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

Rialto Theater
Saturday, February 1st, 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

UW Awaaz is a South Asian fusion a cappella group from the University of Washington. They take songs from South Asian and Western culture and create harmonious arrangements. Founded in 2009 by UW alumni Joyita Banerjee and Pratyusha Banik, Awaaz has followed in the tradition of other South Asian a cappella groups, while continuing to innovate the genre by incorporating elements from different cultures and media. From classic Bollywood hits by A.R. Rahman to popular American songs, they aim to cultivate fusions that inspire joy and nostalgia, while appealing to audiences of all musical backgrounds! 

Hailing from the University of British Columbia, Eh? Cappella earned the title of ICCA West Quarterfinal Champion in 2022, 2020, and 2018. Most recently, they went on to place 4th at the ICCA West Semifinals, also winning special awards for Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Vocal Percussion! They are known for their dynamic arrangements, captivating stage presence, and, of course, showstopping vocals. Led by musical directors Flora Wilson and Mahdin Salam, Eh? Cappella showcases the various musical backgrounds of its membership to weave together a truly unique soundscape. 

For Good Measure, directed by Avery Roberts and Natalie Jones, is an auditioned treble group at Western Washington University. This is their first year at ICCA and they’re excited to venture into the competitive a cappella space.

Furmata is the University of Washington's premier, all-gender a cappella group. They emphasize excellence, passion, energy, dedication and inclusivity in all of their endeavors. Most recently, Furmata took home 2nd place and Outstanding Arrangement at the 2024 ICCA Finals. This achievement joins many other accolades from over the years, including other awards for Outstanding Arrangement and Outstanding Soloist. 

Gold Rush is a mixed-voice a cappella group from Pacific Lutheran University that seeks to connect its students through a shared love of music and performing. They sing songs across genres and decades, all using no instruments except for their voices! They specialize in pop and indie with the occasional bit of R&B. They became a group in 2021 when Pacific Lutheran University’s all-female group, HERmonic, decided to expand to include all voice parts. They’re excited to compete in ICCA for the performance opportunity and to see what other a cappella groups are doing! 

The Northwest Collective, also known as NWC, is a co-ed a cappella group from Vancouver, B.C. The group was founded in 2018 at the University of British Columbia, bringing students together who shared a passion for music and performance. NWC has performed at the ICCA for six consecutive years, placing 3rd at ICCA West Quarterfinals in 2021, 2022, and 2024. In that time, they also earned Outstanding Choreography at the 2023 Quarterfinals and Outstanding Vocal Percussion in 2021 and 2024. Last August, NWC released their 2024 ICCA set, Ascension, as an EP and it can be found on all streaming platforms! Through six generations, the singers of NWC have forged tight-knit bonds as fellow singers and friends. All group arrangements, song selections, and choreography decisions are made collectively within the group, creating a sense of connection among its members. Directed by Dean McCarthy and Cassandra Dubuc, The Northwest Collective fosters a strong team dynamic and strives for growth as both an ensemble and for its individual singers. 

Pacific Note West is Western Washington University’s competitive mixed-voice a cappella group. The group is composed of vocalists from many majors, ranging from business to music to computer science! Pacific Note West has competed in ICCA since 2010 and won Outstanding Soloist in 2022. They pride themselves on their continued growth and feel better than ever this year. 

PLUtonic is a student-run and directed SATB a cappella group from Pacific Lutheran University. PLUtonic aims to provide a diverse selection of music and performance opportunities for the PLU community and beyond. They promote fun and engaging performances and create an upbeat environment for every audience. Throughout the year, PLUtonic performs in many on-campus events and a cappella concerts, as well as caroling events during December. PLUtonic has performed at the ICCA West Quarterfinals for several years and loves to connect with other a cappella groups in the region. Please enjoy their set of student-arranged, choreographed, and directed music! 

Trebled Acaholics is an introductory competitive a cappella group. Their main goal is to foster a love for this niche artform, all while helping group members improve their singing. They are the oldest a cappella group at the University of British Columbia and placed 3rd at their 2018 ICCA Quarterfinal. Representing one of the smallest universities in the West region and lacking a formal music program, Trebled Acaholics stands out as an underdog in the competitive scene. They rehearse between five and seven hours each week to prepare their set, hone their voices, and learn music for other performances.

