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 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
Upper Structure was founded in 2015 at Berklee College of Music. In 2018, they released their first studio album, Bridges. Shortly after the release, their rendition of “She Used to Be Mine” was recognized on the BOCA 2018 album and their entire album was nominated for a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA). In addition to these awards, they finished 2nd place overall at the 2018 ICCA Finals. In 2019, they released their sophomore album, Second Wind, recorded their A Cappella Video Award (AVA)-winning music video, featuring their cover of “Water Guns,” originally by Todrick Hall ft. Jordin Sparks, and traveled to Hong Kong and Beijing, China. Upper Structure placed 1st in the 2020 Los Angeles A Cappella Festival (LAAF) and 2nd overall for the virtual 2021 ICCA season, also taking Outstanding Mix at Finals. Their newest EP, Full Disclosure, released last summer and features their award-winning LAAF competition set, along with three new songs. Through all of their success, Upper Structure has remained focused on the goal they began with: creating unity through music. They bring an emotional, empowering, and innovative view to all of their music and are proud to share that spirit with the world.
On The Vox is a co-ed a cappella group at Berklee College of Music. Composed of members from all over the world and best known for their "wall of sound,” On The Vox has competed in competitions such as ICCA and Haunted Harmonies, where they won awards such as Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Arrangement, and two Outstanding Soloist awards. On The Vox predominantly focuses on maintaining a fun, welcoming environment with an underlying feeling of family, while also nurturing talent and hard work. Make sure you follow their social media @onthevoxacappella on all platforms to stay tuned for many exciting things to come!
The Harvard LowKeys, founded in 1999, is Harvard's award-winning, premier contemporary gender-neutral a cappella group.
Distilled Harmony is one of Northeastern University’s all-gender a cappella groups. Their passion for music has led them to place at Quarterfinal and Semifinal ICCA competitions in recent years, as well as numerous a cappella recording nominations and awards for their two albums and recent EP. This past semester, they released their EP, Embers, and one of the songs was even featured on the Voices Only 2021 compilation album! You can listen to Embers on all major streaming platforms. Outside of rehearsal, the members of DH spend way too much time hanging out at each other’s houses and get out of the city on retreats together at least twice a year. To learn more about Distilled Harmony and stay up to date with their adventures, follow them on Instagram @DistilledHarmonyNU.
The Legends A Cappella from Hamden, Conn., is Quinnipiac University’s first and only a cappella group. The group was established in 2012 by a few college students who wanted to create an opportunity for passionate singers, regardless of their major. The group is made up of non-music majors, and study fields such as nursing, public relations, occupational therapy, accounting, computer information systems, film, television, media arts, and more. As a group, they love spending time together both in and out of rehearsal. The Legends have grown tremendously over the years by participating in various off-campus events, singing the national anthem at sporting games, and hosting concerts! They are especially proud of the close bond they share as a group, which comes across in every performance. This year, they aim to professionalize their group and push more music across their campus and community. They are so excited to see what the future holds!
L’Shir A Cappella was the first a cappella group created at The University of Hartford. They first came to be in spring 2000, with Benjamin Rauch as music director. Originally an all-Jewish a cappella group, L’Shir has evolved to include many denominations, but kept their name, which in Hebrew means “to song,” referring to raising a glass and cheering for making music!
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.
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.
The Hofbeats is a co-ed a cappella group at Hofstra, as well as a family that loves singing and making music! They perform at many on-campus events, travel around the tri-state area to perform with other a cappella groups, and compete in ICCA every spring. In 2018, they won their ICCA Quarterfinal and went on to Semifinals.Last season, The Hofbeats placed 2nd in their ICCA Quarterfinal and 3rd at Semifinals, ultimately advancing to the ICCA Wildcard Round, which is the highest placement for any Hofstra a cappella group so far! They were also awarded Hofstra’s Performance Organization of The Year in both 2018 and 2021. The Hofbeats love to record and share their music on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms. They released their first-ever EP, Listen, in fall 2019, which was quickly followed by their summer 2020 single, "Bye Bye Bye" by NSYNC. This year, they have earned two CARA nominations for their EP, Believe, and featured single, “Hollywood’s Bleeding.” Their most EP, Focal Point, is also now available on all streaming platforms! Check them out on YouTube to watch their 2022 ICCA Semifinal Wildcard Round set and follow them on social media for updates @TheHofbeats!
