2025 ICCA Central Quarterfinal @ University of Waterloo

DEAR FRIENDS,

Welcome to Varsity Vocals’ 29th 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 29 years ago and we can’t wait to see how our 2025 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

ICCA CENTRAL QUARTERFINAL

University of Waterloo
Saturday, January 18th, 2025

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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 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 26th.

The high school tournament is now in its 20th year. The winners of each of seven Semifinal rounds will advance to the ICHSA Finals at The Town Hall in New York City on Friday, April 25th.

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

The AcaBellas is an upper-voice auditioned a cappella group from the University of Waterloo. They aim to deliver fiery, unforgettable performances that blend intricate musicality with expressive choreography. They have competed in the ICCA since 2016, elevating their craft with each performance. Their most recent showing in 2024 centered around their “Hair” set, which stood out for its vibrant red wigs and playful, thematic focus on songs related to hair. This set also showcased their vocal precision and ability to weave storytelling into performance. The AcaBellas provide a safe and supportive space for women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and allies to express their creativity, develop their talents, and perform in front of an audience. Each group member brings something unique to the table and their collaborative spirit helps them thrive both on and off stage. For ICCA 2025, The AcaBellas are excited to unveil a new set that blends their signature style with new elements, taking their audience on an emotional journey.

Equivox is Western University's one and only all-gender a cappella team! Derived from the adjective, “equivocal,” which means “open to more than one interpretation,” Equivox strives to give performances that offer unique meanings to each individual who encounters them. While they tend to specialize in pop with a hint of rock, Equivox enjoys experimenting with their sound and challenges themselves to do so as often as possible. Last season, they placed 3rd at their 2024 ICCA Central Quarterfinal for the very first time and were proud to represent as the only Canadian university in the top four! This is Equivox’s seventh year competing in ICCA and they are beyond excited to show what they’ve been working on!

Hawkapella is Wilfrid Laurier University's premier a cappella group. Established in 2010, Hawkapella is composed of singers from all faculties who have come together through a shared passion for singing and performing a cappella. They love to sing a diverse repertoire, including ballads, rock, pop, and R&B, and have previously performed at the ICCA, The Queen's University Competition, and other events. Hawkapella was honoured to place 1st at the Queen's University A Cappella Competition in 2023. In 2017, they were contacted by Cineplex to film a pre-show to promote the release of “Pitch Perfect 3,” which was shown in Cineplex theatres across Canada for a full month. Hawkapella is a close-knit group of students who have become a family through their music!

The MacaFellas is McMaster University's unique low-voice, all-gender a cappella group! They specialize in rock, R&B, and pop, but are never afraid to experiment with new genres and evolve their sound. They have competed in three previous ICCA seasons (2020, 2021, and 2023) and took the stage at Queens University in 2024. One of their proudest moments as a group was placing 3rd in their 2021 ICCA Quarterfinal. The MacaFellas are excited to perform again this year, bringing their signature energy and harmonies to the spotlight alongside other amazing groups!

Macappella is the first co-ed competitive a cappella group at McMaster University. They are entirely student-run, driven by a talented and passionate team of 19 undergraduate vocalists. From upbeat pop to jazzy R&B, Macappella enjoys performing a wide variety of music and always aims to deliver dynamic and memorable performances! With countless hours of rehearsals, full days of concerts, and individual practice time, each performance celebrates their hard work, creativity, and the connections they’ve built along the way. More than a vocal group, Macappella is a second family. Together, they have competed on national and international stages, including the 2023 ICCA Quarterfinals and the 2024 Queen’s A Cappella Competition, ultimately earning 3rd Place Vocal Group and Best Choreography at the latter. As performers, Macappella hopes to share their passion and dedication through their original arrangements and choreography. From their hearts to yours, Macappella invites you to experience the joy and energy of their music!

Noteworthy is Wilfrid Laurier University's second and newest a cappella ensemble. Based all the way up in chilly Waterloo, Canada, they are in their sixth year of operations and excited to be back at the ICCA! Noteworthy originally stemmed from a pipe dream to allow more students to attend the ICCA without leaving any members behind. Today, this close-knit group of 14 students includes all different majors but shares a love for making music with friends. Together, they’ve sung at charity galas to raise money for various causes, performed the Canadian anthem at their school’s football games, and (their personal favorite) delivered hundreds of singing telegrams to embarrassed college students every Valentine’s Day. This is their fourth year at the tournament and they are so excited to be back.

On That Note is a premier competitive women and queer-centered a cappella group from Toronto Metropolitan University. Founded in 2020, On That Note boasts a unique sound, an outside-the-box artistic vision, and a repertoire of songs originally performed by women and queer artists. Over the years, On That Note has gained widespread acclaim for their stage presence and all-original arrangements and choreography. This vibrant group connects through a shared love for singing and one another, as well as a passion to create unique sets that deliver a powerful message. Since their in-person ICCA debut in 2023, On That Note has become a two-time consecutive ICCA Finalist, taking home the Central Champion title with their powerful, narrative-driven sets. The group has also received multiple special awards for Outstanding Arrangement, Soloist, and Choreography. They released their Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA)-winning debut EP in 2024 and plan to release a full album in the near future! They hope that their love for one another and the music they perform will shine through onstage. With this same heart and dedication, On That Note is eager to carry on their legacy in the 2025 ICCA!