The Trill Seekers is the most recent addition to The Beats, the premier a cappella club on the University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus in Kelowna, B.C. They have competed at the ICCA West Quarterfinals for the past five years and made it to the virtual Semifinals in 2021. The Trill Seekers is a tight-knit group formed entirely of non-music students. Their main goal is to introduce students to a competitive music environment and work with like-minded singers. They strive to explore many different genres of music and showcase that variety in their ICCA setlists. They spend between eight and ten hours each week practicing their musical skills. Along with the ICCA, The Trill Seekers perform throughout the year in end-of-semester concerts, community events, and collaborations with other clubs on campus. They are so excited to show everyone what they have in store for the 2025 ICCA. Keep it Trill! 

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Eion Blanchard has roots in piano and vocal jazz, but broke into a cappella during his undergraduate years at the University of Florida, where he spent two years arranging for and directing No Southern Accent. Eion then co-founded Gestalt and served as music director for its first two seasons. Under Eion’s tenure, Gestalt was named an ICCA Quarterfinal Champion and Runner-Up for ICCA South Semifinals, also finding success at SoJam, Boston Sings (BOSS), and the National A Cappella Convention (NACC). Gestalt broke records at the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs), garnering 11 nominations and multiple wins with its debut album, Beyond The Archetype. Since then, Eion has stayed involved in the a cappella scene by leading masterclasses and judging for Varsity Vocals. Eion holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Sean Braxton has been on the a cappella scene for over 20 years, arranging for numerous groups. He currently performs with and is the primary arranger for Restless Vocal band, an award-winning seven-part vocal band in Seattle. Sean also performs lead vocals, keys, and percussion for top-40 party band, The Nines, and has opened for the likes of Jay Leno and Joel McHale. He is currently signed to Verbal Inc, a hip hop and R&B songwriting collective. 

Jordyn Day is a performer and voice teacher in the Seattle area specializing in pop, musical theatre, and contemporary performance styling and riffing. Her students have performed all over the United States at regional and local theatres, participated in competitive summer intensives based in Chicago and New York, and received admittance to many of the top musical theatre and performing arts college programs. Jordyn is the sole female member of the award-winning, pop a cappella group, Restless Vocal Band, based out of Seattle. RVB performs up and down the West Coast for corporate events, fundraisers, competitions, weddings, and schools. She also performs with guitarist Kevin McCarthy-Anderson, performing easy-listening pop covers for wineries, restaurants, and private parties. www.jordynday.com 

Dr. John Guarente is Professor of Choral Ensembles and Music Theory at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Wash. He leads the SPSCC Choirs and teaches courses in music theory, popular music, and music appreciation. John previously served on the faculty at Lakeland University in Wisconsin and the College of Central Florida. He has held teaching and conducting positions with schools and organizations including the University of Miami, Miami Choral Academy, Marion Civic Chorale, the Civic Chorale of Greater Miami, and Highland Park Community Chorus. John received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Miami, and holds a Master of Music in choral conducting and a Bachelor of Arts in music from Rutgers University. As an undergraduate at Rutgers, John was the director of Rutgers Deep Treble for three years, during which time they advanced all the way to ICCA Finals in their first year of competition. 

Dr. James Reddan is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Central Washington University. He is an active scholar, pedagogue, choral conductor, adjudicator, and clinician in demand regionally, domestically, and internationally. He has presented his research on conferences around the world, served as editor and contributor of the Routledge Companion to Jazz and Gender (August 2022), and is currently on the editorial board of JazzEd. As a choral music educator, ensembles under his direction have achieved international recognition, performing at prestigious venues and events all over the world. James made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in May 2022 with the Western Oregon University Choirs and has prepared ensembles for performances with Darmon Meader, Eric Whitacre, Eric Dale Knapp, and Simon Halsey. 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. Prior to his appointment at CWU, James served as Chair and Associate Professor of Music at Western Oregon University, 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 was also a choral music educator at Arbor View High School and Cannon Junior High School in Las Vegas. James 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, Anushka Mullick and Jathin Arjun, and all the staff at the Rialto Theatre, especially Chris Tubig; 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