2024 ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal @ Drexel University

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 MID-ATLANTIC QUARTERFINAL

Drexel University
Saturday, February 17th, 2024

WE'RE SOCIAL

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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

The TrebleMakers formed in January of 2001 and is presently the only all-female and nonbinary a cappella group at Drexel. The group hosts concerts with guest groups once per academic term and performs at other concerts, both on and off campus and even out of state. With a repertoire tailored towards Indie, pop, and classic rock, the group strives to create a unique sound and twist the conception of female a cappella. They were the overall 2017 winners of the M&T Bank Invitational Glee: College A Cappella Competition and 3rd place finishers at their ICCA Quarterfinal. The TrebleMakers are excited to continue improving themselves at the ICCA and share their voices with the a cappella community.

The unstoppable force known as LiaChorus hails from the vibrant grounds of Temple University! Not your average a cappella group, this all-gender ensemble is on a mission to serenade the greater Philadelphia area with music that'll give you goosebumps. Their most recent community performance was for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Cancer Run and Walk in support of the brave cancer survivors and patients. When it comes to the ICCA, they love to compete, share their music, and meet other competitive groups in their region! In 2019, 2020, and 2022, they made it to Semifinals and they hope to move forward this year and make some LiaChorus a cappella history! Other ICCA accolades include Outstanding Arrangement and Outstanding Choreography in 2022 and Outstanding Vocal Percussion in 2023. They’re eager to hit the stage once more, weaving new melodies into the tapestry of their journey. Join them in sharing their music and creating memories that resonate far beyond the notes themselves. Get ready for LiaChorus, because they’re just getting started!

The Penny Loafers, or Loaf, is the University of Pennsylvania’s only all-gender indie-pop a cappella group and the only group currently representing UPenn in competition. They perform an eclectic mix of songs, ranging from pop and indie, to R&B, electronic and more. They love introducing audiences to songs from up-and-coming artists and reinventing their favorite household jams. This is Loaf's first time participating in the ICCA and they’re excited to take on the competition circuit!

Based in Philadelphia, Pitch, Please is Temple University’s queer advocacy a cappella group. The group was founded in 2014 with a mission to spread queer advocacy and empowerment through their music, specifically by covering queer artists. They perform on and off campus at LGBTQIA+-centered events, and collaborate with other groups in the greater Philadelphia area and Mid-Atlantic region. Pitch, Please is so excited and grateful to be here, performing together live and in person with all of the other amazing a cappella groups!

The Supernovas is Villanova’s oldest all-gender a cappella group. Since the group was founded in 1999, they have sung music that spans a wide variety of decades and genres, including artists such as Post Malone, Leon, John Legend, and Sam Smith. The Supernovas have placed at ICCA Quarterfinals for the last four consecutive years. In 2022, The Supernovas made Villanova history by becoming the ICCA Mid-Atlantic Champions and advancing to Finals in New York City as one of the top 10 groups in the world. The Supernovas have also performed at benefit concerts, toured the Northeast with other groups, and was invited to audition for NBC's “The Sing-Off.”

The Drexel Cleftomaniacs is an all-gender a cappella group established in 2012, featuring Drexel University undergraduate students with a passion for singing and creating music. They have a long history of competing in and hosting ICCA competitions, most recently having scored 4th place during their 2023 ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal. The Cleftomaniacs' purpose is to provide a welcoming environment where Drexel students can appreciate and produce quality a cappella music, while also fostering a diverse and tight-knit family. As an organization, they aim to help each member develop as individual musicians and to constantly elevate the group’s performance as a whole.

Rutgers Asian A Cappella Group, also known as RAAG, is the premier South Asian a cappella team of Rutgers University. Founded in 2002, RAAG is among the first competitive co-ed South Asian fusion groups nationwide, with award-winning albums and showcases. This past season, RAAG placed 1st in their ICCA Quarterfinal and competed as a national Finalist for the All American Awaaz fusion a cappella circuit. Their members embrace diversity in culture and knowledge as they integrate South Asian classical and Bollywood music with R&B, pop, and other Western musical styles.

