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 NORTHEAST QUARTERFINAL
New York Society for Ethical Culture
Saturday, March 5, 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 Mixtapes is an award-winning a cappella group from New York University, known for their show-stopping performances and impressive music arrangements. They have won many ICCA titles, including Outstanding Arrangement at the 2018 ICCA Semifinals, and have partnered with organizations like IFundWomen and Atlantic Records. In 2021, they released their debut album, Destinations. From Demi Lovato to Rihanna, Miley Cyrus to YEBBA, Olivia Rodrigo to Beyonce, and so many more, The Mixtapes’ repertoire includes a wide variety of genres and influences. They enjoy blending different genres that reflect the group’s diverse background and finding creative ways to push the boundaries of college a cappella. The Mixtapes is a fiercely loyal family whose passion for music shines through in every note. When you listen to The Mixtapes, there is no question that they love what they do! You can find The Mixtapes on Instagram @themixtapesnyu and stream Destinations on all streaming platforms!
The Vocaholics is NYU's FIERCEST a cappella group! They sing a variety of contemporary songs, ranging from Billie Eilish and The Beatles to Harry Styles and FKA Twigs. The group includes members from all across NYU’s different majors and programs. They aim to cultivate a diverse group of singers and friends who share a love of performing. At the beginning of the 2016-17 school year, they officially switched from being an all-male a cappella group to a gender-inclusive one. They strive to constantly grow and improve and pride themselves on their openness to change and development. They annually compete in the ICCA and have won Quarterfinals two years in a row, 2019 and 2020. They are so excited to come back and perform in person!
Vocollision is a premier a capella group at NYU, focused on exploring diverse genres and languages. Since they were founded in 2008, this all-inclusive, co-ed group has performed nationwide and released an EP, numerous singles, and a few music videos. For the last five years, Voco has competed in various competitions, always striving to create unique sets. Above all, Voco is a family that loves to chill and have fun!
Frequency is Pace’s bold and innovative collegiate a cappella group. In the fall of 2017, Frequency was founded by a few Pace students to offer a creative outlet for students to grow their musical gifts. Frequency’s mission is to provide a space where students from all different cultures and backgrounds can express their love for music. A club as well as an auditioned competition group, Frequency also works to create a diverse repertoire. The group members arrange and perform songs across all genres to accommodate their different audiences.
Hawkappella is Hunter College's premier a cappella group! They are one of the only (if not THE only) CUNY colleges that compete in the ICCA and could not be more excited to represent the city! While much of their repertoire consists of top 40s pop music, they like to throw in the occasional jazz and R&B pieces as well. Since most of them are science majors, this club is their only musical outlet and they are so honored to be able to share their love for a cappella with you!
Makin’ Treble is Hofstra University’s only all-female a cappella group. Makin’ Treble is a group of 16 talented, kind, and supportive people that love to sing, have fun, and experience the feeling of community that comes from making music. They take pride in being their campus’s only all-female a cappella group. The group placed 3rd at their 2021 ICCA Quarterfinal. In 2020, they released “Holding Out For A Hero” as a single available on all streaming platforms and are currently in the process of releasing new music as well. Their repertoire includes a variety of music, ranging from Queen to Bonnie Tyler to Corinne Bailey Rae to Ariana Grande, all arranged by current members or alumni. They perform these pieces at various Hofstra events, including concerts, invitationals, and open houses. The tight-knit a cappella community at Hofstra provides a warm, welcoming atmosphere to both new and returning members. They are incredibly excited to continue the tradition of performing at the ICCA, showcasing their talent and passion for singing!
The F Sharps is Fordham Lincoln Center's best (and only) a cappella group! They specialize in pop and alternative music. This diverse and welcoming group of Fordham undergraduates love to sing, collaborate, and challenge themselves to become better musicians!
Tonal Recall seeks to provide a musical outlet for the students at Pace University. This group allows students to practice singing and performing, no matter their field of study, and encourages these singers and songwriters to perform at venues both on campus and outside the university. In the future, the club hopes to expand their repertoire and incorporate students of all musical interests.
Based in New York, Vocal Synergy is the premier student-run treble a cappella group from Wagner College. Founded in the spring of 2008 by Kate Burns, Vocal Synergy is an energetic group of multitalented individuals with a unique repertoire of pop, indie, and R&B. Their love of music has taken them across the country, touring in California, Louisiana, Tennessee, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and more! Through the years, they have come together and arranged, recorded, and released a collection of albums inspired by talented artists of their time. Most recently, they had the opportunity of opening for the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall for their annual Christmas Spectacular. They are thrilled to be here and can't wait for what's to come!
