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

Hilliard Bradley High School
Saturday, February 24th, 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, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, and join the conversation using #ICHSA.

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

Blue Kids on the Block is Hilliard Davidson's most selective ensemble. The group consists of 19 singers who are chosen in a highly competitive audition process. They sing a diverse repertoire of contemporary a cappella and traditional choral genres. Blue Kids serve as the flagship ensemble for Hilliard Davidson and perform many concerts each year, including performances at ICHSA, Franklin Park Conservatory, Ohio Statehouse, the Clippers, Wildlights at the Zoo, and private events throughout the greater Columbus area. 

ECHO, from Hilliard Bradley High School, is in its seventh year of existence as a contemporary a cappella group. ECHO is one of four a cappella groups that make up the Jaguar A Cappella program from Hilliard Bradley High School. ECHO is so excited to be competing in their second  ICHSA and hopes you enjoy the result of their passion and hard work!       

Harmonics is one of two a cappella groups at Buckeye High School in Medina, Ohio. This is their first ICHSA appearance! They have attended a cappella festivals in the past, including Nordonia’s AcaFest and Tiffin University’s FestiVox. Some students from the group have performed in special venues around the U.S., ranging from Disney World to Carnegie Hall. Harmonics students are active members and leaders within their school community, participating in activities such as student council, huddle, hope squad, soccer, cheerleading, marching band, track, cross country, color guard and drama. 

Knight Life A Cappella, commonly referred to as KLA, is the premier extracurricular choir from Van Buren High School. Since forming in 2018, they have enjoyed performing throughout the Van Buren community and have competed in the ICHSA for the past two years. Under the direction of Ms. Christina Csernyik, Knight Life is made up of 16 extremely involved and dedicated individuals between the ages of 14 and 18. KLA specializes in singing pop and jazz a cappella music and loves the unique challenge this type of music provides to their music education. 

Orion's Belt is an up and coming a cappella group hailing from Grand Ledge High School. They had the opportunity to compete in their first ICHSA last year and were lucky enough to progess to Semifinals. This year's iteration of the group is composed of 18 members that are out of this world. Each member is uniquely themselves, allowing them to create a wonderful blend of sound when brought together. 

Phoenix is one of Chaminade Julienne High School's pop a cappella groups. Two years after the creation of CJ's first group, Vega, founding director Joe Whatley saw the need to provide another avenue of opportunity for all the musical talent. Originally named Age V (V as in roman numeral five and the original members' way of spelling Vega backwards), the group more than doubled the amount of students participating in CJ a cappella. After three years of growth, the group decided it was time to redefine their identity andupdated their name to Phoenix in the 2014-2015 school year. They have inspired a spirit of determination and peer-collaboration across the entire CJ a cappella program and began competing in the ICHSA, placing 3rd at Quarterfinals in 2018. The group is directed by Vega alumna and Age V founding member, Adelyn Helms. She is proud to watch this group of talented singers grow in perseverance, excellence, and passion, as they discover the power they each hold inside themselves. 

Nestled within the musical heart of Vermilion High School in Ohio, Soundsation brings a harmonious blend of pop, rock, jazz, and R&B in the world of a cappella. Embracing their passion for diverse musical genres, they are enthusiastic to enter their second ICHSA season, infusing their performances with creativity and raw talent. Each member of Soundsation brings a unique musical flair, crafting harmonies that resonate with depth and emotion. Join them on this exciting journey as they captivate audiences, embodying the vibrant spirit of Vermilion High School through their love for music! 

Titan Harmony is the premier a cappella group at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis. The group is composed of singers in grades nine through 12. The group members bring various vocal styles, including pop, gospel, R&B, jazz, and alternative, which gives them a range of genres like no other. They are excited to perform tonight and wish every group the best of luck and to leave it on the stage! 

