2025 ICCA United Kingdom Quarterfinal @ Church Hill Theatre

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 UNITED KINGDOM QUARTERFINAL

Church Hill Theatre
Sunday, February 9th, 2025

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 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

When ICCA season rolls around, most groups do their best to quit messing around, get serious, and start acting professionally on stage. The Other Guys tend to do the opposite, bringing out their signature sense of humour, unexpected arrangements, and irreverent stage presence. Hailing from the University of St. Andrews, they placed 2nd in the 2024 ICCA United Kingdom Semifinals, and are back this year in search of that top spot. In addition to competing in the ICCA, they have placed 1st at the Scottish A Cappella Championships (SACC), released a full length album, filmed a music video, and acquired two new members, all in the last year. This year they’re back with a new set, but still overdressed for the occasion in their classic black suits.

Formed in 2008, The Hummingbirds is a close-knit all-female a cappella group from the University of St. Andrews. They love to perform a wide range of music with creative choreography and stunning harmonies. Individually unique and collectively charming, the only thing The Hummingbirds love more than rehearsing is showing off their impressive arrangements while having fun together onstage. These talented songbirds blend their voices effortlessly, creating a beautiful and powerful set that they can’t wait to share with you.

The Alleycats hail from The University of St. Andrews. Formed originally in 2001 by a group of close friends, this co-ed a cappella group values its members and enjoys all of their rehearsals and performances. These eight vocalists use their varied vocal backgrounds to their advantage, singing a range of styles and genres with a seamless blend, including pop, jazz, classical, Arabic, and musical theatre! Although this is some members’ first year competing, The Alleycats are no strangers to the ICCA stage and they fully intend to deliver a powerful and dynamic performance.

Aberpella is the Univerity of Aberdeen's mixed-voice a cappella group. Founded in 2011, Aberpella has been a mainstay in Scottish and U.K. competitions since its inception. This year’s set celebrates queer artists and anthems. Featuring an eclectic mix of old and new, their set draws inspiration from the experiences of its members. Today, Aberpella hopes to convey their learned pride in themselves and have a whole load of fun while doing so.

The Killer Quines is an award-winning all-female and nonbinary a cappella group from the University of Aberdeen. They’re super excited to be back for their 11th year with an almost entirely fresh group, as all but two of them are new this year. They’ve enjoyed the process of building their group from the ground up, discovering their sound, and filling rehearsals with fun, laughter, and yapping. The Killer Quines enjoy singing songs from various artists and styles, but this competition set is inspired by the theme of girlhood, combining three of their favourite songs by wonderful female artists. They hope you enjoy their set as much as they have enjoyed putting it together.

Cloud IX is the University of Edinburgh's all-men and nonbinary a cappella group. As the newest group in Edinburgh, they have been working hard to establish themselves among the best groups in Scotland. Cloud IX brings great vocals and even greater vibes to the stage, showing their range to audiences across the country. Following Cloud IX's most successful year yet, they are back with another themed set. This time, they are exploring feelings of isolation despite being surrounded by people, a situation that many people, including members of Cloud IX, find relatable. With thoughtful arrangements and expressive harmonies, they work to bring these themes to life in a profound performance that connects with their audience, offering both a powerful musical showcase and an opportunity for self-reflection. They can’t wait to share this impactful set. And yes, for those of you who are counting, Cloud IX is pleasing the purists by returning to nine members for competitions this year.

Licence to Trill is the University of Edinburgh's only all-women and nonbinary competition group. They love performing in the ICCA and have competed many times, reaching Finals in 2020 and 2021. They were also SACC Champions in 2019. They have lots of new members this year who are thrilled to have their first ICCA experience! As a group, License to Trill focuses their arrangements to spotlight songs by queer and gender minority artists across the pop and R&B genres. They find it special to reflect the members of their group in the music they choose, and they’re big fans of these artists anyway, so it’s extra fun to sing this music together. License to Trill hopes that you enjoy their set and appreciate the hard work and silliness that they have infused into it. They look forward to performing and seeing all of the other amazing groups!

Tone Up is the University of Edinburgh's mixed-voice and competitive a cappella group. This tight-knit group of 13 singers regularly competes at a cappella competitions across the U.K., and performs throughout the year at various gigs and showcases in Edinburgh and beyond. Last year, Tone Up turned their attention to recording and released their debut EP, STAR-CROSSED, on all major music streaming platforms. Over half of their current members are new to the group this year and all of them are excited to perform on the ICCA stage!

Angels of the North is the femme-presenting competition group in Newcastle University's A Cappella Society. This is the third generation of Angels since the group was rebooted in 2022 and their third time competing in the ICCA. They perform a variety of pop songs and sub-genres within pop, such as ballads, R&B-influenced pop, and 1980s pop-rock. Amber Bonnor-Moris, the group’s choreographer, won Outstanding Choreography in the 2024 ICCA season and keeps the Angels’ energy and skill level high. She has continued to choreograph and teach amazing routines for showcases, gigs, and competitions. The new musical director, Chiara Todisco, has written lots of new, challenging arrangements, which all the members have worked hard to learn and refine. From those who have been in the group since its first generation to the new members who joined in October, everyone in Angels of the North works together as a team to create the beautiful music, outstanding performance, and the electric atmosphere of tonight’s set.

