2023 ICCA Midwest Quarterfinal @ Maltz Performing Arts Center

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

Maltz Performing Arts Center
Saturday, March 4th, 2023

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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

Forged in the sun-scorched mountains of Columbus, Ohio, Buck That! has taken the Midwest by storm as The Ohio State University’s male-identifying a cappella group. Established for the express purpose of developing, promoting, and teaching musicianship through all-male a cappella music, Buck That! synthesizes earth-shattering bass rhythms and their signature choreography with soloists smoother than butter sliding down a hot, fluffy stack of aca-pancakes. They have performed all across the East Coast and Midwest, winning awards and competitions throughout Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. It is their absolute pleasure to share their love of music and a cappella wherever they go!

Case In Point, founded in 2001, is Case Western Reserve University's premier all-voice a cappella group. Every song they perform is arranged by a current or former member of the group. They also focus on making the group a family by holding retreats and a big fall break trip each semester. While the faces of Case In Point change over the years, they continue their legacy of creating exciting new a cappella arrangements from a wide variety of musical genres.

Dhamakapella is Case Western Reserve University’s premier, competitive South Asian fusion a cappella team, deriving influences from Indian classical, contemporary Bollywood, and Western musical genres. The group strives to create a single, cohesive sound through fusion arrangements. They enjoy performing on campus and across the country and releasing music each year on platforms such as Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Music.

Majors & minors is a co-ed a cappella group on campus at The Ohio State University. They enjoy singing and performing together and have historically focused on pop songs with a little bit of indie thrown into the mix. This year, they have been working to perform a more diverse selection of music., integrating country songs and spirit songs for their university! They’ve especially enjoyed singing "Hang On Sloopy,” because singing it together as buckeyes brings a comforting sense of sentimentality after OSU’s marching band performed it. This year’s group has a wide variety of students, ranging from first years to fifth years, with a master’s student as well. Even with this large age range, the group has gotten close and they genuinely enjoy getting together outside of rehearsal to continue building relationships. They are excited to perform at ICCA this year and share the stage with so many other talented groups.

Rhythm and Roos A Cappella is the University of Akron's only co-ed a cappella group composed of 15 members across a variety of majors. Founded in 2005, they have performed on campus, in the greater Akron area, and across the Midwest in their 17 years of existence. Roos has competed at ICCA since 2015 and has two Semifinal appearances in its time. Rhythm and Roos prides itself on creating a strong familial environment and sharing their passion for music with one another and the audience. Each year, Roos has a weekend-long retreat full of music and bonding exercises. This strengthens their group dynamic, encouraging each member to share their passion for music and become part of the Rhythm and Roos family. Their goal is to create great music, even greater friendships, and make an impact.

Scarlet and Grace Notes was founded in 2011 as The Ohio State University’s first all-female a cappella group and is now the only treble-voiced a cappella group at OSU. SAGN loves to perform at events on Ohio State’s campus and in the Columbus community. They have been competing in the ICCA since 2015, winning Outstanding Choreography and most recently placing 3rd in the 2022 Quarterfinals. Music is just one of the many things that brings them together. Outside of rehearsal, you can find them having picnics on the Oval, going to Jeni’s Ice Cream, or laughing at “PowerPoint Night” in Hitchcock Hall. Just like their special group, each member of SAGN is unique in their own way and their bond cannot be ignored. You won’t find a closer group of performers at Ohio State! They want to thank everyone who has supported them on their journey so far. They’re excited to show everyone what’s next!

Scots in Harmony is the College of Wooster's best (and only) competitive a cappella group! The group is composed of all class years and almost entirely non-music majors. Although they were only founded in 2019, they have qualified for and competed in ICCA Quarterfinals for two seasons. They pride themselves on their shared understanding of the power and beauty of diversity and strive to highlight diverse voices in their performers and musical selections. Every year, they build their competition set around a theme. This year, their theme is domestic violence. They hope to convey the message that even in times of intense struggle, there is hope. They hope their set moves you as much as it does them. Find them on Instagram @ScotsInHarmony!

SŌL A Cappella is a contemporary pop a cappella group from Baldwin Wallace University in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded by the TikTok-famous Paige Zilba in 2008, they are a diverse group of musicians from a variety of majors, ranging from neuroscience to acting to music education. SŌL heavily emphasizes inclusion and ensemble in their work and they are proud to have a collaborative team from a variety of racial backgrounds, gender identities, and sexual orientations. From aesthetic fall photoshoots to Waffle Wednesdays to impromptu reenactments of all three “Pitch Perfect” movies, they love being a part of this unique team and cannot wait to showcase their work.

