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 SEMIFINAL
The Grand Opera House
Saturday, March 23rd, 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
The Trentones is The College of New Jersey’s only competitive a cappella group, founded in 2002. The passion from the students who created the first a cappella group on TCNJ’s campus mirrors the current group’s drive for performing, arranging, and competing. Hailing from Ewing, N.J., The Trentones perform at all sorts of events on and off of their campus. They most recently performed at Trenton Thunder Ballpark and are looking forward to performing at the Philadelphia Flyers stadium in January. The Trentones have competed in several ICCA competitions over the years, from Quarterfinals to Semifinals, receiving awards for Outstanding Arrangement, Outstanding Soloist, and Outstanding Choreography in 2018, 2019, and 2020 respectively. Most recently, they placed 3rd and won Outstanding Choreography in 2023. The Trentones are looking forward to sharing the ICCA experience with their newest members and can’t wait to see what the future has in store!
Deep Treble is Rutgers premier co-ed a cappella group. Competing for the first time since the pandemic, they hope to immerse the audience in a similar journey to their own as young adults. Both reflective and hopeful, they choose to embrace courage in the face of fear. They lean on one another throughout this set as they do when they show up to rehearse, compete, tour, and perform. Founded in 1998, this group has evolved over the past 25 years from a singing group into a family. They pride themselves on their strong alumni network, receiving all of their arrangements from group members and alumni, truly embodying their slogan of “Run Deep.” To reflect this motto, they released an album called Roots last May, showcasing an array of genres, from R&B to oldies to TV show hits. Stream Roots now on all streaming platforms!
Off Track is a co-ed a cappella group founded in fall 2021. What originally began as a group of friends looking for a musical outlet turned into an award-winning group, as well as a family. The group values fun and friendship and aims to foster a supportive and diverse environment where they can share their passion for music together. This Off Track’s third year in competition. With several graduating seniors, they are excited to be back and make the most of this year!
DaCadence is the University of Maryland’s elite all-gender a cappella team. This dynamic vocal ensemble prides itself on nurturing the musical talents of its members while providing entertainment to audiences both in the University of Maryland community and surrounding areas. DaCadence is dedicated to the pursuit of musical mastery. Through rigorous rehearsals, innovative arrangements, and a collaborative spirit, this talented team of singers continually strives to push the boundaries of a cappella performance. They believe music has the power to transcend language and cultural barriers and they harness that power to create unforgettable musical experiences. In the 2023 ICCA, DaCadence won 1st place at Semifinals and went on to represent the Mid-Atlantic at Finals in New York City where they won Outstanding Vocal Percussion. Besides competing, they perform at various concerts, fundraisers, and gigs around the DMV, record and produce albums, and film music videos. Although they take their music seriously, they are also DaFam, a super close group of friends. They love to hang out at lunches, rehearsals, and semester retreats. Their common goal is to ignite a love for a cappella music, leaving a lasting impact on their community, and empowering future generations of singers.
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!
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.
No Ceiling A Cappella hails from the College of William & Mary, in Williamsburg, Va. The group was founded in 2015 and has been competing in the ICCA since 2016. Since joining the ICCA, they were Semifinalists in 2016, 2017, and 2022. In 2018, they won Quarterfinals and received Outstanding Choreography, then placed 2nd at Semifinals and received awards for Outstanding Arrangement and Outstanding Soloist! In 2019 and 2020, No Ceiling was the Quarterfinals Champion. They are the only competitive a cappella group at William & Mary and are proud to represent their school. Most No Ceiling members are in one of the other a cappella groups on campus, so each individual brings special ideas and talents to the group. Many members hold leadership positions in their other groups, so they are all very comfortable expressing their opinions and visions, making their art a true collaboration among all members. Each member is encouraged to contribute, although they technically have elected positions for arranging and choreography! A group of dedicated storytellers, No Ceiling intentionally selects songs that create a narrative and that every member is passionate about performing.
MSN is George Mason University’s premier gender-inclusive a cappella group. Founded in 2014, MSN (formerly Mason Some Noise) performs at events on campus and in the D.C. area. MSN exemplifies one of GMU’s best features, its diversity. They are a varied group united by their friendship and love of music. At last year's ICCA MidAtlantic Quarterfinals, MSN placed 2nd overall, with Surya Kommoju receiving the award for Outstanding Soloist. MSN also won 3rd place at the following Semifinal round.
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!
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!
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 that combines 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
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 master's degree in contemporary voice pedagogy, a B.M. in music education from Berklee College of Music, and background as an alum of Upper Structure (collegiate) and Sound Off (professional), she brings a wealth of knowledge surrounding vocalists and 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 and music education and the effects of COVID-19 on singers, all aiming to create inclusive spaces and address challenges faced by vocalists in today's ever-evolving landscape. tinyvoicestudio.com
JT Fryer graduated from the University of Delaware in 2014 and began his teaching career in Madison, N.J. In 2015, he founded Scarlet Sound A Cappella at Neptune High School, leading the group to three consecutive appearances at ICHSA Semifinals. Recently, JT moved back to the East Coast from Anchorage, Alaska, where he directed the choral program at West Anchorage High School. In 2022, West High was named the NFHS Performing Arts School of Excellence. During his year at West High, he founded Fermata Nowhere A Cappella, organized the first-ever Anchorage School District A Cappella Festival, and collaborated with Pipeline Vocal Project.
Elliott von Wendt’s love of music began at a very young age. After learning violin and piano, he began his arranging career in high school, where he developed a love of vocal music that would grow into his profession, as well as his passion. After graduating from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Elliott served as a music director, arranger, and bass for the internationally acclaimed a cappella group The Nor’easters, most recently bringing them to their 2017 win at the ICCA. Currently, Elliott continues to mentor and arrange for many a cappella groups around the country. @elliottvonwendt
Steve Weber is a graduate of both Cedarville University (B.A. in music) and Boston University (M.A. in music education). He has been teaching high school music for 22 years in southern New Jersey, where he currently directs the a cappella group, The Foxy Jukebox. This group has been featured on Philadelphia radio many times over the past few years, as well as a competitor in the ICHSA Mid-Atlantic Semifinals. In his spare time, Steve works with many regional music groups, including The Philadelphia Vocal Conservatory and The Ritz Theatre Company of Oaklyn.
Arvin Zabalerio is a vocal percussionist and musician who loves a cappella at his core! He has competed in the ICCA with both Rutgers Casual Harmony and The OrphanSporks from 2011 to 2015. During his tenure in collegiate a cappella, Arvin garnered multiple ICCA awards for Outstanding Vocal Percussion and advanced to Semifinals numerous times. Arvin is currently the ICCA Central Producer and has been with Varsity Vocals since 2017. Prior to becoming a producer, he was in the inaugural class for Varsity Vocals' Production Assistant Program and was fortunate enough to shadow in the ICCA and ICHSA Mid-Atlantic regions. When Arvin is not producing ICCA shows, he is a Senior Manager of Supply Chain with PepsiCo and enjoys soaking up all the beautiful things NYC has to offer.
SPECIAL THANKS
Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank photographer Nicole Salerno and Sonya Donawa; 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 placing group at this event will advance to the 2024 ICCA Finals.
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