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 GREAT LAKES QUARTERFINAL
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Saturday, March 2nd, 2024
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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
Through innovative musical arrangements and choreography, The Meladies, Marquette University’s premier all-women a cappella group, has been captivating audiences since its foundation in 2012. Together, they are a sisterhood of passionate women who strive to create a space for all voices to be heard. The group has grown into one of Milwaukee's principal vocal ensembles and performs for audiences across the Midwest. In a few short years, The Meladies have taken great strides and do not intend to slow down. With humble beginnings, The Meladies (who affectionately refer to themselves as Mels) began performing on campus and at charity events and held their first concert in a Marquette Hall lecture room. Now, the group has competed in ICCA, recorded their own music, filled up the Varsity Theater at Marquette, and more! Keep up with The Mels on social media @mumeladies!
The Marquette Naturals is Marquette’s oldest a cappella group. Founded in 2003, they had a great time celebrating their 20th anniversary last year! The Naturals love performing, catching a vibe, and the pain that comes with tying a bow tie. In 2019, they won their Quarterfinal and hope to impress again this year. They are so excited to be back at the ICCA!
7Days A Cappella is the oldest group on the University of Minnesota campus with a rich history of musical talent, performance ability, and national presence. All genders are welcome to audition. Founded in 2003 by Anthony Brown and Brienne Foyt, 7Days began as an opportunity for students to come together and connect through a shared love of music and performance. Today, the group competes annually in ICCA and has a history of success. In 2023, the group took 3rd place at Quarterfinals and won Outstanding Vocal Percussion. 7Days A Cappella works hard to create musical connections on campus and across the region. The group frequently performs at concerts, galas, professional events, meetings, charity performances, and high schools around the Twin Cities region. 7Days also works to expand the U of M a cappella presence by connecting with other groups from the U of M and universities across the nation. In previous academic years, 7Days has traveled to Boston to perform with Distilled Harmony, New York City to watch the ICCA Finals, and Los Angeles to connect with a cappella groups from UCLA.
Pitches & Notes is the competitive treble a cappella group based out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Pitches & Notes was founded in 2009 and this will be their ninth year participating in the ICCA. They are returning this year after being named ICCA Champions at the 2022 ICCA Finals. This is an experience they look forward to every year and they are excited to return with new members and share their music!
Under A-Rest, or UAR, is a competitive, mixed, gender-inclusive a cappella group from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The group has advanced to Semifinals four times since its founding back in 2014 and they look forward to entertaining the ICCA audiences every year. Last year, they received awards including Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Arrangement for their entire set, as well as several for Outstanding Soloist. Under A-Rest is excited to welcome a handful of new members to the ICCA stage and create a lasting experience that the audience will remember. They are thrilled to be back and cannot wait to perform in ICCA this year!
Since 2016, Parkside Range has been the flagship ensemble of the Contemporary Commercial Music - Voice Program at UW-Parkside in Kenosha. They recently competed at the 2023 Acapocalypse Festival where they won 3rd place and member Walter Smart took home Best Soloist. They were also featured at the National A Cappella Convention (NACC), SoJam, A Cappella University, and have been mentored by some of the a cappella world’s most respected representatives and clinicians. They meet on a regular basis, twice a week for two hours each, and focus on strengthening, enhancing, and emotionally connecting to their pieces. One of their favorite exercises is creating improvised melodies and vocal lines in less than five minutes! As a group that has historically been smaller in size, they are thrilled to take the stage this year with seven new members, encompassing over six different majors. Despite their different career goals and focuses, the singers of Parkside Range are proud to find the time twice a week for the sole purpose of creating music together.
Public Hearing, from UW-Milwaukee, is honored and excited to be competing alongside such talented groups this year! During last year’s ICCA season, Public Hearing placed 1st at their Quarterfinal as a first-year group against all expectations. They learned so much from that experience and are excited to bring their new skills, ideas, and music to their second year in the a cappella scene. With a group as young as theirs, they like to think that they are making history at every turn. Since their start in March 2022, Public Hearing has had wonderful opportunities, notably performing with the distinguished Yale Whiffenpoofs! Public Hearing also hopes to inspire others with their journey. They never could have imagined their success so far, all starting with two friends who were former ICHSA opponents and a shared passion for competitive a cappella. One of the group’s founding hopes was to inspire an a cappella scene on campus and beyond. They are thankful for everything they’ve achieved so far, and cannot wait to see where this season will take them.
