2024 ICCA United Kingdom Quarterfinal @ Church Hill 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 UNITED KINGDOM QUARTERFINAL

Church Hill Theatre
Saturday, February 17th, 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

Aberpella is a proud member of the Aberdeen University Students Association’s A Cappella’s Society. Aberpella is a collective of mixed voices intent on competing in national and international competitions. Most importantly, they seek to execute beautifully made arrangements and have fun whilst doing so. Aberpella performs a range of music genres throughout their competition sets; from pop and rock, to even a little bit of jazz and musical theater. This year, the theme of their competition set is simply, “Love.” Their incredible set, arranged by musical directors Zarah McGivern and Jonathan Love, intertwines four songs, including a medley from the hit musical, “Moulin Rouge!” Aberpella has made a powerful mark on the Scottish a cappella scene, coming in 3rd place at the 2023 Scottish A Cappella Championships (SACC). All 13 members of Aberpella are committed to reflecting the University of Aberdeen’s A Cappella Society in the best way possible. They aim to impress at this year’s a cappella competitions with their gorgeous harmonies and epic dance moves. Most importantly, the group hopes to reflect the joy and fun they’ve had in each rehearsal up on the stage. Go blue!

Formed in 1994, The Accidentals is the University of St. Andrews’ oldest a cappella group. Known for their killer harmonies and exciting arrangements, this all-female group promotes their central message of women’s empowerment by honouring iconic female artists and putting their own stamp on every song they perform. The group enjoys competing at the SACC, winning 1st place in 2015, progressing to Finals in 2016, 2019, and 2021, and earning awards for vocal percussion, choreography, and soloists. The group has also found success outside of Scotland, reaching the ICCA United Kingdom Semifinals in both 2017 and 2018. The Accidentals make a point of travelling as much as possible, and have performed in Edinburgh, Dublin, London, and France. The group turns 30 years old in 2024 and is celebrating their anniversary year by performing as much as possible at concerts, balls, and competition. The best part about being an Accidental is being a part of the empowering sisterhood. As a group of 11 best girlfriends, it is impossible to not feel supported and loved in such a tight-knit group.

Cloud IX is the University of Edinburgh's all-men and nonbinary a cappella group. As the newest group in Edinburgh, they have been working hard to establish themselves amongst the best groups in Scotland. Cloud IX brings great vocals and even greater vibes to the stage, showing their range to audiences across the country. This year, Cloud IX is taking a different approach to their set, exploring the theme of identity. As such a diverse group, Cloud IX takes inspiration from its members’ stories to explore the journey of coming to terms with who you are. Join them as they share their most meaningful set to date.

Killer Quines is the University of Aberdeen's all-treble competitive group and they’re celebrating their 10th anniversary this year! They’ve gained some incredible voices and are super excited to share their new sound. With a fresh management team in charge, they are focused on loving every minute of their rehearsals and performances and always take pleasure in singing together. They have been working super hard on their blend, both musically and socially, and often end up in stitches by the end of rehearsals (sorry to their music director!). Tonight’s set explores themes of fantasy and escapism and The Killer Quines hope to take you on a wonderful journey with captivating harmonies and storytelling. They hope you enjoy!

Licence to Trill is the University of Edinburgh’s all-female and nonbinary competitive a cappella group. After the majority of their members graduated in 2021, they rebuilt Licence from the ground up, bringing the new group together around a new sound. This will be the first time any of them have competed in the ICCA and the first time that the group has been represented here since 2021. Their music directors learned a lot in their first year and led Licence to St. Andrews to compete in the SACC in 2023. Fuelled by a united love of music and feminine creativity (and sometimes female rage), Licence is proud to exclusively perform arrangements by iconic women and queer artists, with past performances including Remi Wolf, Lizzy McAlpine, and Lorde. Earning praise for their close-knit harmonies and blend, Licence to Trill’s SACC experience gave them the confidence to enter more competitions this year and they are thrilled to continue the legacy of those who came before them. Licence to Trill won SACC in 2019 and made it to the ICCA United Kingdom Semifinals in 2020 and 2021, so the current group hopes to make their predecessors proud and, most importantly, have fun.

Northern Lights is a mixed group of talented and passionate performers from Durham University. Having competed in the ICCA since 2015, the group’s 10th generation secured their first win at the U.K. Semifinals in Wimbledon last year and have since produced a sell-out Fringe show and released their debut album, Meet Me in the Sky. Now in their 11th iteration with six new members, Northern Lights feel as strong as ever and are proud to maintain their ethos, “One entity, One voice.” To follow along on their journey, you can find them on all social media @nlacappella.

Fresh off their second consecutive win at the 2023 SACC and the release of their new EP, The Other Guys returns to the ICCA with a brand-new group of singers, but the same old charm and captivating showmanship. Hailing from the University of St. Andrews, they are celebrating their 20th year as a group with the release of a new album and a performance at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, supporting composer and pianist, Alexis Ffrench. Founded in 2004, (allegedly by a group of friends who had no luck auditioning for other a cappella groups on campus), The Other Guys is Scotland's premier a cappella group, boasting an eclectic repertoire from current pop to Scottish folk and everything in between. With just nine members, they are smaller than most university a cappella groups and enjoy using this to their advantage with close-harmony arrangements and tight choreography. Back in the studio for the first time in five years, the group released an EP of their SACC-winning four-song set and have a full album on the way with a charity single, “Holding Out for a Hero.” You can keep up to date with the group on Instagram @the.otherguys and on Facebook.

