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 SOUTH QUARTERFINAL

Trinity Preparatory School
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

BisCaydence is an award-winning co-ed a cappella group from the University of Miami. Established in 2011, the group features some of UM's top vocal talent both in and outside of the Frost School of Music. They embody the spirit of harmonic cohesiveness and school pride through a cappella music. BisCaydence sings a variety of repertoire, all arranged by members, including top 40s pop, rock, and R&B. They have had many impressive ICCA showings, notably placing 2nd in the 2019 ICCA Finals. They went on to record their competition set and release their first EP, Blue Horizon, which was nominated for three Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) and earned a featured track on the BOCA 2019 compilation album. Most recently, the group has been adapting to COVID life by working on recorded music and music videos. Last year, they placed 1st in ICCA Quarterfinals, where Gabe Schonman’s arrangement of “Break My Heart” took home the award for Outstanding Arrangement. BisCaydence is thrilled to be back to singing and competing in person this season! 

Gemini Boulevard is an all-gender a cappella group out of the University of Central Florida. Founded in 2009 with the idea of bringing the UCF extracurricular arts to another level, Gemini Boulevard prides itself on creativity, imagination, and a strong sense of individuality. With two albums (B.Y.O.V. in 2015 and Aftermath in 2021) and an EP (Impact in 2018) under their belt, they have grown to love the process of creating recorded music nearly as much as performing live. During the pandemic, they recorded a 10-track album and couldn't be more excited to compete in person for the first time since ICCA 2020! Gemini Boulevard spends rehearsals developing each member's individual sound, as well as nurturing interpersonal connections among group members, resulting in dynamic onstage chemistry and an offstage familial bond. Always eager to expand their horizons, Gemini Boulevard will be singing in a different language on their upcoming album in order to represent the diverse cultures represented in their membership. This group seeks to create a safe rehearsal environment for group members to develop their craft. After a year off and a total rebrand, Gemini Boulevard is proud to perform alongside such gifted colleagues and friends! 

HEARTbeats is a group of individuals so varied, they have just about one thing in common: they love to sing. The only a cappella group at Florida International University, this group was established in January 2014 through The Honors College with the goal of giving back to their community through music. When they’re not busy performing at FIU events or winning awards for their contributions to the community, you can find them raising money for charity or singing anywhere and everywhere they can. Although most of them are not formally studying music, the HEARTbeats are all wholly dedicated to and united by their love of music. They also enjoy warm mugs of tea and long walks on the beach. So if you’re looking for a Miami group with Miami spice, keep an eye out for HEARTbeats; they’ll be the ones singing their hearts out. 

Mixed Mode is an award-winning co-ed a cappella group from the University of Central Florida. Their latest accolades include the title of 2019 SoJam Champions and a 2020 CARA for Best Scholastic Debut Album, Blossom, which is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music. Founded in 2015, Mixed Mode has become so much more than just college students singing together. The pandemic forced them to focus on new goals, creating art and good vibes that inspire both themselves and others. They have deeply missed performing and the sense of community that comes from a cappella. Mixed Mode looks forward to future projects and continuing to make music alongside other amazing collegiate groups. To follow along Mixed Mode's journey, you can find them on all social media platforms, now including TikTok! 

Phoenyx is University of Miami's newest co-ed a cappella group! They perform many genres, including pop, rock, indie, top 40, and more! They love to travel and hang out together and ICCA is one of their favorite ways to do that! This will be their fifth year competing at ICCA. They also perform at gigs around Miami and through the school. They also enjoy goofing off and laughing together (the "Ph" in Phoenyx stands for phamily!!). They hope to compete, learn from other groups, and come together to make some good music! 

Scarlette Fever is the University of Tampa's all-female a cappella group. Founded in 2019, these women have worked hard over the past three years to create a warm environment that fosters friendship and female empowerment. Made up of women from all different majors, hometowns, and walks of life, the members of this group collaborate to create all of the aspects you will see on stage. Although they tend to get off-track in rehearsals, they are all there under one common goal: to share their love of music. 

