THE INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF HIGH SCHOOL
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
ICHSA SOUTHWEST SEMIFINAL
Truett Auditorium
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
Proudly representing Independence High School in Frisco, Texas, Highlights is a group of nine talented, fun-loving juniors and seniors who can't get enough of Pentatonix, “Pitch Perfect,” and “The Sing-Off.” Their fun adaptations of your favorite pop songs will have you dancing in your seats!
Infiniti, an a cappella group from Rockwall Heath High school, began competing in 2019.They have placed in many of their ICCA showings, taking 3rd place at Quarterfinals in 2019 and following it up in 2020 with 1st place at Quarterfinals and 3rd place at Semifinals. They have explored many different styles of music and love to try new things. The students in this group range from grades nine through 12 and rank in the top 10% of their classes. They often participate in musicals, regional competitions, and UIL choir competitions, as well as many other non-music activities such as gymnastics, swimming, cross country, and theatre. Most of the students in this group are choir officers and take various leadership roles in the program. Infiniti is mostly student-led and works together as a team to create great performances! Infiniti looks forward to many more years of competitive a cappella!
Madison Avenue from James Madison High School in San Antonio is composed of 11 extraordinary musicians from the Madison Choir Department. This group has been featured on local newscasts and at events throughout San Antonio. Mad Ave has opened for 80s rock band Foreigner, was chosen by Deke Sharon to open for the Vocalosity tour in San Antonio, and was the 2016 winner of the Margaret Tobin FAME award. The group is excited about making music in person again and creating innovative a cappella arrangements together.
Sting was formed in 2018 as an all-treble a cappella ensemble and placed 2nd at Sing! Texas behind The UNT Green Tones that same year. In 2021, they entered ICHSA for the first time and sailed all the way to Finals, ultimately placing 3rd for their production of “Denim Jacket” by Sammy Rae. Their debut album, Coronation, is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and other major streaming platforms.
Vocal Legacy is the contemporary a cappella group from Bryan High School. Members of the group are involved in numerous activities at Bryan High School, including theatre, football, cheer, drill team, NHS, and much more. They really enjoy field trips that involve lunch at Wings N More!
VOLT is the mixed a cappella group at Lebanon Trail High School. VOLT was the first a cappella group in Frisco ISD, their school district of 66,000 students in suburban Dallas-Fort Worth. They are now one of three a cappella groups in the school district, joining the growing community of a cappella groups in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex! VOLT is looking to make a voice for itself and is excited to join the ICHSA a cappella community.
Directed by Leia Browning, Walk the Line was originally formed in 2013 at Rockwall High School. They were 2016 ICHSA Semifinalists and in 2017, they advanced all the way to ICHSA Finals in New York City. They released their first EP, Leading Me Home, on all platforms in May 2019. One of their singles, "Emotions," was featured on the BOHSA 2019 album. The following year, “The Way I Am” was featured on BOHSA 2020, and “Goldmine” was featured on Voices Only 2019. They were also nominated for three Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) for Best Scholastic Debut Album, Best High School Album, and Best Scholastic Arrangement. In 2020, Walk the Line took 2nd place at ICHSA Southwest Semifinals and were again Semifinalists at the 2021 Virtual ICHSA. Their second album, Ready to Break, was released earlier this school year. They are so excited to be back onstage with new friends this year and they want to celebrate the return of live performances with all of the groups here tonight!
TONIGHT'S JUDGES
Dr. Stephen Gusukuma serves on the Baylor University faculty as Lecturer in Choral Music and conductor of both the women’s choir and a cappella group, VirtuOSO. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music from Baylor University. Appointments at the University of Michigan included interim conductor of the University Choir, conductor of the Residential College Singers, assistant conductor of the University Choir, assistant conductor of the Men’s Glee Club, co-conductor of Orpheus Singers, Choral Methods, Vocal Methods, and undergraduate Choral Conducting. Stephen has appeared as conductor and singer with the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, and on tours across the east coast and south-central U.S. with the Baylor A Cappella Choir. He prepared choruses for the GRAMMY-nominated recording of "Milhaud: Oresteia of Aeschylus," and his work is featured on Ye Shall Have a Song! Celebrating America’s Three Oldest Collegiate Choirs. In addition to directing Baylor's premier a cappella group VirtuOSO, he also has experience as a coach and clinician with a cappella groups from the University of Michigan.
Greg Hilliard, Jr. is the front-line music director of The Capital Chordsmen, the chorus of the Tallahassee, Fla. chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Under his artistic leadership, the chorus has achieved as high as 2nd place in a Sunshine District chorus competition. He earned “certified director” status within the BHS in 2015. As a performer, he sings with THX, five-time BHS International Chorus Finalists, and has won awards singing with several men's and mixed barbershop quartets, including Capital Edition (inaugural Sunshine District Mixed Quartet champions) and On A Whim (Sunshine District Novice Quartet champions, 2015). He holds a bachelor’s degree in choral music education from The Florida State University, where he served as the co-creator/co-music director for The FSU Acafellas, the university's first registered all-male a cappella group (the precursor to the precursor to Reverb, 2013 ICCA Finalists). He is currently the Director of Choirs and Theatre at James S. Rickards High School and is a music assistant at Trinity United Methodist Church. Greg also maintains an active schedule as a solo vocalist, guest choral conductor/clinician/adjudicator, and vocal coach for barbershop/vocal jazz/a cappella groups.
Caleb Moore is a singer/songwriter from Dallas. He graduated from University of Texas-Arlington with a B.A. in music industry studies with an emphasis on music media. Caleb has successfully led two groups to ICCA Finals, as well as the Open Finals at Carnegie Hall. In addition to receiving numerous Outstanding Arrangement awards, his groups have recorded on Patti Labelle’s Christmas album, sang on a national Cheerios commercial, and his music has been nominated for a CARA for Best Original Song. He currently arranges for high school and collegiate a cappella programs across the country, serves as a clinician at festivals, and continues to write and perform original music.
David Rives is the Director of Choral Activities at Ryan High School, in Denton, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, and his Master of Music in conducting from Baylor University, in Waco, Texas. At Ryan High School, David is the director of the Ryan Raider Revolution Show Choir, Chorale, Men’s Choir, and Ryan Singers. In Denton ISD, he writes curriculum for the district and has led numerous ensembles to the UIL Sweepstakes Awards.
Jamie Rives is a music teacher in Denton Independent School District in Denton, Texas, where she teaches K-5 music, choir, and hand chimes. She received her Bachelor of Music Education from Tarleton State University, in Stephenville, Texas and her Master of Music Education from Wichita State University, in Wichita, Kan. In Denton ISD, Jamie writes curriculum for the district and was a Teacher of the Year in 2016. She is the Region 2 Elementary Chair and supervises student teachers from The University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University.
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 placing group will advance to 2022 ICHSA 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!
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