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

Liberty High School
Sunday, February 18th, 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

16th Street Soul is a contemporary a cappella vocal band at Warren Central High School on the far east of Indianapolis. This ensemble consists of 11 human instruments that are definitely going to leave you wanting more. They are high achievers in both music and academia. This upper-level honors ensemble has worked seamlessly to form their unique sound. In their first year of competition, 16th Street Soul was named the 2023 ICHSA Midwest Champion and performed at 2023 ICHSA Finals. For the past two years, they were featured guest artists at the U.S. Attorney’s Law Enforcement Conference and a featured group at the Kettering National A Cappella Festival. This year, they began hosting the Indy A Cappella Festival and performed on stage with TAKE6. 16th Street Soul was established in 2021 and has made a lasting impact on the a cappella community. They are directed by Mr. Brian Long and Miss Kelsey Coram. This is 16th Street Soul!

High Tide is the premier contemporary a cappella  group at Tupelo High School. The group consists of 13 students from grades 10 through 12. The group is known for outstanding musicianship and sings a wide variety of musical styles. The members of High Tide are also part of The Tupelo High School Madrigals, founded in 1974. The students are excited to compete in the 2023 ICHSA. 

JayBlues is a mixed-voice a cappella group at Liberty High School in Liberty, Mo. The founding members of this ensemble began singing together before and after school and soon realized they wanted to take it to the next level. Together, they collaborate on programming and technical aspects of the group, all contributing to their inspired performances. JayBlues is composed of talented, dedicated students, all of whom share a deep love of making music. 

More than just a choir, Nixapella is an experience that embodies the vibrant spirit and talent at Nixa High School. This auditioned ensemble performs a range of music, including jazz, barbershop, and pop genres. The group serves as an ambassador of vocal music to their community, sharing their talents in local events, as well as regional and national competitions and festivals. Formed to explore the ever-changing landscape of vocal music, Nixapella pushes the boundaries of what is considered traditional choir repertoire. Their performances are not just musical events, but artistic expressions that aim to engage and inspire audiences of all ages. Each member brings their unique voice and style, culminating in a cohesive sound that is both innovative and soul-stirring. Nixapella members are also enrolled in a varsity choir class at Nixa High School. The ensemble values musical excellence, camaraderie, and community involvement. In every performance, they aim to foster a love for the arts and give back to the community that has continually supported them. 

Reign is an all-male a cappella group from the great state of Iowa. Hailing from the land of Hawkeyes and Cyclones, the gentlemen of Reign are happy to be returning to ICHSA, in which they typically compete every two or three years. In 2020, they earned a 3rd place finish in their Midwest Quarterfinal and they’re excited to be back. Blending together current and classic tunes, Reign loves to entertain the students of Valley High School with sweet melodies, awesome harmonies, a splash of fun, and occasional “organized movement” of a certain quality.  A fixture in West Des Moines, the group enjoys entertaining audiences of all ages throughout the community.  They are blessed to be sharing a stage with such fantastic groups from the region and they hope you enjoy the performance. 

SoundProof comes from the nonprofit organization KC A Cappella, which is dedicated to providing a unique educational and musical experience for high school students around the Kansas City Metropolitan area. SoundProof has been competing in ICHSA since 2017 and was named the 2022 ICHSA Champions. They are so excited to be returning this year and can't wait to share their set with you! 

The Cat's Meow is a mixed a cappella group from Licking, Mo., home of the Wildcats. Currently in its seventh year at Licking High School, this clowder of cats was drawn together by a shared love of music. They represent a wide range of students, from smart cats, sporty cats, and cheer cats to, of course, jazzy cats. Growing up in a small, rural community with a funny name, these tomcats and kittens are proving every day that they aren't your average alley cats. They are the Cat's Meow! 

A Cappella music has been thriving at Parkway North since the early 2000s. What began as separate male and female groups eventually developed into the mixed group Valholla. Valholla is made up of freshmen through seniors and meets outside of school to rehearse and perform.  The group shares a close-knit bond and loves singing contemporary a cappella music together. They hope you enjoy the energy and excitement of Valholla. 

