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 SEMIFINAL

William Henry Harrison High School 
Friday, March 15th, 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

For five years, From The Top has represented the best of the best musicians at Northview High School! Their late-night rehearsals bring laughter and friendship to their choir room in Grand Rapids, regardless of the tiring sports practices, musical rehearsals, and homework assignments that took place beforehand. Their tradition of hard work and incredible musicianship has led them to an ICHSA Quarterfinal win in 2020, a Runner-Up spot in 2023, a debut EP in 2021, and a trip to Boston for the Boston Sings (BOSS) a cappella festival in 2023! 

Skyline Blues, from Ann Arbor Skyline High School, was founded in 2008 and is under the direction of Lindsay CieChanski and Hayla Alawi. The group meets after school twice a week and participates in many performances and competitions each year. They are a consistent force at the ICHSA, often advancing to Semifinals and in 2019, to Finals. Skyline Blues has won awards for Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Vocal Percussion, Outstanding Soloist, and Outstanding Arrangement. Skyline Blues has been featured on BOHSA and Voices Only compilations and has released several EPs, a single, and most recently, an album, titled Flares and Fireworks. Skyline Blues has been featured at the National A Cappella Convention (NACC), the One Voice Invitational, the MSVMA Summer Workshop, and numerous other guest appearances. In 2018, they represented Vocal Music at the State Capitol for Arts Advocacy Day, and were invited to sing at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids (2019 and 2024). Skyline Blues is excited to participate in ICHSA once again and is thankful for every opportunity to make music together! 

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. 

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! 

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!       

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. 

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. 

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.

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 where he directs the 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. 

Holly Wessels is a classical, musical theatre, and pop vocalist and performer hailing from Dayton, Ohio. She graduated from the University of Dayton and earned a Bachelor of Arts in music studies. Holly has been heavily involved in the contemporary a cappella community since she was a member of Kettering Fairmont High School’s award-winning a cappella group, Eleventh Hour. With Eleventh Hour, she appeared on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and won a gold medal at the 2012 World Choir Games. From 2014-2018, Holly served as a counselor, social media coordinator, and customer service specialist for Camp A Cappella. In 2015, Holly provided background vocals on Pentatonix’s self-titled album, which ranked no.1 on the Billboard Top 40 charts. For three years, Holly performed and toured with professional a cappella group, Vocalight. She has many years of competitive a cappella experience, participating in the ICCA and the Open. Holly performed at Carnegie Hall in 2017 and 2018 for the Open Finals in New York City, earning 3rd place each year. She also earned the Outstanding Soloist award at the 2017 Open Semifinal. In 2018, Holly was signed with Disney Music Group as an original cast member of Disney’s critically-acclaimed a cappella group, DCappella. In 2020, Holly was featured in a music video covering Kelly Clarkson’s “I Dare You” in a virtual a cappella choir, arranged by Emmy-winning producer Shams Ahmed. In 2023, Holly was a clinician and performer at Tiffin University’s FestiVOX. She continues to perform and enjoys participating in virtual vocal collaborations with other artists on social media. Prior to her recent move to Cincinnati with her husband, Holly frequently performed throughout the Dayton area, appearing with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Chamber Chorus and as a featured soloist with the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra. Holly regularly adjudicates for Varsity Vocals events and is honored to contribute to an organization that has provided so many incredible opportunities for her! 

With a Master of Music in choral conducting (Kent State University) and a Bachelor of Arts in music theory and voice performance (Ashland University), BK Riha is a music educator, producer, vocalist, live looper, and arranger with a special interest in building pop a cappella repertoire for treble ensembles and young scholastic groups. Surpassing 25 thousand copies sold worldwide, BK's 200+ innovative yet accessible arrangements have been performed and recorded by ensembles all of levels and ages in over 30 countries, with notable appearances at 2018 World Choir Games in South Africa, the 2021 World Choir Games in Belgium, and the 2023 NACC in Orlando, Fla. BK also adjudicates for the ICHSA, the ICCA, and the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs). BK regularly coaches ensembles and leads workshops at festivals like SoJam and the Nordonia A Cappella Festival, as well as various Ohio high schools. BK currently teaches Commercial Voice, Music Fundamentals and Second Year Project at Tiffin University, one of the only schools in the country to offer scholarships for a cappella, beatboxing, live looping and hip hop music. BK also directs TU's vocal harmony group, Higher Ground, and assists with arts recruitment. BK is the founder, director, and producer of ZERO TO SIXTY, Ohio's summer a cappella group. In their free time, BK tries new recipes and studies the link between psychology and music. 

Matthew Swope is a doctoral student in choral conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and director of the UC Cabaret Singers. For 14 years, he served as the director of choral activities and performing arts chair at Winter Park High School in Florida, where he directed two a cappella groups, Take 7 and Naughty Scotty and the Octapella. Matthew has served as a board member of the A Cappella Education Association, staff member at Camp A Cappella, May Festival Conducting Fellow, and assistant director of the Knox Choir. He holds an M.M. in voice performance and pedagogy, as well as bachelor’s degrees in music and classics from Penn State University. Ensembles under his direction have competed at ICHSA Finals (2012, 2015) and the NACC (2018) and performed for conferences of the American Choral Directors Association Southern Region (2020), Florida American Choral Directors Association (2011, 2015) and the Florida Music Education Association (2016). His groups have won CARAs and appeared on albums including BOHSA, Voices Only, and the Women's A Cappella Association's compilation, WACA. 

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 placing group at this event will advance to the 2024 ICHSA Finals.

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