Tune Army is the competitive mixed-gender a cappella group from Newcastle University. This group is a fun, dynamic family of 16 strong vocalists led by returning musical director, Lola Barnes, who is a previous Outstanding Soloist winner. They usually sing pop and feel-good music, but like to sprinkle in different vibes and genres throughout their sets in order to highlight individual members’ vocal skill sets. Within the last several years, they have made it to the ICCA United Kingdom Semifinals in London and can't wait to try their hardest again this year. They also released numerous albums, which can be streamed on Spotify and Apple Music under the name Tune Army. Tune Army is a loving family which meets up twice a week and always enjoys singing together. Since they’re from Newcastle, Tune Army embraces the geordie atmosphere with their classic Tune Army chant.

SYE is a small but diverse group of students from the University of Stirling. Formed just last year, SYE's second generation loves performing together and cannot wait to continue their a cappella journey.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Aliak Bedirian is a singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator based in London. She has been passionate about music from a young age and has extensive experience in various genres, including classical, rock, big band/jazz, and musical theatre. She has a B.A. in music from the University of Bristol, where she began her a cappella career with The Bristol Suspensions in 2014. In 2015, she became the group's co-musical director and co-founded the all-female group, Pitch Fight. With The Bristol Suspensions, she won Outstanding Arrangement at an ICCA U.K. Quarterfinal and earned the Champion title at Voice Festival U.K. in 2016. Since then, she has sung with the group VoCollective, who competed in the 2018 Varsity Vocals Open and performed at events such as the London Jazz Festival. She has also started her own solo projects, became an educator, and composed and arranged music for singing groups, artists, short films, and more. She continues to compose, perform, and teach music around the country. Aliak looks forward to seeing what the ICCA has in store this year.

Caitlyn Calfas is a multidisciplinary theatre artist originally from Los Angeles. She studied at UCLA and was part of the award-winning co-ed a cappella group, The ScatterTones. During her time in the group, The ScatterTones won 1st Runner-Up titles in the 2012, 2013, and 2014 ICCA Finals. Her work as head choreographer won her multiple awards, including Outstanding Choreography at Finals. Her theatre career has taken her from L.A. to New York and finally to London, where she is currently based. Since earning her master’s degree from LAMDA, she played Emma Hamilton in the world premiere musical, “Irrepressible,” at Edinburgh Fringe, Hector in LAMDA’s “Troilus and Cressida,” and Jocasta in “Oedipus Rex” at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus as part of the National Theatre of Greece's International Ancient Drama Workshop. Her company, CKC Productions, is focused on developing new theatre centring women’s voices. Caitlyn remains thankful for her collegiate a cappella experience, which deepened her appreciation for music and its power to bring people together.

Felix Dickenson is an award-winning London-based producer, conductor, arranger, and performer. He has toured across Europe with professional vocal group LowKey, for whom he is also music director. He performed at ICCA with the University of Bristol's lower-voice outfit, Academy, reaching consecutive ICCA U.K. Semifinals. As an audio producer, Felix has also received multiple Contemprary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) and nominations. Outside of the a cappella scene, Felix is an in-demand bass-baritone soloist, choral conductor, classical producer, and musical theatre performer, specialising in originating roles in new British musicals. He currently works at the Royal Academy of Music.

Will Geraint Drake is currently the musical director of Elision, a professional a cappella group based in London. He competed in the ICCA Finals in New York with Northern Lights, and received four awards for Outstanding Arrangement throughout his years with the group. Will was a member and arranger for the group when they won the Open A Cappella Competition, is a four-time CARA nominee, and can most recently be heard with Northern Lights on the BOCA and Voices Only compilation albums. Graduating from Durham University with an M.A. in music composition, Will is an award-winning composer for musical theatre and has had his work performed at sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and in venues across the U.K. He is so excited to see tonight’s show and cannot wait to see what each competitor brings to the stage!

Rosalind Johnson is an accomplished a cappella singer, arranger, and coach based in Edinburgh. Starting her musical journey as a pianist and trumpeter, she developed her skills in various instrumental ensembles throughout her school and university years. Over the past 15 years, Rosalind has established herself as a respected figure in the barbershop and a cappella communities. As musical director of The Rolling Hills Chorus, Scotland’s premier male barbershop ensemble, Rosalind has written, produced, and directed five acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe Festival shows. She previously served as assistant musical director of the award-winning Forth Valley Chorus, which earned 6th place in the world in 2023, and as musical director of the National Barbershop Mixed Youth Chorus, guiding singers from across the U.K. A sought-after arranger and coach, Rosalind crafts custom arrangements for a wide range of a cappella groups and works with individuals and ensembles to elevate their musicality. She is also a performer and arranger for her own a cappella trio, Black Velvet. With extensive judging experience, Rosalind has served as a panelist for the ICCA U.K. Quarterfinals for the 2019 SACC. She is excited to return to the ICCA and celebrate the creativity and talent of this year’s competitors.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank our volunteer MC, sound engineer Elliott Clarke, and the Church Hill Theatre; 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 United Kingdom 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

#ICCA