PitchSlapped is McMaster University's competitive high-range a cappella group! The group consists of students from diverse academic disciplines, ranging from engineering and business to health sciences and liberal arts, who all come together to create a unique sound. They specialize in a variety of genres, from indie pop and R&B to film soundtracks and ballads. PitchSlapped is dedicated to theming and storytelling, beginning every competition set design with an idea the group hopes to convey. They believe that this focus on sharing a message with their audience, combined with their musical technique, makes them stand out as performers. The group considers itself a family and works hard to bring their songs to life, balancing rehearsals with various school, work, and extracurricular obligations. This will be their sixth consecutive year performing in the ICCA since they became a competitive group in fall 2019. PitchSlapped is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share their passion, showcase their talents, and learn from other collegiate groups. They’re thrilled to be back this year and can’t wait to take the stage!

The Unaccompanied Minors is a mixed-voice, auditioned a cappella group from the University of Waterloo which has been belting out bangers since 2009. They love delivering powerful, passionate, and high-energy performances that span genres from top 40 hits to indie to R&B. Focusing on blend, musicality, and performance, they have been spreading aca-love wherever they go, from the Kitchener-Waterloo area to Toronto to the United States. In 2020, The Unaccompanied Minors placed 2nd at ICCA Quarterfinals and earned awards for Outstanding Soloist and Outstanding Arrangement. In 2021, they remotely competed in the ICCA, where they placed 2nd at Quarterfinals and received Outstanding Vocal Percussion and Outstanding Videography. They advanced to Semifinals and placed 3rd, also receiving the Outstanding Mix award! In 2021, they also remotely competed in the Slaight Music Sing! Toronto Collegiate A Cappella Competition and won the Grand Prize, earning their performance at the 2022 SING! Toronto Vocal Arts Festival. It may surprise you to hear that this group is composed of many STEM students, but this group thrives on balancing their rigorous academic schedules with artistic pursuits! You can find The Unaccompanied Minors on all social media platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, and Instagram!

The Water Boys is the University of Waterloo's lower-voiced a cappella group, founded in 2008. With repertoire ranging from ballads and classics to pop hits, The Water Boys have won several awards and performed at various events and competitions across Canada and the United States. Most recently, they performed at the 2024 ICCA Central Semifinals at the University of. Give it up for the hydro homies, the liquid lads, the wet whippersnappers: The Water Boys!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Allison Cranmer is a graduate of the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam with degrees in music education and mathematics. While at Potsdam, Allison music directed and arranged for A Sharp Arrangement, the only all-treble group on campus. As the music director, she led the Sharps to their first-ever ICCA Semifinal, toured around New York State, and recorded several different projects. Currently, Allison is the vocal and general music teacher at Palmyra-Macedon Middle School. She shares her love of a cappella with her students by listening, arranging, and performing a cappella music with them daily.

James Harrington has worn many hats in almost 25 years in the collegiate and professional a cappella worlds. A former ICCA producer in the now defunct New England and Northeast/Central Canada regions, he has also competed (The Berklee Method) and has been a judge for over 20 years in the Northeast, South, Midwest, and Central regions. James was a four-year member of Hyannis Sound, and a member of 2002 Harmony Sweeps Finalist Groove, and “The Sing-Off” Season 1 alternate Mutual X, in addition to subbing for professional outfits Ball in the House and Home Free. As an operatic bass, he has performed with the major companies in Santa Fe, Portland, Nashville, and Boston, among others. He is an alumnus of Berklee College of Music, Florida State University, and the University of Wisconsin, and is the director of Buffalo Rock Voices, a community choir focused on rock and pop repertoire.

Philip Jarosz has appeared on various stages throughout Western New York, including Studio Arena, Artpark, and Lancaster Opera House. He has also performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus and in Opera Sacra productions. Philip is a founding member of the The Lake Effect all-male a cappella ensemble, Vocalis, and the Harmonia Chamber Singers. Philip teaches in the Kenmore-Tonawanda school district where he has directed productions of "The Laramie Project," "Six Degrees of Separation," "Sweeney Todd," "Les Miserables," and "The Drowsy Chaperone," to name a few. In 2018, Philip was named Buffalo Theatre Person of the Year.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Bryce McCracken, Chelsea Perticone, UW A Cappella Club, ACE, The Musical Interdudes, The 'Loo Wops, Carlos Fernandez, Janelle Rainville, Jennifer Lee, and The Humanities Theater; 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
Senior Producer, ICCA & ICHSA West

Lindsay Howerton-Hastings
Senior Producer, ICCA South

Arvin Zabalerio
Senior Producer, ICCA Central

Gemma Davies
Producer, ICCA United Kingdom

Emily Benjamin
Producer, ICCA Northeast

Adam McNeil
Producer, ICHSA Great Lakes

Valentyna Simon
Producer, ICHSA West

Ben Garza
Producer, ICHSA Southwest

Bryce McCracken
Associate Producer, ICCA Central

Bri Decerio
Associate Producer

Angelina Corbin
Associate Producer
ICCA & ICHSA South

Sara Yood
Senior Producer

Emily Flanders
Director of Adjudication
Senior Producer, ICCA Great Lakes

Andrew Poole
Director of Digital Media

Charlotte Taylor
Marketing & Social Strategy

Holli Kitching
Senior Producer, ICCA Mid-Atlantic

Leah Alrutz
Senior Producer, ICCA Midwest

Alaina Wegner
Producer, ICCA Southwest

Christopher Witham
Producer, ICCA United Kingdom

Jillian Kimberlin
Senior Producer, ICHSA Mid-Atlantic

Christopher Hoffman
Producer, ICHSA Northeast

Jake Yoakum
Producer, ICHSA West

Nicole Palmetto
Associate Producer, ICCA Northeast

Tyandria Jaaber
Associate Producer, ICCA Mid-Atlantic

Rebecca Williamson
Associate Producer, ICCA South

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 2025 ICCA Central 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

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