2024 ICCA United Kingdom Quarterfinal @ the Squire Performing Arts Centre

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

Squire Performing Arts Centre
Sunday, January 28th, 2024

WE'RE SOCIAL

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

varsityvocals

@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

Aca-Pocalypse, from the University of Nottingham, is ready to make waves once again as they compete in their seventh consecutive ICCA season! They have an impressive track record, including back-to-back appearances as ICCA Semifinalists, taking 1st place at 2022 Quarterfinals and 2nd in 2023. AP is excited to bring one of their signature sets to this year’s ICCA, characterised by electric energy, crunchy chords, and a selection of hype songs guaranteed to have everyone up on their feet! Fresh off a run of sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in collaboration with RadioOctave, Aca-Pocalypse has kept busy outside of the competition circuit! They recently performed at events such as Splendour Festival, Vocal Jam, and the Showcase of Northern A Cappella, solidifying their reputation as ones to watch in the a cappella scene. Led by two new musical directors, Aca-Pocalypse is eager to showcase the group’s fresh new talent. They foster creativity and collaboration, from writing their own arrangements and putting their own spin on their favourite songs, to crafting their own choreography. Every element of their performance is a testament to the group's collective talent and dedication, with every member contributing to the unique sound that defines Aca-Pocalypse.

Named after the iconic sculpture as you enter Newcastle, Angels of the North is an all-female and femme-presenting group from Newcastle University A Cappella Society. Originally founded in 2018, Angels was unfortunately not able to run for a few years due to COVID, but had a much-needed rebirth in summer 2022! The Angels are fortunate to be surrounded by the great a cappella community, where they can share a stage with other amazing local groups, both auditioned and non-auditioned. This year, Angels features new members from Newcastle’s A Cappella Society, bringing experience in musical theatre, jazz, R&B, pop, and more, which offers new musical spheres for the group to enhance their performances. Music is a way of storyteling and the Angels find that harmonies are one of the most beautiful ways to illustrate emotions that words cannot portray. The Angels have had a blast performing together over the last year and are so excited to bring something special to this year’s ICCA. Taking in the notes from last year’s judges, The Angels are back together, competing with bigger and better arrangements. They hope you enjoy their set!

OffScore is the University of Warwick A Cappella Society's newest competition group, aiming to take the “mid” out of midlands and put the “W” in Warwick. Blending a vibrant mix of genres through unique, energetic arrangements, they've performed everything from modern classics like “Suerte” and “One Dance” to cultural hits like “Jai Ho.” Every OffScore member brings an individual vocal colour that adds to their incredible blend. Despite being formed just last year, OffScore's performance record is not to be sniffed at. Their genre-bending sets have hit multiple venues, from university showcases to local fundraisers and summer bandstands. With a fresh new repertoire, they are a force to be reckoned with, taking on local busking, the ICCA and more. OffScore thrives on their fun, friendly, supportive team culture, celebrating each member’s unique singing style and growth, both as individuals and as a group. You can catch members constantly humming arrangements or belting out some Celine Dion on a post-rehearsal walk and OffScore hopes to share their passion for singing in every performance. They can’t wait to accomplish more together this year and are so excited to include you on the journey!

RadioOctave is the longest established competitive group at the University of Nottingham. This is the 10th generation of the group and were proud to qualify for ICCA U.K. Semifinals for the last three years. After recently selling out their entire week run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, they are so excited to be back performing together for another ACA-demic year! This year, they are excited for the release of their album featuring their 2022 ICCA set, along with a single of on of their sold-out Fringe arrangements, joining their debut album, BLUE, on Spotify. Over the last decade, they have performed at Nottingham Splendour Festival, on BB2’s “The Choir: Best in Britain,” pub gigs, radio, and more. Throughout the year, RadioOctave performs at gigs on campus in and around Nottingham, including one of their favourites from last year, Sofar Sounds. They will also travel around the country performing at the Showcase of Northern A Cappella, Vocal Jam, andanother week at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. RadioOctave is a close-knit group, committed to having fun both on and offstage and creating the best sound possible.

Steelworks, Sheffield's one and only a cappella group, has been on the scene since 2017. The group has been very busy after debuting at the Fringe in 2023 with five-star reviews. They hope to take Edinburgh by storm again next year! As 2022 ICCA U.K. Finalists, they are very excited to introduce you to their group’s new members, moves and vocals! With their iconic silver attire, they are here to put on a show tonight (you really can't miss them). Please give a warm welcome to Steelworks!!!

