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 MIDWEST QUARTERFINAL

 

William Henry Harrison High School
Friday, February 18, 2022

WE'RE SOCIAL

 

We're talking about this event, and all of our events around the world!

varsityvocals

@varsityvocals

@varsityvocals

Follow us @varsityvocals on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, and join the conversation using #ICCA and #ICHSA.

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

 

Just Duet is Miami University’s only co-ed a cappella group. Founded in 2013, the group has already made huge strides in the world of a cappella, having performed at Carnegie Hall under the baton of Deke Sharon, placed 4th in their 2020 ICCA Quarterfinal, sung as the opening act for John Mulaney, and released three studio albums. The group values its commitment to musical excellence, as well as the friendships created through countless rehearsals and performances together. Just Duet’s music, including their most recent EP, In Dreams, is streaming on all platforms! Check them out!

Scots In Harmony from The College of Wooster focuses on bringing together a diverse group of students who share a love for music. They also encourage one another to improve and maintain their skills through a healthy feeling of competition. They made ICCA Quarterfinals in their very first year applying and have been hooked ever since. They hope to continue their journey with ICCA and advance even further. 

The Ohio State of Mind is The Ohio State University's premier co-ed a cappella group. Originally founded in 2010 as The Key of Gee, the group currently consists of 17 talented students from various educational backgrounds who share a passion for a cappella music. They specialize in adapting modern pop and R&B songs to a fresh contemporary a cappella style and are a close-knit group of friends who enjoy hanging out, playing games, and making music together. 

Buck That! A Cappella! is a diverse group of 13 undergraduate singers spanning all majors at The Ohio State University in Columbus. They strive to be the best a cappella group that they can be by promoting musicality, choreography, professionalism, and community within their group. 

Majors and minors from The Ohio State University is a co-ed group founded in 2010 and one of the first a cappella groups on campus. They perform all around campus for other OSU students and with other OSU groups, singing a variety of pop songs as well as fun holiday-themed songs. All of their music is arranged by current and past group members and friends! Aside from singing, this super close-knit group loves spending time together and bonding. Fun fact: despite everyone’s shared love for music, this group is currently composed completely of non-music majors! They can't wait to share their 2022 set with you! 

The Audio Pilots is The University of Dayton's premier all-male a cappella group! Formed in 2014, this group has had so much fun bringing music to the UD community for the past eight years! Their typical sets include pop and indie music and the group members come from a wide variety of majors, from engineering to education. As a group, The Audio Pilots have always prioritized setting a laid-back environment where members can have a genuine escape from the difficult world of collegiate academics. This year, the group consists of 10 members and they are ready and amped for this year's performance season! If you would like to support the group, follow them on Instagram @udaudiopilots.

Remedy is a co-ed contemporary a cappella group from the University of Dayton. In their nine years of existence, they have been able to travel, compete, and achieve several awards. They were the ICCA Midwest Quarterfinal Champions in 2019 and 2020 and Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes National Finalists in 2020. Remedy loves sharing their passion for a cappella and are honored to have had opportunities to do so on stages all over the country. 

The Flying Solos is the all-female a cappella group at the University of Dayton. A campus presence for the past five years, they seek to create a welcoming and inclusive musical community on campus. Composed of individuals from all musical backgrounds, The Flying Solos is a place for people to explore their love of music and develop long-lasting relationships. They are committed to being their best selves, both musically and personally. They love singing music from all genres and learning to find their sound within different styles. While they are most familiar with pop, they have begun branching out into R&B, classic rock, and pop punk just to name a few others. They are ready to take on the challenge of competition at ICCA and are excited for this opportunity to show what they’ve got. 

The University of Dayton’s Underscore is one of two co-ed groups on campus. Underscore is known for their more alternative pop styling and their fun-loving personalities. Featuring a very young group of a cappella rockstars, Underscore has only three upperclassmen in their 11-person group. Underscore loves to have fun, make music, and make memories. Whether enjoying the company of puppies at rehearsal or playing the very first note of “Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance, Underscore always finds a way to laugh. They would like to thank everyone who has helped them get to where they are today and hope you enjoy what they have created!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

 

Jake Przybyla began his life in music with piano lessons at age six. He joined the school choir in 3rd grade and continued singing in choirs and musicals through high school. Jake attended Michigan State University where he joined The MSU Accafellas in the fall of his freshman year. Becoming one of the "Fellas" was a pivotal experience for Jake and he went on to lead them as president and music director during his junior and senior years. At the group's 2012 ICCA Quarterfinal, Jake shared the award for Outstanding Arrangement and the group placed 3rd overall. After his first four years of college, Jake took a year off his studies in order to pursue professional music opportunities. He and a few of his fellow Accafellas formed an a cappella quartet and landed a six-month contract with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines singing on the Celebrity Summit. Since coming home and finishing his degrees, Jake works as a chemistry supervisor by day, but carries his passion for music with him by continuing to arrange music for a cappella groups and participating in musical theatre in the Lansing area. 

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. 

Selame Scarlett hails from Okemos, Mich. As an undergraduate at Michigan State University, she served as music director, arranger, and vocal percussionist for Capital Green A Cappella. Currently, she is a clinician for high school and collegiate groups in the Great Lakes region. She served as a percussionist and vocalist for the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA)-winning, all-female sextet, Lady Jaye, and the all-female gospel powerhouse group, Traces, which was featured on Season 5 of NBC's “The Sing-Off.” In the summertime, Selame is an instructor and counselor at A Cappella Academy, a Los Angeles-based vocal camp for young adults (ages 13 to 17). Selame has been fortunate enough to record alongside groups such as Naturally 7, The Boxettes, Pentatonix, Duwende, and Traces of Blue (formerly Afro-Blue)! She has led percussion workshops and masterclasses, individually and with her beatboxing colleagues. Alongside a cappella, Selame has a fiery passion for healthcare. As the leading referral coordinator for one of the largest digestive clinics in the Central Michigan area, she facilitates continuation of care for patients with various GI, liver, and pancreatic diseases. She is excited to see and hear some great music tonight!

Jeremy Witt is an educator, conductor, and performer born in Hilliard, Ohio. He graduated with a music education degree from Cedarville University and a Master of Music Education from Kent State University. He is the founder of Cedarville’s first contemporary a cappella group, The Inversions, and served as the group's music director and president for four years. He currently serves as the Director of Choirs at Hilliard Bradley High School and the Tenor/Bass Choral Director at Hilliard Memorial Middle School. Jeremy and Kelsey Burkett oversee the Jaguar A Cappella program which includes four contemporary a cappella groups from 7th through12th grades. He and Kelsey also co-direct the award winning a cappella group, Shades of Blue. Jeremy has also judged for the CARAs, the A Cappella Video Awards (AVAs), and many years in ICHSA and ICCA.

SPECIAL THANKS

 

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Danielle Sutherland, Joey Bogdajewicz, Sound Station Productions, Anna Adams, and the Harrison High School Music Department; 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 Midwest 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!

VIEW ALBUMS

varsityvocals