Founded in 2003, Soulfege is one of Lafayette College's all-voices a cappella groups. Soulfege performs mostly pop music, bringing a cappella music to the Lafayette and Easton, Pa. communities. Members of Soulfege pride themselves on the group's positive energy and its close-knit community feel. They start every rehearsal with a good thing of the week and a pack of pull and peel twizzlers. The group has been competing in the ICCA since 2017 and they are so excited to hit the stage again this season.

The Lafayette Chorduroys was described as having a “sick boy band vibe” at last year's ICCA. They are bringing back the energy this season with their tenor/baritone/bass group coming all the way from Easton, Pa.

The MelUDees is an all-gender a cappella group at UD! Since its establishment in 2006, The MelUDees have traveled all over the region, recorded music, and placed four times at the ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinals, most recently in 2023. They love arranging and singing music of all genres, performing everywhere they can, and making memories together. Check them out on Instagram @meludeesacappella.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Jenna Camacho is a passionate music educator in the School District of Philadelphia, with a specialization in a cappella and vocal performance. Jenna graduated from Temple in the spring of 2022 with a B.M. in music education and a minor in American Sign Language. She continues to share her love of a cappella and vocal music with her students. She has an expansive musical background, most recently serving as the music director of Cape Harmony, Cape Cod’s professional female a cappella group from 2020-2022. Jenna is excited to give back to Varsity Vocals, since this organization helped inspire her love for a cappella. She has competed in the ICCA with Singchronize, Temple University’s female a cappella group, as well as the mixed group, LEGEND which placed 3rd in the Open Semifinal. Jenna is a known arranger in the Mid-Atlantic region for high school and collegiate level a cappella groups. She also participated in the Varsity Vocals production assistant program where she had the chance to experience the Mid-Atlantic ICHSA from a different perspective.

Kate Elmendorf is a passionate advocate for contemporary voice pedagogy, currently serving as a Professor of Commercial Music at Shenandoah University and Temple University. With a B.M. in music education from Berklee College of Music, an a cappella background as an alum of Upper Structure (collegiate) and Sound Off (professional), and a master's degree in contemporary voice pedagogy, she brings a wealth of knowledge surrounding vocalists focusing on commercial music. Based in Philadelphia, Kate balances her teaching with a career as a professional vocalist. Her research focuses on vital topics such as transgender allyship in voice teaching/music education and the effects of COVID-19 on singers, aiming to create inclusive spaces and address challenges faced by vocalists in today's ever-evolving landscape. tinyvoicestudio.com

Noah Manno is a passionate composer, director, educator, arranger, and vocalist. In his college years, he was the music director, producer and arranger of Millersville's Chromatic. Under his leadership, Chromatic took home two ICCA Quarterfinal wins and a Semifinal 3rd place titile. He also produced their track "Stay," which was featured on BOCA. Noah is the current vocal music/choir teacher at Barnegat High School in New Jersey and he has participated in 40+ musical productions in some capacity. Noah loves the art of a cappella music and he is dedicated to empowering others and sharing a cappella throughout his community.

Joshua Singer served as music director and arranger for two-time ICCA Finalists, University of Maryland Faux Paz. In 2016, he was awarded Outstanding Arrangement for the Mid-Atlantic region. Additionally, Josh arranged the winning 2017 Boston Sings Scholastic (BOSS) competition set for Faux. His work has been nominated for multiple Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs), including a 2016 nomination for Best Electronic Song for his arrangement of "Our Own House" by Misterwives. Josh won the CARA for "Best Mixed Collegiate Arrangement" for Faux Paz's single, "Where Are Ü Now" by Justin Bieber, Skrillex, and Diplo. Josh was a featured director on the second season of Pop Network's “Sing It On," which followed his group's ICCA journey to Finals. Josh continues to engage with the a cappella community through his arrangements, collaborations, and workshops, and actively works to inspire groups across the country to take their music and performance to the next level.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Nate Grossi and 8 to the Bar; 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 Mid-Atlantic 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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