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
ICHSA MID-ATLANTIC QUARTERFINAL
Northern Highlands Regional High School
Sunday, January 26th, 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 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.
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.
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
Ring the alarm! It’s Tenafly High School’s newly-formed, co-ed a capella group, Acapocalypse! Even if the world isn’t ending yet, they’re still here to bring the heat. With a blend of genres and a perfect mix of treble and baritone voices, this group will surely enchant your ears. The competition is fierce but Tenafly High School's Acapocalypse is fiercer!
Dynamic Pressure is competing in the ICHSA for the fourth year. This group was formed in 2017 by current director Philip Parlock II and they have performed both renaissance and rap. This year, Dynamic Pressure will be performing at the 2025 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association State Conference.
This treble-powered group, The Highlands Belles, makes its home at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, N.J. The Belles are proud to follow in the footsteps of musicians who have come before them and share in their legacy. Over the years, The Belles have competed at SingStrong Chicago, the National A Cappella Convention (NACC), Boston Sings (BOSS), and have made it to ICHSA Semifinals and Finals. Their recordings have also been featured on BOHSA. The Belles are excited to share their new repertoire and are always grateful for the opportunity to sing together, forming the bonds that make ensemble singing so amazing and unique.
Highlands Voices have earned many titles, including ICHSA Champions, seven-time Mid-Atlantic Champions, and NACC Champions. They were featured on the 2016 Lifetime series, “Pitch Slapped,” and can be seen (and heard) in the 2022 film “Marry Me” starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, as well as “American Horror Stories” (S3, E1 “Bestie”, 2023). They have performed workshops for NAfME, NJMEA, AEA, ACDA, Bergen Teen Arts, and host the annual Highlands A Cappella Festival, which attracts some of the biggest a cappella coaches in the world as instructors.
Mpulse is a co-ed a cappella from Montville Township High School in New Jersey. Last year, they made their ICHSA debut, winning 1st place at Quarterfinals, as well as Outstanding Choreography and two Outstanding Soloist awards. They are so excited to be back in the ICHSA!
The Passing Notes is a student-run a cappella group composed of Montclair High School students! They are a nonprofit that has performed on the “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and at the JED Gala.
Cresskill High School’s SoundXplosion, from Cresskill, N.J., is the school’s 13-member mixed a cappella group. SoundXplosion made the transition to contemporary a cappella in 2014 and this is their eighth year participating in the ICHSA. In addition, SoundXplosion was a part of the A&E Network’s television show, “Pitch Slapped”. The group members love to spend every day kicking back and making the world a better place by sharing the gift of music with everyone who listens! Follow them on Twitter @sound_xplosion and on Instagram @chssoundxplosion!
Treble Threat is Tenafly High School's newly formed premier SSA a cappella group! They are super excited to showcase their talent by singing in numerous genres ranging from bossa nova to R&B. You can follow Treble Threat on Instagram and Tik Tok by searching @Treblethreat!
CHS Varsity Vocals was founded in 2015 as the premier a cappella group at Carteret High School and they have performed at many venues locally and statewide. They always look forward to competing at ICHSA, notably winning 1st place at the 2020 Quarterfinals and 2nd place in 2024, as well as earning the title of Wildcard Champion in 2022. Most of all, the Varsity Vocals enjoy singing and performing together and are proud to represent Carteret.
GUEST PERFORMER
Alzapella is a middle school pop a cappella group from Green Brook, N.J. Members of the group range in age from 11-14 years old. The group started in 2016 and they have performed at the NJMEA state conference in Atlantic City, the Highlands A Cappella Festival, and Jersey Harmony Explosion. They were featured as the best vocal group in Somerset County at the Teen Arts festival and were chosen to represent their county at the State level six times in seven years. Their videos have to been shared by Deke Sharon and have over 80 thousand views combined.
TONIGHT'S JUDGES
Neil Aaronson is a professor of physics and acoustics at Stockton College. A founding member of The TCNJ Trentones, Neil continued working with a cappella ensembles in graduate school at Michigan State University. Since 2008, he has helped the a cappella community grow from one ensemble with 10 members to three ensembles with over 45 singers, all working together to foster musical growth at their campus. He is the executive director of the ASTA/NJ Chamber Music Institute, assistant conductor of the Stockton Oratorio Society, and vice president of the Board of Directors for the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey.
Jennifer Carnevale is the Chair of the Department of Performing Arts at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., where she directs the award-winning contemporary a cappella ensemble, Dobbs 16, as well as the more than 100-member Masters Glee Club. Her other courses taught include Music and Social Justice, Psychology of Music, and Vocal Techniques. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Arts in music education from Teachers College Columbia University. She ran a private voice studio for 15 years and has been on the faculty at The Masters School for 17 years. As Chair of the Department of Performing Arts at Masters, she oversees a program which includes 11 full time and 26 adjunct faculty in dance, music, and theatre, and produces more than 60 performances per school year.
Carolyn Kiel has been singing and arranging a cappella music for 15 years. She got her a cappella start with The Vassar College Night Owls, and performed for nine years with The MetropoliTones in New York. Carolyn has recorded five a cappella albums and performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, and Giants Stadium. She has sung for such luminaries as Hillary Clinton, Zach Galifinakis, and Dr. Ruth Westheimer. By day, Carolyn works in corporate training and talent management, where she uses her newly-earned master's degree in industrial/organizational psychology. Her other skills include songwriting, vocal percussion, and driving in Manhattan.
Andrew Richardson is a recent graduate from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam where he received a bachelor's degree in music education, specializing in choral and general music. During his time at Potsdam, Andrew was a member of The Potsdam Pitches and served as music director for two years, leading The Pitches to one of their most successful seasons since their inception. Besides directing, Andrew is also a skilled arranger who has been recognized by Varsity Vocals, the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA), and the Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB) for his exemplary creative works. Andrew arranges for a variety of groups outside of the collegiate scene as well, including middle school, high school, and semi-professional groups. Currently, Andrew is a master’s student at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami where he studies music education and works with the Donna E. Shalala MusicReach program to enrich the education of underserved communities within Miami-Dade County.
Alyssa Sposato, a native of Long Island, N.Y., earned her B.M. in music education with a minor in music business from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. With a diverse background in a cappella, Alyssa served as president and music director of her collegiate group, The Potsdam Pitches, leading them to numerous ICCA Central Semifinal placements. Additionally, she spent three years as a member of the professional treble a cappella group, Cape Harmony. Alyssa currently works as a music educator for the Middle Country Central School District, specializing in elementary general music. She extends her passion for performing through music directing at Theatrics Performing Arts, guiding students of all ages to realize their potential onstage. Alyssa extends her best wishes to all competing groups this season.
SPECIAL THANKS
Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank the Northern Highlands Music and Performing Arts Association, the Northern Highlands Board of Education, the Northern Highlands Administration, and the Northern Highlands Custodial Staff; 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 ICHSA Mid-Atlantic 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!
#ICHSA