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 WEST QUARTERFINAL

Elsinore Theatre
Saturday, January 25th, 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 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

Big Bing Theory, or BBT, was established back in 1999 by Erica Heinz, and remains Gonzaga's only a cappella group. This student-run group sings a wide variety of music, from the latest popular songs to classic hits. They perform on campus throughout the year and love to connect with the larger Spokane area, performing at retirement homes, local libraries, restaurants, and other venues. Traveling to ICCA is one of BBT’s favorite parts of each year, especially in 2023 when they finished in 3rd place at Quarterfinals! 

Divisi is an all-treble a cappella group from the University of Oregon. They have been singing since 2001 and their repertoire consists of pop, R&B, rap, and indie pop. Divisi has competed since its founding and earned 1st place at their 2022 ICCA West Quarterfinal. Their ongoing mission is to sing for the Eugene community and share their love for making music. SCO DUCKS! 

Divine, Oregon State University's all-treble a cappella group, includes students from all areas of study who share a passion for singing. They perform on and off of OSU's campus, participate in local competitions, and meet twice weekly for rehearsals. Divine has been providing a space for students to connect with their fellow group members and community through music since 2003. Divine mainly sings pop and jazz music but has explored other genres throughout the group’s existence. This group loves to explore the joys of singing while engaging in a loving, supportive community and they’re excited to be back at the ICCA. 

Have you ever gone to a houseparty and felt a little overdressed? That's the vibe of this group. Formed in 2020, Formal Houseparty from Linn-Benton Community College came together during the Covid-19 quarantine out of a true passion for creating music and community. This mixed a cappella group is just happy to be here! 

The Green Note is Portland State University's premier a cappella group, specializing in indie pop and folk-inspired hits with an R&B twist. The Green Note has been competing in ICCA for over seven years and are excited to return after advancing to Semifinals last year with an Outstanding Vocal Percussion win. Past accolades also include Outstanding Soloist, Arrangement, and Choreography. This year's set aims to capture the transition from a period of struggle and turbulence into the ownership and enjoyment of life. All of TGN's members are excited to share the stage with so many other talented vocalists! 

Headband is Willamette University's only, and by default, best gender-inclusive tenor/bass a cappella group! Over their 22 years of forehead-covered existence, they’ve been described as "vivacious," "bombastic," and "face-meltingly delicious" by numerous people who definitely aren't any of their moms, and they’re hyped to bring said deliciousness back to the ICCA stage! Headband prides itself on the exceptional amount of fun they have on and offstage and the humongous (sometimes excessive) amount of energy that brings to their performances. These 14 singers have been working their bands off to bring y'all 10 minutes of their signature energy and couldn't be more grateful to be sharing the stage with incredible talent from across the region. So much love to everyone for coming out to support! 

Outspoken is a TBB a cappella group at Oregon State University that specializes in ballads, pop songs, and even some R&B. They won Outstanding Soloist in the 2023 ICCA season and made it to Semifinals in 2020. Overall, Outspoken is a charismatic groupof singers who love to have fun and make great music. 

Power Chord is an all-inclusive a cappella group at Oregon State University. The group performs contemporary and classical hits and strives to improve their musicality and share their love for a cappella music through competitions, shows, and recordings. 

Tandem A Cappella is Willamette University's all-voice a cappella group created in the early 2010s. Due to the challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, the group temporarily disbanded. However, Tandem A Cappella revived in 2023 with a new energy and commitment to growth, musicianship, and unity. They strongly emphasize learning and performing in-house arrangements, allowing their members to showcase creativity and musical skills. This ICCA is their very first time competing and Tandem is proud to share a set that is entirely arranged and choreographed by members of the group. Tandem A Cappella is dedicated to being a self-sustaining, collaborative, and ever-evolving group. They’re determined to make a lasting impression and ensure that this first showing will not be their last time on the ICCA stage! Tandem is eager to continue growing and thriving in Willamette's music community. 

