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

ICHSA GREAT LAKES SEMIFINAL

Pabst Theater
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 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.

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.

 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

Unaccompanied Minors is Brookfield East High School’s premier, co-ed, entirely student-led a cappella group! Formed in 2017, this is a group of exceptionally talented musicians with a strong passion for a cappella and music in general. They could not be more excited to be competing in ICHSA again after advancing to the Great Lakes Semifinal last year. Outside of rehearsal, the group loves to partake in seasonal activities, hold karaoke nights, and make memories together. Many have met their best friends in this group, which reflects in their onstage chemistry in every performance. The musical highlights of their a cappella season include their annual family barbeque show, winter show, local concerts and charity events, and of course ICHSA! Tonight, all 18 of their group members have their left pinky fingers painted baby blue for the performance. These high schoolers have spent countless hours and pulled one-too-many all nighters arranging tonight’s ICHSA set. They can’t wait to share their hard work with you tonight! 

Focus is an extracurricular group at Port Washington High School. Now in its eighth year of existence, the group is committed to creating a musical foundation for its members to learn and grow. They are directed by Stephen Lanza. 

Knight Club is Oak Creek High School’s gender-inclusive a cappella group. Currently composed of 18 members, they have been competing for the past nine years. This fun-loving group is always striving to find joy in the small things and the devotion to take on the world. Between their powerful vocals and sharp choreo, Knight Club is always ready to slay! 

Limited Edition is a talented mixed group from the Port Washington/Saukville School District in Wisconsin. Founded by director Dennis Gephart, the ensemble began as an extracurricular a cappella group for advanced music students in the district. Their name represents the group’s most unique characteristic, that each roster of Limited Edition only lasts one school year, at which point an entirely new group is formed. The members of Limited Edition choose and arrange music, plan performances, organize their annual Acapocalypse A cappella festival, make music videos, and are in charge of web design. They have performed at events such as the American Choral Directors Association Divisional Convention in 2015, the State Superintendents Convention, and as a featured performing group at the 2019 National A Cappella Education Association Convention in Memphis, Tenn. In 2010, Limited Edition was named ICHSA Midwest Champions and went on to win ICHSA Finals, held in New York City. They’ve also won ICHSA Midwest Semifinals in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, and as recently as 2022. They were also featured on the BOHSA 2010, 2012, and 2015-2019 albums. In 2019, they were named Best High School Group by the A Cappella Music Awards Association. 

Off The Record is a passionate group of student musicians who strive to entertain audiences with technically sound and emotionally compelling performances. Based at Lockport Township High School, OTR performs widely throughout the Midwest and beyond. 

Nothin' But Treble is Loyola Academy's treble a cappella group. They enjoy singing everything from pop, rock, jazz, and even some barbershop. This student-led group is excited to participate in ICHSA because they love performing onstage and sharing their passion for music. In their spare time, they like to sing with The Acafellas, Loyola's tenor/bass a cappella group. 

Gold Nation is from Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Ill. No need for piano, they're just 19 kids on a journey with a cappella. Members consist of students, ranging from freshman through seniors, who audition in the fall and rehearse twice a week. Gold Nation took 2nd place at the ICHSA Quarterfinals at Buffalo Grove, Ill. last year and advanced to the ICHSA Great Lakes Semifinals in Milwaukee. Gold Nation is excited for the upcoming season and performance opportunities. 

Enharmonic Fusion is a mixed a cappella ensemble from DeKalb High School in DeKalb, Ill. Established in 2010, they advanced to the ICHSA Finals that first year and again in 2012, 2015 and 2016. In 2017 they were named ICHSA Midwest Champions at Semifinals and placed 2nd overall at the ICHSA Finals. When not rehearsing or performing, they enjoy spending free time getting ice cream and listening to a cappella jams. They also enjoy hearing Mr. Erikson gently remind them to clean up their water bottles and music binders. They would like to send a huge thanks to all who have supported them in the DeKalb community, as well as their friends and family. 

Noteworthy originated as the Memorial Madrigals, a group of high school choir singers from Eau Claire Memorial High School that has been spreading holiday cheer throughout the Chippewa Valley for over 50 years. While the Memorial Madrigals are still in high demand to carol during the holiday season, they now perform as Noteworthy for the rest of the year, focusing on the art of performing contemporary a cappella music. This is the group’s fifth year under the direction of Aurora Krajnikconde. The group is composed of 14 members who are accepted into the group after a rigorous audition process.