Upbeat is one of Buckeye High School's two a cappella groups. The original members of Upbeat were the opening group for the professional a cappella group InPulse. In addition, this group was awarded Student Group of the Year by the Northeast Ohio State Board of Education. They perform at many local and community events throughout the year. For the past two years, they have had the privilege of being one of the opening acts at Tiffin University's FestiVox. 

Vega is the premier and national award-winning group from Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School. Since they were established in 2010, Vega has performed and competed in various cities, including New York City and Memphis, Tenn. They sing songs from genres such as pop, R&B, rock, and many more. While they primarily perform on the CJ Stage, they have also shared the stage with other groups, including Grammy-winning group Take 6. In 2021, Vega changed leadership and is now under the direction of  Mr. Angelo Knight. Angelo is an alumnus of Vega where he received individual awards in the ICHSA competition. Under this direction, the group has reignited their fire to uphold Vega’s legacy. Vega is dedicated to the growth of musicianship, friendship, fun, and keeping the legacy alive. 

WAVE A Cappella is the all-treble a cappella group at Hilliard Bradley High School. The group is composed of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. WAVE competed at ICHSA Quarterfinals in 2023 for the first time and is so excited to be back! 

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Christopher Andres attended The Ohio State University and studied music education and music performance. He also was a member of The Ohio State University Men's Glee Club and University Chorus. Chris has been singing and playing the piano since he was 5 years old and also plays flute, tenor saxophone, baritone, and trombone. Chris has performed on numerous stages around the world as both an instrumentalist and vocalist. He currently serves as the music coordinator and music director at Oakland Church of the Brethren which he directs Bell Choir, Adult Choir, Women's Choir, and the contemporary praise band. He is currently in his sixth year at Greenville Senior High School in Greenville, Ohio as the assistant vocal music director and accompanist. 

Charlie Arthur began performing at a very young age, participating in as many musical ensembles, theatrical productions, short films, and middle school dance battles as he could seek out. He discovered his love for contemporary vocal music when he joined Forte, the award-winning a cappella group at Centerville High School. In Forte, Charlie received national recognition as a vocal percussionist and began arranging, recording, producing, and teaching vocal music full-time. Over the last decade, these experiences have taken him across the U.S., Canada, Russia, and the Caribbean, working and performing with vocal artists such as Vocalight, m-pact, Vybration, The Edge Effect, and Peter Hollens. Currently Chicago-based, Charlie is also a member of the recently-launched band, Chasing Saturn, and a co-producer of Broadway Goes A Cappella. 

Emilio Jarufe is the choral director and Fine Arts Department Chair at Avon Lake High School where he directs two contemporary a cappella groups. He serves Avon Lake City Schools as their Performing Arts Center Sound Engineer. He received his undergraduate degree in music education from Cleveland State University and has an M.M.Ed. from Kent State University. Emilio served as the curriculum director and a music director at Camp A Cappella for four years. Most recently, Emilio served as the technical director for Camp A Cappella. Aside from education, Emilio works in live sound integration purchasing and installing music technology for educational and business institutions.   

Kath Meyer has been a part of the a cappella community for 10 years. She began her a cappella journey as a member of Forte at Centerville High School and continued on in college as the president of The Miami Misfitz at Miami University. She has competed in both ICHSA and ICCA and has arranged and choreographed for a cappella and community musical productions. Currently, Kath is back at her alma mater and co-directing the extracurricular high school group Novae. 

Corey Thur holds a degree in film production from Kent State University. There, he was a member of The Kent Clarks for four years and served as assistant music director, vice president, and a group arranger. He has also arranged for other a cappella groups, such as Rhythms & Roos from the University of Akron. With The Kent Clarks, Corey competed in the ICCA three times, performed live on “The Today Show,” and performed at The White House for a special event, including an individual performance for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Currently, he is the baritone of the Cleveland-based group, Zero to Sixty. 

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Jeremy Witt, Shades of Blue, Eric Farnbauch, and Hilliard Bradley High School; 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