2023 ICCA Southwest Quarterfinal @ Vista Peak Preparatory Academy

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 SOUTHWEST QUARTERFINAL

Vista Peak Preparatory Academy
Saturday, March 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

From Provo, Utah, Beyond Measure is an award-winning, independent, collegiate a cappella group driven by a desire to use their music to spread good in the world. The Beyond Measure family is made of volunteers, young professionals, and fulltime college students that come from various backgrounds from all over the United States. Despite their differences, they share a love for music and a love for Jesus Christ. While Beyond Measure does not primarily perform Christian music, the Beyond Measure family strives to create experiences that uplift audiences through impressive musicianship, service, and love

Business Casual A Cappella is the premier and only group at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City! They’ve only been a group for a few years now, but are excited to be competing in the most amazing competition on any college campus. Despite being a singing group, the group actually has no music majors or any major that's even remotely music related. In fact, their most common major is psychology.

Empire A Cappella is an all-inclusive, mixed pop a cappella ensemble based out of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. The group was founded in the fall of 2019 by Brittney Stainbrook and Charlie Correa and has been incredibly active in the competitive a cappella scene. They competed in ICCA in their inaugural year, earning the runner-up spot at the 2020 ICCA Southwest Quarterfinals and qualifying for Semifinals in Phoenix, Ariz. In addition to releasing their first EP, Impulse, in the fall of 2021, Empire A Cappella opened for the world-famous classic rock band, Foreigner, on their tour stop at the newly opened Buddy Holly Hall in Lubbock in August 2021. Empire also earned ICCA’s Outstanding Arrangement award for their entire competitive set in 2022. This diverse group of musicians is dedicated to creating a clean, full sound and building a close-knit family to provide support in all aspects of student life. Empire A Cappella is ecstatic to be returning to compete on the ICCA stage this year and cannot wait to share their love and passion for singing and a cappella!

Anyone who tours University of Denver will forever recall the legend of Exit 205. In February 2008, a group of 13 DU students were making their way back to the university after a weekend trip to the Rocky Mountains. With music in their hearts, these students sang their favorite pop and rock hits as they weaved through the mountain roads. Unfortunately, their enthusiastic performance distracted the driver from the blinking fuel light and they were stranded. Hours passed and the snowfall became a winter storm. In a desperate attempt to obtain cell reception and call for help, they began ascending the mountain on foot. Even at the top of Mount Elbert, they found no service and the storm grew fierce. In their darkest hour, the students heard something in the wind and recognized it as the unmistakable drumbeat of Maroon 5’s “She Will Be Loved.” With the last of their strength, one student began to sing, then another, and this beautiful a cappella cover carried them from the mountaintop to the Exit 205 sign on Interstate 25. Those 13 students went on to found Exit 205 A Cappella and share their music wth the DU community and beyond.

In The Buff is the premier a cappella group at the University of Colorado, Boulder. If you're looking for the ultimate collegiate singing experience and an unsurpassed sense of brotherhood, look no further. In the Buff was established over 28 years ago at the University of Colorado Boulder and caters to students who are interested in singing and performing bass and tenor arrangements. More than just a singing group, ITB is a family. They plan vacations, ski trips, camping trips, game nights, and other fun weekend extravaganzas. ITB has performed at and participated in countless Boulder and Denver community events, weddings, sorority events, CU Boulder events, and much more. They strive to perform and perfect all genres of music, from oldies to hip-hop to folk, jazz, pop, and rock. All of their arrangements are created by current and past members of the group and tailored to fit their voices. Everything they do is performed exclusively with their voices. No drums, guitars, pianos, trumpets, tubas, violins, flutes, harmonicas, bagpipes, etc. They can't wait for you to hear them and hope you enjoy their sound. To clarity!

In the Stairwell from the United States Air Force Academy was the vision of three cadets from the class of 2007 who loved to sing a cappella, were only permitted to rehearse in a dormitory stairwell due to freshman cadet restrictions. Over the past 18 years, the group’s notable performances include opening a session for the Colorado State Senate, singing the national anthem at two professional sports games, and performing at the White House. Thanks in part to the ICCA, In the Stairwell was invited to audition for Season 12 of “America's Got Talent” and advanced to the Semifinal round. In the Stairwell members also participate in a number of military activities like flying gliders and jumping from aircraft, and will be ultimately commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Air Force and United States Space Force upon graduation.

