2023 ICCA Northeast Quarterfinal @ St. Joseph's University, Long Island

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 NORTHEAST QUARTERFINAL

St. Joseph's University, Long Island
Saturday, March 4th, 2023

WE'RE SOCIAL

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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

A Sharp Arrangement is SUNY Potsdam's only student-run all-treble a cappella group. Their mission is to spread the joy of music-making through performances and workshops at schools and other venues to actively engage students in music. This award-winning a cappella group has placed 3rd in the 2011 and 2014 ICCA Quarterfinals, recieving Outstanding Soloist in 2014. They also placed 2nd in the 2019 and 2020 ICCA Quarterfinals, advancing to Semifinals two years in a row, winning Outstanding Soloist again in 2020. Most recently, they competed in the 2021 and 2022 ICCA seasons, winning Outstanding Vocal Percussion in 2021 and Outstanding Choreography in 2022. Initially formed as an all-female barbershop group in the spring of 1994, A Sharp Arrangement still retains some of the initial traditions of the group with barbershop voicings (soprano 1 is tenor, soprano 2 is lead, alto 1 is baritone, and alto 2 is bass)! They have evolved over the years into the incredibly close-knit and hardworking all-treble a cappella group that they are today! Nowadays, they spend their time competing, touring schools across the state, hosting annual concerts, recording EPs and albums for release on streaming services, and traveling for gigs.

Founded in 1976, The Chorallaries is MIT’s oldest mixed-voice a cappella group. This group of 14 nerdy individuals enjoys making cool vocal harmonies together outside of their tech school shenanigans! At MIT, they proudly sing their alma mater at their convocation and commencement ceremonies and perform the rest of their repertoire at school events throughout the year. Off campus, they also perform in the Boston/Cambridge area, tour the country, compete, and record albums. Most importantly, they’re a tight-knit group with a strong alumni network, making up what they like to call their “choralfam.” They are so excited to be competing at ICCA again this year and hope you all enjoy the show!

Formed in 2001, The Fordham Satin Dolls is Fordham University's only all-female and femme a cappella group. They showcase their original arrangements at their concerts and at year-round performances on and off campus. The Satin Dolls have had the honor of performing an original Christmas medley at Radio City Music Hall and released their debut album, DOLLS, last year on all music streaming platforms. Contrary to what their name suggests, you'll find these ladies wearing all black (no pink in sight) and their music has the edge to match.

Hawkappella is Hunter College's only co-ed a cappella group! At a commuter school like Hunter, it can be difficult to connect with fellow classmates. Hawkappella provdes a space for students of all majors and musical backgrounds who love to sing to forge a community together. This will be their third year competing at the ICCA and they hope to demonstrate how much they have grown, even with limited resources. With a completely new executive board, they are excited to debut a Hawkappella with new repertoire, more complex choreography, a better blended sound, and most importantly, a stronger group bond. Hawkappella’s song selection has expanded to include music that is relevant to the members of the group, from alternative indie music like Phoebe Bridgers to pop in its purest form like Ariana Grande. Additionally, thanks to the help of a generous performing arts grant awarded from Hunter, they now have the resources to seek outside coaching and mentorship to better prepare for competitive performances. This ICCA season, they hope to demonstrate the potential of their group beyond the CUNY community. Get ready to see Hawkappella soar!

The Hot Notes is a jazz-fusion co-ed a cappella group from Fordham University. In their free time, they enjoy karaoke contests, re-enacting "Dance Moms," and bottomless brunches. They love singing and creating together and hope you enjoy their music!

