2023 ICCA Midwest Quarterfinal @ Harrison High School

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 MIDWEST QUARTERFINAL

Harrison High School
Saturday, February 18th, 2023

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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

Avocalypse is the University of Cincinnati’s first all-female and nonbinary competitive a cappella group. The group was founded in 2017 with a goal to empower people with powerful voices. The group creates opportunities for their members to come together to sing and make music. They have performed in a variety of regional showcases, events, and art expositions on campus and in the greater Cincinnati area. The group specializes in pop and rock, with a hint of jazz and R&B flair to their selections. Avocalypse has competed in ICCA since 2018. Last season, they progressed to ICCA Semifinals for the first time in group history, also winning Outstanding Arrangement at Quarterfinals and going on to compete at Semifinals in St. Louis.

Dynamics Acappella from Ohio University is the newest competition group on campus! This is their first year as a group and many of the members’ first time competing. As a group, their goal is to grow through competition and they are excited to see where the next years take them!

Just Duet is the only co-ed a cappella group on Miami University's campus. They are a close-knit group of 16 talented singers from all years in undergrad and specialize in most genres of music, mostly pop. They competed in last year's ICCA Midwest Quarterfinal and placed 2nd overall. They perform at multiple concerts a year at school and at other universities for invitational concerts. They enjoy taking gigs around the town of Oxford and bringing joy to their auduences. Outside of rehearsal, they love to socialize together during movie nights, trips to the local farm, formal social events, and game nights. They share a passion for music and love teaching themselves new techniques to improve their singing, and especially putting on a good show!

The Miami University TrebleMakers is an a cappella group currently composed of 16 talented treble voices at Miami. Founded in 2010, The TrebleMakers quickly became one of the finest groups on campus, performing in concerts throughout the school year, recording albums and singles and collaborating with the other groups of Miami’s talented a cappella community. Their members’ voices and styles are as unique as their personalities. They love coming together to share laughter and their passion for music. They are so excited to be back at the ICCA for the first time since 2020 and to compete alongside the many other talented groups! They hope you enjoy their set today, which centers around the power of femininity and finding strength from within.

New Chords on the Block is Ohio University's premier a cappella group! They pride themselves on their ability to not only create beautiful music together, but also a bond among the group members that lasts a lifetime. Some of their favorite things to do together are singing on Court Street for their fellow bobcats, hanging out outside of rehearsal, and cheering on all of the other aca-nerds on campus! New Chords on the Block has competed in the ICCA many times in the past and are incredibly proud to hold the 1st place title at Midwest Quarterfinals from last season! Their signature style of combining all different genres of music with modern choreography and movement has a strong record of success. They have won many special ICCA awards for Outstanding Choreography, Vocal Percussion, and Soloists. They thrive in competition and find that the process of doing the work brings their group together. They are proud to be back in the thick of it, competing again for their chance to perform at Finals in New York City! They are so excited to share their set and hope you enjoy the show!

The Flying Solos is the University of Dayton's only no-fella a cappella group. They were founded in 2017 by Eileen Mulroe and Megan Sneider. This year marks their sixth year on campus and their third year competing. Though they come from different majors, from music to pre-med to psychology, and a variety of musical backgrounds, they share a passion for performing. They pride themselves on their familial atmosphere and collective dedication to continuously improving as individuals and as a group.

The Ohio State of Mind is an entirely student-run co-ed a cappella group at The Ohio State University, consisting of students majoring in a variety of studies, from psychology to music education and everything in between. The Ohio State of Mind was named the 2022 ICCA Midwest Semifinal Champion and proceeded to compete in the 2022 ICCA Finals in New York City. The group also performs at other competitions and events on and around the Ohio State campus and Columbus, singing a wide variety of music genres. The Ohio State of Mind would like to thank family, friends, and all of its supporters for helping the group become what it is today!

The University of Cincinnati Vocaholics is addictively a cappella! Established in 2014, they are UC's premier competitive a cappella group. Specializing in pop with arrangements made from scratch, they welcome performers of all genders, classes, and colleges within the university. The Vocaholics started as a group of friends who simply wanted to sing together and work to create an environment where they nurture the personalities and connections among the group members as much as the blend of their sound! Their performances are very detail-oriented and seek to lead their audiences through a subtle story of emotions. Their group colors are burgundy, silver, and black. The Vocaholics have performed at several ICCA Quarterfinals and Semifinals, SingStrong in New York, various invitationals, local events, marriage proposals, and countless campus events. Additionally, they hold their very own fall invitational called Acafest, where groups from the Midwest showcase their skills at UC in a non-competitive show enjoyed by hundreds of locals and visitors! They have a deep love for the a cappella community and are so excited to be back on the ICCA stage alongside other amazingly talented groups!

Underscore is one of four a cappella groups at the University of Dayton and one of two co-ed groups! They love having fun and making memories together, and of course, music! They are all half-sane and sleep-deprived college students who want to share their talents with as many people as possible. They would like to thank everyone who has supported them throughout the year and hope you enjoy their music as much as they do!

GUEST PERFORMERS

Dynamix is a mixed-voice a cappella group that lives right here in Harrison, Ohio! They love making music together and they rehearse every morning at 7a.m. There are 17 members in Dynamix, not including their loyal mascot, the good vibes crab (enter crab).

