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 SOUTH QUARTERFINAL

 

The Morton Theatre
Saturday, January 28th, 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

Aural Pleasure is Emory University’s oldest gender-inclusive a cappella group. Founded in 1994, Aural Pleasure is not your mother’s glee club. The group tends to steer away from customary “doo-wop” arrangements and instead prides itself on passionate energy and modern style. Aural Pleasure strives to foster a musically innovative environment and encourages its members to toy with unconventional sounds and push the boundaries of traditional a cappella. A dedication to performance and musical excellence has afforded Aural Pleasure the opportunity to perform at a variety of venues across the southeastern United States. In addition to regular on-campus performances, the group has performed in North Carolina, Nashville, and even the Bahamas. Most recently, the group competed in the 2022 ICCA virtual Quarterfinals, performed in the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and can be found on Hulu’s new hit television series, “Tell Me Lies.” 

Cockappella is the oldest co-ed a cappella group at the University of South Carolina. Although the group is made up of an eclectic group of students, they are bound by a common passion for music. They perform on and off campus at events and showcases and they strive to grow and improve every year. 

University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Codachrome A Cappella is UNCC's only a cappella group! They enjoy spreading love, creativity, and joy through singing a cappella. 

Dooley Noted is Emory University's gender-inclusive and only service-oriented a cappella group. This year, they are raising money for 4Kira4Moms, an organization fighting to improve maternal outcomes, especially for Black women who have disproportionately been affected by this health crisis. If you want to learn more or want to donate, please use the link in otheir ur bio on instagram @dooleynotedsings. Thank you for helping them give women their lives back. 

General Admission was founded in 1995 as Washington and Lee's first co-ed a cappella group and remains W&L’s only co-ed competitive group. They have 15 members from across the country, including California, Massachusetts, and more. The group members come from all different areas of campus and study everything from neuroscience to politics to music. They provide entertainment for the W&L and Rockbridge community at concerts and charity events and always look forward to bringing joy to their community through song. 

Juxtaposition is Virginia Tech’s premier all-male a cappella group. Since its establishment in 1994, Juxtaposition has produced 14 studio albums, including their most recent, Thrill of the Chase. Juxtaposition loves to travel to colleges all along the East Coast, performing their wide repertoire of hits. However, their favorite gigs are always when they perform in Blacksburg for their fellow Hokies! 

Founded in 1988 in Athens, Ga., Noteworthy is still the University of Georgia’s only treble a cappella ensemble. Each member is passionate about achieving vocal excellence and riveting performances, making it easier for the group to remain unified and student-led. They strive to create meaningful friendships and maintain a fun environment while working hard to create contemporary a cappella music. 

Nothin’ But Treble is the premier all-female a cappella group at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Ga.! This close-knit group of girls loves to make music together with nothin’ but their voices! Nothin’ But Treble was founded in 1998 by Dipika Jain as part of the Georgia Tech A Cappella Club. This group of 14 ranges from freshmen through seniors and is composed of majors including engineering, biology, literature, media, and communications. Despite their diverse backgrounds, the group bonds over their shared love of a cappella and pursuit of music amid the hustle and bustle of college life. Nothin’ But Treble’s ever-growing repertoire is entirely arranged by current or former group members and spans miscellaneous genres. They rehearse at least twice a week and have performed at Variety Playhouse in Little 5 Points, for College of Management events, and opened for Nappy Roots, Bubba Sparxxx, and Crime Mob. They also perform annually at Georgia Tech's Ph.D. Commencement and at the annual Presidential Scholars’ weekend. Nothin' but Treble has also competed at SoJam and ICCA, taking home an award for Outstanding Arrangement at the 2015 Southeast ICCA competition for "Chandelier.” 

PawCappella is a co-ed, student-led pop a cappella group new to WCU. They strive to provide a creative outlet for all singers, regardless of their major or level of experience, to support the community’s love of music, and to share music with the WCU Campus and local area. They are so excited to be taking the ensemble on the road to compete in their first ICCA!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Catherine Giel is a sought-after pianist, collaborative artist, and vocal coach. She served as the Music Director of Capitol CIty Opera for 12 years. She holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Arts from the Florida State University College of Music. She studied piano with Leonidas Lipovetsky and Dr. James Nalley and served as accompanist, stage manager, and outreach coordinator to the Florida State Opera, in addition to recitaling with numerous vocalists, instrumentalists. For five years, Catherine served as the accompanist in concert and on tour with the Florida State University Singers under the direction of Dr. Kevin Fenton. She was also a member of the all-female AcaBelles for four years and served as music director and arranger. Previously, Catherine was the education manager for the internationally acclaimed Spivey Hall, where she facilitated extensive arts education programs for children and adults. Catherine maintains an active performance schedule as a frequent pianist for several regional organizations, has appeared as a Staff Accompanist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, and served as a collaborative artist for numerous organizations, bands, competitions, and auditions throughout the country. Catherine is an alumni member of Arts Leaders of Metro and, in addition to her musical life, is also a Vice President with Stream Realty Partners in Atlanta, specializing in industrial and retail commercial real estate. 

Brad Maffett is the assistant conductor of the Athens Symphony. He previously performed with the Athens Symphony Chorus and continues to serve as a rehearsal assistant. Brad presently conducts band and choir at Franklin County Middle School and has previously conducted for “Musica Fraterna” of the Atlanta Children’s Choir, Local Vocals, and B Natural. Brad has been involved in all aspects of music, from serving as a singing waiter to playing tuba in a polka band. When he isn’t making music, he can be found cooking barbecue in competitions throughout the Southeast.

A native of Lancaster, Penn., Kelly Rhyne has worked as a singer, flutist, stage manager, teacher, actor, and director for more than 15 years. She attended Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts in Erie, and graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, where she studied vocal performance. She later moved to Chicago, Ill., where she received her B.F.A. in musical theatre from Columbia College, Chicago. After graduation, she moved to Orlando, Fla., where she worked as a professional performer for Walt Disney World and Sea World Orlando, in addition to teaching at various studios and camps in the area. Favorite roles include Mayzie in "Seussical" and Cassie in "A Chorus Line." 

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank The Morton Theatre Staff; 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 South 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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