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
West Chester University
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
Vocal Point has been a gender-inclusive a cappella group from the University of Delaware for the past 25 years, with roots as an 80s pop tribute ensemble. Vocal Point harmonizes musically as well as socially, valuing competition alongside friendship both in and outside of rehearsals. The group has been featured on compilations such as BOCA, Voices Only, and released albums of their own. These collections include Phoenix, Fragile, and their most recent addition, Collision, highlighting their award-winning ICCA set from last year’s competition. As eight-time ICCA Semifinalists, Vocal Point has accumulated numerous accolades, including Outstanding Choreography at the 2023 ICCA Mid-Atlantic Semifinals. Vocal Point is excited to showcase their commitment to storytelling and hope that you are entertained by their narrative onstage tonight!
Melica is one of the three a cappella groups on campus at Elizabethtown College. They are an all-female group based on a mission to empower and lift up other women through their love of music. Their signature song is “Wings” by Little Mix, which contains a message of women’s empowerment, reminding women everywhere how valuable they truly are. Melica gravitates towards pop music and performs pieces arranged by current members and alumni. Their music inspirations stem from various artists, such as Billie Eilish, Lady GaGa, Ariana Grande, and Little Mix. Melica embodies Elizabethtown College's motto to educate through service by performing for benefits and fundraising endeavors. Favorite examples include Girls Night Out, which benefits the Clare House, a local women's shelter in Lancaster, Etown's Into the Streets, an annual day of service, and A&T benefit, which raises funds and awareness for children with A&T. Having performed at the 2019 ICCA, Melica is excited to make their comeback this year.
Chromatic is the premier a cappella group at Millersville University. Founded in 2017, Chromatic has performed in the ICCA for four years, winning the 1st place title at Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinals in both 2021 and 2022. Chromatic was featured on the 2023 BOCA compilation album with their arrangement of “Stay” by The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber. Since then, Chromatic has released three singles, two music videos, an EP, an album, and gained a sizable following on TikTok. Stay tuned for updates by following Chromatic on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube!
VilleHarmonics is so excited to compete in the ICCA for their second season! VilleHarmonics is Millersville University's newest a cappella group on campus, having formedjust last year. They were able to form in a matter of two days last fall and got into the ICCA as a brand-new group. Along with their ICCA debut, VilleHarmonics managed to perform at many other on-campus events in the past year and held their own showcase last spring. They are so happy to be back for a second year making music together as a team!
Harmonic Combustion is Susquehanna University's one and only co-ed a cappella group! HarmCo is not limited to just music majors and accepts students from all walks of life and with different kinds of interests! Aside from their ICCA participation, they enjoy performing at various campus events. Harmonic Combustion made their ICCA debut in 2020, placing 2nd at their Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal. They are incredibly excited to participate in the 2024 ICCA this year!
Founded in 2013, High Street Harmonix stands as a dynamic and inclusive a cappella ensemble from West Chester University. Since their ICCA debut in 2015, this group has consistently excelled, securing top placements on four occasions since 2018. Their talented members, past and present, have garnered them multiple accolades, with awards recognizing their outstanding vocal percussion and solo performances. Since their founding, High Street has released two studio albums, Exhale and With An X. They hope to release a third to highlight the group’s newer arrangements and voices. In 2023, they reached a significant milestone as 10 group members proudly graduated, paving the way for a fresh influx of exceptional talent to join their ranks. High Street Harmonix has cultivated a distinguished reputation for its commitment to inclusion, boundless creativity, and unwavering pursuit of excellence. Tonight they are incredibly excited to showcase their 2024 ICCA set.
Formed in 2014, Under A Rest is one of four a cappella groups at West Chester University. They perform original arrangements of contemporary pop songs on campus and around the West Chester community. UAR has competed annually in the ICCA competition since 2016. They placed 1st at Quarterfinals in 2019 and 2020, and 2nd at Semifinals in 2023. UAR is very excited for the opportunity to perform and compete again this year. They are thankful to everyone who has made this possible!
YCP Rhapsody A Cappella is the only student-led a cappella organization at York College of Pennsylvania. At the beginning of the fall 2022 semester, Rhapsody consisted of four active members and one inactive member. They nearly quadrupled in size over the following year and currently consists of 16 active members. Rhapsody has traditionally been a group focused on songs that were recognizable to a broad audience, but have recently diversified their repertoire to atypical a cappella genres, such as EDM and metal. By introducing these styles, they hope to expand common ideas of what a cappella music can be. They also hope that their unique performances inspire others to think outside the box and explore other genres and styles. With this new approach, they hope to progress further and earn their first ICCA accolates. Rhapsody has worked vigorously during rehearsals, collaborating with campus dance groups and exploring new ideas as a group. They are highly motivated to build their reputation as an accomplished group in this competition.
