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 GREAT LAKES QUARTERFINAL

Jenison Center for the Arts
Saturday, February 26, 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 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 Acafellaz is the premier all-bass a cappella ensemble at Illinois State University. Founded in 1999, the group has traveled extensively throughout Illinois and the Midwestern United States. Now composed of 14 members, the group is committed to high levels of entertainment and performance. Throughout a typical school year, The Acafellaz perform at a fall and spring concert, tour at high schools all around the state, open for other a cappella groups, and perform at events within their local community. While the road back to live, in-person rehearsals and performances has been a long one, The Acafellaz are ecstatic to be back and cannot wait to share the passion they have for music through this ICCA set! Through their set, The Acafellaz aim to communicate a story about the trials and tribulations of life and the relief of finally allowing themselves to “let it all out.” 

Capital Green is known as the oldest and hottest co-ed a cappella group at Michigan State University. Celebrating 22 years of singing, the group enjoys competing in numerous competitions every year, singing at the annual MSU Accapalooza concert, going on tour across Michigan every spring, and participating in many other fun events. Most importantly, members of Capital Green enjoy spending time with their close-knit chosen family at MSU. The group welcomed a record nine new members this year, all of whom are exceptionally talented. You can find CG on Instagram @msucapitalgreen and on the web at www.msucapitalgreen.com. 

Euphoria is a co-ed competitive a cappella group from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. Over the past few years, Euphoria has competed in a series of different competitions including ICCA, BOSS, and SoJam, placing 2nd in BOSS in 2018 and 3rd place in VoiceJam in 2019. Alongside competitions, Euphoria also participates in a series of different events and gigs both for the Grand Valley and West Michigan community. Over the last year and a half, Euphoria has continued to make the most of working through quarantine and virtual rehearsals and truly could not be more excited to be performing in person again! When they aren't rehearsing, Euphoria loves to have group movie nights, talk about new TikTok trends, and play Mario Kart.

Created in the year 2002, Fish N Chips is Central Michigan University's oldest contemporary a cappella group. Blending sweet tunes both old and new with a fun and lighthearted stage presence, Fish N Chips has been entertaining audiences for 20 years. Lightly battered and deep-fried, what more could you ask for? Did they mention they sing? 

Midnight Snack is GVSU's first and only all-female a cappella group founded in 2005. This small group of women shares a strong passion for music and performing together. They recently released their first professionally recorded single, "Sour Candy" (now on all streaming platforms)! Their songs consist of arrangements from all different genres, which is part of the fun! 

On the Rox is CMU’s only all-female a cappella group. As a performance group, their main focus is to entertain. Through singing and dancing, they are able to express themselves and share their love for performing with everyone around them. They travel around the state performing for special events on and off campus, often performing at charity events and fundraisers. They frequently compete in national competitions and interact with other members of the a cappella community. They love to share their passion for music with every opportunity.

Founded in 2012, The Echoes is the University of Notre Dame's all-gender a cappella group. The group exists because they love to sing with friends and share their voices with the Notre Dame and South Bend communities. Last year, they released a debut self-titled EP, which is now streaming everywhere. They perform at corporate fundraisers, biannual concerts, charity events, and competitions, exclusively singing music arranged by the group members. For bookings, visit www.theechoesnd.com or email echoes@nd.edu. 

Founded in 2001 at Northwestern University, The Undertones is a co-ed a cappella group that prides itself on maintaining a very high level of musicianship. The group placed 3rd at the 2020 ICCA Great Lakes Quarterfinals and made it to Semifinals back in 2018. The Tones have studied in every major school Northwestern has to offer and hail from all over, creating opportunities for the group to tour nationally (The White House, New York City, Orlando) and internationally (Edinburgh, Scotland and Barcelona, Spain). Although much of their time together is spent rehearsing, performing, and recording, The Undertones are also a close group of friends who love spending time together and keeping the fun and silliness alive in the work they do! If you would like to keep up with their adventures, from road trips to late-night rehearsals, follow them on Facebook and Instagram @nuundertones.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Dan Dade, a music professional from Lansing, Mich., strives to be a multifaceted asset for any organization with which he is involved. Dan is currently an educator with Grand Ledge Public Schools, serving as one of the high school and middle school choir directors, as well as percussion director at Walled Lake Northern High School. He also works as a freelance composer and arranger, receiving commissions and performances from all over the United States, for ensembles such as the University of Georgia Symphonic Band, the Oakland University Chorale, and military bands like the Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band. Dan has produced and published his own a cappella music on all streaming platforms and currently sings and beatboxes for TBD A Cappella. Dan worked as an arranger for Voices Only and has been a clinician for many high school and collegiate a cappella groups. He is committed to musical excellence and versatility and hopes to help others grow in these areas as well. As a former member of The Michigan State University Accafellas, Dan has a love for Varsity Vocals competitions and is honored to be one of the judges for this event. Best of luck to everyone competing tonight! 

Dubbed “the next generation of a cappella specialist” by “Pitch Perfect” and “The Sing-Off” vocal producer, Deke Sharon, Kari Francis is an avid vocalist, composer, and educator. Based in New York, Kari has shared the stage with Taylor Swift at the American Country Music Awards, collaborated with Imogen Heap in her “Earth” project concert series, and competed on Season 3 of NBC’s “The Sing-Off” with Kinfolk 9. Kari studied composition with Lei Liang and Chinary Ung at UC San Diego and conducting with Mark Scatterday and Brad Lubman at the Eastman School of Music. She taught musicianship classes through the Eastman Community Music School, and was assistant conductor to the Eastman Women's Chorus and the Amadeus Children’s Choir Chorale. Following her time at Eastman, Kari was a Conducting Fellow at the Young People's Chorus of New York City. She directs "The Art of A Cappella" at CUNY Hunter College, an ensemble-class dedicated to exploring, arranging, and performing contemporary a cappella music. In addition to her vocal projects, Kari has been an active lecturer and clinician since 2009. She routinely gives workshops on musicianship, arranging, and vocal percussion at music festivals and vocal camps across the U.S. Kari graduated cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UC San Diego and holds an M.A. in music education from the Eastman School. Find her online at acappellaprofessor.com 

Josh Huls is an arranger, composer, and music director originally from Grand Island, Neb. While studying music education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he sang with and directed The UNL Bathtub Dogs. Since graduation, he has been working full-time as an arranger/composer for a variety of musical groups in California, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and New York. Best of luck to all the competitors today. May the aca-gods be with you. 

Sarah Maskill fell in love with a cappella two weeks after joining her college group at her first big performance: the ICCA Great Lakes Quarterfinal! She is a former bass and business manager of Michigan State University's Ladies First. During her time with Ladies First she produced two EPs, was nominated for a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA), and was fortunate enough to advance to ICCA Great Lakes Semifinals three times. She has since workshopped with many groups in the Midwest region, performed at The Open with her group Revel, and currently runs the Artist in Residence program at A Cappella University. You may have also seen her behind a camera at Varsity Vocals events and Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA) festivals.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank 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 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 finishing groups will advance to the 2022 ICCA Great Lakes 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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