One Note Stand (ONS) is a co-ed a cappella group from the University of Colorado, Boulder and was established in 2016. ONS is composed of the brightest and most talented individuals at CU. The group members study various majors, including engineering, social sciences, health professions, and, of course, music! Specializing in a wide range of music ability, they often perform pop, indie, funk, and ballads, but also like to mix it up!

The Aerodynamics is the United States Air Force Academy’s newest a cappella group, who made history by becoming the institution’s first-ever women’s a cappella group. The Aerodynamics was established in 2022 as a joint collaboration between the Air Force Academy’s men’s a cappella group, In the Stairwell, and an initial cadre of women from the classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025. Today, The Aerodynamics have admitted 10 members through a highly selective audition process and have already performed for the Air Force Academy Superintendent, the Dean of Faculty, and many other visitors, staff, and classmates. The Aerodynamics also participates in a number of military activities like flying gliders, jumping from aircraft, and combat survival training. They will ultimately commission as Second Lieutenants in the United States Air Force and United States Space Force upon graduation.

Bloom A Cappella was created by Jerick Rose and Sicily Poulter in 2021 and is Utah Valley University’s only mixed a cappella group! Bloom’s goal is to create an inclusive and safe environment for their group members and audiences. In their first year as a group on campus, they collaborated with other clubs and held their first big showcase consisting of original and well-known arrangements! In addition to performances throught the year, Bloom enjoys performing original arrangements on TikTok, featuring nostalgic covers such as the theme song of Disney channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place” and songs from Nickelodeon’s hit TV show, “Victorious.” As the group developed along their TikTok following, they determined that this was the year to begin their ICCA journey. Bloom has worked hard to create and refine their set and is so excited to perform for you!

GUEST PERFORMER

Unlimited is an all-treble ensemble from Vista Peak Preparatory from Aurora, Colo. Each member of the group is part of a larger ensemble at the school and meets weekly after school or during lunch to rehearse. The group sings a variety of music, from jazz, pop, R&B, and Broadway. They are strong women and credit their success to the pride they have in themselves and their appreciation for each group member's individual talent and culture. Unlimited has participated and won 1st place at music festivals in Colorado, Hawaii, and California. They are students of the arts and love performing onstage.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Nick Froelich is a singer-songwriter, music producer, composer, audio engineer, and arranger. Trained in both classical and jazz studies, he has 17 years of experience as a pianist and has recorded and mixed two full-length albums of original music. In the a cappella world, Nick has performed as a vocal percussionist, singer, music director, and arranger, competing with the acclaimed Limited Edition at ICHSA three times and advancing all the way to Finals. He spent two summers at A Cappella Academy, studying with Ben Bram, Rob Dietz, Avi Kaplan, and others. While at University of Michigan, Nick sang with The Michigan G-men and served as the group’s music director for three years. A prolific arranger and director, his leadership led them to ICCA Finals his first year in the role and he also received the Outstanding Vocal Percussion award at ICCA Semifinals. Nick completed his time at Michigan with a degree in performing arts technology and currently works in Denver as a piano teacher and audio engineer.

Alex Ochs is excited to be judging his fourth season for Varsity Vocals. He is a 2014 graduate of Elizabethtown College, where he studied social work and music, with concentrations in piano and vocal performance. While in school, he served as music director for the all-male a cappella group, Phalanx, and was also a member of the co-ed group, Vocalign. Under his direction, Phalanx advanced to ICCA Semifinals for the first time in its 20-year history. He is an experienced accompanist for choirs, instrumentalists, and vocalists. He is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Denver.

Nina Sypolt began singing a cappella in 2010 at Elizabethtown College, where she minored in music. There, she sang in choirs including the show choir, Illumina, and served as a singer, vocal percussionist, and arranger for the all-female group, Melica, and the co-ed group, Vocalign. Nina served as Melica's music director and led them to the ICCA,helping the group advance twice to ICCA Semifinals.

Emily Lundquist is a graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in vocal music education. At ISU, Emily was a member of Secondary Dominance, the premier treble a cappella group, for four years and served as music director, a soloist, arranger, and beatboxer. She was also a member of the ISU Concert Choir and Sigma Alpha Iota. Emily went on to teach elementary general music in Illinois before moving to Littleton, Colo. where she resides with her husband.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank John Richard and the Vista PEAK Preparatory Academy Vocal Music 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 Southwest 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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