Vocal Point is a 14-member, auditioned, a cappella vocal band based out of Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School, in Galesville, Wis. Previously dubbed Vocal Jazz, they took a new name in preparation for Interkultur's 2012 "World Choir Games" in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2015, they were invited to take part in the first-ever a cappella festival at Carnegie Hall hosted by “Pitch Perfect” musical producer Deke Sharon. Over the years, Vocal Point has performed all over the Midwest, opening for nationally touring a cappella groups such as Six Appeal, Street Corner Symphony, Revoiced, Cantus, Vocalosity, DCappella, and The Exchange, They have performed in some of the biggest venues in the country, such as New York City’s Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Beacon Theatre, and Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre and The Chicago Theatre. They also opened for Gavin DeGraw and Andy Grammar, performing for a crowd of over 50,000 people. 

Harmonix is a female-identifying ensemble of singers from Jordan High School in Jordan, Minn. Ranging from freshmen through seniors, Harmonix passionately believes that it is essential for women to lift up other women. They know the power and value of every person but want to inspire and encourage women to love themselves and be who they are with no regrets or apologies. Harmonix strives to send this message through their music performance, but also in their everyday lives.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Maggie Condon is a music educator currently teaching high school choir in Wauwatosa, Wis. She earned her B.F.A. in music education from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her Master of Music Education from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Maggie has directed, served as a clinician, and arranged for many high school a cappella groups, and notably directed the 2019 Great Lakes Semifinals 3rd place group, Graftonics. Outside of a cappella, Maggie teaches and coaches contemporary voice through musical theatre and private lessons. She is thrilled to be joining the outstanding Varsity Vocals team as an adjudicator and looks forward to hearing all the students perform! 

Laura Kruschke has been involved in a cappella since her college days at UW-Madison, where she sang with Tangled Up in Blue and earned her degree in music education. In 2007, she participated in launching the Contemporary A Cappella League (CAL) and founded greenTONE A Cappella in fall 2007. gT is 10 members strong today and sings for a variety of local events, including weddings, holiday parties, fundraisers, and flash mobs. In addition to gT, Laura continues to offer her expertise to local high school choirs through workshops and group coaching. In addition to Laura’s aca-involvement, she arranges music for local high school show choir and a cappella groups, sings and plays saxophone in a local band, teaches yoga, and wears many other hats as a mom to three busy school-aged kids. 

Benjamin Lebovitz, a graduate of the University of Arizona, is an experienced arranger, clinician, and educator. As Arizona's ambassador to the Contemporary A Cappella Society (CASA) and with the state's chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), he organizes regional festivals for collegiate and high school ensembles while regularly facilitating at music educator conferences. A National Board Certified Teacher in music, Ben taught at Walden Grove High School for seven years prior to returning to the classroom. Today, he is a Ph.D. student in education and an active musician in Madison, Wis.

Aubrey Malito is delighted to be judging these talented groups! Aubrey attended Illinois State University for musical theatre and music business, and served as music director for the women’s a cappella group, Secondary Dominance. After graduation, Aubrey performed in musicals and cabarets in New York, and worked in house management for six Broadway shows. She continued to arrange a cappella music, and was even commissioned by the cast of “Jersey Boys” to arrange a piece for their Hall & Oates concert to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Since returning to Chicago, Aubrey has been an active performer and teacher. She recently graduated summa cum laude from Saint Xavier University with a degree in choral music education, and has gone on to direct choirs, musical theatre voice, and theatre at high schools across Chicago, including Whitney M. Young, Plainfield South, Carl Sandburg, and Marist High Schools. She also maintains a private voice and piano studio. Aubrey is represented by Lily’s Talent. 

Kimberly Raschka Sailor is the current Editor-in-Chief of the Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB), and she has written more than 300 reviews of high school, collegiate, and professional groups since 2005. A former ICCA Finalist, Kimberly is the co-founder and past president of the University of Southern California's Reverse Osmosis. Kimberly has also served as a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) nominator and judge. In addition to volunteering in the a cappella community, Kimberly is an author and elected school board member for the Mount Horeb Area School District in Wisconsin, where she also sings with the Mount Horeb Chorale. This is Kimberly's 14th year adjudicating for Varsity Vocals.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize 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 ICHSA 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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