2023 ICCA Central Quarterfinal @ Binghamton University

DEAR FRIENDS,

Welcome to Varsity Vocals’ 27th 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 610 groups and over 9,100 singers at 85 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 cinematic 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.

We have seen a cappella make great strides from where it began on our stage 27 years ago, and we can’t wait to see how our 2023 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 CENTRAL QUARTERFINAL

Binghamton University
Saturday, January 28th, 2023

WE'RE SOCIAL

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

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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 29th.

The high school tournament is now in its 18th 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 28th.

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 Binghamton Treblemakers is the only co-ed alternative rock group on campus. Singing songs ranging from Paramore to Panic at the Disco, Coldplay, Green Day, and of course their signature song, “Stacy's Mom,” they've been bringing joy and a spunky edge to Binghamton University for 15+ years.

The Harpur Harpeggios, fondly known as “The Pegs,” is Binghamton University’s only SSAA a cappella group, and one of the oldest groups as well. They perform a variety of different genres varying from pop to R&B to classic rock. This year is their 40th anniversary as a group.

IC Voicestream is the premier, gender-inclusive, audition-based a cappella singing group at Ithaca College. They perform at least one concert a semester and engage in community performances. Most recently, they sang with other groups on campus at Ithaca College's presidential inauguration. Voicestream is proud to be part of a strong a cappella community at Ithaca college and enjoys collaborating with other a cappella groups and creative communities on campus. They are an imaginative, loving community that makes democratic group decisions for everything from song selection to soloists. Since Covid-19, they have been working to get back to performing full force. They performed their first live concert in fall 2021 and have continued to perform as safely as possible. The next step on their journey to reaching and surpassing their pre-pandemic strength is competing in ICCA and they are elated to be back performing alongside other talented, passionate groups. With a group that has no seniors, IC Voicestream strives to cultivate its group sound and spirit while remaining grounded in Voicestream traditions. This passionate group loves one another as much as they love making music. To hear more, check them out on YouTube at IC Voicestream and Instagram @ic_voicestream.

Ithacappella was founded in 1996 as the Ithaca College Men’s Choir. In 1999, they converted to an all-male-identifying a cappella group called Ithacappella. Ithacappella prides itself on their performance and entertainment skills, as well as their ability to promote the pursuit of music as a creative outlet to younger generations on their tours.

Binghamton University‘s co-ed a cappella group, Rhythm Method, sings the songs you grew up with. Established in 1993, Rhythm Method will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year! They perform on and off-campus, including at Binghamton’s “Dollar Show,” their semester show, charity events, and at their annual winter tour. They were recently posted on Christina Aguilera’s Instagram for their cover of “Lady Marmalade.” The members of Rhythm Method consider themselves to be more than a group of friends that sing together, but also a family. Be sure to check out their latest EP, The Night Before, which features songs from their last ICCA set and look out for their upcoming album!

The Binghamtonics is Binghamton University's oldest co-ed a cappella group, making love to your ears since 1987.

The Chordials is an award-winning a cappella group from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. They are known for their edgy and passionate style and they have performed in Ithaca, across the Northeast, and even internationally. They compete, tour, record, and make music wherever they can. A shared passion for vocal music is fundamental to the group. Through their regional performances and several album releases, they have shown their commitment to performance and production and remain a well-known exemplar of the collegiate a cappella genre.

Tonal Disruption, an all-gender a cappella group, was founded at the University of Pittsburgh in 2020. As a student-led organization, they perform various self-arranged pieces ranging from R&B and pop.

