2024 ICCA Central Quarterfinal @ University of Pittsburgh

DEAR FRIENDS,

Welcome to Varsity Vocals’ 28th 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 650 groups and over 10,000 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 28 years ago and we can’t wait to see how our 2024 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 CENTRAL QUARTERFINAL

University of Pittsburgh
Saturday, January 27th, 2024

WE'RE SOCIAL

We're talking about this event, and all of our events around the world!

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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 27th.

The high school tournament is now in its 19th 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 26th.

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

Founded a decade ago, C# Singers is composed of CMU’s finest and funniest musicians. They take great pride in their high-octane energy and incredible dedication for music, both on display in every rehearsal and performance. They are super excited to prove this tonight!

Counterpoint is CMU's oldest women and nonbinary inclusive a cappella group. Founded in 2000, CP aims to redefine the limits of an all-treble group's potential. Their dedication and friendships infuse their music with warmth and unity. In 2008, they founded the AcaPittsburgh benefit concert and have been holding concerts to benefit local causes and nonprofits every year since. They annually compete in the ICCA, notably placing 2nd at 2020 ICCA Central Quarterfinals and qualifying for Semifinals, which was sadly canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were happy to return to the competitive stage at the 2023 ICCA Central Quarterfinals and are overwhelmingly excited to be back this year!

Formed in 1996, Soundbytes strives to put the smooth and sultry into every a cappella performance. With chill vibes and musicality, they're a group of close friends who love making music together.

The Treblemakers is a competitive, award-winning co-ed a cappella group. Founded at Carnegie Mellon in 2010, they use their unique style to push the boundaries of collegiate a cappella. The Treblemakers have attended ICCA Semifinals for the last two years, getting 1st place in their 2023 Quarterfinal. They also won Outstanding Vocal Percussion in 2022 and Outstanding Soloist last season.

Mic Drop A Cappella is Duquesne University's first and only a cappella group. Mic Drop is a gender-inclusive group founded in 2017. Open to all majors, they have students representing all fields, from theatre arts to graduate law and even professional pharmacy. While it is several of their members' first year learning and performing a cappella, others bring over seven years of a cappella experience, including a new member who was previously featured on the 2022 BOHSA album. All of them are thrilled to perform tonight at the ICCA. Please welcome Mic Drop to the stage!

The Songburghs is a premier all-gender a cappella group at the University of Pittsburgh focused on pushing themselves musically while building close and long-lasting friendships. Established in 2015, they perform styles ranging from pop, R&B, indie, rock, and alternative. ICCA veterans since 2016, The Songburghs have won Outstanding Choreography in 2018, 2020, and 2023, Outstanding Vocal Percussion in 2019, 1st place at 2020 Quarterfinals, 2nd place at the 2019 and 2023 Quarterfinals, and 3rd place at 2019 Semifinals in Buffalo. ICCA remains their most important event of the year and The Songburghs have deepened their musical knowledge and insight through their ICCA experience. Outside of competition, they love to sing for the Pittsburgh community and frequently perform for other student organizations on campus, ranging from Pitt men's basketball games to Pitt Dance Marathon! They bond as a group during their Fall Retreats where they reveal their ICCA set to new members! They recently released an EP on Spotify called Feel Alive, showcasing last year’s award-winning ICCA set. Outside of rehearsal, The Songburghs can be found performing the latest TikTok dances, studying together in Hillman Library, or getting entirely too competitive playing card games.

The Pendulums is an all-voice a cappella group at the University of Pittsburgh that loves to have fun over all else (not that they aren't plenty competitive as well). The oldest a cappella group on campus, they love to perform all sorts of music, from pop, to R&B, to doo-wop, and anything in between. They heavily emphasize arranging all of their own music for ICCA and other events, so most of their repertoire is arranged by current and former group members. Outside of bi-weekly rehearsals, they love to hang out, study, and have fun together!

Tonal Disruption is the University of Pittsburgh’s newest all-voice, all-gender a cappella group! The group has been singing together since 2021 and is excited to spread its music for many more years to come!

