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 SOUTH SEMIFINAL

Trinity Preparatory School
Saturday, March 23rd, 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

Sonic Edge is the premier vocal a cappella group from the Cobb County Center for Excellence  in the Performing Arts. Last year, Sonic Edge made their competitive debut at the National A Cappella Convention (NACC) and they are so excited to compete in the 2024 ICHSA! 

Traces of Blue is the advanced women's choir and pop a cappella ensemble from Sumrall High School. Traces of Blue has performed extensively throughout the United States and made their ICHSA debut in 2023, placing 1st at their Quarterfinal and 2nd at the South Semifinals. Traces of Blue’s mission is to be a light and gift to others by sharing their musical talents, inspiring a sense of confidence and individuality in younger singers, and enriching the lives of their community members. They seek to establish themselves as positive role models by spreading joy with their God-given talents. 

Enloe High School’s Crescenloe was founded in 2015 in order to create a student-run high school a cappella family. Originally founded by Nyla Smith and a group of Enloe’s talented singers and good-hearted people, they have developed their voice in the years since. Every group member plays a vital role, bringing their wonderful voices and unique personalities to every rehearsal. In 2020, Crescenloe won 1st place at ICHSA Quarterfinals, where Liyana Falvey was awarded Outstanding Soloist and Meghan King was awarded Outstanding Vocal Percussion. In 2023, Maya Spencer and Vivian Cao received the Outstanding Arrangement Award. Additionally, they have opened for the bands Foreigner and Loverboy at Coastal Credit Union Music Park in Raleigh, N.C. with a Crescenloe-arranged medley of five classic rock songs. Their core principles are implemented throughout all areas of Crescenloe. Their acronym, CRESC, stands for Collaboration, Respect, Enthusiasm, Slayosity, and Communication. Crescenloe is committed to spreading positivity and appreciation for music inside and outside their community, and they could not be more excited to perform for you tonight! 

The A Cappella Group, known as TAG, is 21 years old. The group has appeared at the ICHSA Finals in New York three times and won 12 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) for their albums over the years, tied for the most awards by any high school group. They released their 16th studio album, Look At Me Now, in 2023. Several of their previous albums and tracks have been recognized by the Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB) as favorites of the year. TAG loves singing together and can't wait to perform this evening. 

The After School Specials is a co-ed a cappella group of auditioned students from the performing arts program at Palm Harbor University High School. The group was founded in 2010 by the original chorus teacher, Mr. Justin Havard, and performs at concerts, community gigs, and competitions each year under the direction of Mr. Blake Hudson. The After School Specials are actively involved in their school’s chorus and thespian programs and enjoy any opportunity to perform together, even for random karaoke songs. 

Acapocalypse is the sole a cappella ensemble from Pine Ridge High School in Deltona, Fla. They perform a wide variety of music, some arranged by their very own Acapocalypsers. Acapocalypse emphasizes the importance of student leadership, giving their members opportunities to arrange and choreograph as well as perform. They also value community outreach and perform at events throughout the Deltona area and beyond. More than just an a cappella group, Acapocalypse is a family. They believe that the meaningful relationships they share help make their music powerful. They prioritize bonding as a team, which sometimes means an after-rehearsal trip for ice cream! As a co-curricular ensemble, students spend several hours a week during and after school rehearsing music and learning choreography. Acapocalypse is excited to perform in its fifth ICHSA and share a set full of intriguing musical elements and artistic choreography. 

HyperOctave is the pop a cappella offshoot of the mixed show choir at Heritage High School.  The Heritage High Mixed Show Choir enjoys performing in their local community, at Disney, and at competitions like ICHSA. This group consistently earns Superior ratings at both District and State Music Performance Assessments. 

Vocality was founded in 2019 at Boone High School. Two barbershop groups were fused to form the first version of Vocality. In 2020, Vocality competed for their first ICHSA and placed as Runner-Up at Quarterfinals. Unfortunately, a musical and the pandemic prevented them from competing in Semifinals that year. In 2022, Vocality recorded their first single, "Traitor" by Olivia Rodrigo, which is now streaming on all platforms. In 2023, the group went all the way to ICHSA Finals in New York and took home the awards for Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Arrangement. Vocality mostly sings pop standards, but is familiar with jazz and classical styles as well. 

