2025 ICCA Northeast Quarterfinal @ Berklee College of Music

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 NORTHEAST QUARTERFINAL

Berklee College of Music
Sunday, February 16th, 2025

WE'RE SOCIAL

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

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@varsityvocals

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

Emerson Acappellics loves to strengthen their community through song! They go on a retreat once a year to deepen their bond and celebrate their friendship.

Apart from being nerds, what else do software engineers for Microsoft and Citadel, pioneer researchers in quantum computing, aspiring nuclear engineers, Emergency Medical Technicians, future astronauts, rogue sociologists, engineers working to solve climate change, and award-winning mathematicians have in common? They're all excellent singers, innovative musicians, and they are The Chorallaries of MIT! The Chorallaries is the oldest mixed-voice a cappella group at MIT and competes regularly in ICCA. Over their 48 years, they have learned to balance technical genius, heartfelt passion, unbounded creativity, and endless amounts of fun! A true family, they bring their expertise, interests, emotions, thoughts, aspirations, and understanding of the world into every note they sing. They use logic, theory, intuitions, sentiments, and most importantly, their hearts to create every melody and every harmony they perform. The Chorallaries learn from one another and from their music, have fun together, and are constantly growing. They are eager to share their set with everyone and showcase the potential of change, the necessity of the ups and downs of life, and the power of music.

The Downbeats is a competitive all-gender a cappella group at Northeastern, devoted to spreading their music and fun energy throughout Boston. The Downbeats pride themselves on arranging all of their music in-house through collaborations between current and past members. They love performing with other collegiate groups at shows throughout the Northeast and competing in competitions like the ICCA, where they have won awards for Outstanding Soloist, Outstanding Arrangement, and Outstanding Choreography. When they’re not singing, The Downbeats go on semesterly retreats and just enjoy spending time together. Make sure to follow them on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @nudownbeats for information on new releases, shows, and other fun content!

The Harvard Callbacks is one of Harvard’s premier co-ed a cappella groups. Since its founding in 1986, this group has been known for powerful musical performances. They value experimenting with diverse genres and innovative arrangements, bringing it all together with an energetic stage presence. Their repertoire spans everything from pop and R&B to jazz, indie, and beyond. More than just a singing group, The Callbacks is a family, built on a shared passion for music and strong connections within their community. As a group, they aim to push creative boundaries while spreading joy through performances on campus and around the world.

The Opportunes is Harvard College's oldest all-gender a cappella group, founded in 1980. In addition to regular performances in the Boston area, The Opportunes embark on yearly international tours and produce professional studio albums biannually. In 2022, The Opportunes placed 2nd at ICCA Finals, winning the titles of Outstanding Soloist, Outstanding Arrangement, and Outstanding Vocal Percussion.

The Nor’easters is Northeastern University’s premier all-gender a cappella group. They received 1st place in the 2023 scholastic competition at Boston Sings (BOSS). They were also the 2019 Champions at the National A Cappella Convention (NACC), and the 2013 and 2017 Champions at the ICCA. The Nor’easters have had the privilege of performing in various cities and prestigious venues, including London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the White House in Washington, D.C. Check out The Nor'easters wherever you stream your music and stay up to date on performances and releases by following them on all social media platforms @nunoreasters.

One Voice is Boston University's multilingual, multi-genre a cappella group, originally founded as Kol Echad in 1995. The group is a mainstay throughout the Northeast and often sings at cultural centers and universities, including Harvard, Brandeis, Rutgers, and Tufts. Since its rebrand in early 2024, the group has been adamant on its non-English language repertoire, and continues to seek ways to make a cappella more inclusive and accessible. In 2022 and 2024, the group competed at the ICCA Northeast Quarterfinals.

On The Vox is a pop-based, co-ed a cappella group at Berklee College of Music. Composed of members from all over the world, On The Vox has won awards and titles in competitions such as BOSS, Haunted Harmonies, and made it to ICCA Semifinals in 2023. On The Vox is proud of their welcoming environment and strong work ethic when it comes to perfecting their sound. They strive to build a family-oriented space and an outlet for members who dedicate their collegiate years to this group. On The Vox is a group of bright characters who love having fun and making music together. Make sure you follow their social media @onthevoxacappella on all platforms and stay tuned for many exciting things to come!

