2023 ICHSA South Semifinal @ Trinity Preparatory School

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 SOUTH SEMIFINAL

Trinity Preparatory School
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 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

Traces of Blue is the advanced women’s choir and pop a cappella ensemble from Sumrall High School. Traces of Blue is composed of the choral music program’s top 13 female vocalists. Traces of Blue holds numerous concerts for their community and consistently earns Superior ratings in competitions throughout the school year. Traces of Blue performed at the 2017 Disney Candlelight Processional, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and opened for the world-famous Radio City Music Hall Rockettes in New York City. Traces of Blue toured Utah in 2019, performing at Temple Square in Salt Lake City and the national anthem at a Utah Jazz basketball game.

Overtone A Cappella is in year number two as a group of this size, having previously competed as two different groups, Armonia and Duly Noted. The history of these two groups includes performances at local music venues, national music festivals, and three Semifinal appearances in the ICHSA. Since its creation, the students of Overtone have become one unit, bonding over tough rehearsals, fulfilling performances, inside jokes and great homemade cookies! An Overtone is created when they achieve the group’s goal of perfect harmony! The love of music runs deep in this group but the love for one another runs even deeper.

Perfect Intentions is a high school a cappella group at Overhills High School in Spring Lake, N.C. The group started back in 2010 as a show choir group but moved to the style of a cappella in 2019. Their musical repertoire expands many genres, reflecting the eclectic group of individuals in the group who study different styles of music. Perfect Intentions is proud to share their love and passion for music with others. They have competed in and out of the state and have been invited to entertain at various functions in their county and at the state capitol.

The A Cappella Group (TAG) is a mixed group from Cypress Lake Center for the Arts celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. TAG has appeared at the ICHSA Finals three times, as well as the National A Cappella Convention (NACC), SoJam, The Betsy A Cappella Festival. They have opened for The Four Tops and Kenny Rogers and performed for the Florida ACDA Conference. The group released their 15th studio album in November. TAG’s albums have received 11 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) and 51 CARA nominations. They are featured on eight BOHSA albums, have appeared on Voices Only nine times, and are featured on the Sing 14 compilation.

Vocality is the premier a cappella ensemble at Boone High School. Formed in 2018, the group has grown in reputation and talent. Vocality was crowned runner-up at their very first ICHSA competition. Vocality believes in having fun on stage and singing with your whole heart. In 2022, they released their first recording, “Traitor,” available on Apple Music and Spotify.

The Ponte Vedra Sharkappellas is fully led and managed by the students at Ponte Vedra High School. The first and only a cappella group in St. Johns County, The Sharkapellas include singers of all experience levels. The group has 25 members, ranging from freshman to seniors. All of their arrangements are taught by students and selected from various genres and time periods, but their favorite is pop. The Sharkappellas enjoy performing at local community events, especially “stair sings,” when they perform for other students in the stairwell at Ponte Vedra High School. They have also performed for local nursing homes and country clubs during the holiday season. The Sharkappellas are best friends and have become a family, from each rehearsal to each “sharka sleepover.” The Sharkappellas provides a safe environment where everyone can freely express themselves without fear of any judgement. Even though all the members are vastly different in their own unique way, they always feel united when singing.

Acapocalypse is an a cappella ensemble entering its seventh year as Pine Ridge High School's top vocal group and its seventh year competing at ICHSA! Known around campus and throughout the local community, Acapocalypse performs music from a variety of genres that reflect their diverse community. Having regularly reached ICHSA Semifinals, the ensemble aims to share their energy and love of music with the broadest audience possible, especially other groups who share the same mission.

HyperOctave is the mixed-voice show choir from Heritage High School. This ensemble sings a variety of repertoire, from classical to pop and consistently earns Superior ratings at District and State MPAs.