A Minor is UConn's oldest co-ed a cappella group, founded in 2004 by members of the University of Connecticut's Asian American Cultural Center. Since then, A Minor has become a family of more than 40 alumni and current members who remain passionate about a cappella music and sharing their gift with the community! A Minor's repertoire has included everything from Phoebe Bridgers to Beyoncé, with plenty of tunes in between. They perform on and off campus at charity events, competitions, college invitationals, showcases and more! This club fosters a unique familial community that sets them apart from other on-campus groups. They enjoy group bonding activities and are always there for one another. They believe music brings people together, which is something this world could really use right now.
TONIGHT'S JUDGES
Yang Chen is an award-winning Canadian musical director, arranger, clinician, and singer-actor from Toronto, now based in New York. He graduated summa cum laude with a degree in systems design engineering and a music minor in voice from the University of Waterloo. There, he was highly involved with the a cappella community as a music director, arranger, and choreographer for The Water Boys (2017 ICCA Finalists), ACE, and two groups he founded, The Committee and In Full Colour (BOSS 2021 Champions). He led The Committee to 2nd place at the 2016 ICCA Quarterfinals and led In Full Colour to 2018 ICCA Quarterfinal Champions and Semifinal Runners-Up in their first year of formation, also taking awards for Outstanding Arrangement and Outstanding Choreography. He served as president of the UW A Cappella Club for three years, during which time he co-founded the annual Canadian A Cappella Conference (CanACC) and hosted the first all-Canadian ICCA Quarterfinal. Yang was most recently seen onstage as Princeton in “Avenue Q,” Peter in “Bare: A Pop Opera,” and in “The Comeback Cabaret” at Don't Tell Mama NYC. He can be found performing at open mics and co-writing his first musical, “In a Year.” Follow on Instagram @yanginginthere
Alex Green is a recording engineer, producer, and arranger from New York City. He is a graduate of Tufts University with a dual degree in music and archeology. There, he was a member of The Tufts Amalgamates, with whom he sang, directed, and recorded 2011′s Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA)-winning Hands Off The Mannequin. He is a co-owner and producer at Plaid Productions, a full-service a cappella production company with dual home bases in Brooklyn, N.Y. and Somerville, Mass. Alex shares two RIAA-certified Platinum and Billboard-charting albums with Ed Boyer and Ben Bram for his work with Pentatonix, while other clients of Plaid Productions have had songs featured on SING, BOCA, and Voices Only, garnering over 100 CARA nominations. Since graduating in 2010, he has regularly served as a masterclass leader and instructor at a cappella festivals nationwide, sung with Overboard (Boston), and written for the Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB).
Andrew John Kim is an a cappella producer, recording engineer, and arranger from New York City. He received his Bachelor of Music in music composition from Northwestern University and his Master of Music in film scoring from New York University. At Northwestern, Andrew was a founding member and music director of his collegiate a cappella group, Extreme Measures. He also founded, music-directed, and arranged for the professional a cappella group, Backtrack. With Backtrack, Andrew had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall, the Beacon Theatre, the UN, during the Broadway show, "Kinky Boots," and on "The Steve Harvey Show." Andrew currently manages vocal groups through his management company, AJK Artist Management, and sings with Iris, 2018 winner of The Open.
Toria Rainey is an independent singer and songwriter, and has been singing a cappella for over half of her life! For 15 years, she has been an a cappella singer, arranger, and group member, serving in various positions throughout high school and college. At Boston University, Toria sang with The Treblemakers, making two appearances at ICCA and landing a place on the competitive BOSS a cappella festival stage. Post-college, Toria was a founding member of Boston-based a cappella collective Birdland Avenue, whose album, Come Around, was awarded Best Debut Album in the 2019 Independent Music Awards. She has also served as a nominator for the CARAs. Toria’s personal projects have been featured on the Fresh Finds Pop Spotify Playlist and she continues to actively make solo and collaborative music in New York City.
Mason Van Gieson is an actor, vocalist, and clinician based in New York City. You might know her as the Creative Director of VICE A Cappella or as a member of BLACKOUT. No stranger to ICCA, she is an alumna of the University of Michigan’s Amazin’ Blue, and with them was a (not TOO long ago!) ICCA Finalist, serving as performance director and choreographing cinematic set “Chasing Love”. In addition to performing, Mason serves as a clinician for scholastic vocal groups around the nation, with a particular focus in helping students find the “why” behind their music. For more: @masongvang www.masonvangieson.com
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 Northeast 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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