2025 ICCA Central Quarterfinal @ Soldiers and Sailors Hall

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

Soldiers and Sailors Hall
Saturday, February 8th, 2025

WE'RE SOCIAL

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

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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

Founded over a decade ago, C♯ Singers is a co-ed a cappella group composed of some of CMU’s most vibrant and talented musicians. With a focus on musical growth, the group fosters an environment where members can sharpen their skills through rigorous rehearsals and electrifying performances, all while having lots of fun. Their passion and energy shine through each practice and performance and they are thrilled to show it all tonight!

To call C Flat Run just a competitive a cappella group would be a grave understatement. As one of the University of Pittsburgh’s longest running all-gender a cappella ensembles (founded in 2009), they have nurtured a personal connection with the greater Pittsburgh area through passion, community, and, most importantly, music! Over the last 15 years, C Flat Run has performed with groups from its own and neighboring universities, recorded their very own single, fundraised for local charities, and placed 1st in their 2018 ICCA Quarterfinal. Along with this winning title, they also received special awards for Outstanding Arrangement, Outstanding Choreography, and Outstanding Soloist. As an annual competitor in the ICCA, C Flat Run relishes every opportunity to share their talents with everyone and views this tradition as a collaborative and uplifting experience for all vocalists. C Flat Run is thankful for the opportunity to showcase their voices with you and look forward to a wonderful ICCA season. To “C” all of the great things they’ve done in the past 15 years, check out their social media @cflatrun!

Counterpoint is CMU's oldest women and nonbinary-inclusive a cappella group. Founded in 2000, CP aims to redefine the limits of an all-treble group's potential. Their dedication and friendships infuse their music with warmth and unity.

Crimson Chords is Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s one and only a cappella group. ICCA competitors since 2023, their sound is a unique blend of pop and indie, with a heavy sprinkle of throwbacks. Whether they’re performing onstage, around campus, or even just for themselves at their iconic karaoke nights, the Crimson Chords bring energy and fun into everything they produce. Crimson Chords was founded in 2015 as an all-women's jazz group and have prioritized growth in the years since, becoming inclusive to all genders and majors, with 95% of members being non-music majors. With a shared love for creativity and collaboration, the Crimson Chords bring original arrangements and fun performances to life, with each song telling an intentional story that resonates with them and hopefully their audiences. They love any opportunity to perform with other groups and cannot wait to return for their third year in this awesome competition!

Audiences in Syracuse, N.Y. have turned to Groovestand to quench their thirst for fresh beats, juicy melodies, and delicious harmonies for over 20 years. With members of every flavor and major, Groovestand features the freshest of Syracuse University’s musical talent. All arrangements are 100 percent homegrown and guarantee complete satisfaction! Founded in 2000 as Syracuse University’s original SATB group, Groovestand A Cappella has garnered widespread acclaim for their award-winning music. In 2021, they earned 3rd place at ICCA Central Quarterfinals, along with Outstanding Vocal Percussion and Outstanding Soloist. Groovestand also performs at charitable events, regional competitions, and even the occasional wedding! Their music can be found on all streaming platforms, including YouTube and Spotify.

The Pendulums, established in 1993, is the oldest a cappella group on the University of Pittsburgh's campus. This all-gender ensemble brings together a diverse group of singers who are passionate about creating music and community through song. The group has been competing in the ICCA since the early 2000s and they’re thrilled to be back this year. The Pendulums embrace a wide variety of genres, from pop and rock to indie and R&B, ensuring that there's something for everyone in their repertoire. The group members are all close friends who enjoy every opportunity to hang out together and sing. From performances, retreats, murder mystery nights, and more, this fun-loving group is equally dedicated to building strong connections as it is to putting on a good show. As they continue to grow and evolve, The Pendulums are excited to share their love for music with the world.

The Songburghs is one of the University of Pittsburgh's premier all-gender a cappella groups. Established in 2015, they pride themselves on an expansive and authentic repertoire that covers a wide variety of styles. They are entirely student-run and work together to put on performances for various events throughout the city of Pittsburgh. The Songburghs compete at the ICCA, notably earning 1st place in the 2019, 2020, and 2024 Quarterfinals, 2nd place in the 2023 Quarterfinals, and 3rd place in the 2022 Quarterfinals. They have released four EPs on Spotify and continue to release sets via social media! With love for music, performance, and one another, The Songburghs strive to create versatile arrangements, provide entertaining performances, and connect with their community.

Formed in 1996, Soundbytes strives to put the smooth and sultry into every a cappella performance. With chill vibes and musicality, this group of close friends loves making music together.

Tonal Disruption is one of the University of Pittsburgh’s all-voice, all-gender a cappella groups! The group has been singing together since 2021 and they plan to continue making music for many years to come! They arrange music from a variety of styles, including pop, R&B, and classic rock. Tonal Disruption has competed in the ICCA for the past three years and won their 2022 ICCA Central Quarterfinal! Throughout the year, this group connects with the Pittsburgh community through performances and volunteering. Each month, they visit and perform at local nursing homes, including Christmas carols during the winter months. They have been invited to perform at alumni and new student events with their university and have conducted a cappella workshops with high school students. This year, Tonal Disruption is excited for the opportunity to connect with other groups and showcase their musicality on the ICCA stage!

The Treblemakers, from Carnegie Mellon University, is a competitive, co-ed a cappella group founded in 2010. They love competing in the ICCA each year and are excited to be back! Recent ICCA achievements include placing 2nd at Quarterfinals in 2022, 1st in 2023, and 3rd in 2024, as well as special awards for Outstanding Vocal Percussion in 2022 and Outstanding Soloist in 2023. Outside of competition, The Treblemakers are dedicated to creating an environment where group members can develop their musical abilities and show off their skills. The group includes many talented performers with unique voices and this mix opens the door for a wide variety of musical genres. At its core, The Treblemakers is a tight-knit group of friends who work together to create incredible music.

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.

Sarah Maskill fell in love with a cappella two weeks after joining her college group at her first big performance: the ICCA Great Lakes Quarterfinal! She is a former bass and business manager of Michigan State University's Ladies First. During her time with Ladies First she produced two EPs, was nominated for a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA), and was fortunate enough to advance to ICCA Great Lakes Semifinals three times. She has since workshopped with many groups in the Midwest region, performed at The Open with her group Revel, and currently runs the Artist in Residence program at A Cappella University. You may have also seen her behind a camera at Varsity Vocals events and Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA) festivals.

Brandon “B” Rauch first began their barbershop career in 2009 at the age of 17. B received their degree in music from Washington & Jefferson College in 2014, where they focused their studies on the voice and choral conducting. They went on to join Vocal Confluence in 2015 and began directing in 2018. In January 2022, Vocal Confluence became an all-voice ensemble. Since then, B earned the Johnny Appleseed District "irector of the Year award in March 2023, led the chorus to four Most Improved Chorus designations, and scored a chapter all-time high contest score of 82.5 at its first BHS International chorus competition appearance in 2024. In their spare time, they enjoy singing with friends, learning about the voice, and playing with their dog, Kain.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Bryce McCracken, Chelsea Perticone, Jason Hollowell, the team at Acaproducers, Katie West, Savannah Moore, and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall; 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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