Treble Threat is Berklee College of Music's only all-women and nonbinary a cappella group. They are known for their eclectic repertoire, supportive environment, and focus on empowermemnt, both on and offstage. The heart of Treble Threat is centered on the beauty of community and the lifelong bonds created through a shared love of music.

GUEST PERFORMER

Upper Structure was founded in 2015, making them the youngest a cappella group at Berklee College of Music. These humble beginnings began something that none of the founding members could have imagined. Upper Structure placed 2nd at ICCA Finals in 2018 and 2021 and 3rd in 2024, taking home special awards for Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Vocal Percussion, and Outstanding Arrangement. Upper Structure was named Champion of the Los Angeles A Cappella Festival (LAAF) in 2020 and 2023 , taking home special awards for Outstanding Arrangement, Best Rhythm Section, Outstanding Movement, and Outstanding Soloist. Most recently, they released their EP, LAAF 2023, which won Best Religious Song at the 2024 Comporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) for the song “Salvation.” With each iteration, the group members have continued to bring an emotional, empowering, and innovative perspective to every performance. Upper Structure’s purpose is to make music with meaning and create something bigger than themselves. Make sure to follow their journey @upperstructureacappella on all social media and streaming platforms.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Jarell Green has been involved with a cappella since middle school where he was able to perform with then-winners of NBC's “The Sing-Off,” Pentatonix. A recent graduate from the Rochester Institute of Technology where he studied packaging science and music, he was the music director of Eight Beat Measure. With Eight Beat, Jarell worked on multiple CARA-nominated tracks, competed in ICCA, and was fortunate enough to win three ICCA Outstanding Soloist awards and an Outstanding Choreography award. Jarell has also been involved with The Hyannis Sound, a professional, male-identifying a cappella group that performs all along Cape Cod and the surrounding New England area all summer long, where he has performed at hundreds of concerts for thousands of people and varying audiences.

Paul Pampinella, a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, is a veteran vocalist, arranger/composer, and clinician with two Boston-based a cappella ensembles: Vox One and Five O’Clock Shadow. Paul has written, arranged, and produced songs on nine albums between the two groups. As a clinician, he lectures on topics such as vocal technique, performance skills, and arranging. Currently, Paul is on the faculty at Berklee College of Music and teaches private lessons for voice, guitar, bass guitar, piano, and theory/composition. He continues to work with both groups on a part-time basis, giving performances and workshops in the U.S. and Japan.

Anthony Pulido is an arranger and director for Uproar, a Boston-based, professional a cappella group. He attended Northeastern University, where he directed and arranged for The Unisons. He also records and workshops groups and artists in the greater Northeast region, notably at festivals such as BOSS, NE Voices, and Haunted Harmonies. You can also find him as the third member of the “Head/Voice” podcast team. Check out the podcast to hear Anthony discuss a cappella with other members of the community.

Amanda Roeder is a high school choral and a cappella director in Chelmsford, Mass., where she directs The Thursdays and The Crescendos. She previously led an award-winning a cappella program in Marblehead, Mass. In 22 years of teaching, her groups have earned multiple CARAs, ICHSA titles, and spots on BOHSA compilations. Amanda is a co-founder and board member of the NE Voices high school a cappella festival. She performs as a freelance vocalist, flutist, and pianist, and teaches private lessons and masterclasses in the greater Boston area.

Sarah Thomson is a seasoned ICCA competitor and lover of all things a cappella. She attended the College of William and Mary where she double majored in vocal music, directed the mixed-voice group, The Cleftomaniacs, and helped found the College's sole competitive a cappella group, No Ceiling, in 2015. She is now a current member and co-director of the award-winning post-collegiate a cappella group, Sound Off, in Boston. She is also active in the choral community and has performed with numerous organizations, including the Back Bay Chorale, Harmonium Choral Society, and Botetourt Chamber Singers. When she isn't making music, you can find her managing international infectious disease research at Boston Medical Center and curating her food Instagram in her tiny Boston apartment kitchen.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank the staff at Berklee Performance Center and Jill Clark Productions; 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 Northeast 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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