2025 ICCA Central Quarterfinal @ The Theater at Innovation Square

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 700 groups and over 11,000 singers at over 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

The Theater at Innovation Square
Saturday, February 1st, 2025

WE'RE SOCIAL

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ABOUT VARSITY VOCALS

Since 1996, we have encouraged students worldwide to sing a cappella throughout their lives. Our programs include both the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA), and the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA). 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 four or 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 Coda Conduct is the all-gender, race, and sexual orientation a cappella group at Penn State. This group holds auditions at the beginning of every fall semester, hoping to add some of the most talented singers Penn State has to offer. They rehearse for at least six hours every week and perform music from all kinds of genres, with a focus on modern pop. The Coda Conduct competes in collegiate competitions, performs at THON, and holds concerts every winter and spring. The group is composed of people who put their mental health first, schoolwork second, and Coda third. Singing together allows them to form friendships that will last past Penn State and provides an outlet for them to express who they truly are.

Established in 2012, Dynamic Intonation is an all-voice jazz/pop a cappella group from the State University of New York at Fredonia. Their goal is to combine the stylings of jazz, pop, and a cappella to enhance the musical experience of the Fredonia community. DI is mostly composed of music and theatre majors, but is proud to include members from non-performance majors as well. DI is thrilled to be back for a third competition season. They were honored to place as Runner-Ups in their 2023 Central Quarterfinal and earn a slot at Semifinals, receiving the Outstanding Vocal Percussion award along the way. In 2024, they returned to place 3rd at Central Quarterfinals and took home awards for Outstanding Arrangement and Choreography. DI is happy to return to the ICCA stage and hope you enjoy their set! Follow them on Instagram @di_fredonia

Hailing from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Eight Beat Measure is the original tenor-baritone-bass a cappella group on campus. Established in 1987 as the RIT Men’s Octet, the group has evolved over the years, transcending its original form to become Eight Beat Measure. Initially faculty-led and an extension of the RIT Singers, the ensemble quickly embraced contemporary a cappella, expanding beyond its original eight members. Today, Eight Beat Measure boasts a diverse repertoire that spans from hip-hop to rock to Irish folk, ensuring something for everyone in their performances. The group sets the stage ablaze at their annual fall and spring semester concerts, Meltdown and Chill Beats respectively. They have competed in ICCA numerous times over the past 15 years, receiving awards for Outstanding Choreography, Soloists, and Vocal Percussion, with their best placement of 3rd place at Semifinals in 2022. Beyond these major showcases, Eight Beat Measure frequently shares its passion for a cappella through smaller gigs across the Rochester community, captivating a wide range of audiences and communities.

“Kaminari” is Japanese for thunder and Kaminari A Cappella hopes to impress you with their thundering vocals! They are an all-gender SATB a cappella group at Rochester Institute of Technology. Formed in 2015, they sing Japanese music in all genres, ranging from city pop to J-rock to anything in between. Their performances include their annual concert, Raijin No Matsuri, RIT events, and more. This year, Kaminari started recording music and released their first EP. This group values inclusivity, with members spanning different cultural backgrounds, the LGBTQ+ community, and interests in variouslanguages and cultures. Though not every member speaks Japanese, they all appreciate the connection and universal language that music provides. Their different cultural backgrounds provide a unique perspective to singing in Japanese. By conveying the powerful emotions and meanings of songs through just the music, Kaminari hopes to ignite an interest in Japanese culture and songs from around the world. They look forward to competing in the ICCA for the second time in our group's history.

Repercussions is Western's first and only all-female a cappella group! The group was formed in 2019 with the goal of empowering female singers at Western for generations to come. The Repercussions view the loss of lower voice parts as an opportuy to hone in on their shared sound and use that range density to get creative and explore new ideas. They are very excited to perform for the second time live at ICCA!

RESONATE is a competitive a cappella team from Toronto Metropolitan University based in Toronto, Canada. They placed 1st at ICCA Quarterfinals for two consecutive years: in 2021, for their pop medley “Money, Everywhere,” and in 2022, for their all-original set “A Matter of Time.” RESONATE members have also earned various ICCA special awards, including Outstanding Arrangement, Outstanding Mix, Outstanding Videography, Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Soloist, and Outstanding Vocal Percussion. Since its formation in 2013, the group has performed at various concerts and events throughout the Greater Toronto Area, including the Parados Festival and the Toronto Christmas Market. They also produce virtual covers, featured on their social media @resonatetoronto. Their diverse repertoire spans from pop to rock to R&B to popular soundtracks, and they create spellbinding sets that transport audiences on a storytelling journey. Not just about accolades and awards, the singers of RESONATE share a deep passion for music, with some members releasing original work and performing solo at various events. The group’s bond goes beyond the music and has helped create lasting friendships. RESONATE is very excited to represent Canada in another ICCA season!