Sound of Science (SOS) is an a cappella group from the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The group has participated at ICCA for many years, took a small break from auditioning due to Covid-19 concerns, but they’re excited to be back and eager to perform. During their hiatus, SOS went through a rebrand. Previously known for wearing different colored suspenders and being a goofy, nerdy bunch, SOS decided to ditch the suspenders and go for a new, edgier look and style. In addition to uniform changes, they went from specializing in the pop alternative music genre to focusing on pop-only styles. While they work extremely hard during rehearsals, the group remains a laid back a cappella group that loves to have fun in and out of the rehearsal room. They are excited to perform their music director’s wonderfully arranged songs and are ready to show off their new Sound of Science style!

Vocal Intensity is a co-ed a cappella group at Kent State University created in 2015. They strive to provide an inclusive environment for everyone with a passion for music. All of their pieces are arranged by members of the group and they enjoy performing music from many different genres and styles.

GUEST PERFORMERS

Cheza Nzuri is an African hip-hop dance group that uses mainly Afrobeat music to promote the latest trendy moves from different cultures on the continent. They also mix these moves with more Western hip-hop moves to show the versatility of the music. They want to bring the diversity that is Africa into the spotlight with their performance.

Klover is CWRU’s K-Pop dance team! Follow them on Instagram @klovercwru for information on upcoming workshops, which are open to anyone, no dance experience required. Tonight, they will be performing "MANIAC" by Stray Kids, followed by "Fearless" by Le Sserafim, and finally, "Boom" by NCT Dream. Klover’s flagship event, Random Play Dance is happening on April 15 at Thwing Ballroom. Song requests are being accepted through a Google form, linked in their Instagram bio. Klover would like to thank Dhamakapella for inviting them to be part of the ICCA Quarterfinals event. Special shoutout to Jennifer for performing in both Dhamakapella and with Klover!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Philip Jarosz has appeared on various stages throughout Western New York, including Studio Arena, Artpark, and Lancaster Opera House. He has also performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus and in Opera Sacra productions. Philip is a founding member of the The Lake Effect all-male a cappella ensemble, Vocalis, and the Harmonia Chamber Singers. Philip teaches in the Kenmore-Tonawanda school district where he has directed productions of "The Laramie Project," "Six Degrees of Separation," "Sweeney Todd," "Les Miserables," and "The Drowsy Chaperone," to name a few. In 2018, Philip was named Buffalo Theatre Person of the Year.

Kaleb Kimerer is a proud alumnus of Michigan State University’s State Of Fifths. During his time in State Of Fifths, the group placed 1st in their 2018, 2019, and 2020 ICCA Great Lakes Quarterfinals, and released recordings including their 2017 EP, Lifeline, and 2019 album, Legacy. They also won a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) in 2018, an A Cappella Video Award (AVA) in 2019, and a spot on the Voices Only 2020 compilation album with their recording of “Hit & Run,” featuring Kaleb as a soloist. Outside of State Of Fifths, Kaleb competed in the 2018 ICCA Open with The MSU Spartones. While Kaleb works as a digital media buyer by day, he remains active in the performing arts through various community theatre productions in the Lansing, Mich. area.

Jake Przybyla began his musical journey at the young age of six when he started taking piano lessons. Singing soon followed and Jake has been involved in countless musical opportunities ever since. He heard college a cappella for the first time in high school and knew he had to be involved. In the fall of his freshman year at Michigan State University, Jake joined The MSU Accafellas and eventually served as president and music director during his junior and senior years. His time with The "Fellas" was a pivotal experience and he notably won Outstanding Arrangement at his 2012 ICCA Quarterfinal, also placing 3rd overall with the rest of the group. After college, Jake received an amazing opportunity to continue his love for singing when he joined several other Accafellas alumni in forming an a cappella quartet. They landed a six-month contract with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines singing aboard the Celebrity Summit. After he returned, he started work at NEOGEN (finally using that chemistry degree). He now works as a research scientist but maintains his passion for music by continuing to arrange for various a cappella groups and participating in as many musical theatre productions as possible in the Lansing area. Jake is thrilled to be one of your judges tonight and can't wait to hear what these groups bring to the stage!

Tiffin University professor BK Riha is an a cappella arranger, producer, vocalist, vocal percussionist, and live looper. Her innovative yet accessible arrangements have been performed by vocal groups in over 30 countries. BK currently teaches commercial voice, music theory, and a cappella at Tiffin University's Creative Arts Institute, where she also assists with recruitment. BK is also the director, producer, arranger, and vocal percussionist for Zero to Sixty, northeast Ohio's summer a cappella group. BK received a Master of Music in choral conducting at Kent State University and a Bachelor of Arts in music theory and voice performance from Ashland University. She has also taken coursework in music education and jazz arranging.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank the Maltz Performing Arts Center Staff, Bhavya Mahesh, Brian Bowers, and Case Western Reserve University; 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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