2024 ICHSA West Quarterfinal @ Del Valle Theatre

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 WEST QUARTERFINAL

Del Valle Theatre
Friday, February 16th, 2024

WE'RE SOCIAL

We're talking about this event, and all of our events around the world!

varsityvocals

@varsityvocals

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

Amplify is the small, advanced, mixed voice ensemble for singers aged 11 to 18 at Rise Up Children’s Choir. This dynamic group of performers brings a fresh and exciting sound to innovative a cappella arrangements, focusing primarily on pop and musical theatre genres. Amplify’s cover of “Love” was featured on BOHSA 2023.

Continuum is the high school a cappella ensemble of Grammy-winning Pacific Boychoir Academy in Oakland, Calif. Continuum sings choral music of all styles, throughout the ages, and around the world, from renaissance to contemporary pop, hymns, glees, folks songs, spirituals, shanties, and more. They have released singles on iTunes, Spotify, and other popular music media sites, appeared on NBC’s “The Blacklist,” and have been top contenders in the national Harmony Sweepstakes. This will be Continuum's first time competing in the ICHSA!

MST Music Academy's MYST is a delightful group that embodies the essence of local charm. Rooted in their love for singing, these talented young performers found their harmony on the youth theatre stage and decided to share their passion with the world. A cherished gem in the local music scene, MYST loves experimenting with sounds. From the bustling atmosphere of farmers' markets to cozy community gatherings, they infuse warmth and melody wherever they go. Their performances are not just musical acts, but heartfelt conversations in the language of tunes, creating a sense of belonging and joy for their listeners. MYST thrives on the simplicity of their shared love for music, making every note they sing resonate with authenticity. With each performance, they bring people together, foster connections, and spread happiness. In a world where music often takes grand stages, MYST showcases the beauty found in intimate settings, where the power of harmonious voices can create lasting memories and inspire feelings of togetherness. Step into the enchanting world of MYST, where music becomes a gentle embrace and let their melodies weave a sweet serenade that lingers in your heart.

The hOWLers is an all-gender a cappella group from The Athenian School. They love to eat together, play together, and of course, sing together! They are ready for anything and always bring joy and open hearts.

The newly named Treble Threats from Aliso Niguel High School last performed at the 2022 ICHSA West Quarterfinals under the name Wannatonix and are back now to blow your minds! Founded last year, this student-run group is led by a new director and choreographer. They are continuing to grow with more challenging songs and arrangements! The Treble Threats are known on campus for their fun and upbeat pop selections with a focus on treble voices, along with the support of their small-but-mighty bass and baritone sections. These kids bring heart to every performance and share a deep love of music and performing that is palpable for every audience!

Treble With Angels, otherwise known as Trebles, is Aragon High School's competitive non-male a cappella group. Trebles hails from San Mateo, Calif., and began 10 years ago as one of Aragon's three a cappella groups. A proud student-led group, students are completely responsible for all of the group’s arrangements and choreography. They have been to ICHSA two times before, in 2019 and 2023, notably reaching Semifinals in 2023 and winning two Outstanding Arrangement awards.

We Got Treble is a mixed a cappella group from Chico, Calif. They love to bring new life to songs of the past. With creative arrangements and a spirit for individuality, this group always brings energy to the stage.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Samuel Dantowitz (he/him) is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he sang with Pitch Slapped (two-time ICCA Champion), Upper Structure (two-time ICCA Runner-Up), and award-winning vocal jazz group Point of Departure. His work on “She Used to Be Mine” with Upper Structure earned him several Outstanding Soloist awards and can be heard on Varsity Vocals’ 2018 BOCA compilation album, enjoying nearly 700 thousand streams on Spotify and a nod from songwriter and ICCA alum Sara Bareilles. In film and TV, Samuel was fortunate to work on the 2022 Academy Award Best Picture winner “CODA” and Lifetime’s “Pitch Slapped.” His quartet, Mixed & Mastered, was an inaugural mixed competitor at the International Varsity Barbershop Harmony Society Contest. Samuel currently serves year-round on staff at A Cappella Academy. Outside of music environments, Samuel still finds a way to burst into song at his 9-5, where he’s the current “Amazon’s Got Talent” National Champion.

Dr. Daniel Fister (he/him) is thrilled to be in his 10th (!) year judging for Varsity Vocals. He is a proud original member of Wilsonville High School’s Soul’d Out and alumnus of Chapman University SoundCheck. In both groups, he sang bass, arranged, served as music director, and competed in Varsity Vocals events. Daniel remains involved in a cappella as a judge for Varisty Vocals and the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs), a reviewer for the Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB), and a masterclass leader. His time singing and judging a cappella inspired him to pursue a doctoral degree in musicology and his dissertation examined how race impacts ideologies, policies, and sounds in contemporary scholastic a cappella. He is now an adjunct professor at various Bay Area colleges. He also sings with and is the assistant director of The Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus, for whom he directs the ensemble’s small group, Desperate Measures. Best wishes to all the competing groups!

Richman Neumann has been directing, arranging, and performing a cappella for nearly a decade. A classically trained pianist, Richman currently directs a cappella septet, Side Note, and 31-member pop choir, Scales of the City, both based in San Francisco. Richman competed in the ICCA for four years with The Carnegie Mellon Originals and received Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Arrangement awards for his work. He believes that pop music, a genre which draws influences from R&B, rock, theatre, cinema, and beyond, can make wonderful emotional statements to its listeners.

Hannah Robrecht, a versatile and accomplished classical vocalist, embarked on her musical journey as a member of the Contra Costa Children's Choir from 1997 to 2003. Hannah was a part of their level five elite choir and select a cappella group invited as guest performers at the IACC in 2003 held at UCLA. Hannah's involvement in the Bay Area's vibrant performing arts scene extended beyond the choir as she participated in various plays and musicals with organizations such as Contra Costa Musical Theater, Balasco, and Contra Costa Children's Choir. Her commitment to music led her to regional and national competitions in classical and musical theatre, culminating in an invitation to represent the United States at the 2003 World Championships of Performing Arts. Excited to be performing on a global stage, she brought home a gold medal for opera, a silver for musical theatre, and a bronze for gospel. Hannah was a vocal performance major at the University of Oregon for three years and studied under the guidance of Eric Mentzel and Sharon Paul. She was also a member of University of Oregon's premier treble a cappella group, Divisi. Post-college, she continued to contribute her talents to the musical community by singing with Cantare Con Vivo and is currently a first soprano with the San Ramon Valley Chorale. Currently residing in Pleasant Hill with her family, Hannah has found a harmonious balance between her musical pursuits and a successful career in marketing and communications.

Hahns Shin is a bass singer based out of Berkeley and East Bay. In undergrad, he performed with the prestigious Purdue Varsity Glee Club and the Purdue Symphony Orchestra. He currently performs in four different a cappella groups (including Side Note, winner of the 2022 Bay Area Harmony Sweepstakes competition) and is active in community a cappella meetups throughout the Bay Area. He has served on the board of the East Bay Harmony community chorus since 2018.

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 three placing groups at this event will advance to the 2024 ICHSA West 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!

VIEW ALBUMS

#ICHSA