Singing together since 2009, C Flat Run is an all-gender a cappella group at the University of Pittsburgh with a passion for singing, having fun, and (most importantly) looking good doing it. Pitt’s “Sex-C-est” a cappella group, they specialize in singing pop and R&B, though they do not shy away from other genres! You could find them singing “This Night” by Billy Joel, “Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap, and a Bruno Mars medley all at the same event! C Flat Run performs at concerts, community events, ICCA, and more. They are well established in their local a cappella community and love collaborating with other groups at joint concerts and events. They host concerts with guest groups, such as their recent “After Dark” concert with Pitt groups Tonal Disruption and Pitches and Tones, and appear at other groups’ events, such as the Harvest Concert hosted by Carnegie Mellon’s C Sharp Singers. C Flat Run’s ICCA achievements include 1st place at the 2018 ICCA Quarterfinals and awards for Outstanding Soloist, Arrangement, and Choreography. Performing at ICCA is a cornerstone of C Flat Run’s yearly events and they're excited to build on their performance experience and bond as a group.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Tucker Helms is a composer, arranger, music director, performer, and educator striving to impact others through musical and theatrical storytelling. He is a proud graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, where he majored in music composition and minored in drama and music education, gaining a passion for collaborating with other artists and melding musical genres. At Carnegie Mellon, he helped bring a wide range of projects to life, composing and music-directing for a world-premiere play, debuting orchestral work, and staging an original song cycle. He was also a five-year member of The Originals, and served them in many different roles, including co-arranging their 2019 ICCA Finals set with the brilliant William Torres Jr. Since graduating, he has begun working at both of his alma maters, the Carnegie Mellon School of Music in the Preparatory Division and Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, where he founded the group Free Verse in 2016. Recent endeavors include teaching at the Boston Sings A Cappella Festival, music assisting for local theatre productions, and working on new soon-to-be-released music! A lover of a cappella music since he was a freshman in high school, Tucker is truly grateful for the opportunity to be here tonight and is excited for the show! https://www.jthcreates.com/

Kelly Korpusik has enjoyed working with the students at Centerville High School since 2016. Currently the head choral director at CHS, she has the privilege of directing all four choirs and Forte A Cappella during the school day, along with Summit A Cappella and music-directing their school musicals after hours. She received her Bachelor of Music in vocal music education from Miami University in 1999. She started her music career teaching general music for grades one through six in the Winton Woods School district. During this time, she was also on staff with the Cincinnati Children's Choir at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Kelly has taught private piano and voice lessons for over 20 years and has performed professionally with the Cincinnati Camerata. Music has always been a big part of her life and she loves getting to share it with her students.

Ben Spalding is a former choir director and founder of Forte. Forte is a four-time Runner-Up and the 2016 Champion of ICHSA Finals. He is an avid supporter of a cappella music, and wrote a book with Deke Sharon and Brody McDonald, called "A Cappella" (available on Amazon and other resellers). Ben is also a founding member of the A Cappella Education Association (ACEA) and is associated with several other a cappella organizations. He is a sought-after clinician and continues to travel the country workshopping a cappella groups. Ben also founded professional group, Vocalight, and is bringing them back in 2024.

Nicholas Wright studied music composition at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and specializes in composing, arranging, performing, and conducting vocal music. In 2012, Nick was hired as the chief arranger for ACappellaPsych, a full-service vocal production company founded by Matt Caruso and based in Princeton, N.J. During his time with ACappellaPsych, Nick created numerous award-winning arrangements for scholastic and professional ensembles worldwide while also expanding his role within the company to include recording engineer, sound editor, clinician, and webmaster. His work as an arranger and sound engineer has garnered several compilation placements, including BOCA and Voices Only. Nick currently lives in Cincinnati, where he regularly contributes to vocal and instrumental works as a composer, arranger, orchestrator, clinician, and producer. He has written music for ensembles around the world since 2008.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Bryce Mckracken, CMU A Cappella Council, Mike Jankowski, The Team at Acaproducers, Katie West, and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall; our judges, hosts, competitors, volunteers, partners, and producers; and you, the audience, for supporting Varsity Vocals programming.

Amanda Newman
Executive Director

Elise Hackl-Blumstein
ICHSA Director
PA/MA Program Coordinator

Dave Rabizadeh
ICCA Director

Emily Sucher
Director of Publications

Lucy Jacobs
ICCA West Producer

Lindsay Howerton-Hastings
ICCA South Producer

Arvin Zabalerio
ICCA Central Producer

Gemma Davies
ICCA United Kingdom Producer

Emily Benjamin
ICCA Northeast Producer

Danielle Sutherland
ICHSA Midwest Producer

Adam McNeil
ICHSA Great Lakes Producer

Cameron Clemens
ICHSA West Producer

Jody Hagler
ICHSA Mid-Atlantic Producer

Bryce McCracken
Associate Producer

Bri Decerio
Associate Producer

Courtney Jensen
Associate Producer
Emcee Extraordinaire

Sara Yood
Senior Producer

Emily Flanders
Director of Adjudication
ICCA Great Lakes Producer

Andrew Poole
Director of Digital Media

Charlotte Taylor
Marketing & Social Strategy

Holli Kitching
ICCA Mid-Atlantic Producer

Leah Alrutz
ICCA Midwest Producer

Bronwyn Jensen
ICCA Southwest Producer

Christopher Witham
ICCA United Kingdom Producer

Jillian Kimberlin
Senior Producer

Christopher Hoffman
ICHSA Northeast Producer

Ben Garza
ICHSA Southwest Producer

Luke Thomas
ICHSA South Producer

Alaina Wegner
Associate Producer

Jake Yoakum
Associate Producer

Rebecca Williamson
Associate Producer

Andrea Poole
Consultant
ICHSA Director Emeritus

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 2024 ICCA Central 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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