2024 ICCA South Quarterfinal @ The Morton Theatre

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 SOUTH QUARTERFINAL

The Morton Theatre
Saturday, January 27th, 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 AcaBelles is Florida State University's only soprano-alto a cappella group. Since the group was founded 2000, these women have been redefining female a cappella with their creative choreography, killer vocals, and innovative arrangements. These 17 singers’ individual backgrounds and styles create a unique blend and commanding presence in the Tallahassee a cappella community. The group previously achieved international success with their cover of a certain regal chart-topper, “Royals,” catching the eyes and ears of CNN, “Good Morning America,” and Lorde herself. Since then, The 'Belles have traveled to numerous gigs, competed in ICCA and SoJam, and have raised funds to record various albums, EPs, and singles, including bloom, Phases, Wavelength, Seamless, Rebel, Dimensions, and Pretty Hurts, all available on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, and Loudr. The AcaBelles aim to promote soprano-alto a cappella singing and to raise awareness of a cappella throughout Florida State University and its surrounding areas.

For over 25 years, All-Night Yahtzee has been a close-knit musical family at Florida State University. This a cappella group celebrates the joy of making music together and creating harmonious pop melodies that resonate with audiences far and wide. Their enduring friendship and dedication to the art have earned them a special place in the hearts of their campus and community. As they go on their journey, All-Night Yahtzee continues to bond through the magic of music, proving that when voices unite, incredible things happen.

Aural Pleasure is Emory University’s oldest gender-inclusive a cappella group. Founded in 1994, Aural Pleasure is not your mother’s glee club. The group tends to steer away from customary “doo-wop” arrangements and instead prides itself on passionate energy and modern style. Aural Pleasure strives to foster a musically innovative environment and encourages its members to toy with unconventional sounds and push the boundaries of traditional a cappella. Aural Pleasure’s dedication to performance and musical excellence has granted them opportunities to perform at venues across the Southeastern United States. In addition to regular on-campus performances, the group has performed in North Carolina, Nashville, and even the Bahamas. Most recently, the group won 3rd place in the 2023 ICCA South Quarterfinals, performed in the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and can be seen on Hulu’s new hit, “Tell Me Lies.”

The Ecotones is a co-ed group of ecologically minded students at the University of Georgia who also happen to enjoy singing. The idea to start the Ecotones arose at a party on Saturday, November 14, 2009. Several UGA ecology graduate students were standing in a living room singing songs and thought of starting an a cappella group. The result was one broken chair and a new vocal group called The Ecotones. Recruiting began and on Sunday, January 17, 2010, The Ecotones held their first rehearsal. They have grown tremendously since then and perform at a multitude of events each semester, in addition to their own big concert (Ecopella in the spring and an additional concert in the fall). They also partner with The Upper Oconee Watershed Network to help take care of their river system.

Since 2004, Infinite Harmony has been rocking Georgia Tech and Atlanta with their sweet sounds and smooth moves. With a portfolio as diverse and creative as its members, Infinite Harmony brings a love of music, a taste of fun, and a hint of insanity to each performance. All of their music is arranged by past and present members. While the group hasn't performed at ICCA since they made it to Semifinals in 2019, they're excited to re-enter the scene with a unique and experimental repertoire of mashups, folk songs, oldies, and whatever else their members can think up! This year, the group also introduced a dedicated choreography task force, dubbed "Team Dance," to bring their performances to the next level. When they're not performing at their semester concerts open to the entire Georgia Tech campus, they can be found performing at other events, such as commencement ceremonies, alumni receptions, and even local holiday house parties!

ReVOLution is the University of Tennessee College of Music's premier treble a cappella group. This dynamic ensemble has been performing all over Knoxville since 2010 and is known for their sassy stylings of contemporary favorites. ReVOLution is made up of members that are each enrolled in at least one UT choral ensemble, but represent almost a dozen different majors from all over campus. They are thrilled to be returning to the ICCA stage for the first time since the pandemic. Their passion for making music together is evident in every song they sing! Go VOLS!

The Sedoctaves is UF's premier, feminine-inclusive a cappella group, as well as a family of hard-working and empowered performers. Coming from a variety of majors, they are united by a shared love for music and goal to inspire others with their originally crafted pieces, captivating performances, and positive attitudes. Founded in 2005, The Sedoctaves strive to bring a unique take to a cappella through their musicality and humanitarianism. The Sedoctaves have been a competitive and driven group since the start, competing in the ICCA South Quarterfinals nearly every year. They have earned awards for Oustanding Soloist (Kendall Robertson and Ysatis Hernandez in 2014 and 2015) and Outstanding Arrangement (Cassidy Kinson in 2016 and Aliyah McLean in 2022) and took 3rd place at Quarterfinals in 2022. In between traveling to workshops and rehearsing for competitions, The Sedoctaves perform at tailgates during football season, at Turlington Plaza during passing periods, and at various community events and fundraisers. They also love connecting with their a cappella community, hosting various all-male a cappella groups from around the U.S. and showing them around their beautiful campus. The Sedoctaves take the classic beauty of a women's group and raise it to the next level!

