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 WEST QUARTERFINAL

Pomona College
Saturday, February 10th, 2024

WE'RE SOCIAL

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

varsityvocals

@varsityvocals

Follow us @varsityvocals on Facebook and Instagram, and join the conversation using #ICCA

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

Introducing That's the Key, one of Cal Poly's premier a cappella groups! Their repertoire predominantly features pop hits, though they enjoy infusing their performances with elements of musical theatre, R&B, soul, and doo-wop. You can catch them showcasing their vocal talents around campus and in the scenic city of San Luis Obispo. Established in 2009, That's the Key has expanded its presence on campus in the years since. Their most recent milestone was releasing their debut EP, On Three, last spring. Crafting this EP was a rewarding journey and they are proud of this achievement. Although That’s the Key participated in ICCA back in 2015 and 2020, none of the current members have competed and they’re eager to make their mark. Their 2024 ICCA set is a labor of love, representing this tight-knight a cappella family and the unity and dedication they share. That’s the Key hopes that their performance reflects the immense effort they poured into creating it and the genuine bond they share. This journey has already been an unforgettable experience for That’s the Key and they can't wait to share it with you. 

Nu Aria is an all-gender pop a cappella vocal ensemble from Mt. San Antonio College located in Walnut, Calif. The ensemble was newly created in fall 2022, but grew out of Fermata Nowhere, an award-winning ensemble at Mt. SAC for many years. Nu Aria is a collection of music-loving, culturally diverse singers, who work each week to create beautiful chords and hip rhythms without the use of instruments. The director collaborates with student members of the ensemble to arrange and craft music for the group. Nu Aria records annually, shares their music in multiple concerts each semester, and loves to compete in the ICCA. Nu Aria is directed by Grammy-nominated arranger and new Mt. SAC faculty member Dr. Jeremy Fox. 

The After School Specials hails from the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of liberal arts colleges in Southern California. Known for their upbeat attitudes, green attire, and friendly attitudes, they sing their own arrangements that cover an expansive range of music. Their members are as diverse as the music they sing, coming from all corners of the country and world, and spanning majors from all academic disciplines. The group believes in creating a space for passionate individuals to share their love of making music, regardless of their backgrounds. Their goal is to build a community for people to connect on all levels, with music as the catalyst. The After School Specials have been privileged to perform and record at exciting locations, including The Fonda Theatre, Diane Warren's recording studio, and the White House. In 2018, The After School Specials won the 2018 ICCA Wildcard and performed in ICCA Finals at the Beacon Theatre on Broadway. Most recently, “ASS” appeared on “America’s Got Talent” during the 2021 season and returned to compete in the 2022 ICCA. They are honored to showcase their skills in front of as many people as possible and hope to continue making music wherever people want to listen. 

Donned in their black and silver ensembles, you’ll be able to hear the mighty howls of Midnight Echo before you see them. This tight-knit co-ed pack includes students from multiple Claremont Colleges and performs a wide variety of popular music. Their repertoire includes Whitney Houston, Labrinth, Sammy Rae & the Friends, Coldplay, and many more. Midnight Echo has been a group since the 90s and is honored to host the annual Claremont Colleges a cappella festival, Human Symphony. They also hold exciting concerts which include funny skits for the audience and having new members howl to officially initiate them into the group. The group bonds over their love for singing and the healing that they find through music. They are a family and support system for one another, and the music they create is an integral part of that. They love spending time together outside of rehearsals, frequently meeting up for brunches, study sessions, and game nights. They are eager to bring their music to the greater collegiate a cappella community in their first ICCA. For videos from performances and more information, visit Midnight Echo on YouTube or @midnightechoacappella on Instagram and TikTok! 

Founded in 1994, Uniting Voices has grown from cultural-club choir to the premier all-gender a cappella group at UCI. Inspired by the power of storytelling and diversity, their talent and hard work have taken them far beyond their humble roots. Over the past few years, Uniting Voices has been a three-time Best A Cappella Group winner and recipient of Best Overall Performance in UCI's annual talent show, Soulstice. The group qualified and competed twice in the Los Angeles A Cappella Festival (LAAF). Uniting Voices was the first group to move onto ICCA Semifinals in UCI’s aca-history, successfully joining the Top 10 in the West in 2023, 2021, and 2019. During the 2023 season, the group placed 1st and won Outstanding Arrangement at Quarterfinals and won Outstanding Choreography at both Quarterfinals and Semifinals. As they reach new heights, Uniting Voices continues to captivate audiences with their diverse strengths and shared passion for creating art through a cappella. 

Vermillion Vocalists from the University of California, Irvine is an all-gender a cappella group on campus devoted to music-making and community. Vermillion Vocalists or Vevo, for short, has competed with ICCA since 2019. 

Pitch, Please! is UCLA's newest co-ed, competitive a cappella group and they’ve been competing in ICCA since 2019. Although they’re relatively new to the game, they have already achieved a lot, placing 2nd at their 2020 West Quarterfinal and 4th at their 2023 West Quarterfinal. Their sets have received multiple awards, including Outstanding Arrangement, Outstanding Choreography, and Outstanding Vocal Percussion. 

