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 WEST SEMIFINAL

Elsinore Theatre
Saturday, March 25th, 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

Divisi was founded in 2001, and is one of the University of Oregon's premier a cappella groups. Constantly striving to achieve the highest quality music and performance, Divisi has become one of the most well-known and admired collegiate groups in the nation working with contemporary pop. The movie “Pitch Perfect” was based off of this group! 

Naked Voices is the premier, all-gender a cappella group from UC Santa Barbara’s campus. Although there are four other groups on campus, Naked Voices is the only one with a history of competing at events such as the ICCA and Los Angeles A Cappella Festival (LAAF). Covid-19 forced the group to break their streak of competing but they are  excited to change that this year! They emphasize the fun in their music while working hard to perfect their sound. Their repertoire ranges from upbeat pop music by artists such as Britney Spears and Ariana Grande to smooth R&B from artists like Lauryn Hill and Frank Ocean. They frequently perform on campus, whether in music classes or to open for another group or show, so they get lots of experience up onstage together. This year, half of the group members are new to the a cappella world but they have already seen great strides in our group sound and are eager to keep learning. They aim to build a fun family of talented, collaborative musicians who represent UCSB in performances, all while providing a musical outlet and forming lifelong friendships. 

Furmata A Cappella is University of Washington's premier co-ed a cappella ensemble. They love to busk at the local farmers market and around campus and sing at various other events by request. These high-energy, enthusiastic performers are always quick to jump at more opportunities to perform! 

Eh? Cappella is part of the University of British Columbia's a cappella club and is one of two competitive groups that represent UBC in the ICCA. They are a very diverse team, with members hailing from places such as Cameroon, Switzerland, Japan, Korea, and the United States of America. This diverse array of members is also reflected in their sound, which could be described as powerful, uplifting, and intentional. They have competed in ICCA for many years and hope to bring their competitiveness to the stage! 

Founded in 1996, The SoCal VoCals is USC’s premier a cappella group, composed of students whose majors range from music performance to environmental studies. Previous generations of VoCals have made their mark at venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Lincoln Center, the Staples Center, Carnegie Hall, and most recently the Rose Bowl, where audiences have included Chris Martin, Taylor Swift, Chaka Khan, Jason Derulo, Sara Bareilles, and more! VoCal alumni have been featured on NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” made it to Broadway, and gone on to win multiple Grammy awards. In recent years, the group has sung for President Obama and First Lady, toured in Hong Kong and London, played roles on television shows “The Affair” and “Brooklyn 99,” released their 10th studio album, V, and claimed their fifth ICCA championship title. Above all, The VoCals are about making music and having a good time! 

Bruin Harmony is the only all-male a cappella group at UCLA. They sing all types of music, from the classics, to pop, rap, and jazz (and yes, even you, yule-tide Christmas jingles). More importantly, Bruin Harmony takes pride in being a talented, fun-loving group of musicians who genuinely enjoy performing and who work hard to make a cappella an entertaining, sought-after artform at UCLA. 

Stanford Mixed Company, Stanford University's oldest all-gender a cappella group, has been singing pop, rock, and everything in between for over 30 years. Every year, they put on two major concerts, an anti-Valentine’s Day show called Love Sucks in February and their spring show in May. They also perform throughout the year at other gigs on campus and around the Bay Area. Mixed Company has been featured on several college a cappella compilation albums, including BOCA and Voices Only 2012. In 2019, Mixed Company completed their 16th studio album, All Things Go, which is available on every major digital music listening service! After a hiatus from competition, Mixed Company competed in the 2022 ICCA, placing 1st in their West Quarterfinal. Mixed Company always brings their perfect blend of fun and professionalism to every occasion. 

Founded in 1962, The California Golden Overtones is UC Berkeley’s premier female-identifying a cappella group. Frequently performing at university functions, Cal spirit events, charity gatherings, and other private functions across the Bay Area, The Overtones pride themselves on having a diverse repertoire with an emphasis on female songwriting, ranging from pop to rock to R&B. Named one of “The 10 Female Groups Running the A Cappella World'' by College Magazine, The Overtones host the annual West Coast A Cappella showcase every fall and sing every Friday at 1p.m. under Berkeley's Sather Gate. Their most recent EP, Out of Line, is available on all streaming platforms. You can follow The Overtones on Instagram @californiagoldenovertones. 

Founded in 1994, Uniting Voices has grown from a cultural club choir to the premier all-gender a cappella group at UCI. Inspired by the power of storytelling and diversity, their talent and hard work have taken them far beyond their humble roots. In just the last five years, the group has been a three-time Best A Cappella Group winner in UCI's annual talent show, Soulstice, a two-time competitor in the LAAF, and the first group to advance to the ICCA Semifinals in UCI aca-history. The group's virtual performances have earned them Best Overall Performance and People's Choice at Soulstice, as well as a spot in the ICCA Semifinals. As they reach new heights, Uniting Voices continues to captivate audiences with their diverse strengths and shared passion for creating art through a cappella. 

The ChapTones is a fun-loving and award-winning co-ed a cappella group from Chapman University in Orange, Calif. One of five student-run a cappella groups at Chapman, they perform frequently on campus, around Orange County, and across the West Coast! They recently released an EP and an album that are available on streaming platforms and YouTube. The ChapTones pride themselves on including members of many different backgrounds and interests, all of whom share a love for singing and a desire to be part of a performing family. The ChapTones have competed in multiple ICCA Quarterfinals and Semifinals and have even performed original material on the ICCA stage. They are very excited to be back on the ICCA stage again this year. 

GUEST PERFORMER

Verdant is a six-member semi-professional a cappella group located in Eugene, Ore., which was first established in 2016 under the direction of Cameron Graham-Mask. Verdant brings together the unique musical stylings of each member to shape dynamic, compelling arrangements of songs from a variety of genres, including top-40, indie rock, film soundtracks, and more. 