The Leamingtones is a mixed group from the University of Warwick and a proud member of the Warwick A Cappella Society (WACA), the number-one society on campus (alphabetically). They are keen to celebrate a wide range of genres with high-octane, impactful arrangements from their music director George. Some might say organised chaos, but they prefer to call it harmonised spontaneity. With over 700 thousand subscribers on YouTube between them, they have performed at various events and earned 1st place at their 2023 ICCA Quarterfinal. They recently launched their debut album, including their award-winning performance of “Praying” by Kesha, with many more recordings in the pipeline to share with the world. When they aren’t working out how to stand in a clump or trying to teach the lower voices choreo, The Leamingtones can be found being dragged along to musical theatre showcases and making memes of their own group. The Leamingtones are excited to launch their 2024 set at their third ICCA. A heart-wrenching performance of overcoming struggle and breaking free, they hope you’ll feel the music as much as they do and enjoy their unmistakable wall of sound.

Tune Army from Newcastle University is the competitive mixed-gender a cappella group from Newcastle University. The group is a fun, dynamic family of 13 strong vocalists led by musical director Lola Barnes. They usually sing pop and feel-good music but like to sprinkle in different vibes and genres throughout their sets in order to highlight individual vocals. Last year, they placed 3rd at ICCA Quarterfinals with their current music director winning Outstanding Soloist on “Bring Me To Life” by Evanescence. Within the last couple of years, they have also made it to U.K. Semifinals in London, which was an unforgettable accomplishment that they hope to repeat. They have released numerous albums on Spotify and Apple Music under the name Tune Army, featuring previous ICCA sets among other arrangements. Known for their khaki uniforms and loud presence, Tune Army loves performing and will always put on a show.

VOX is University of York's grooviest a cappella group and the best student-led group there! They meet up twice a week and have an absolute blast. VOX changes its roster every few years as new students come in and older ones graduate, but maintains their quality through strict auditions. One big family, this year’s tight-knit group of 13 individuals loves to dance, sing, perform, and have some pints at the bar. They hang around after rehearsals, resulting in impromptu pub trips, boom whacker orchestras, kazoo choirs, or just relaxing vibes. VOX specialises in pop music, but will sing just about everything other than classical. This year’s roster shows a broad range of songs, from reggae, Eurovision, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Swingles. Unlike most student-led groups at York, everyone in VOX gets a chance to lead and run aspects of rehearsals. They often arrange their own pieces, share social roles and warm-ups, and provide various opportunities to get involved. This is their first ICCA season and they hope you enjoy their performances as much as they do!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Georgia Blessitt is a current member and musical director of the 12-piece group Axiom, based up and down the UK. She competed in ICCA Finals twice with Aquapella and in The Open with NoVI. She is the recipient of two Outstanding Soloist awards at ICCA, a Best Solo Voice Award at Solevoci, and the coveted Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) for Best Mixed Collegiate Solo (Aquapella's "Midnight"). She has also collaborated with numerous U.K. groups and judged the U.K.'s first Open A Cappella Competition (OAC).

Alicia Gayle's love of voices-only music began when she joined The Florida State University Acabelles. She served the group as an arranger, choreographer, and vocal percussionist, picking up skills on the way to be an inspiring and supportive musical director. After moving back to the U.K., Alicia directed The Oxford Belles through an incredible run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and participation in the Voice Festival U.K. competition. She then moved on to pursue her postgraduate studies at Imperial College London, where she sang and arranged for The Imperielles. The biggest highlight of her a cappella career remains competing in the ICCA and making it to ICCA Finals in New York! She is excited to be getting involved once again and looks forward to enjoying the great performances tonight.

Samuel "Sammo" Swinnerton-Woolf grew up in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, competing as a concert pianist. He moved to the south in 2008 and is now a professional pop musician and producer. As a performer, Sammo has toured venues all over the world, from stadium performances across Asia to a tiny ice-shelf in Antarctica. In between tours of Europe and playing gigs all over the U.K., he spends the rest of his time producing and arranging music for various bands and choirs. With a plethora of a cappella groups under his belt (including Out of the Blue, AfterParty A Cappella, Rule of Six, Meantime Chorus, and The Magnets), he has created dozens of arrangements, choreographies, and has clocked years of experience performing as a vocal bass. Most recently, Samuel has returned from a tour with The Magnets in Canada and the U.S., and coached the bass section of Meantime Chorus to a record-breaking score for a British Barbershop chorus at the Barbershop Harmony Society International competition. Samuel looks forward to seeing the incredible standard of a cappella that the next generation has to offer.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank our emcee Jake Sauchella-Tice, our Guest Act The NU Moonlighters, our Sound Engineer Max Hunter, and all the venue staff at the Squire Performing Arts Centre; 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

#ICCA