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 SEMIFINAL
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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
The Binghamtonics is Binghamton's oldest co-ed a cappella group! They’ve been making love to your ears since 1987!
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 Potsdam Pointercounts, SUNY Potsdam’s student-run co-ed, all-basso a cappella group, is dedicated to educating students of all ages about a cappella music and bringing their love of the arts into schools. The Pointercounts perform a variety of styles of music to engage the creativity and imaginations of students and adults alike. The Pointercounts fully support music and the arts in schools because music is an integral part of the creative mind and spirit. The Pointercounts want students to experience a cappella choral singing through educational workshops and performances. A cappella music holds historical and cultural significance and The Pointercounts strive to make students aware of one of the oldest forms of choral singing. It is the mission of The Potsdam Pointercounts to create an atmosphere conducive to the students’ ability to create and enjoy music.
The Class Notes is Cornell's oldest existing all-gender a cappella group. Though they were originally founded in 1983 as a jazz group, they’ve since grown to sing everything from Beyoncé to Ariana Grande to James Arthur. They perform on campus, throughout the greater New York area, and also tour every year to various parts of the world. Previous tours have included Jamaica, Canada, Miami, Boston, Virginia, and more. Over the years, their crazy concert themes, sharp choreography, and love for Tostitos Hint of Lime chips have given them a place in the hearts of both past and present Cornellians. The Class Notes have been featured on best-of-a cappella compilation albums, progressed to ICCA Semifinals, and won multiple awards at ICCA, including Outstanding Arrangement at their 2019 Quarterfinal for “Japanese Denim” by Daniel Caesar. They recently released their 12th studio album, Here, and it’s available to stream on Spotify!
Founded in 1956, The University of Rochester YellowJackets is an all-male collegiate a cappella group based in Rochester, N.Y. This tight-knit group is composed of students from both the University's River Campus and the Eastman School of Music. Musically, The YellowJackets are willing to take on any genre, and they love to create fun and unique music videos. Their rendition of Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” notably amassed over 4 million views on YouTube and their most recent project was a cover of BTS’ hit single “Dynamite.” The group performs at campus events and around the city and is particularly passionate about community engagement. Specifically, The YellowJackets created “The Buzz” program in 2011 at the Rochester City School District's “World of Inquiry” School, where they teach a cappella to local schoolchildren and host a yearly concert for parents. The group also loves to share their music with people everywhere, performing across the United States and recently visiting Kenya for a musical exchange. On September 19, 2011, the group made their national television debut to an audience of 5.3 million viewers as contestants on Season 3 of NBC's "The Sing-Off," ultimately finishing in 7th place (out of 16 Finalist groups).
Hailing from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Eight Beat Measure is the original all-male a cappella group on campus. Eight Beat Measure began in 1987 as the RIT Men’s Octet. Originally faculty-led and formed as an extension to the RIT Singers, they quickly expanded their horizons and branched into the world of contemporary a cappella, changing their name to Eight Beat Measure to reflect the new attitude, and expanding from only eight members. The group now sings genres ranging from hip-hop to rock to Irish folk, so there is something for everyone in their repertoire. The boys continue raising the heat for their audiences at two annual concerts and they’re ready to compete all across the country.
Tonal Disruption is Pitt's newest co-ed a cappella group, Tonal Disruption! This hardworking, diverse group of musicians is pushing the envelope and bringing beautiful songs to the a cappella scene. They aim to DISRUPT!
The Treblemakers is an award-winning co-ed a cappella group at Carnegie Mellon. Founded in 2010, they’ve quickly grown into a musical force to be reckoned with. They pride themselves on being one of the most fun-loving groups on CMU's campus and they push themselves to be the best they can be. At heart, they’re a close-knit group of friends who love to share their passion for music with one another and their community. Treblemakers is a group for all kinds of singers and all styles of music and they work together to bring that vision to life.
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!). They enjoy touring the east coast to promote music as a creative outlet for the younger generation. They pride themselves on their performance and entertainment skills and hope you pride yourself on enjoying a cappella!