The Opportunes is Harvard's oldest (and boldest) all-gender a cappella group. Their style ranges from the pop anthems of Ariana Grande and Hozier to the timeless classics of Stevie Wonder and The Temptations. The Opps are known for their energetic performances, intricate student arrangements, and stellar recorded music. Though all of them are seasoned musicians, The Opportunes study everything from biomedical engineering to social studies. They hail from all over the world and are involved in Harvard athletics, clubs, theater, publications, and service programs. They just released their 14th studio album as they celebrate their 40th anniversary. To listen and to see more from The Opps, find them on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, or at their website.
TONIGHT'S JUDGES
Jon Dendy is a singer, vocal arranger, and group clinician who currently resides in Boston, Mass. Jon received his bachelor's degree in professional music from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. While there, Jon was also a member of Berklee's two-time ICCA Championship-winning group, Pitch Slapped. That same group was featured on season 2 of NBC’s “The Sing-Off.” Over the last 10 years, Jon has had the privilege of touring with 10-time Grammy winner and a cappella virtuoso Bobby McFerrin and has also opened for artists such as Committed, Bilal Oliver, Livingston Taylor, Patti Austin, Tierney Sutton, Tony Bennett, and the late, great James Moody. Jon knows firsthand the hard work, dedication, and preparation each of these collegiate groups has put in leading up to today and wishes all the competitors the best of luck! Follow him @donjendy for all upcoming performance and artist-related news.
Reena Freedman is the sole female voice of Similar Jones, an award-winning professional vocal band based in Boston. With roots in both classical music and modern a cappella, she has performed with, directed, and coached a cappella groups up and down the East Coast for over two decades. Reena served as the founding director of the Gann Academy ShenaniGanns, which received national recognition through both its live and recorded work. A veteran judge for the ICCA and the CARAs, Reena is happy to be a part of today’s panel.
A member of the Greater Boston a cappella community for more than half his life, Adam Levine is a passionate advocate of vocal music. During his time in VoiceMale at Brandeis University, he gained recognition as a soloist, arranger, and songwriter. His original composition, "Phoenix," received CARAs for Best Male Collegiate Solo and Best Scholastic Original Song, as well as placement on various compilation albums, including BOCA, Sing, and Voices Only. Post-graduation, Adam had the opportunity to spend five years as the director of The Suffolk University Ramifications, where he mentored in arranging, performance technique, group leadership, and more. He now sings as part of the Boston-based professional a cappella group, Uproar, and is honored to be participating in local Varsity Vocals events this year.
Amy Malkoff is one of the producers of the Haunted Harmonies festival in Salem, Mass. She has served as the marketing director for the A Cappella Education Association, as well as the media director of the Women's A Cappella Association (WACA), and on the board and as web content director for the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA). She is a longtime ICHSA/ICCA judge, as well as a certified judge for other vocal events. She is a workshop teacher, master clinician, writer, designer, runner of social media campaigns (www.amymalkoff.com), and a singer/songwriter and studio musician (www.amymalkoffmusic.com). She was a founding member of award-winning groups All About Buford and Deadline Poet and has appeared onstage and in the studio with acts like Wayne Brady, Jonathan Brooke, The Persuasions, Ellis Paul, Vance Gilbert, GrooveLily, Patty Griffin, and Dar Williams. She has a degree in music from Kenyon College, with music studies at Youngstown State University and master’s-level coursework at the New England Conservatory of Music. Amy's music has appeared on both the Rounder Records and Hear Music/Starbucks labels. @amalkoff
Angela Ugolini began her a cappella career at Florida State University, where she directed the award-winning all-female group, The AcaBelles, and led the ladies to represent the South in 2009 ICCA Finals. After graduating, Angela relocated to New York and studied audio production at SAE Institute of Technology. There, she also sang with Contemporary A Cappella League (CAL) group, The Red States (now known as Restated), and co-founded an all-female CAL group, Empire. Angela currently lives in Rochester, N.Y., sings with the powerhouse female vocal band, Musae, and is a producer with the awesome a cappella production team, The Vocal Company. Her work has been nominated for over 100 CARAs, and earned compilation placements on SING, BOCA, BOHSA, Voices Only, and Voices Only Forte.
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
Berklee College of Music
Sunday, March 27, 2022