Trebellious is one of the premier a cappella groups at the University of Rochester. Trebellious is proudly the only group on campus that, in addition to putting on semesterly shows and performing in the city, offers weekly workshops to all members of the UofR community. These workshops are open to all, regardless of experience, and serve to spread their love for music and performance. These workshops offer new folks a taste of what a cappella is all about and even a chance to perform alongside the teaching group at semesterly shows! Trebellious also has competitive experience, notably placing 1st at the 2018 ICCA Quarterfinals.

The Tributones are honored to perform at ICCA again. This all-gender group was established in 2009 and performs an eclectic mix of yesterday and today's pop music. They hope you enjoy their set.

Tunes. Beats. Awesome. (TBA) is one of the University of Toronto’s longest-standing all-gender a cappella groups, dating back to 2003. They’re so glad to be back at ICCA! With members from various colleges, departments, and programs, they bring a mix of personalities and styles to the stage, united by a shared passion for music and performance. TBA’s repertoire spans genres like pop, rock, R&B, and jazz. They love delivering performances that combine original arrangements with great storytelling (a flair for the dramatic, if you will). At ICCA, TBA hopes to share some good vibes, great harmonies, and T-B-Slay. They hope you enjoy the show!

Founded in 1956, The University of Rochester YellowJackets is an all-male collegiate a cappella group based in Rochester, N.Y. This tight-knit group is composed of students from both the University's River Campus and the Eastman School of Music. Musically, The YellowJackets are willing to take on any genre and they love to create fun and unique music videos. Their rendition of Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” has amassed over 4 million views on YouTube and they are currently in the process of recording a new album! Passionate about community engagement, the group performs at various events on campus and around the city. The group loves to share their music with people everywhere, from performing across the United States to Kenya for a musical exchange. In 2011, the group made their national television debut as contestants on Season 3 of NBC's "The Sing-Off." The YJs were 2022 ICCA Semifinalists and they're excited to make their return to the ICCA stage!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Shannon Connor is a board-certified music therapist working at the Holy Childhood, Hochstein School of Music and Dance, and Roberts University. She also currently serves as Director of Arranging for Cut Off Studios in Rochester, N.Y. Within this studio, she serves as an educational speaker for their LENS (Learn. Envision. Network. Sing) a cappella events. She has studied piano for 17 years, and has accompanied musicals, soloists, and choirs. Her musical background ranges from bands, jazz bands, pit bands, choirs, and a cappella groups. She has a passion for a cappella and directed Melica, the all-female a cappella group at Elizabethtown College for three years, leading them to a 1st place finish at Quarterfinals her senior year. She is excited to judge this year's competitors.

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.

Katelyn Marasco is currently a music teacher in the Brockport Central School District. She previously taught general music in the Greece and Hilton Central School Districts, as well as choir at Wheatland-Chili High School. She received a Bachelor of Music in music education from Nazareth College, where she was the director of their a cappella group, Call4Backup. Katelyn holds music certifications from Eastman School of Music and after completing her Master of Science in education, she sang with the local a cappella group, Cut Off. Cut Off released their debut EP on iTunes in 2013, for which Katelyn was nominated for a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) for Best Soloist. She currently performs locally in a female acoustic trio, The Genesee Three, and is excited to be returning as a judge for ICCA this year.

Austin Matson is the Director of Choir in the Attica Central School District. He holds a B.A. in music education from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a M.M. in music education from Buffalo State College. While at SUNY Potsdam, Austin was the arranger, music director, and choreographer of The Potsdam Pitches, the college's first co-ed a cappella group. He currently sings in the Vocális Chamber Choir in Buffalo, N.Y. and consults on theatre and artistic productions all around Western New York.

Matthew Zager has been involved in a cappella since 2006, when he formed his first a cappella group in high school. He graduated with a B.S. in music education from Roberts Wesleyan College in 2008, where he founded and directed an all-male a cappella group called Vocal Infusion. Since then, Matthew has co-founded and directed the CARA-nominated Contemporary A Cappella League (CAL) group, Cut Off, and now serves as the CEO for Cut Off Studios. In February 2018, Matthew was selected to serve on the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA) Board as Director of Development. When not consumed with a cappella, he works as the Assistant Director of Development for the Monroe Community College Foundation and is a puppy dad to an energetic golden retriever, Lucy. He is also helping plan a wedding with his beautiful fiancé, Jennifer. Matthew is honored to have been an adjudicator for Varsity Vocals since 2013.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Bryce McCracken, Chelsea Perticone, Dan LaSalle, The Midnight Ramblers, Acaproducers, Natalie Fuller, Charlie Carr, and Karl Stabnau; 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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