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Eion Blanchard hails from piano and vocal jazz, but broke into a cappella during his undergraduate years at the University of Florida, where he spent two years arranging for and directing No Southern Accent. Eion then co-founded Gestalt and served as music director for its first two seasons (#dvdp). Under Eion's tenure, Gestalt was named an ICCA Quarterfinal Champion and runner-up for ICCA South Semifinals, SoJam XV, Boston Sings (BOSS) 2018, and the 2018 National A Cappella Convention (NACC). Gestalt broke records at the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) garnering 11 nominations with its debut album, Beyond The Archetype, and winning multiple. Since graduating from Gestalt, Eion has stayed involved in the a cappella scene by leading masterclasses and now judging for Varsity Vocals, all while pursuing his Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Jordyn Day is a performer and voice teacher in the Seattle area specializing in pop, musical theatre, and contemporary performance styling and riffing. Her students have performed all over the United States at regional and local theatres, participated in competitive summer intensives based in Chicago and New York, and received admittance to many of the top musical theatre and performing arts college programs. Jordyn is the sole female member of the award-winning, pop a cappella group, Restless Vocal Band, based out of Seattle. RVB performs up and down the West Coast for corporate events, fundraisers, competitions, weddings, and schools. She also performs with guitarist Kevin McCarthy-Anderson, performing easy-listening pop covers for wineries, restaurants, and private parties. www.jordynday.com 

Justin Miller is a sought-after choral conductor, arranger, clinician, and adjudicator. He was the musical director of the Westminster Chorus from 2008 to 2022 and under his leadership, Westminster grew into an ensemble with a diverse repertoire while keeping its roots in barbershop music. In 2009, Justin led the Westminster Chorus to the title of "Choir of the World" at the International Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales, and to the International Chorus Championship of the Barbershop Harmony Society in 2010, 2015, and 2019. The Westminster Chorus has toured all over the United States and other countries, including Canada, New Zealand, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Justin has led other award-winning barbershop ensembles including The Masters of Harmony and the Big Apple Chorus. He now directs Vocal Summit, a new ensemble based out of Portland, Ore. Justin Miller has been a high school choral music teacher for over 10 years and his choirs consistently receive high scores in festivals and contests. Justin recently completed his Master of Music in conducting from Portland State University. Heis very active with ACDA, NAME, and the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) and has led various honor choirs, masterclasses, and clinics for these organizations. In addition, he has been on the faculty of Harmony University and was a certified music judge for the BHS. Justin has a Choral Publishing Series with National Music Publishers and has had articles published in several publications, most recently “The Choral Conductors Companion,” compiled and edited by Brian J. Winnie. Justin is married to Andrea and they have two children, Tenley and Mason. 

Raymund Ocampo is a conductor with experience leading choirs of different age levels and talents, including symphonic choruses, and high-level ensembles. Raymund serves as Music Program Chair and Director of Choral Studies at Linn-Benton Community College. There, he conducts the highly acclaimed chamber choir and concert choir and teaches courses in music appreciation, theory, world music, and music fundamentals. Previously, Raymund served as the Bonita L. Bass Memorial Assistant Conductor for the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, and has prepared choruses for symphonic conductors Michael Francis, Evan Rogister, Earl Rivers, Joshua Weilerstein, Jeff Tyzik, Stuart Malina, and Danail Rachav. His other leadership roles in the music world range from serving as Director of Music at Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, to leading public school choral programs in Ohio and Indiana. In addition, Raymund founded and served as artistic director of 'ascend,' a professional eight-member vocal ensemble dedicated to performing new works in unique ways. Raymund holds a Master of Music in choral conducting from the University of South Florida, where he studied under the guidance of Dr. James Bass, and a Bachelor of Music in music education from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., where he studied with Dr. René Clausen and Dr. Paul Nesheim. 

Dr. James Reddan is Chair and Associate Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities and Music Education at Western Oregon University, where he directs the concert choir and chamber singers and coaches The West of Us. James is an in demand conductor, adjudicator, and clinician. Ensembles under his direction have achieved worldwide recognition, performing regionally, domestically, and internationally for prestigious venues and events. He made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut with the Western Oregon University Choirs in May 2022 and is preparing for a performance with the Berlin Philharmonic this June. James received the citation for Excellence in Music Education from the American Prize in Choral Music and was recognized as the conductor for the first Honored Artist Choral Ensemble. In addition to a busy touring schedule, James arranges and composes works for a cappella ensembles throughout the region and is an active music scholar, presenting research on music perception, music and gender, assessment in music, and more. Prior to his appointment at Western Oregon University, James taught at Frostburg State University and served as the Chair and Director of Choral Activities in the Performing Arts Department at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Ore. He also served as the choral music educator at Arbor View High School and Cannon Junior High School in Las Vegas, Nev. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in music education from Boston University, a Master of Music in choral conducting and music education from the University of Oregon in Eugene and a Bachelor of Arts in music education from McDaniel College in Westminster, Md. James completed additional studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane, Australia, the Oregon Bach Festival, and interned with the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank our judge panel, Eion Blanchard, James Reddan, Jordyn Day, Justin Miller, and Raymund OCampo; sound engineers, Pete and Trina from Yoakum Light and Sound; emcee, Jake Yoakum; photographer, Jake Young (jakeyoungphotography.com); guest group, Verdant; volunteers, Sean Braxton, Harmonie Nyounai-Herrera, and Jayg Dimayacyac;
all the staff at the Elsinore Theatre, especially Tom, Mark, Greg, Carlee, Rachael, and Elizabeth; 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 placing group at this event will advance to the 2023 ICCA Final.

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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