The Sedoctaves is a competitive all-female a cappella group at the University of Florida. Founded in 2005, they value women’s empowerment and diversity and hope to use their music to inspire change and growth throughout their community. The Sedoctaves exist as a family of hard-working and empowered women. Coming from a variety of majors, they are united by their love for music and seek to inspire others with their originally crafted pieces, captivating performance, and positive attitude. In between traveling to workshops and rehearsing for competitions, The Sedoctaves love giving back and bringing the community together through music. They perform at tailgates during football season, at Turlington Plaza during passing periods, at various community events and fundraisers. They also love connecting with their a cappella community, hosting various a cappella groups from around the U.S. and showing them around their beautiful UF. 

Tone Def A Cappella is a service-based and competitive organization at the University of Florida, dedicated to spreading positivity and service throughout the Gainesville community through their musicality. When they’re not volunteering or spending time with their Dance Marathon Miracle Child, they sing a variety of songs, from classic rock to pop to jazz-inspired renditions of classic rock, pop, and more! 

Tones of Gold is a co-ed competitive a cappella group from the University of South Florida. The group was founded in 2015 as an extracurricular singing club, transformed into a faculty-led a cappella group in 2017, and transitioned to a student-led group in 2019. Since 2019, the group has placed in a previous ICCA Quarterfinal and remains the only group from USF to do so. Furthermore, they now perform completely in-house arrangements of primarily pop and R&B songs. Tones of Gold is so excited to be back in person and performing onstage again this year.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Dianna Campbell has served as Seminole State’s Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music since 2004. In 2020-21, Dianna was awarded the Community Partners Endowed Teaching Chair for Seminole State College. She is a two-time recipient of the Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Award and the Excellence in Teaching Award from NISOD. Dianna is the current chair of the college's curriculum committee. During her tenure, she has been a part of Leadership Academy and served as advisor to the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and sponsor of the String Club and Gospel Choir. Dianna also served as the State of Florida, Southern Division and National Chairperson for Two-Year College Choirs for ACDA. In 2018, she was selected to conduct Vivaldi’s “Gloria” at Carnegie Hall for MCP’s National Two-Year College Festival Choir. Dianna was choir director at Lyman High School, 1989-2004, and directed at Central Christian Church, 1992-2001. She previously served as district chair for FVA and is an FVA certified judge, a regular guest clinician and adjudicator throughout the region, and a certified Master Teacher. Dianna holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Florida (magna cum laude) and a Master of Music in choral conducting from the University of South Florida (highest honors). She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota Women’s Honorary Music Fraternity and Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society.

Omar Nossair is a professional musician and singer. He studied choral music education at FSU, where he sang with both Reverb and The A'Caphiliacs. He competed in ICCA several times, making repeat appearances at ICCA Semifinals with both groups and going to Finals with Reverb. He has been singing professionally since 2015, most of which has been a cappella. Some of his credits include the Harry Potter Frog Choir at Universal Studios Japan, several guest entertainer contracts on Norwegian Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruise Lines, and Princess Cruise Lines, the Harry Potter Frog Choir, Ragtime Gals, and Sing It! a cappella shows at Universal Studios Orlando, and The Dapper Dans at Walt Disney World. Omar is currently performing on a German cruise ship called the M.S. Amera. 

Billy B. Williamson is an adjunct professor of music at Seminole State College of Florida and Rollins College. He has an A.A. from Seminole State College, a B.A. in music and secondary education from Rollins College, and a M.M.E. in choral music education from Florida State University. When he is not teaching, Billy also serves on the staff of the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park. He is frequently called upon as a guest conductor for choral organizations, as a music director for musicals at the high school and college levels, and even as a stage manager for various productions, from classical music to ballet. Billy is a member of the Florida Vocal Association, the Florida Music Education Association, the National Association for Music Education, and is the Conference Manager for the Florida Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Billy lives in Sanford, Fla. with his wife, Hanna.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Christina Carter; 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 South 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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