2024 ICCA South Quarterfinal @ The Carolina 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 Carolina Theatre
Saturday, February 10th, 2024

WE'RE SOCIAL

We're talking about this event, and all of our events around the world!

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@varsityvocals

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

Originally established in 2013 as The Finer Niners, this is The University of North Carolina at Charlotte's premier co-ed a cappella group, Codachrome! Inspired by the iconic Kodak color film, Codachrome strongly identifies with the notion that through music, they can live in color. Their repertoire is composed of R&B, jazz, indie, and pop music. Codachrome's ICCA accolades include winning 3rd place at their 2019 ICCA South Quarterfinal and former music director Reshawn Murphy earning Outstanding Arrangement for the entire set at their 2023 ICCA South Quarterfinal. They enjoy performing at student-led events, holiday parties, and homecoming celebrations across campus. Their favorite performance opportunity is for the Levine Scholars Tailgate, including a unique rendition of their alma mater when the chancellor is in attendance. This past year, The UNC Greensboro Chariots invited Codachrome to their first AcaJam, which featured seven a cappella groups across North Carolina.

Tar Heel Voices, established in 1988, is UNC-Chapel Hill’s oldest co-ed a cappella group. Since its founding, Tar Heel Voices has played a pivotal role in Carolina’s music scene. From performing at Late Night with Roy as the 2017 National Championship banner was presented to competing in the ICCA every year since 2018 and earning various awards along the way, they strive to spread their passion for music everywhere they go!

The Tarpeggios, affectionately known as The Tarps, is a mixed-voice a cappella group and a distinct part of UNC's a cappella community. The Tarps pride themselves on creating an inclusive and supportive space where people come together to create music and find family. They enjoy performing around campus and the Triangle, as well as competing in ICCA. The group placed 2nd at the ICCA Semifinals in 2021 and 1st at their ICCA Quarterfinal in 2022. They recently released a self-produced music video titled “MODERN ECSTACY,” which is out now.

As the oldest all-male collegiate a cappella group in North Carolina, The Grains of Time have been a part of the NC State and Raleigh community for over 55 years. Whether they’re performing gigs within the greater Raleigh community or competing at ICCA where they placed 2nd at last year's South Quarterfinals, The Grains pride themselves on their community outreach, musical drive, and all-around love for what they do.

Ladies in Red is NC State's premier all-women a cappella group. Founded in 1993, this tight-knit group of friends shares a strong passion for singing and showcasing their talents for the Triangle area and beyond. Group members come from all different backgrounds, musical experiences, and fields of study. The Ladies have competed for ICCA and placed 3rd in the 2019 South Quarterfinals! Their TikTok following grew in 2022 when they posted fun remakes of a popular “Pitch Perfect” scene, earning 9 million views, roughly 2 million likes, and 17.6 thousand comments combined. They now sit at 47.9 thousand followers! Notable performances include NC State commencements and alumni association events, invitationals and workshops with fellow a cappella groups, gigs for women’s organizations, festivals such as Skyfest and Little River Shrimp Fest, and their own semester concerts each year. Ladies in Red gives back to the community by gigging and advertising for area charities and other meaningful causes and organizations, including Designed For Joy, Project Life Movement, Reproductive Rights March, Key Clubs of the Carolinas, Mental Health Benefit Concert, and more. The Ladies in Red are talented hard workers who strive to make their mark on the a cappella scene.

Wolfgang is an all-gender a cappella group at NC State University created to build exceptional musical experiences. They sing a variety of pieces that aim to foster creativity, while developing a harmonious sound and a tight-knit atmosphere. Their music has been described as playful, dynamic, and sincere. They strive to create unity, promote personal growth, and inspire a diverse group of individuals with a common love for music.

Pawcappella is based at Western Carolina University in North Carolina. Currently in their second full year of being together, the group has changed a lot in a short time. Last year was their first eligible year for ICCA and it was one of the most rewarding and fun experiences they have ever had. This year, the new group is eager to prove themselves and show everyone just how much they have improved. Since last year’s showing they have worked very hard and changed leadership, which has been both challenging and rewarding. As the only student-run a cappella group in the history of WCU, they want to prove to not just ICCA but their school that they are loud and proud and here to stay. Many Pawcappella group members have competed at ICHSA over the years and they're excited to make their ICCA debut! Pawcappella looks forward to showing just how good their group can be.