Impromptu A Cappella is an all-gender a cappella group from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. They strive to provide impactful music performances for all audiences. Impromptu A Cappella uniquely offers almost every group member the opportunity to arrange their own solo song each semester, providing educational experiences to arrange a cappella music. Every year, Impromptu A Cappella performs gigs on campus such as A Cappella Extravaganza, Viennese Ball, and their annual fall and spring concerts. Recently, Impromptu had the opportunity to compete at Port Washington's Acapocalypse for the first-ever collegiate-level competition, placing 2nd and earning awards for Best Choreography and Best One-Hit Wonder. Impromptu A Cappella previously competed in the 2001 and 2010 ICCA seasons and qualified for Semifinals.
Basses Wild A Cappella is the only tenor-bass a cappella group at the University of Minnesota -Twin Cities! Characterized by their fun and friendly vibe, they sing a large variety of songs, never settling on any specific overall genre. They’ve sung everything from Christmas Carols to re-imagined pop song medleys to hymns and Disney songs. Some of their best songs are pop hits and classics that evoke great reactions, solidifying them as a crow-favorite group! They balance their focus on singing’s entertainment value with a serious and competitive work ethic. Basses Wild has participated in multiple ICCA seasons, including 2019, 2020, and 2023. In 2019, Basses Wild made it to the Great Lakes Quarterfinals and had an amazing experience. Last year, they had a very limited window to get their songs and choreography down, but put together an impressive set after three weeks of hard work. Basses Wild hopes to bring that same determination and fun-loving vibe to this year’s competition!
The Enchantments is a treble-voice a cappella group from The University of Minnesota Twin-Cities. They are excited to perform at the ICHSA tonight!
GUEST PERFORMER
Fun, energetic, and intensely passionate, Fundamentally Sound is considered one of the leading groups in collegiate a cappella today. This suspender-clad group from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has carved out a niche in contemporary a cappella for their lively personalities, genre-bending arrangements, and engaging performances. With a unique blend of charm and musicality, Fundamentally Sound is poised to captivate audiences for years to come.
TONIGHT'S JUDGES
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.
Nate Mendl holds a degree in choral music education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he founded and formerly directed Redefined, UW-Madison’s co-ed ensemble. Nate was the recording studio director at Sosonic and has recorded and produced over 50 a cappella albums. His projects have earned multiple nominations from the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) and featured tracks on the Collegiate A Cappella Music Organization’s compilation album, Top Shelf A Cappella. Nate serves as a guest clinician in piano and voice and was a founding member and music director of the professional vocal group The Cat's Pajamas from 2005-2013. When Nate was director of vocal music at McFarland High School, their non-auditioned choir was recently selected as one of the top mixed choirs in the state of Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, and earned the privilege of performing Poulenc’s “Gloria” with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Currently, Nate is the Director of the Oregon Performing Arts Center as well as the fulltime sound engineer for the a cappella supergroup Rockapella.
Keri Rasmussen has been a music educator for the past 15 years. Her teaching experience has mainly centered on high school choirs, but extends to vocal jazz, vocal pop, and a cappella music. She holds a Master of Music Education and currently teaches at Evansville High School.
Kimberly Sailor is the editor-in-chief of the Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB), where she has authored nearly 500 published reviews for scholastic, collegiate, and professional groups worldwide. Sailor has judged for Varsity Vocals since 2005 after graduating from her collegiate group, USC's Reverse Osmosis. She works as a writer, teacher, and firefighter.
Ryan Stuempges is the high school choral director for the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District in western Wisconsin. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and is currently in his 19th year teaching. Ryan stumbled upon a cappella during college while watching a PBS special featuring Rockapella. It wasn't long before he and four other buddies were arranging and singing those same tunes at campus events. His interest grew as a high school director, when he introduced a cappella to get kids excited about his program. Ryan currently directs mixed choir, concert choir, musical theatre productions, and two a cappella groups at his school. Vocal Point, his premier high school a cappella group, has performed in the ICHSA for many years, progressing several times to ICHSA Finals over the past 10 years, and earning awards for Outstanding Soloist and Outstanding Vocal Percussion. Vocal Point has performed as a featured group at the NACC in Memphis, Tenn., the 2012 World Choir Games in Cincinnati, at Carnegie Hall with Deke Sharon, as an opener for the nationally touring group Vocalosity in Madison, for Andy Grammar and Rascal Flatts, and regularly throughout Western Wisconsin. Ryan also teaches a cappella masterclasses, educator sessions, and interest sessions throughout the a cappella community. He judges various competitions and video submissions for the A Cappella Education Association (ACEA).
SPECIAL THANKS
Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Fundamentally Sound, Roberts Jansons, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Christina Majchrzak, Sean Danner, Will Francis Green, Jeff Macheel, Heather Macheel, and our incredible sound engineer Joseph Aquino; 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 Great Lakes 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!
#ICCA