The Potsdam Pitches is SUNY Potsdam’s oldest mixed-voice a cappella group. The Pitches was founded in 2007 by just four students and over 100 Pitches have been part of the group since! The founding four members first bonded over their shared love of Disney movies and would frequently get together to watch them in their free time. As such, Disney movies and music play important roles in the group's traditions. For example, instead of giving goofy nicknames to new members, they are each gifted with a Disney character that they embody. They then get that character printed on the back of their sweatshirts and wear them to various performances. The Pitches love to spread their love of a cappella by touring various schools and throughout New York! They love performing all over the state and giving masterclasses to students of all ages, teaching everything from Disney classics to current pop songs! Outside of singing, the group loves to get together and go to Dunkin', the mall, apple picking, or even just to hang out and watch Disney movies like the original Pitches before them.
TONIGHT'S JUDGES
Eion Blanchard hails from piano and vocal jazz, but broke into a cappella during his undergraduate years at the University of Florida, where he spent two years arranging for and directing No Southern Accent. Eion then co-founded Gestalt and served as music director for its first two seasons (#dvdp). Under Eion's tenure, Gestalt was named an ICCA Quarterfinal Champion and runner-up for ICCA South Semifinals, SoJam XV, Boston Sings (BOSS) 2018, and the 2018 National A Cappella Convention (NACC). Gestalt broke records at the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) garnering 11 nominations with its debut album, Beyond The Archetype, and winning multiple. Since graduating from Gestalt, Eion has stayed involved in the a cappella scene by leading masterclasses and now judging for Varsity Vocals, all while pursuing his Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Philip Jarosz has appeared on various stages throughout Western New York, including Studio Arena, Artpark, and Lancaster Opera House. He has also performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus and in Opera Sacra productions. Philip is a founding member of the The Lake Effect all-male a cappella ensemble, Vocalis, and the Harmonia Chamber Singers. Philip teaches in the Kenmore-Tonawanda school district where he has directed productions of "The Laramie Project," "Six Degrees of Separation," "Sweeney Todd," "Les Miserables," and "The Drowsy Chaperone," to name a few. In 2018, Philip was named Buffalo Theatre Person of the Year.
Melissa Rashford is a proud alumna of The Mandarins, Syracuse University’s oldest all-female a cappella group. Under her direction, The Mandarins competed and performed throughout the Northeast and earned national recognition by advancing to the ICCA Finals. Melissa holds degrees in music industry and business administration from SU and currently works in the University's Division of Marketing and Communications. She arranges for local ensembles and adjudicates area festivals and musical theatre productions. Melissa also teaches high school field band and musical theatre and takes every possible opportunity to encourage her students to join a cappella groups when they get to college.
With a Master of Music in Choral Conducting (Kent State University) and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Theory and Performance (Ashland University), Brandy Kay Riha is an a cappella educator and arranger with a special focus on treble repertoire. Her arrangements have been performed by middle school, high school, and collegiate singers around the globe. Brandy Kay teaches voice, theory, and a cappella at Tiffin University. She has founded and directed numerous a cappella groups, in both scholastic and semi-professional contexts, and she has led workshops on arranging, aca-directing, music theory, and vocal percussion. Brandy Kay is the founder, director, producer, and arranger for Zero to Sixty, a yearly-auditioned summer a cappella group centered between Cleveland and Akron.
Betsy Stambach-Fuller is the choral and theatre arts director at South Glens Falls High School. Under her direction, the school’s curricular a cappella group, Vocal Point, has recorded two studio albums, toured and performed across the continental U.S., and competed in the ICHSA for the past six seasons. They also host a regional a cappella festival, TuneUp, and are preparing to make their international debut at the 2020 International A Cappella Festival. Betsy holds both a B.M. and M.M. in music education and performance from the State University of New York at Fredonia. While a student at Fredonia, Betsy founded and directed the college’s first female a cappella group. In addition to performing and working as a clinician regionally, Betsy founded the southern Adirondack’s premier high school summer music intensive, Campappella, which is hosted at the Glens Falls Music Academy (www.glensfallsmusicacademy.com).
SPECIAL THANKS
Varsity Vocals would like to recognize 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 Director
ICHSA Great Lakes Producer
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 Clemens
ICHSA West Producer
Courtney Jensen
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 placing group will advance to the 2022 ICCA Finals.
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!
varsityvocals
University of Buffalo
Saturday, March 26, 2022