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

University of Tennessee
Saturday, February 11th, 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

Ascension is a mixed ensemble in their fourth year from East Tennessee State University. Founded in 2019, Ascension loves to perform music from across all different decades for everyone to enjoy. 

Harmonic Notion is a co-ed a cappella group formed in January 2013 and the most fun and flirty group on Vanderbilt's campus (according to its members)! In the past, they have placed at ICCA South Quarterfinals, advanced to Semifinals, and won special awards such as Outstanding Arrangement. In 2021, their most recent ICCA season, they placed 2nd at Quarterfinals and won Outstanding Choreography at Semifinals. They were also recognized on the 2020 and 2021 BOCA compilations and have released two EPs, Magic Technique and Unplugged, which are available on all streaming platforms. Each year, they choose a repertoire of well-known pop and more niche indie and alternative selections to appeal to various musical interests. Harmonic Notion performs at concerts and campus events each semester, striving to perform high-level a cappella music for Vanderbilt and throughout the greater musical community! 

The Intonations is an all-female a cappella group from Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. They perform music ranging from R&B and soul to alternative pop. Founded in 2019, The Intonations aim to provide a community for young women of all majors to continue their music careers in college.This will be The Intonations’ second year competing at the ICCA and they are very excited to show you what they’ve got! 

The Pitchmen is Belmont University's male-identifying a cappella group from Nashville, Tenn. From ICCA Finals in 2020 to their debut album, Ultraviolet, The Pitchmen have quickly become a group to watch. In less than a decade, the student-run group has set themselves apart with their dedication to their craft and to one another. Encompassing the modern Nashville sound, they pride themselves on singing a broad range of music that offers something different for every audience to enjoy. Beyond their musicianship, The Pitchmen are adored for their authenticity. The group members represent diverse backgrounds and bring an array of unique talents and perspectives. The Pitchmen recognize the importance of each member of their team and are empowered by their differences. In November, they traveled all the way to Ohio to perform at the University of Cincinnati's Acafest for the third time. Whether they're performing at a house show, festival, or sold-out theater, The Pitchmen love to take every opportunity to interact with and expand their community. The group is excited to be returning to ICCA this year and they cannot wait for you to experience The Pitchmen charm. 

Prismatics is an award-winning a cappella group from Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. Founded in 2015, the group is composed of skilled musicians majoring in everything from finance to vocal performance, all with a wide range of a cappella experience. Prismatics has made it to ICCA Finals in both 2021 and 2022, winning awards such as Outstanding Video, Outstanding Soloist, and Outstanding Choreography throughout the competition process. Besides the ICCA, the group has traveled to a variety of a cappella festivals throughout the country, such as SoJam and Briarcrest, and were featured on BOCA 2021. Their debut album will be released in early 2023, featuring their award-winning 2022 ICCA set. The Prismatics’ main goals are conveying important, relatable messages while displaying high-level musicianship, all in an effort to create honest and vulnerable connections with their audience.

The Belmont Belles is one of Belmont University’s five a cappella groups in Nashville, Tenn. Established in 2019, they perform locally throughout the year and finally decided to compete in the ICCA. Belmont has an amazing a cappella community and The Belles think of themselves as the underdogs with extreme undiscovered talent. Although this is their first ICCA, they have the skill and the passion to get far! They sing a lot of modern pop and R&B, but mainly seek out songs that they connect to as a group. This group is all about their shared passion for music. Belmont is a strong music school with many opportunities and this group helps them up their skill level, all while creating a tight-knit family of girls and unforgettable memories. With their talent, love for one another, and their ability to make anytime a jam session, The Belles are thrilled to join the ICCA family! 

Tar Heel Voices, established in 1988, is UNC Chapel Hill’s oldest co-ed a cappella group. Since its founding, the group has played a pivotal role in Carolina’s music scene. From performing at “Late Night with Roy” as the 2017 National Championship banner was presented to competing annually in ICCA since 2018 and earning various awards along the way, they strive to spread their passion for music everywhere they go! 

Treble Attraction is the first all-femme a cappella group at App State, established in 2005. They compete on campus and perform locally in Boone. A fun fact about us is they wear matching socks every performance for good luck. 

UT Singers from Knoxville, Tenn. is an ensemble of vocalists from a wide variety of majors who perform a similarly wide variety of popular music. They have been recognized by the State General Assembly as “Tennessee’s Musical Ambassadors.” The UT Singers have performed in many ICCA seasons and are thrilled to be back again singing before a live, human audience! 

VoiceMale is Appalachian State University's only male-identifying a cappella group. Founded in the fall of 2011, VoiceMale performs many musical genres at all sorts of events. VoiceMale sings and dances in a way that cannot be replicated anywhere else. ponsored by the Appalachian State University Alumni Association. 

VOLT is University of Tennessee Knoxville's premier all-inclusive a cappella group. Currently in its year, the group aims to honor their roots while evolving their skills with each new iteration of singers. VOLT is also a family and provides an escape from the daily stress of college life. Once someone is part of VOLT, they never truly leave the group. All VOLT members support one another, however possible, to maintain their connection and never let the music die out. VOLT performs all types of songs, from choral to pop to country to hip-hop. They focus on finding songs to fit their attitude and reflect their diverse membership. They are still rebuilding after Covid, but are finally close to the number of people they’ve had in years past. VOLT always seeks to make a mark and enjoy themselves on the way!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Paige Betts is the orchestra director at Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville, Ga. She is an experienced music educator, having taught string orchestra, chorus, and musical theatre, and has been a runner-up for Teacher of the Year. She has given clinics with various orchestras, chorus, and a cappella ensembles across the Southeast, and has taught private voice and viola lessons. Paige is a 2009 graduate of the University of Georgia with a B.M. in music education. Paige lives in Buford, Ga. with her husband Andrew and their rescue dog, Jake. 

Drew Griffin is an ethnomusicologist and scholar of vocal music. In his previous research, he examined the connection between the practice of contemporary collegiate a cappella, portrayals of a cappella in film and television, and the competitive spaces (like this one) that rest between the two. In the course of that project, he worked closely with Florida State University's All-Night Yahtzee for several years, notably during their appearances at the 2016 and 2018 ICCA Finals. He has also served as an ICCA Quarterfinal judge and a competition coach for several collegiate ensembles. His current work explores the ways in which vocal music can illuminate and convey emotion with an emphasis on the emotions that surround trauma and traumatic memory, especially in the Broadway musical “Waitress.” Beyond scholarship, he is a voice teacher, an academic editor, and a hopelessly devoted fan of major second harmonies. 

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. 

John Robinson got his a cappella start in 2005 as a founding member of The UCF Crescendudes. In grad school, he served as music director for Georgia Tech's Infinite Harmony, and recorded and produced its first album. Since that first foray into audio production, he has helped record, edit, and mix albums for several collegiate and post-collegiate groups in the Southeast (he hates live sound engineering, but does that too). He sang bass for Catatonic (2014 Harmony Sweeps Finalist) and has taught masterclasses and courses at SoJam on the science of vocal sound and microphones.  

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 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!

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