Vocal Society, also known as VoSo, is the auditioned high school vocal ensemble at Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, Fla. After taking a little break, VoSo is jumping back into ICHSA for their fifth year as a competitor, having competed as Semifinalists in 2018 and 2019. VoSo enjoys hosting both high school and collegiate a cappella competitions on their campus. When they aren’t performing in school concerts and events, VoSo performs with honor choirs in the Central Florida area, participates in all-state choirs annually, and enjoys performing alongside other a cappella groups in events like the One Voice Invitational and the NACC. 

The University High School Titonix is thrilled for its first ICHSA. Their director is in his second year at their school and the program is growing quickly, with over 160 students in choir and 37 of them in the a cappella choir. Newcomers to modern a cappella, The Titonix are digging in and loving the journey! They have been invited to perform in London in the London International Choral Festival, among other performance opportunities. They are excited to share their hard work and hope you enjoy their performance.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Brandon Dye graduated from The University of Tampa with his B.M. in music education. There, he was the concertmaster of the UT Symphony and String Orchestra, the assistant conductor of the University Chorus, a member of Chamber Singers, Wind Ensemble, and Tampa Tones (ICCA), as well as an active soloist and chamber musician. His most recent awards include the Sally and Jack Jenkins Service Award in 2019 and the Outstanding Musicianship, Performance, and Academic Achievement Award in 2020. From 2021-2024, Brandon was invited to participate in the International Porto Heli Music Festival in Greece where he played solo and chamber music and participated in master classes in voice, chamber music, and conducting. He serves as the co-Magnet Orchestra and Choir Director at South Miami Senior High School, Magnet School of the Arts. Brandon is currently attending the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music to obtain his M.M. in musicology. His thesis is titled "Masking Authenticity: The Reframing of Blackness Through the Hampton Singers' Tours” and focuses on constructions of "whiteness" and "blackness," looking at the musical tours of the Hampton Singers in the U.S. and Europe. Brandon also serves as the Graduate Assistant High School Partnership Civic Engagement Coordinator at the University of Miami, the beginning MYami Strings teacher, and the Strings Orchestra conductor with the Greater Miami Youth Symphony. 

Cindy Ellis is a Cuban-American music educator and vocalist. As a jazz vocal soloist and alto with the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers, Cindy frequently performs, teaches masterclasses, and conducts honor choirs throughout North America. The JMAX Singers collaborated with Jacob Collier for performances and recording projects throughout 2023, including singing alongside Coldplay for NBC’s "Saturday Night Live." Most recently, Cindy led honor choirs throughout the U.S., including the Mississippi All-State treble chorus. A native of Holguín, Cuba, Cindy immigrated to the United States in 2005. She earned her Bachelor of Music in music education/jazz voice from Florida International University and her master’s degree in music education from the University of Missouri. Cindy is one of two full-time choral directors at Miami Arts Studio (MAS), a public performing arts magnet school in Miami, Fla. Her a cappella group, SoFlo Harmony, frequently records backgrounds for Gloria and Emilio Estefan and several Latin Music award shows, including the Latin American Music Awards and the Latin Grammys. Her award-winning ensembles have performed at prestigious venues throughout the country, including Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 2022, Cindy served as instructional design editor and contributing author of “Teaching Beyond the Music,” published by GIA. Cindy currently serves as the World Musics and Cultures Coordinator for the American Choral Directors Association Southern Region, and is the MAS 2025 Teacher of the Year.

Ryan Ellis is a jazz pianist and director of vocal music at Miami Arts Studio (MAS), a public arts magnet school in Miami, Fla. Ryan received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Miami and his master's degree in music education from Florida International University. After five years as the Director of Bands, he gradually transitioned to Director of Choral Music. Ryan's ensembles have performed throughout the U.S., with concerts in Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, and New York, including five featured concerts at Carnegie Hall. Ryan is published as a contributing author on Jason Max Ferdinand’s “Teaching with Heart” and “Teaching Beyond the Music,” available from GIA Publications. While leading choral ensembles as one of two vocal directors at Miami Arts Studio, Ryan focuses on providing a relevant music education in a rapidly evolving industry. MAS Records, Inc. is a nonprofit record label in which students collaborate with industry professionals to write, produce, release, and market music. Links to all releases can be found at www.masrecords.net.  As a professional jazz pianist, Ryan has worked extensively in the Caribbean, Florida, and Hawaii. 

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