Founded in 2001, The Lehigh Melismatics is Lehigh’s oldest all-gender a cappella group. For 21 years, the group has performed biannual concerts (one each in the fall and spring) featuring a variety of music. All music is arranged and taught by their own members, making them a completely student-run group! They also perform for multiple gigs throughout the year and compete annually in the ICCA. They recently released their new single, "Don't Lose Sight," on Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud, and a new album!
Lehigh University's Off The Record (OTR) is an all-voice a cappella group. The members of Off The Record come from all different backgrounds and majors, but share a common love for music. OTR enjoys singing together and deeply values the time that they get to spend together as a group. At their 2023 ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal, OTR was recognized with Outstanding Arrangement and Outstanding Choreography. Competing at ICCA is many of OTR members' favorite time of year! Off The Record’s mascot is an otter and their colors are green and lavender. They are so excited to perform in ICCA this year and cannot wait to take the stage again and show everyone that they have what it takes!
GUEST PERFORMER
JVMMS is a Virginia-bred live-looping artist and DJ. With the help of technology and using only his voice, JVMMS creates a dynamic sound combining drum beats, bass grooves, harmonic layers and unique lyrics. Often a staple at Varsity Vocals events, JVMMS tours all over the country and is thrilled to be back on the ICCA stage. @_jvmms
TONIGHT'S JUDGES
Jonathan Sears began singing a cappella in 1996 at Elizabethtown College with the all-male group, Phalanx. In his senior year, he led Phalanx to its first-ever ICCA showing. After graduating in 2000, he performed with various professional a cappella groups at shows and festivals throughout North America. He is a two-time Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) nominee, first in 2000 in the Best Male Collegiate Arranger category and again as a professional songwriter in 2005 in the Best Contemporary Pop/Rock Original Song category. He is a five-year veteran of the Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB), where he adjudicated over 70 a cappella albums submitted by collegiate and professional groups. Jonathan lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with his beautiful wife, Kelly, and their two girls, Molly and Emma. Next year will be Jonathan's 20th as an ICCA/ICHSA judge in the Mid-Atlantic region, which he hopes finally qualifies him for a coveted lifetime achievement award.
William Torres Jr. is a composer, musician, performer, and educator hailing from Lancaster, Pa. Music has been a central force of his entire life, beginning in church and then flowing into high school, where he sang in every choir, performed in every ensemble, and even rewrote his school's alma mater, leading him to pursue that love in college. He graduated in May 2020 with his B.F.A. in music composition from Carnegie Mellon University, with additional minors in sound design and music education. He served as Artistic Director and a lead arranger of Carnegie Mellon's nationally renowned a cappella group, The Originals, co-arranging and helping produce their debut album, Blue Rose, leading them to an ICCA Finals appearance in 2019, and co-receiving the 2020 CARA for Best Male Collegiate Arrangement. He taught a masterclass at Boston Sings (BOSS) 2023 and now works as a music director, music teacher, and score keeper for Sight & Sound. William looks to continue paving a way for the next generation of aspiring musicians.
Matthew Wolf is the current Director of Vocal Music at Ramsey High School, where he oversees the chorus and a cappella programs and teaches AP music theory and music production. He is the current director of both of Ramsey High School’s competitive a cappella groups, which include two-time ICHSA Finalist The Ram Jams and The Ramsey Blues. A high school music educator for over 10 years, Matthew is heavily involved in both choral and instrumental music, as well as a supervisor for Visual and Performing arts. During the fall season, Matthew serves as a music adjudicator within the USBands competition circuit after many years of teaching marching bands at the high school level. Matthew holds a B.M. in both music education and vocal performance from West Chester University, along with an M.S.Ed. in educational leadership from The University of Pennsylvania.
Luke Wroblewski has been performing a cappella music for almost a decade. Luke works at Governor Livingston High School and Columbia Middle School in the Berkeley Heights school district, where he teaches choir and music theory and leads extracurricular ensembles including a brand-new a cappella group. Luke was a member of Soulfege A Cappella, a student-led group from Millburn High School and went on to Westminster Choir College, where he joined The Deaftones, the only competing group on campus. As music director and lead arranger of both his high school and college, Luke has placed highly at a cappella competitions around the region, including ICCA, ICHSA, and SingStrong N.Y., and won individual awards for Outstanding Arrangement. Luke has spent time with post-collegiate a cappella groups around the area and is excited about the continued growth of the a cappella community in New Jersey. As an a cappella coach, Luke has coached various ensembles on competition sets, arranging, and performing. Luke is experienced in arranging, vocal percussion, live audio production, vocal improvisation, and more.
SPECIAL THANKS
Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Nicole Salerno, Jacqueline Ranieri, and Heather Usry; 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!
#ICCA