Acquire A Cappella is one of UC Santa Cruz’s oldest and punniest a cappella groups on campus. Since 2007, they have sung countless specially crafted arrangements with beautiful harmonies and unique takes on different genres of songs. All of their pieces are arranged by group members and many of them are inspired by artists, from Ariana Grande to Frank Sinatra. Their YouTube channel has gained over 3 million views from their arrangements of “Sail” by Awolnation and “I’m On A Boat” by The Lonely Island. Their end-of-the-year showcase, Acquirefest, is an elaborate a cappella extravaganza showcasing the work of many talented groups from all over California. Acquire has been competing in the ICCA for almost 15 years and is excited to continue the tradition. The ICCA is a fantastic opportunity to travel, get invaluable competition experience, bond with other a cappella groups from around the region, and push the boundaries of what they’re capable of as a group, both in their sound and choreography. Acquire is especially excited to compete this year and to share this wonderful experience with their new members. 

Naked Voices is an all-gender a cappella group from UC Santa Barbara that loves to create unique music. With an over 20-year history, they are proud of their creativity, breadth of music taste, and how their passion shines through in every performance. They mainly sing pop and R&B music and all of their songs are arranged by previous or current Naked Voices members. Naked Voices frequently competes in ICCA, notably winning Outstanding Soloist online in 2020 (Shreya Acharya) and were thrilled to return to in-person ICCA last year. Naked Voices competed in Salem, Ore. and placed 2nd at Quarterfinals, taking home awards for Outstanding Vocal Percussion (Wizmique Saint-Jean) and Outstanding Soloist (Atalia Zahrndt). They love being a part of the ICCA community and the opportunities it brings to push themselves to grow as a group. Naked Voices is excited to continue competing in 2024. 

Her-monics is an all-female group made up of girls across disciplines at Westmont College in sunny Santa Barbara. The group was established in 2012 as WoW (Women of Westmont), but entered into their rebranding era over the last year, re-emerging as Her-monics. This group has a long history of performing on campus for funsies, functioning events, and donor brunches, but hopes to venture out and dive face-first into competitive waters. Her-monics loves dipping their toes into pop, R&B, musical theatre, gospel hymns, and spirituals. Off the Mont, you can find them playing beach volleyball, sippin' on coffee, or enjoying late-night Denny’s runs after a long day. The goal of Her-monics is to bring people together to bond over a shared love of music, work towards a common goal, and most importantly, have fun!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Kate Crellin (she/her) is a vocalist, arranger, composer, and educator. She currently serves as the choir director for the Grammy-winning program at Mira Costa High School and Manhattan Beach Middle School. Kate is an Associate Conductor of the National Children's Chorus, where she is Associate Conductor for the L.A. Concerto Level Ensemble. Kate is also on staff at A Cappella Academy. Kate earned a double B.A. from the University of Southern California (Choral Music and Law, History and Culture), a Master of Music from Queens' College, Cambridge, and a teaching credential from CSUN. She is a proud graduate of USC Reverse Osmosis and CreSCendo Vocal Jazz Ensemble, CSUN Acasola, and Cape Harmony. 

Alyce McNulty is a music teacher and singer from Los Angeles, Calif. who came to Baltimore, Md. to pursue a career in music at the Peabody Conservatory in the studio of Denyce Graves and Margaret Baroody. At Peabody, she founded her own professional group, Ember, with some of her dearest friends and musicians at the conservatory and in the a cappella community. They competed together at The Open in 2018 and were named Northeast Champions, singing a set of all original music that they were given the opportunity to premiere at Carnegie Hall in The Open Finals that September. Ember has since evolved into a working professional a cappella group that travels across the country, performing to many diverse audiences with a focus on music education whenever possible. When she's not singing or directing Ember, Alyce is a full-time traveling music teacher, teaching introductory piano and guitar classes, as well as general music classes, to an average of 17 schools each week.

Avery Roberts (she/they/he) is a songwriter, composer, and arranger based in Los Angeles. A choral artist at heart, her love of vocal harmony has led her to a deep involvement in the a cappella community, with a record-breaking eight Outstanding Arrangement awards gathered over several Varsity Vocals competitions (including at the 2019 AcaOpen Finals), and several nominations and wins at the A Cappella Video Awards (AVAs) and Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs). Her work can be heard performed by groups around the country, and she continues her work as a solo artist under the name Avo. 

VJ "VRO" Rosales, a Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter, holds a degree in choral vocal education and jazz studies performance from CSU Long Beach. Professionally engaged in the music realm, VJ is a member of The Filharmonic, an all-Filipino-American quintet known for their success on NBC's “The Sing-Off” in 2013 and subsequent achievements, including roles in “Pitch Perfect 2” and as the in-house a cappella group for “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” Serving as the group's music director, VJ has directed and arranged eight “Late Late Show” riff-offs, featuring prominent artists like Anna Kendrick, Shawn Mendes, Lizzo, and John Legend. Alongside his group commitments, VJ pursues a solo career, regularly releasing singles and serving as a vocal coach on FOX's “The Masked Singer.” As the a cappella landscape evolves, VJ remains dedicated to global music creation, teaching, and arranging.

Besides taking pride in being able to spell it, David Sager has experience in all aspects of a cappella, including singing, arranging, beatboxing, judging, workshops, and producing. David got his start in high school a cappella and continued into college where he competed in the ICCA. Post college, he was a performer in the Downtown Disney and Parks group WestBeat. David has also taught classes and given masterclasses at many of the a cappella conventions and festivals including the LAAF, where he also served on the board. He has been a judge for other a cappella competitions and is excited to add ICCA to that list.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank tonight's emcee, Aaron Jung, our sound engineer, Greg St Germain, our host group, The After School Specials, our volunteers Kawika Chun and Valentyna Simon, and finally, all the staff at Bridges Auditorium, especially Sharon Kuhn and Matt Pavey; 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 West 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!

#ICCA