Makin’ Treble is Hofstra University’s only all-female a cappella group. Makin’ Treble is a group of 20 talented, kind, and supportive people who love to sing, have fun, and share in the musical community. They placed 3rd at their virtual ICCA Quarterfinal in 2021 with their song "Warriors/Trouble," which is available on all streaming platforms. In 2020, they released “Holding Out For A Hero” as a single on all streaming platforms. They are currently in the process of releasing new music and can’t wait to share it with you soon. Their repertoire includes a variety of music, ranging from Queen to Bonnie Tyler to Corinne Bailey Rae to Ariana Grande, all arranged by current group members or alumni. They perform these pieces at various Hofstra events, including concerts, invitationals, and open houses, giving them abundant experience performing in front of live audiences. The tight-knit Hofstra a cappella community provdes a warm, welcoming atmosphere to new and returning members. They are incredibly excited to continue the tradition of performing at the ICCA, showcasing their talent and passion for singing!

The Stony Brook Vocalists, founded in 2008, is Stony Brook University’s only all-gender a cappella group. Composed of almost exclusively non-music majors, The Vocalists are proud of their unique ability to spread the joy of a cappella music throughout a STEM-oriented campus. Specializing in pop and classic rock, they have performed at nearly every on-campus event, large and small, along with numerous off-campus invitationals and events. The Vocalists remained extremely active during the worst days of the pandemic, creating virtual performances and continuing to share their sound for the campus community and beyond. They are excited to expand their horizons and show off their repertoire for the first time at the ICCA!

The Bottom Line is Bryant University's only a cappella group on a campus with no formal music program. They proudly aim to bring a cappella music to a campus that is primarily focused on business and athletics. The Covid-19 pandemic forced The Bottom Line to grow stronger and closer than ever. Since the beginning of the pandemic, The Bottom Line released their first music video and their debut album, Legacy, which is now available on all streaming platforms. The group was originally brought together by a shared love of music, but stays together for the unwavering support and friendship that developed along the way.

The Hofbeats is one of the only co-ed a cappella groups at Hofstra and a family that shares a love of singing and music! They perform at campus events such as Admitted Students Day, open houses, showcases, and more. They also travel to different universities in the Tri-State area to perform at invitationals and compete in the ICCA. The Hofbeats won their 2018 ICCA Quarterfinal and was named Hofstra’s Performance Organization of The Year in both 2018 and 2021. Also in 2021, they progressed to Northeast Semifinals, ultimately placing 3rd and setting an ICCA record for Hofstra a cappella groups! Last season, they repeated that success, placing 3rd at the 2022 Semifinals. In addition to performing live, The Hofbeats released their first-ever EP, Listen, in 2019, and a single, NSYNC’s "Bye Bye Bye,” in summer 2020. Their song, “I Found,” was featured on the 2021 BOCA and they received two Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) nominations for their EP, Believe, and featured single, “Hollywood’s Bleeding.” Their newest EP, Paint it Black, is currently out and they have another on the way! Check them out on all streaming platforms for their music and YouTube for music videos! Follow them on social media @TheHofbeats for updates!

GUEST PERFORMER

OneManJamz is a Virginia-bred singer, rapper, beatboxer, and loop artist. Blending the solo style of Bobby McFerrin with the contemporary a cappella sounds of Pentatonix, his band consists of his voice making drum beats and bass grooves. Then he creates harmonic layers on top before introducing his lyrics. Jamz draws his inspiration from multifaceted, genre-crossing artists such as Pharrell, Drake, and Kehlani. Career achievements include opening for the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and being featured on DC's local NPR station and the "Office Ladies" podcast. His songs are genuine and human, discussing topics of love, loneliness, struggle and success. Currently, Jamz is working on a compilation of covers called Miles To Go, taking the listener to a different place than the original song would by either amping up the energy to tell his own story or chilling out for a more introspective, vulnerable vibe.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Yang Chen is a passionate music and theatre creative based in New York City, originally from Toronto. He studied both systems design engineering and music at the University of Waterloo, where he served as a music director, arranger, and choreographer for several a cappella groups, including The Water Boys (2017 ICCA Finalists), ACE, and two groups he founded, The Committee, and In Full Colour (BOSS 2021 Champions). Under Yang's leadership, The Committee became an ICCA Quarterfinal runner-up and Semifinalist in two years. In his senior year, Yang led In Full Colour to 1st place at ICCA Quarterfinals and 2nd place at Semifinals, also earning awards for arrangements and choreography. Yang also co-founded the annual Canadian A Cappella Conference (CanACC) and hosted the first all-Canadian ICCA Quarterfinal during his three-year tenure as president of the UW A Cappella Club. As a performer, Yang played Princeton in “Avenue Q,” Peter in “Bare: A Pop Opera,” and sang in “The Comeback Cabaret” at Don't Tell Mama NYC. In New York, he produced, directed, and music directed the sold-out musical theatre concert series, "In Harmony." Yang is also co-writing his first musical, “In a Year,” and can be found singing with Gaia Music Collective. Yang is dedicated to helping others achieve their full creative potential and is available as a clinician, coach, and arranger, reachable at yang.chen.3355@gmail.com.