The Statesmen is Penn State's premier all-male a cappella group (because they are Penn State's only all-male a cappella group). Founded in the long lost year of 2011, The Statesmen has since become a staple in the Penn State music scene and campus culture. They brand themselves as just a bunch of guys who love to hang out and make great music together. From competitions to tailgates to evening entertainment, make sure to always keep an open ear around the State College area because, odds are, they’re out there singing. Prepare yourselves for a classic ICCA set with a Statesmen twist!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Brandon Burgess attended SUNY Potsdam, where he received his bachelor's degree in music education, with clarinet as his primary instrument. As a freshman, Brandon auditioned for and was accepted into The Potsdam Pitches, the premier co-ed a cappella group on Potsdam's campus. During his time in the group, he arranged music and served as music director, assistant music director, alumni secretary, webmaster, and president. Brandon held a part-time instrumental music teaching position before returning to SUNY Potsdam to pursue his master's degree in music performance, with clarinet as his primary medium. During this period, he also returned to The Potsdam Pitches, helping them place at ICCA Semifinals and and progress on to ICCA Finals as Central Region Champions. Brandon is currently teaching in New York State.

Allison Cranmer is a graduate of the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam with degrees in music education and mathematics. While at Potsdam, Allison music directed and arranged for A Sharp Arrangement, the only all-treble group on campus. As the music director, she led the Sharps to their first-ever ICCA Semifinal, toured around New York State, and recorded several different projects. Currently, Allison is the vocal and general music teacher at Palmyra-Macedon Middle School. She shares her love of a cappella with her students by listening, arranging, and performing a cappella music with them daily.

Bryce Davis is a performer and arts administrator based in Rochester, N.Y. His love for a cappella was ignited in high school by a grainy YouTube video of Rockapella performing "Sixteen Tons," and he never looked back. Bryce studied music theory and history at the University of Rochester, where he sang bass in the Midnight Ramblers and served as creative director of their Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA)-winning 2021 release, Things That You Say. He has also performed and directed with ROC Players Musical Theatre and Wellsville High School's WAVE.

Katelyn Marasco is currently a music teacher in the Brockport Central School District. She previously taught general music in the Greece and Hilton Central School Districts, as well as choir at Wheatland-Chili High School. She received a Bachelor of Music in music education from Nazareth College, where she was the director of their a cappella group, Call4Backup. Katelyn holds music certifications from Eastman School of Music and after completing her Master of Science in education, she sang with the local a cappella group, Cut Off. Cut Off released their debut EP on iTunes in 2013, for which Katelyn was nominated for a CARA for Best Soloist. She currently performs locally in a female acoustic trio, The Genesee Three, and is excited to be returning as a judge for ICCA this year.

John R. Starr is the former music director and vocal percussionist of The Songburghs, a co-ed a cappella group from the University of Pittsburgh. He led his group to three back-to-back ICCA Semifinals appearances from 2018 through 2020 and holds an Outstanding Vocal Percussion award for their entire 2019 set. His a cappella arranging work can be found on their first two EPs, Forward and Orbit, and he has frequently arranged and edited arrangements for other collegiate groups. John is a classically trained pianist and has arranged music for jazz bands, choral groups, small orchestras, in addition to a cappella groups.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Bryce Mckracken, Chelsea Perticone, RDX Production, David Rabizadeh, and from the Anderson Center: Kirsten Knox, Marnie Wrighter, Daniel Sonnen, and Annette Burnett; 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
PA/MA Program Coordinator

Lucy Jacobs
The Open Director
ICCA West Producer

Emily Flanders
Director of Adjudication
ICCA Great Lakes Producer

Andrew Poole
Director of Digital Media

Erica Tackett
Director of Marketing
& Social Strategy

Emily Sucher
Director of Publications

Sara Yood
Senior Producer

Holli Kitching
ICCA Mid-Atlantic Producer

Lindsay Howerton-Hastings
ICCA South Producer

Arvin Zabalerio
ICCA Central 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

Jillian Kimberlin
ICHSA Mid-Atlantic Producer

Danielle Sutherland
ICHSA Midwest Producer

Jake McVey
ICHSA Northeast Producer

Cameron Clemens
ICHSA West Producer

Ben Garza
ICHSA Southwest Producer

Luke Thomas
ICHSA South Producer

Adam McNeil
ICHSA Great Lakes Producer

Nicole Kholweiss
ICCA Central Day-Of Producer

Courtney Jenson
Associate Producer
Emcee Extraordinaire

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 placing groups at this event will advance to the 2023 ICCA Central 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

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