Viva Voce is a treble-voice a cappella group from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis, Mo. Founded in 2016, Viva Voce is a musically talented, highly dedicated group of high school students who come together to share their love of a cappella music with their peers and community.  This extracurricular group currently includes 22 students. The Vivas pride themselves on being involved in many sports and activities at LHWHS, but always finding time to sing and keep their lives musical.  

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Tim Arnold is the choral director at Hillsboro High School in Hillsboro, Mo. Prior to moving to Hillsboro, he taught in the Hazelwood School District for 15 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Missouri Baptist University and a master’s degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is a frequent clinician and adjudicator for ensembles around the Midwest, including traditional choirs and contemporary ensembles. Tim’s contemporary a cappella journey started in Flawless Intuition at Washington High School in 1993. He traveled with the gospel quartet Closer for several years at Missouri Baptist University before beginning his teaching career. He has directed numerous groups, including Voices of Harmony, Wild Scats, and For Ladies Only in the Hazelwood School District and Hawkapella, Hawkabellas, and Hawkafellas at Hillsboro High School. Tim has served on the Executive Boards for both the Missouri Choral Directors Association and the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association. Most recently, he was awarded Teacher of the Year Honors for the Hillsboro School District, as well as the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. He is an active member of the worship team at Gracelife Chapel and wants to thank his wife Jessica and his two children, Cadence and Caleb, for all their support. 

Aurielle (Macchi) Carter received her Bachelor of Arts in music from Missouri State University, where she was a proud member of the University's premier all-female a cappella group, A Cub Bella, and participated in the flagship touring choir, The Missouri State University Chorale. With nearly 20 years of performance experience, Aurielle has had the honor of performing in the Missouri Thespians All-State Show, at the International Thespian Festival, at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C., and at the 2017 Presidential Inauguration. After her time at Missouri State, Aurielle earned her master's degree in music therapy from Maryville University in St. Louis, where she is now a board-certified music therapist. Using music as a medium for movement, expression, and communication, Aurielle finds fulfillment in supporting children, families, and organizations as they work together to achieve individual goals through music. 

Jordan Nelson is a private voice teacher through the William Jewell College of Music. She has six years of classroom experience teaching grades K-12 in both private and public schools in the Kansas City area. During this time, she worked with elementary general music classes, middle school choir, high school choir, and high school drumline. Jordan also regularly serves as a judge and clinician for area events. Jordan has a Master of Music Education (with an emphasis in conducting) from Florida State University, as well as a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Jordan's professional affiliations include the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), and the Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA). 

Alex Smith is a graduate of Missouri State University, from which he holds a Bachelor of Science in Music degree, with an emphasis in voice. His love for a cappella started when he attended his first ICCA competition as an audience member in 2016. During his undergrad, Alex performed and toured nationally and internationally with the Missouri State University Chorale. He also sang in the men's chorus, choral union, and multicultural ensemble. Alex was a member and music director of The Missouri State University Hibernotes from 2017-2020. He performed in four ICCA seasons throughout those years, winning a Midwest Quarterfinal in 2018 and music directing multiple award-winning sets. Alex’s professional engagements include singing as a young artist with CORO and the Des Moines Choral Festival in their 2019 season, commercially released albums and singles with the MSU Chorale, Springfield Chamber Chorus, and MSU Hibernotes, as well as recording projects with various publishing companies. Alex works at Missouri State University as an administrative assistant in the music department. He also works with Cut Off Studios as the Director of Client Retention and Assistant Director of the Internship Program. He sings with Springfield Chamber Chorus and the Queen City Chorale, the latter of which he serves as a member on the advisory board. Additionally, Alex is a Choral Scholar at Westminster Presbyterian Church, and is active as a church soloist and chorister in Southwest Missouri.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Danaya Roller and Liberty 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