, including parades, community activities, parties, basketball games, festivals, concerts, and dinner dances. Treble Makers is excited to be competing once again this year!
TONIGHT'S JUDGES
Gyasi Barber, a New Jersey native, completed his Master of Music in vocal performance at the New England Conservatory. There, Gyasi played Figaro in "Le Nozze di Figaro," Don Pedro De Hinoyosa in Offenbach's "La Perichole," and Ben Benny in "Paul Bunyan." Prior to that, he earned his undergraduate degree in music education from Syracuse University, and played such roles as Pish Tush in "The Mikado," Frank in Strauss' "Die Fledermaus," and Sarastro in "Die Zauberflote." Gyasi has performed as a featured soloist with the Masterworks Chorale in Boston, as the bass soloist for their annual Messiah Sing, and played Collatinus in Opera Brittenica’s production of Britten's "Rape of Lucretia.” Currently based in New York City, Gyasi performs with the Oratorio Society of New York, in addition to other small groups.
Brian Chambers has founded or helped found three award-winning collegiate groups, including, at the time, the youngest group to make ICCA Finals ever. He has earned three ICCA awards for Outstanding Vocal Percussion and received the first Outstanding Arrangement award for a hip hop song in ICCA history. He created and founded The Red States, named a best a cappella group by “Time Out New York.” He also helped launch the first digital A&R agency for A-list and Billboard 100 artists. Brian is a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARA) nominator, the former director of communications and marketing for the Contemporary A Cappella Society (CASA), and served on its board of directors. He is the co-producer for the NY Harmony Sweepstakes, the longest running a cappella competition in the U.S., and does artist management in his spare time. He currently leads digital for (RED), the nonprofit founded by Bobby Shriver and U2's Bono, which fights two pandemics helping relaunch their music franchise, Dance (RED) Save Lives. If you don't blink, you can catch him in “Pitch Perfect 2.”
Meredith Strang O'Sullivan has been active in the a cappella community as a singer, arranger, judge, director, and group mentor for nearly 25 years. She is currently the music director for Treble NYC, which recently appeared in the movie, “How to Be Single.” As an arranger for NYC A Cappella, she creates award-winning arrangements for vocal groups across the nation. During her college years, she directed The University of Delaware Deltones, who went on to be cast on NBC's “The Sing-Off.” Meredith is a member of the Contemporary A Cappella League (CAL), CASA, and was also a producer for CASA’s VoCALnation Festival, featuring headliners The Swingle Singers and Duwende. In addition to her love of a cappella, Meredith sings in a rock band, a jazz duo, and does backing vocals for artists such as Phillip Phillips, A Great Big World, and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness.
Chris Knight has been a member of the a cappella community since 2010, when he was accepted into SUNY Potsdam’s The Potsdam Pitches. During his time in The Pitches, he served as music director and president and produced their first album. He was singing with The Pitches when they won Quarterfinals for the first time and placed 3rd in Semifinals, landing the group in the Wildcard round for ICCA Finals. In 2014, Chris joined Fusion Vocal Band and sang with them all over New York City and Connecticut. He also competed in the Sing Strong competition and recorded an EP. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in music education, a master’s degree in secondary music education, and a sixth year in educational supervision and administration at the University of Bridgeport. He is currently an Assistant Principal for Stamford Public Schools at Dolan Middle School in Stamford, Conn. Chris has previously worked as a music teacher in Stamford where he taught general music, chorus, and band, and directed an after-school musical program.
Sara Yood has been a producer for Varsity Vocals since 2003 and has been singing a cappella since her high school years. Sara currently serves as producer for ICCA Finals, ICHSA Finals, and The Open Finals. Sara was both Concert Coordinator and Group Coordinator for The Amateurs at Washington University in St. Louis, leading the group to their first appearance in the ICCA tournament. After moving to New York City, Sara sang with Treble, New York’s all-female semi-pro a cappella group. Sara then attended Fordham Law School, where she served as music director of the law school’s co-ed a cappella group, The Tortfeasors. She is now a lawyer in Manhattan, where she sings with the New York City Master Chorale. She contributed to the chorale as alto section leader for six years and now leads as the chair of the Board of Trustees.
SPECIAL THANKS
Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Tom Paster and the Northern Highlands Regional High School board, faculty, and volunteers; 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 three finishing groups will advance to 2022 ICHSA Mid-Atlantic 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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