The Magnolia Belles is East Carolina University's first and only all-female a cappella group. The group was established in 2006 and this is their first year competing in the ICCA. The Magnolia Belles' name comes from the many magnolia trees that adorn ECU's campus and their mission is to empower women and their community through song. They sing all genres including pop, country, R&B, and alternative. The Belles love spending time together in and out of rehearsal and many of their members have made lifelong friendships within the group.

The Offbeats is High Point University's premier co-ed a cappella group. Established in 2012, they have released two albums, two EPs, and a Valentine's Day single, "Silly Love Songs." Their latest album, Impulse, dropped in April 2023 and is available for streaming on all platforms.

Cockappella is an a cappella group from the University of South Carolina. The group is full of diverse and eclectic students, representing different majors and interests, all with a common passion for music. Cockappella stands out at their college by performing at many different campus events and around Columbia, S.C. They have been competing in ICCA since the group was founded in 2008, and have advanced to Semifinals for the last two years. Last year, Cockappella placed 2nd at Quarterfinals and was awarded Outstanding Choreography. They are ecstatic to be back competing this year!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Alexander Alberti (Alex, he/him) is a music educator and arts administrator, living in Raleigh, N.C. Alex formerly held the positions of Director of Instrumental Music at Longleaf School of the Arts (LSA) in Raleigh, N.C., and Director of Music at Southern Lee High School. Alex has taught various courses, including concert band, wind ensemble, orchestra, contemporary a cappella, AP Music Theory, music history, AP Psychology, and The Psychology and Philosophy of Music. He currently serves as the Showcase Manager for the National A Cappella and Choral Convention (NACC) and is a researcher in educational technology. Alex earned his master’s degree in music education with a post-baccalaureate certificate in nonprofit management from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2020. He is also an alumnus of Appalachian State University, where he holds a Bachelor of Music in music education and a minor in psychology. In his spare time, Alex composes both choral and instrumental works, judges for Varsity Vocals, serves as the Artistic Director of the Triangle Pride Band, and participates in the semi-professional a cappella group, Triadic Vocals.

Dr. DeMar Austin Neal, IV currently serves as an Associate Professor of Music at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, N.C. He also maintains positions at Meredith College and NC State University, where he teaches a wide variety of classes and voice lessons in diverse styles. He holds a doctorate in voice performance from Florida State University, a master's degree in voice from the Boston Conservatory, and a bachelor's degree in voice from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also possesses post-doctoral certifications in Vocology and Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Pedagogy. DeMar has been involved in a cappella since his undergraduate days and his arrangements can be found on compilation albums including Varsity Vocals’ BOCA and the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America’s (CASA) Sing. Follow on Instagram @demarnealbaritone and visit www.demarneal.com

Jordy Parnell has been a beatboxer for 14 years, beginning at the Somerset Arts Conservatory. While studying music education at the University of Central Florida, he sang, did vocal percussion, and music-directed the competitive group, The Crescendudes, leading them to multiple appearances at festivals and ICCA. At UCF, he was the President of CASA on campus, spearheading the first collegiate chapter of the organization. He arranged and choreographed for both his group and others and continues to arrange and coach. After university, Jordy sang with the semi-professional group REMIX, and currently serves as the bass and vocal percussionist for Euphoria A Cappella, a virtual a cappella group primarily based in Pittsburgh, Pa. He also does covers, beatbox dubs, and arrangements for TikTok.

A triangle area native, Freddy Perkins’ love for music emerged at a young age. He began his musical career as a saxophonist, and attended Appalachian State University to study classical saxophone and music therapy. There, Freddy co-founded Enharmonix, a co-ed a cappella group , where he served as the group's president and arranger for three years. In addition to his a cappella background, Freddy has performed in jazz vocal ensembles, musical theatre productions, community choirs, and voice recitals. Since graduating, Freddy has stayed involved in a cappella, recently co-founding Spectrum Vocals, a semi-professional a cappella group, based in the triangle. Freddy is a board-certified music therapist, and uses music to improve socialization, emotional expression, and speech/language with children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

While his experience with a cappella began as a member of Eight Beat Measure in 2005, Rick Thomas has been extremely active in the greater a cappella community since 2010. Over the years, he has served as CASA’s Program Manager of Awards, Director of Outreach for both CASA and the A Cappella Education Association, and a member of the SoJam production team. Additionally, Rick serves as a clinician for groups across the country and works as a producer and mix engineer with Richard Thomas Music.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank 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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