Tonal Spectrum is the only a cappella group at Crest High School and their Cleveland County School District. This ever-evolving group has endured many changes and challenges this year. Only a few of them are returnees, so the current lineup is primarily made up of newbies! One of the most exciting things about them is that they have a rubber chicken as their class mascot, which reminds them to never to be too chicken to perform!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Christina Carter holds a master’s degree in music education from the University of Central Florida and a bachelor’s degree in music from Belmont University. She is celebrating her 26th year of teaching in private vocal, musical theatre, and choral performance settings. No stranger to the stage, Christina began competing as a vocalist at age nine and has led ensembles to success in show choir and a cappella competitions since 1995. She has taught at all levels from pre-K to collegiate education, and currently directs a high school a cappella group that has successfully competed in ICHSA Quarterfinals and Semifinals since 2017. Christina is the Florida Ambassador for the National A Cappella Association and an adjudicator for solo, show choir, concert choir, and a cappella events. She stays active as a performer in the Bach Festival Choir of Winter Park. In addition to all things music and singing, Christina loves to travel, arrange choral pieces, and spend time with her daughter, Kylee, and her husband, Chance.

Christopher Hickey is an up-and-coming conductor and educator in Volusia County, Fla. He teaches chorus and piano at Campbell Middle School in Daytona Beach and is the traditional music director and founding artistic director of the Grace Notes Concert Series at Port Orange Presbyterian Church. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education from Stetson University in 2016. At Stetson, Christopher directed Hat Trick, a tenor-bass a cappella group composed of 14 majors and non-majors. Hat Trick went on annual tours throughout the state and performed at various events on the DeLand campus. Christopher is also a first tenor with The Qwatet, a professional caroling group in Detroit, Mich. In 2015, Christopher was a national conducting finalist of the ACDA undergraduate conducting competition in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is currently the tenor section leader of the Festival Singers of Florida under the direction of Dr. Kevin Fenton, a tenor soloist with Voci Del Core under the direction of Dr. Jeffery Redding, and a tenor soloist with Florida Pro Musica under the direction of Dr. Larry Kent.

Alex Mendez is the Head Director of Theatre at University High School in Orlando, Fla. He’s an active performer, director, and music director and has earned various accolades for his work from theatre festivals and from the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Applause Awards. He is an alumnus of the Florida State University where he earned his Bachelor of Music in music therapy and holds a Master of Arts in theatre with a concentration in musical theatre from the University of Central Florida. Within a cappella, Alex has served in a wide variety of leadership roles, notably with FSU’s Reverb from 2012-2016. He continues to sing as an active member of Orlando Sings’ professional choir, Solaria. Alex has received numerous awards for Outstanding Soloist, Choreography, and more at ICCA and other a cappella competitions and is a three-time CARA winner.

Omar Nossair is a professional musician and singer. He studied choral music education at FSU, where he sang with both Reverb and The A'Caphiliacs. He competed in ICCA several times, making repeat appearances at ICCA Semifinals with both groups and going to Finals with Reverb. He has been singing professionally since 2015, most of which has been a cappella. Some of his credits include the Harry Potter Frog Choir at Universal Studios Japan, several guest entertainer contracts on Norwegian Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruise Lines, and Princess Cruise Lines, the Harry Potter Frog Choir, Ragtime Gals, and Sing It! a cappella shows at Universal Studios Orlando, and the Voices of Liberty and the Dapper Dans at Walt Disney World. Omar recently completed a contract on board a German cruise ship.

Sami Sorce is a singer, choreographer, musician, and producer based out of Orlando, Fla. She helped form University of Central Florida's Voicebox and was their performance director for two years. During that time, Sami received three Outstanding Choreography awards for their entire ICCA set at a Quarterfinal and two Semifinals. She opened for NBC's "The Sing-Off" live tour, placed 4th at ICCA Finals, and was a part of Voicebox's first album release. Sami also had the privilege of attending Next Level Produce with The Vocal Company. She was an entertainer for Howl at the Moon for two years and continues to sing in various a cappella shows at Universal, Disney, Busch Gardens, and SeaWorld. In 2020, Sami co-founded the band Red Mint and is their lead singer. She also has her own Entertainment LLC and is on the roster for numerous entertainment companies throughout central Florida.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Sara Yood, Christina Carter, Vocal Society, Chris Juengel and the team at Liquid 5th, the Trinity Prep Security Staff, and Trinity Preparatory School parent and student volunteers; 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!

VIEW ALBUMS

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