Take Note is Harrison High School's all-treble a cappella group and they meet every morning at 7a.m. to rehearse. This is Take Note's fifth year as a group and they currently have 15 amazing members. This past year, Take Note was an ICHSA Midwest Semifinalist. They are so excited to perform for you tonight!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Christopher Andres attended The Ohio State University and studied music education and music performance. He also was a member of The Ohio State University Men's Glee Club and University Chorus. Chris has been singing and playing the piano since he was five years old and also plays flute, tenor saxophone, baritone and trombone. Chris has performed on numerous stages around the world as both an instrumentalist and vocalist, which motivated him to arrange and compose music. He currently serves as the music director at 1st United Methodist Church of Greenville and is currently in his fourth year at Greenville Senior High School in Greenville, Ohio as the assistant vocal music director, accompanist, and assistant band director.

John DeFerraro is the Director of Choral Activities at Scott County High School in Georgetown, Ky. Under his direction, multiple choir programs across Kentucky have earned State Distinguished Ratings with Sweepstakes honors and have collaborated with internationally recognized artists, such as the African Children’s Choir, Point of Grace, and Cincinnati's Fillmore Wind Band. In 2018, he was selected by Rollo Dilworth, Henry Leck, and Joseph Flummerfelt as one of the nation's premier choral conductors by Music for All. John has dedicated his life to increasing the quality of vocal arts programs within his home state and across the nation. An active clinician, arranger, adjudicator, and conductor, John is regularly engaged to help create and enhance music performances of all varieties (including a cappella ensembles, opera companies, choirs, orchestras, bands, and drum corps) on regional and national stages throughout the United States. John is a member of ACDA, NAfME, KMEA, the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA), and AEA, and currently serves as a producer for the National A Cappella Convention (NACC).

Holly Gyenes is a classical, musical theatre, and pop vocalist from Dayton, Ohio. She graduated from the University of Dayton and earned a Bachelor of Arts in music studies. Holly has been involved in the contemporary a cappella community since she was a member of Kettering Fairmont High School’s award-winning group, Eleventh Hour. With Eleventh Hour, she appeared on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and won a gold medal at the 2012 World Choir Games. In 2015, Holly was selected for the A Cappella Academy Retreat in Los Angeles, founded by Grammy winners Ben Bram, Avi Kaplan, and Rob Dietz. She was also part of a background choir on Pentatonix’s self-titled album, which reached number one on the Billboard Top 40. From 2014-2018, Holly served as a counselor, social media coordinator, and customer service specialist for Camp A Cappella, founded by Brody McDonald and Deke Sharon. For three years, Holly performed across the U.S. as a member of professional a cappella group Vocalight, with whom she collaborated on two tracks and music videos with YouTube sensation Peter Hollens, opened for Grammy-winning artist Daya, and performed at Carnegie Hall. Her years of competitive a cappella experience include many appearances at Varsity Vocals’ ICCA and the Open. Holly reached Open Finals in both 2017 and 2018, earning 3rd place each year, as well as Outstanding Soloist at her 2017 Semifinal. In 2018, Holly was signed with Disney Music Group as an original cast member of Disney’s critically-acclaimed D Cappella and sang on their debut album. In 2020, Holly was featured in the virtual a cappella choir of Kelly Clarkson’s “I Dare You” music video. Before moving to Cincinnati with her husband, Holly performed throughout the Dayton area, singing with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra.

Edric Mitchell has both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ball State University, where he studied musical theatre and executive development for public services. During his time at Ball State, he got his start in a cappella with the all-male group, Charlie's Angels. He quickly became a founding member of the all-male a cappella group, Note to Self, with whom he spent four years as a member, coordinator, and music director. In addition, Edric was a founding member and music director of Sedoctave, and founder of the Association of Collegiate A Cappella (ACA) at Ball State. ACA is an umbrella organization that unites all collegiate a cappella groups on the BSU Campus. When Edric was a competitor in the ICCA, he received two Outstanding Arrangement awards and an Outstanding Soloist award. Since 2017, Edric has been a founding member of Impromptu, an Indianapolis-based professional a cappella group that competed in The Open, placing 2nd in the Midwest Semifinal, 2nd in the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes, and won the title of VoiceJam Champions in 2018. Impromptu has traveled around the world performing at a cappella festivals in Taiwan, Russia, Boston, Memphis, and of course the Midwest! As a member of impromptu, Edric has received awards for Best Solo and Best Arrangement. He is currently the theatre director at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, Ind., where he directs the a cappella group Titan Harmony.

Jeremy Witt is an educator, conductor, and performer from Hilliard, Ohio. He holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal music education from Cedarville University and a master's degree in music education from Kent State University. At Cedarville, Jeremy founded the school's first contemporary a cappella group, The Inversions, and served as music director/president four years. Now a teacher, he serves as Director of Choirs at Hilliard Bradley High School, conducting the symphonic choir and tenor/bass concert choir. In addition to his responsibilities at Bradley, Jeremy directs the 7th and 8th grade tenor/bass choir at Memorial Middle School. He remains an active participant in the contemporary a cappella movement, as a producer for the a cappella radio station, Acaville, and a judge for ICCA, ICHSA, and the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs). Jeremy has also worked to develop the Hilliard Bradley High School a cappella program, Jaguar A Cappella, with Kelsey Burkett and Alyssa Schott. In recent years, the program has grown from one to four contemporary a cappella groups, including one middle school group, Blue Notes, and three high school groups, WAVE, ECHO, and the award-winning Shades of Blue.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank emcee Joey Bogdajewicz, William Henry Harrison High School staff, volunteers, and especially Anna Adams; 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 Midwest 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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