Tone Definition A Cappella, also known as Tone Def A Cappella, is University of Florida’s premier service-based, all-gender a cappella group. Established in 2012, they sing their hearts out with a mission to make a difference in Gainesville and the surrounding counties. From performances at their local homeless shelter to spreading joy in hospitals with holiday caroling, they aim to uplift spirits wherever they go. They also perform at alumni tailgate events on campus before home games, warming up the crowd and raising money for charity. This year, they’ve raised nearly $500, which they plan to donate to Hurricane Idalia relief through Global Giving. Tone Definition’s song repertoire spans several decades and genres including classics by The Beatles and contemporary jams appreciated by student peers at their seasonal concerts.

TrebullDawgs A Cappella is a powerhouse of talent, passion, and boundless creativity. They were established in 2016 as a student-led organization and the first and only a cappella group at Mississippi State University. They aim to unite the finest, tight-knit vocalists on campus, push the boundaries of a cappella music, and set new standards of excellence. The name "TrebullDawgs" embodies the fusion of two iconic elements: the "Trebull" represents the treble voices that soar to mesmerizing heights, while "Dawgs" pays homage to the university's beloved mascot, the Bulldogs. Their repertoire highlights a delightful mix of chart-topping hits, iconic classics, and reimagined arrangements that infuse new life into familiar tunes. Through intricate harmonies, breathtaking vocal runs, and innovative beatboxing, they captivate audiences and leave them craving more. In 2021, TrebullDawgs released their first cover of "Sucker" by the Jonas Brothers, and followed that up with more original arrangements. More than just a performance group, TrebullDawgs fosters leadership, teamwork, and a strong work ethic, to help their members excel both on and off the stage. Each year, TrebullDawgs hosts their annual spring showcase, where up to 500 people from around the Starkville community and beyond come together to enjoy TrebullDawgs' arduous work.

The Voices is an elite performing group at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Miss. They serve as representatives of PRCC, singing at campus, community, and recruiting events throughout the year. The mission of The Voices is to demonstrate the Wildcat Way (Pride, Respect, Class, and Character) through meaningful performance and student leadership. In recent years, they have performed at the ACDA Southern Regional Conference in Raleigh, the Louisiana ACDA conference, and the Briarcrest Invitational. They were excited to make their ICCA debut in Miami in 2023!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Paige Betts is the orchestra director at Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville, Ga. She is an experienced music educator, having taught string orchestra, chorus, and musical theatre, and has twice been runner-up for Teacher of the Year. She has given clinics with various orchestras, chorus, and a cappella ensembles across the Southeast, and has taught private voice and viola lessons. Paige is a graduate of the University of Georgia and is currently working towards becoming a Double Dawg. Paige lives in Winterville, Ga. with her husband Andrew and their dogs Jake and Barbara.

John Hendrix has been bringing a cappella awesomeness to the Atlanta area for 20 years now. He got his start with Sympathetic Vibrations at Georgia Tech, demanded the spotlight with Atlanta-based Southern Tonic, and has brought screaming tenor, percussive stylings, and blazing lip-buzz guitar solos to Best to Burn for the last 10 years, adding an organic flair to rocking socks off. John is also an accomplished arranger whose work has been featured on several albums.

Brad Maffett is the conductor of the Athens Symphony. He previously performed with the Athens Symphony Chorus and continues to serve as a rehearsal assistant. Brad conducts band and choir at Franklin County Middle School and has previously conducted for “Musica Fraterna” of the Atlanta Children’s Choir, Local Vocals, and B Natural. He has written arrangements for over 80 a cappella groups. Brad has been involved in all aspects of music, from serving as a singing waiter to playing tuba in a polka band. When he isn’t making music, he can be found cooking barbecue in competitions throughout the Southeast.

Kelly Rhyne is thrilled to be returning as a judge for another Varsity Vocals season! Not only a professional performer, Kelly is also a licensed mental health therapist and vocal teacher. You can catch Kelly performing around the greater Atlanta area with the female jazz trio, The T Tones, and singing and playing piano with the Atlanta Freedom Band’s Metrognomes Stage Band. Kelly also performs with AFB's concert and marching bands as a flautist and can occasionally be seen as their concert emcee and hostess with the mostest. Kelly received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre from Columbia College Chicago and is an alum of Interlochen Arts Academy and the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts. Career highlights include Mayzie in “Seussical,” Cassie in “A Chorus Line,” Raina in “Arms and the Man,” Georgeanne in “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress,” as well as performing as some well-known characters in Walt Disney World and SeaWorld in Orlando.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank the entire Morton staff; 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 South 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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