SYE or Subvert Your Expectations is the University of Stirling's first-ever competitive a cappella group! Stirling's A Cappella Society was founded last semester so SYE is excited to perform as a fresh face in the competition. An unlikely crew, SYE's members span from across the U.K. and even the globe! Nonetheless, a cappella has truly brought this team together and built friendships that will last a lifetime. SYE believes in unity, having fun, and of course, singing their wee hearts out! So kick back, relax, and enjoy the show, because they WILL Subvert Your Expectations!

The Alleycats is a mixed a cappella group established in 2001 by a group of friends who shared a love of singing. That love endures to this day as the group enjoys singing songs from various genres and artists, old and new. Crowned in 2017 as the SACC Champions, The Alleycats compete and represent St.Andrews regularly at the national and international levels. Bringing energy and fun, The Alleycats hope to entertain with their stylish arrangements and rich sound.

Tone Up is the University of Edinburgh‘s premier mixed voice and competitive a cappella group. Since the group’s founding in 2016, Tone Up has gone from strength to strength, priding themselves on their strong group bond and high quality musical performances. Made up of 13 members from a wide range of degree subjects, every one of the group’s unique arrangements are done in-house, utilising the talents of each individual singer. Tone Up regularly compete in the ICCA and have qualified for the U.K. Semifinals four times, most recently in 2023. Tone Up is also a two-time SACC Champion and was selected last year as one of the top 10 groups in the country to compete in the Open A Cappella Competition (OAC) at Warwick University. In addition to competing, the group performs at various gigs and showcases across the university and wider Edinburgh community. With a fresh set, new voices, and the same signature purple, Tone Up couldn’t be more excited to be back on the ICCA stage this year!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Sophie-Lee Colchester is a choir leader, teacher, and award-winning musical director. She has been Director of Fitznells Music Centre for more than a decade, where she teaches singing, piano, and percussion, and leads both adult and children’s choirs. She was the musical director for the world premiere of “5, 6, 7, 8: A Steps Musical” at the Camden Fringe Festival in 2017 and more recently for the award-winning 2019 production of “I Love You Because” at Wimbledon Studio Theatre. Also a singer, she has performed in choirs and onstage since childhood, and has sung for Mary King, Bob Chilcott, and Sampha.

Gemma Davies started in a cappella as a member of The University of Bristol Barbershop Singers and moved into collegiate a cappella as a founding member of The Bristol Suspensions, acting as their secretary and co-directing their "Madness/Magic" music video. In 2016, she volunteered with The Voice Festival before hosting a number of community-building mixer events for graduates and lending a hand with the first-ever U.K. A Cappella Ball. She co-founded a graduate a cappella group, Shuffle, who had a sell-out debut performance and released two music videos. Alongside Chris Witham, she founded the U.K. A Cappella Society which intends to give a cappella singers a voice and a community to learn more and improve their skills. As a classical musician trained at Junior Trinity College of Music, she has performed in many orchestras and choirs and has had masterclasses with LSO and RPO musicians, as well as dipping a toe into musical theatre, taking leading roles in "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Legally Blonde" in the London amdram scene. She joined Varsity Vocals as a Production Assistant trainee before swiftly moving up the ladder to become one of the U.K. Producers in 2019.

Born and raised in the beautiful Arizona desert landscapes, Celine Durney has been actively engaged in music all throughout her life. Since obtaining her bachelor's degree in choral music education from Northern Arizona University, Celine has contributed extensively to the choral and contemporary a cappella worlds as a singer, arranger, and educator. Her name has become notable in the contemporary a cappella community as music director and founding member of the award-winning NAU Axecidentals. She enjoys continuing to collaborate, arrange, and perform as a member of Red Letter Daze, a female a cappella quartet with over 240,000 followers on social media and a full-length album, Element, released in March 2023. As she works towards her master’s degree in contemporary performance and production at Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain, Celine remains involved in the a cappella community and is eager to see the impact of this musical genre on a global scale.

Rosalind Johnson is an experienced a cappella singer, arranger and coach based in Edinburgh. Whilst her musical journey began as a pianist and trumpeter and she kept busy with various instrumental ensembles throughout her school and university careers, her expertise lies in barbershop and she has accumulated a wealth of experience in the field over the past 10 years. Rosalind is the musical director of Scotland’s premier male barbershop ensemble, The Rolling Hills Chorus, and she wrote, produced, and directed two successful Edinburgh Fringe Festival shows with them in 2017 and 2019. She is also the assistant musical director of the award-winning Forth Valley Chorus, who achieved 10th place in the world in 2019, and musical director of the National Mixed Barbershop Youth Chorus. Rosalind creates custom arrangements for various a cappella groups and coaches both individual singers and groups. She has previously judged the 2018 ICCA U.K. Quarterfinal in Edinburgh and the 2019 SACC. Rosalind also performs with and arranges for her own a cappella trio, Black Velvet. She is very excited to see what the ICCA has in store this year.

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 United Kingdom 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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