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 MIDWEST QUARTERFINAL

Skyline High School
Friday, February 21st, 2025

WE'RE SOCIAL

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

varsityvocals

@varsityvocals

Follow us @varsityvocals on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, and join the conversation using #ICHSA.

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

Bulldog Beats is the primary a cappella group at Louisville Male High School in Louisville, Ky. In their last ICHSA showing, they advanced to Semifinals in March 2020. They hope to pick up that same momentum this season and are excited to be back onstage! 

Chicapella is an all-female, student-led a cappella group from Brighton High School. The members of Chicapella love to act, play sports, create art, and, of course, sing. This group is all about exploring the many sounds of a cappella. Tonight, they will be showcasing a blend of crowd favorites, ranging from the newest pop, oldie classics, and even choral! 

Da Capo is a mixed, student-led, a cappella group with three student leaders. This group values hard work, teamwork, and having fun! Not only do they sing together, but they are true friends and love hanging out together. They have worked very hard and are super excited to keep singing together! 

From the Top is an after-school extracurricular group with representatives from all four of the choir classes at Northview High School. Each of the group’s 17 singers makes room in their busy school, athletic, and performing arts schedules to make a cappella music together. Their laughter and music can be heard ringing through the halls late into the night as they prepare music for their hometown crowd and beyond. With four ICHSA competitions under their belt since their start in 2020 and two albums released to the world, From the Top is keeping the tradition of great music alive! 

Jonathan Alder High School is proud to present The Harmoneers! Composed of students ranging from freshmen to seniors, this inaugural a cappella group is excited to show off the professionalism and musicality of their thriving arts program. 

Accomplished. Articulate. Ambitious. And that’s just their bass section. They’re kidding, of course. The bass section is definitely NOT articulate. Anyway, they could tell you that Major VI is from Novi, so you could say that “the Novi people were pretty good” or “the Novi people were pretty bad” after tonight’s show. They could tell you that they’re from all different walks of life, only to let you know that they check a lot of the diversity boxes. They could tell you that they’re super excited to be here, but they’re panic-stricken as heck. You might think many of them only took this choir class because it looks good on a college application. Truthfully, it DOES look good on a college application. After many disagreements and secret rivalries, they have selected their songs. It’s been an exhausting couple of years and Major VI is happy to be here, mostly because they’re near the end of another year. 

Notetorious is the all-male, student-led, a cappella group from Brighton High School. The group enjoys singing and making fun pop music! Outside of school, Notetorious enjoys participating in various sports, clubs, musicals, and hanging out together! They thank you for coming to support them and hope you enjoy the show! 

Skyline Blues, from Ann Arbor Skyline High School, was founded in 2008 and is under the direction of Lindsay CieChanski and Hayla Alawi. The group meets after school twice a week and participates in various performances and competitions each year. They are a consistent force at the ICHSA, frequently advancing to Semifinals, making it all the way to Finals in 2019, and earning awards for Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Vocal Percussion, Outstanding Soloist, and Outstanding Arrangement. Skyline Blues has been featured on BOHSA and Voices Only compilations and released several EPs, a single, and most recently, an album, titled Better to Be. Skyline Blues has also performed at the National A Cappella Convention (NACC), the One Voice Invitational, the MSVMA Summer Workshop, and more. In 2018, they represented Vocal Music at the State Capitol for Arts Advocacy Day, and were invited to sing at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids (2019 and 2024). Skyline Blues is excited to participate in ICHSA once again and is very thankful for the opportunity to share their music! 

The Seton LaSalle Trebels is a dynamic a cappella group of talented young ladies and gentlemen from Seton LaSalle Catholic High School in Pittsburgh. Founded in 2014, The Trebels is a student-run group, with vocalists from all different backgrounds and members from grades nine through 12. These students create their own spectacular choreography and most of the group’s incredible vocal arrangements. They have performed at school events and concerts, in addition to community events, such as galas and MLB games. The Trebels also love to spread Christmas cheer and often carol in neighborhoods, malls, and nursing homes. No matter where they perform, The Trebels are always a fan-favorite. They sing songs from numerous genres, from traditional pop to musical theatre. All Trebels, past and present, are extremely skilled, hardworking, and creative. Noteworthy ICHSA accomplishments include winning 1st place at their 2016 ICHSA Quarterfinals, along with many individual awards, such as Outstanding Arrangement in 2016, 2019, and 2020, and Outstanding Choreography in 2022. The Trebels aim to spread joy through their musical talents to as many audiences as possible! 