Alex Green is a recording engineer, producer, and arranger from New York City. He is a graduate of Tufts University with a dual degree in music and archeology. There, he was a member of The Tufts Amalgamates, with whom he sang, directed, and recorded 2011′s CARA-winning Hands Off The Mannequin. He is a co-owner and producer at Plaid Productions, a full-service a cappella production company with dual home bases in Brooklyn, N.Y. and Somerville, Mass. Alex shares two RIAA-certified Platinum and Billboard-charting albums with Ed Boyer and Ben Bram for his work with Pentatonix, while other clients of Plaid Productions have had songs featured on SING, BOCA, and Voices Only, garnering over 100 CARA nominations. Since graduating in 2010, he has regularly served as a masterclass leader and instructor at a cappella festivals nationwide, sung with Overboard (Boston), and written for the Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB).

An instrumentalist for most of his early life, Chris Hoffman found his calling in vocal music as a member (and eventual president) of Hofstra University's Sigma'cappella. He helped bring the group to ICCA Semifinals twice in its first three years of competition and earned individual awards on the way for Outstanding Arrangement. He later went on to write and arrange for various professional, collegiate, and high school groups along the East Coast. Chris has continued in this work since graduating while performing most recently with groups such as Satellite Lane. In addition to working with local a cappella festivals in New York and New Jersey as an organizer and clinician, Chris currently serves as a senior dean of admission at Hofstra University.

Chris Knight has been a member of the a cappella community since 2010, when he was accepted into SUNY Potsdam’s The Potsdam Pitches. During his time in The Pitches, he served as music director and president and produced their first album. He was singing with The Pitches when they won Quarterfinals for the first time and placed 3rd in Semifinals, landing the group in the Wildcard round for ICCA Finals. In 2014, Chris joined Fusion Vocal Band and sang with them all over New York City and Connecticut. He also competed in the Sing Strong competition and recorded an EP. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in music education, a master’s degree in secondary music education, and a sixth year in educational supervision and administration at the University of Bridgeport. He is currently an Assistant Principal for Stamford Public Schools at Dolan Middle School in Stamford, Conn. Chris has previously worked as a music teacher in Stamford where he taught general music, chorus, and band, and directed an after-school musical program.

Alyssa Sposato is an avid a cappella performer and passionate music educator. She recently graduated from SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, where she studied music education with a minor in music business. Alyssa’s a cappella singing and leadership experience includes serving as president and music director for The Potsdam Pitches, public relations manager for Cape Harmony, and director of marketing for Inside Voices. Alyssa earned an ICCA award for Outstanding Soloist in 2020 and was a runner-up for Best Mixed Voice Collegiate Solo at the 2021 CARAs for her work with The Potsdam Pitches. Alyssa is also Director of Social Media at Cut Off Studios, working on their communications team to promote their various services and events through social media. Alyssa is glad to give back to the a cappella community as an ICCA judge and is excited to hear what this year's groups have to offer.

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
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 Northeast 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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