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

ICHSA MIDWEST QUARTERFINAL

Harrison High School
Friday, March 1st, 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 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.

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.

 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

Above the Noise is just that: Above the Noise. They make music that you HAVE to hear! An elite a cappella group, ATN is run like a tour band, with students in charge of every aspect of their operations, from sound to social media. Under the direction of Mrs. Cherie Brooks, ATN has sung in front of governors, made it to ICHSA Quarterfinals, recorded and released music on multiple platforms, and regularly performs in various community events. 

Based in the Cincinnati area, Alpha is the competitive vocal a cappella group of West Clermont High School. Their mission is to uplift, support, and entertain others through community outreach and performance! As a group, they exemplify the ideal that each and every person should be able to #FindYourVoice and make a difference. 

Ars Nova is a gender-inclusive a cappella group from the Miami Valley School. The group strives to develop their musicianship, create a familial environment, and share their music with the community. The group bonds through early morning rehearsals and filling their director’s room with small toys. Ars Nova was honored to be named Quarterfinal Champions and 3rd place Semifinalists in both 2022 and 2023. They’re so happy to share their 2024 set tonight!

Dynamix is a co-ed a cappella group from Harrison High School. The group consists of 14 members from ninth through 12th grades who rehearse at 7 a.m. before school every morning. DYNAMIX has competed in the ICHSA for the past six years, progressing to five Semifinals and earning 1st place at Quarterfinals in 2019. They are working very hard for another amazing year. 

Hamilton High School has expanded their vocal music program with a brand-new a cappella group called Enharmonix. This group was founded under the direction and guidance of Mr. Ben Spalding during his brief tenure as the director of fine arts for the Hamilton City School District. The Enharmonix is still finding their voice as they explore different musical genres, but they are excited to be joining the a cappella scene and making a name for themselves! They are currently under the direction of Austin Teegarden and Christina Fox, with choreography by Natalie DiPietro. 

Polarity, Waverly High School’s premier a cappella ensemble, is excited to return to the Varsity Vocals family! Polarity meets after school twice a week to provide quality a cappella experiences to Waverly High School students. This highly competitive group performs in the community, at school events, for private parties, and at local competitions. Coming from all paths of the high school, Polarity instantly clicked. The group includes varsity athletes, theatre enthusiasts, honors students, marching band members, and active community members. Though pop a cappella has not gained popularity in southern Ohio, these students demonstrate their love and commitment to the art of making music! They’re just a bunch of small-town kids that like to sing!

Take Note is Harrison High School’s all treble a cappella group and they meet to rehearse at 7 a.m. every morning. This is Take Note's sixth year as a group and they currently include 15 amazing members. This past year, Take Note placed 3rd at ICHSA Midwest Quarterfinals, received the award for Outstanding Choreography, and progressed to ICHSA Midwest Semifinals. They want to send lots of love to their amazing mascot, A-cat-pella, and hope you enjoy their performance!

Touch of Class is Port Clinton High School's pop a cappella group. The 15 members of this ensemble range from sophomores to seniors and are involved in many sports and extracurricular activities outside of choir, including NHS, basketball, track, cross country, tennis, golf, hockey, softball, theatre, and more! Touch of Class (or TOC for short!) has competed in multiple ICHSA Semifinals and was a Finalist in 2016. The students in this ensemble love to make music together and push themselves to be the best that they can be. 

Voices is Lawrence North High School’s elite a cappella group, and one of seven groups at LN. They perform all around the community and in choir concerts at school. This group sings all styles of music, but focuses on pop with some hints of jazz and alternative. Voices is thrilled to be competing for the first time this year and to showcase their music.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Aria Cadeau is a vocalist, music director, arranger, and choreographer from Columbus, Ohio. A graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in music education with a focus in voice, Aria is currently the vocal music director at Columbus School for Girls. In 2022, during her tenure as music director, arranger, and choreographer of Ohio State of Mind, she led OSM to multiple Semifinals appearances and ultimately ICCA Finals, winning Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Arrangement awards during her competitive years. In the following year, Aria choreographed the 2023 winning ICHSA set for Shades of Blue. In the summer of 2023, she participated in the graduate student program at A Cappella Academy's summer vocal intensive program, deepening her knowledge of the elements that create successful a cappella groups. Her range of experiences and passions, from vocal teaching to arranging to choreographing, give her the ability to help groups connect their big picture vision with crucial details that allow a set to blossom.

Ryan Hutcherson believes that the power of music gives people a voice, passion, and a creative outlet for finding both. Contemporary a cappella has certainly driven his musical career through performance, directing, arranging, teaching, and wearing many other hats. Ryan graduated from Otterbein University with a bachelor's degree in music education. There, he co-founded and co-directed Ottertuned, Otterbein's first mixed a cappella group. Ottertuned continues to compete in ICCA, was invited to sing at Carnegie Hall with Deke Sharon for DCINY, and has a single available on popular music platforms. During his time at Maysville High School, he established Panther Tones, which placed 1st in their 2021 ICHSA Midwest Quarterfinal, and has a single on popular music platforms. Ryan was also the Wilmington High School Choir Director in Wilmington, Ohio, has arranged for groups around the globe, and resided as the Ohio Choral Director Association’s Contemporary A Cappella Resources and Repertoire Chair. Ryan looks forward to seeing tonight's passionate performers showcasing their hard work, and would like to say "break a leg (but no more than one) and make memories that will last a lifetime." 

Kelly Korpusik has enjoyed working with the students at Centerville High School since 2016. Currently the head choral director at CHS, she has the privilege of directing all four choirs and Forte A Cappella during the school day, along with Summit A Cappella and music-directing their school musicals after hours. She received her Bachelor of Music in vocal music education from Miami University in 1999. She started her music career teaching general music for grades one through six in the Winton Woods School district. During this time, she was also on staff with the Cincinnati Children's Choir at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Kelly has taught private piano and voice lessons for over 20 years and has performed professionally with the Cincinnati Camerata. Music has always been a big part of her life and she loves getting to share it with her students. 

Hailing from the rock and roll capital of the world, Olivia Loparo got her start at the School of Rock Cleveland, where she learned how to sing in various contemporary styles and arrange vocal harmonies. She then matriculated to the University of Cincinnati, where she co-founded the university’s first all-treble a cappella group, Avocalypse. As the group’s director and producer, Olivia led Avocalypse to ICCA for four years, moving on to Semifinals and winning Outstanding Arrangement. She also served as a vocalist, arranger, choreographer, and dabbled in audio production for the group. She is excited to be able to continue with Varsity Vocals on the judging panel. 

Ben Spalding is a former choir director and founder of Forte. Forte is a four-time Runner-Up and the 2016 Champion of ICHSA Finals. He is an avid supporter of a cappella music, and wrote a book with Deke Sharon and Brody McDonald, called "A Cappella" (available on Amazon and other resellers). Ben is also a founding member of the A Cappella Education Association (ACEA) and is associated with several other a cappella organizations. He is a sought-after clinician and continues to travel the country workshopping a cappella groups. Ben also founded professional group, Vocalight, and is bringing them back in 2024. 

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 ICHSA Midwest 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!

#ICHSA