Vox Nova is a premier mixed a cappella group from Howell High School, known for bringing unique energy and vocal talent to every performance. Established three years ago, the group has quickly become a standout on campus and beyond, delivering high-quality pop a cappella arrangements. Last year, Vox Nova made an exciting debut at the ICHSA, where they gained invaluable experience and showcased their growing talent. As a student-led group, their captains, Kaiyah Luethy and Mason Burley, lead rehearsals and choreograph their set. This year, Vox Nova has worked harder than ever to prepare a set packed with energy, precision, and impressive vocals. With the addition of some incredibly talented new members, they’re excited to show how much they’ve grown since their ICHSA debut. Vox Nova is grateful for the opportunity to perform and can’t wait to share their music with you!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Conductor and bass-baritone Dusty Francis enjoys an active career as a performer, clinician, and educator across both the United States and the United Kingdom. He currently serves as Director of Music Ministries at First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor. Past roles have included musical leadership of the New York City Master Chorale, London's The Fourth Choir, and the Brooklyn-based Park Slope Singers, as well as classroom teaching positions with the American School in London and Collegiate School in New York City. Dusty has directed and arranged for high school, university, and adult ensembles. Dusty holds a Master of Music in choral conducting from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Xavier University in Cincinnati. 

Kaleb Kimerer is a proud alumnus of Michigan State University’s State Of Fifths. During his time in State Of Fifths, the group placed 1st in their 2018, 2019, and 2020 ICCA Great Lakes Quarterfinals, and released recordings including their 2017 EP, Lifeline, and 2019 album, Legacy. They also won a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) in 2018, an A Cappella Video Award (AVA) in 2019, and a spot on the Voices Only 2020 compilation album with their recording of “Hit & Run,” featuring Kaleb as a soloist. Outside of State Of Fifths, Kaleb competed in the 2018 ICCA Open with The MSU Spartones. While Kaleb works as a digital media buyer by day, he remains active in the performing arts through various community theatre productions in the Lansing, Mich. area. 

Sarah Maskill fell in love with a cappella two weeks after joining her college group at her first big performance: the ICCA Great Lakes Quarterfinal! She is a former bass and business manager of Michigan State University's Ladies First. During her time with Ladies First she produced two EPs, was nominated for a CARA, and was fortunate enough to advance to ICCA Great Lakes Semifinals three times. She has since workshopped with many groups in the Midwest region, performed at The Open with her group, Revel, and currently runs the Artist in Residence program at A Cappella University. You may have also seen her behind a camera at Varsity Vocals events and Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA) festivals.

Jake Przybyla began his musical journey at the young age of six when he started taking piano lessons. Singing soon followed and Jake has been involved in countless musical opportunities ever since. He heard college a cappella for the first time in high school and knew he had to be involved. In the fall of his freshman year at Michigan State University, Jake joined The MSU Accafellas and eventually served as president and music director during his junior and senior years. His time with The "Fellas" was a pivotal experience and he notably won Outstanding Arrangement at his 2012 ICCA Quarterfinal, also placing 3rd overall with the rest of the group. After college, Jake received an amazing opportunity to continue his love for singing when he joined several other Accafellas alumni in forming an a cappella quartet. They landed a six-month contract with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines singing aboard the Celebrity Summit. After he returned, he started work at NEOGEN (finally using that chemistry degree). He now works as a research scientist but maintains his passion for music by continuing to arrange for various a cappella groups and participating in as many musical theatre productions as possible in the Lansing area. Jake is thrilled to be one of your judges tonight and can't wait to hear what these groups bring to the stage! 

Megan Smania is an accomplished ensemble singer with varied experience in classical, contemporary, and pop vocal ensembles. She attended the University of Michigan (B.M.), and spent four years in the a cappella group, Amazin’ Blue. During her time as music director, she arranged their set, “Chasing Love,” and led the group to become 2017 Wildcard Champions and place 4th at ICCA Finals. She graduated from the University of Cambridge (M.M.) where she was a member of the choir of Trinity College Cambridge. Megan currently sings with multiple ensembles in the southeast Michigan area and has judged Varsity Vocals events in the U.K. and U.S. since 2019. 

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Ms. CieChanski, Skyline High School, Joseph Aquino, Andrea Poole, and Andrew Poole; 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 Midwest 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