What's up(top)? Up Top is Willamette University's premier treble a cappella group! They bring good music and the best of vibes to their campus and community. Up Top believes in creating a space where every voice is valued and a love for making music is shared. Their repertoire ranges from golden oldies to modern music, but with every song, their goal is to tell a story and make people smile! This is their fifth time competing in the ICCA and they are so excited to perform, listen, and enjoy the community of talented groups!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Hannah Abercrombie is an enthusiastic and dedicated music educator in her eighth year of teaching and second year as the Director of Choirs at McKay High School in Salem, Ore. There, she directs the nationally acclaimed contemporary a cappella group, Scots-Appella, and four choral ensembles. Hannah also assistant-directs the McKay High School Marching Band with a focus on visual technique and creativity. Scots-Appella has competed and placed on local and national stages, including ICHSA. Last year, Scots earned the Champion title at ICHSA Quarterfinals and Semifinals and ultimately placed 3rd in the 2024 Finals (2nd in 2023). This year, Scots-Appella will be featured at the Los Angeles A Cappella Festival (LAAF) Showcase in February 2025. After receiving her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Oregon, Hannah started her career at Douglas High School in Winston, Ore., where she taught band, marching band, and choir for six years, as well as an a cappella class. Outside of work, Hannah loves spending time with her fiancé, Andrew, and snuggling with her two kitties, Meelo and Momo. She enjoys teaching in her hometown of Salem and is grateful for her amazing community of people and music. 

Jackie Emmett attended Ricks College as a vocal performance major on scholarship where she performed as alto soloist in their presentation of Handel’s “Messiah.” After Ricks, she attended BYU and became the bass in the all-female a cappella group, Noteworthy, winning ICCA Finals in New York during her second year with the group. More recently, she was the bass for the all-female a cappella group, JANE, and was excited to perform at Carnegie Hall as Finalists for the Open. She currently sings with the Portland Choir and Orchestra where she was a featured soloist. She recently performed the national anthem at a Portland Trail Blazers basketball game. Jackie is happily married with four little boys, teaches voice lessons, is an ADHD and productivity coach, and directs a youth choir in her area. 

Cameron Graham-Mask is a singer, director, choreographer, and music educator from Eugene Ore. Cameron first entered the world of a cappella in 2008 with a group called Session 6. He was a music major at Linn Benton Community College in Albany, Ore., where he co-founded and choreographed an all-male group called Blue Light Special from 2009 to 2013. From 2014 to 2015, Cameron served as director and choreographer of University of Oregon’s co-ed a cappella group, Mind the Gap. During his time as music director, Mind the Gap competed and placed in several competitions such as Voice Jam (getting 3rd place), Bend A Cappella Festival (1st place), and Seaside A Cappella Festival (1st Place). His proudest achievement is receiving Outstanding Choreography at ICCA Quarterfinals and Semifinals in 2014. He founded Verdant A Cappella in 2015, and continues to direct the group, leading them to a 2nd place national title in the 2022 Harmony Sweepstakes. When he is not directing Verdant, Cameron pursues his passion for choreographing and workshopping college and high school a cappella groups throughout the Pacific Northwest. 

Lauren Kahn has an extensive background directing, arranging, and singing a cappella music. She directs the high school a cappella group, Synergy, through the Oregon Children's Choir, and previously music-directed the University of Oregon’s Mind the Gap. Lauren grew up singing barbershop harmony and has been directing the treble barbershop group, The Greater Eugene Chorus, since 2013. She is a prolific arranger in both the barbershop and contemporary a cappella genres. 

Dr. James Reddan is Chair and Associate Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities and Music Education at Western Oregon University, where he directs the concert choir and chamber singers and coaches The West of Us. James is an in demand conductor, adjudicator, and clinician. Ensembles under his direction have achieved worldwide recognition, performing regionally, domestically, and internationally for prestigious venues and events. He made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut with the Western Oregon University Choirs in May 2022 and is preparing for a performance with the Berlin Philharmonic this June. James received the citation for Excellence in Music Education from the American Prize in Choral Music and was recognized as the conductor for the first Honored Artist Choral Ensemble. In addition to a busy touring schedule, James arranges and composes works for a cappella ensembles throughout the region and is an active music scholar, presenting research on music perception, music and gender, assessment in music, and more. Prior to his appointment at Western Oregon University, James taught at Frostburg State University and served as the Chair and Director of Choral Activities in the Performing Arts Department at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Ore. He also served as the choral music educator at Arbor View High School and Cannon Junior High School in Las Vegas, Nev. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in music education from Boston University, a Master of Music in choral conducting and music education from the University of Oregon in Eugene and a Bachelor of Arts in music education from McDaniel College in Westminster, Md. James completed additional studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane, Australia, the Oregon Bach Festival, and interned with the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank tonight's emcee and day-of producer Jake Yoakum; photographer Jake Young (jakeyoungphotography.com); sound engineers Pete and Trina from Yoakum Sound and Light; our volunteers, David Fowler, Connor Eyler, and Benjamin McDowell and all the staff at the Elsinore 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 West 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!

#ICCA