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 SEMIFINAL

Hilliard Bradley High School
Friday, March 21st, 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

Symphonix is the brand-new top a cappella group from Harrison High School! This is their first year competing as one group, but many of them are a cappella veterans from their previous groups, Dynamix and Take Note. Symphonix rehearses at 7 a.m. every day, preparing pieces from contemporary a cappella to vocal jazz and more! Under the direction of Anna Adams, Symphonix is very excited to compete together after nine years of having separate groups! They hope that you enjoy their performance just as much as they have enjoyed working on this special set. Follow them for more news on Instagram @symphonixacappella. 

16th Street Soul is the premier contemporary a cappella group at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis. This ensemble of 11 singers will definitely leave you wanting more! In their very first year competing, 16th Street Soul achieved the title of 2023 ICHSA Midwest Champion and one of the top nine high school a cappella groups in the country. Established in 2021, 16th Street Soul has made a lasting impact on their surrounding community. In their short history, they have been able to share the stage with great a cappella groups including TAKE6, Six Appeal, and RADIUS. The group is directed by Brian Long and Kelsey Coram. 

SoundProof comes from KC A Cappella, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a unique educational and musical experience for high school students around the Kansas City Metropolitan area. SoundProof has been competing in ICHSA since 2017 and earned the international title of 2022 ICHSA Champions. They are so excited to return this year and can't wait to share their set with you! 

JayBlues is a mixed-voice a cappella group at Liberty High School in Liberty, Mo. The founding members of this ensemble began singing together before and after school and soon realized they wanted to take their music to the next level. Together, they collaborate on the group’s programming and technical aspects, all contributing to their inspired performances. JayBlues is composed of talented, dedicated students, all of whom share a deep love of making music. 

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! 

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 thankful for the opportunity to share their music!

Shades of Blue, from Hilliard Bradley High School, is the 2023 ICHSA Champion. In 2023, they were the only contemporary a cappella group selected to perform at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference in Cincinnati. They have performed at the NACC in 2022 and 2024. Shades of Blue's studio recordings have been chosen for BOHSA and Voices Only placements. They have also earned many Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) nominations, notably winning Best High School Song for “Gold” in 2023 and taking Runner-Up for Best High School Album in 2024 for their debut album, Brighter Days. 

Blue Kids on the Block is Hilliard Davidson's competitive a cappella ensemble. Members are selected through a rigorous audition process and maintain a busy performance schedule throughout the year. Past performances include singing at the Ohio Statehouse, Columbus Zoo, Franklin Park Conservatory, and the ICHSA. In 2024, Blue Kids on the Block won 1st place at their ICHSA Quarterfinal and Semifinal competitions, earning the title of Midwest Champions and securing a performance spot at ICHSA Finals in New York. They’re thrilled to be back and excited to make new memories! 

Above the Noise is just that: Above the Noise! They make music that you HAVE to hear! An elite all a cappella group, ATN is run like a "tour band," with students in charge of every aspect of operations, from sound to social media. Under the direction of Mrs. Cherie Brooks, ATN has sung in front of governors, made it to ICHSA Semifinals, recorded and released music on multiple platforms, and continues to perform for various community events. 

Upbeat, under the direction of Pam Haberkorn, is one of Buckeye High School’s two a cappella groups. In 2024, Upbeat was awarded 3rd place in the ICHSA Midwest Quarterfinals and student arranger Clare Bohan was awarded Outstanding Arrangement for the entire set.They have also been awarded Student Group of the Year by the Northeast Ohio State Board of Education. Upbeat has had the privilege of being one of the opening acts at Tiffin University's FestiVox and an opening act at the Nordonia National A Cappella Festival. This year, there are five seniors, three juniors, and two sophomores. Their songs were choreographed by Jocelyn, Clare and Livi, and their entire set was arranged by Clare. They look forward to their second competition season! 


GUEST PERFORMER

Originally founded in 2010, The Ohio State of Mind is The Ohio State University's premier all-gender a cappella group. The group consists of 14 talented vocalists from a range of backgrounds and majors who share a passion for making music. The Ohio State of Mind has performed on Broadway at the ICCA Finals in 2017, 2022, 2023, and 2024 as Midwest Champions. In addition to competing, the group performs at local events and invitationals, and released the EP, Coming Home, in 2021, which is available on all streaming platforms. This year, OSM has taken a break from competing to record a new album featuring their ICCA Finals sets from 2022 to 2024 for which they are currently fundraising.  

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Christopher Andres is a passionate and dedicated music professional with a diverse background in both vocal and instrumental music. He attended The Ohio State University and Sinclair Community College, where he actively participated in The University Chorus and Men's Glee. A proud graduate of Greenville High School, Christopher was deeply involved in the school’s Vocal Music Department, singing in the men’s choir, concert choir, Choraliers, and The Wavaires. He was also a key member of the Instrumental Band Department, performing in symphonic band, concert band, and marching band. His instrumental talents include the flute, saxophone, and baritone. Christopher has performed on numerous stages across the world as an instrumentalist and vocalist. Currently, he serves as the music coordinator and music director at Oakland Church of the Brethren, where he directs the bell choir, adult choir, women’s choir, and the contemporary praise band. In addition to his church leadership, Christopher is in his seventh year as assistant vocal music director and accompanist at Greenville Senior High School in Greenville, Ohio. Christopher's musical journey began at age five when he first played the piano at his local church, a connection that ignited his lifelong passion for music and education. Over the years, he has music-directed for various churches. Through his work, Christopher continues to inspire and enrich the musical community.

Charlie Arthur began performing at a very young age, participating in as many musical ensembles, theatrical productions, short films, and middle school dance battles as he could seek out. He discovered his love for contemporary vocal music when he joined Forte, the award-winning a cappella group at Centerville High School. In Forte, Charlie received national recognition as a vocal percussionist and began arranging, recording, producing, and teaching vocal music full-time. Over the last decade, these experiences have taken him across the U.S., Canada, Russia, and the Caribbean, working and performing with vocal artists such as Vocalight, m-pact, Vybration, The Edge Effect, and Peter Hollens. Currently Chicago-based, Charlie is also a member of the recently-launched band, Chasing Saturn, and a co-producer of Broadway Goes A Cappella. 

Isaiah Hawkins is an arranger, songwriter, and music educator from Auburn Hills, Mich. He graduated with a degree in music education from Michigan State University, where he was a music director of State of Fifths and The MSU Spartones. At MSU, he was a production assistant for the ICHSA Great Lakes region and received Outstanding Arrangement awards from ICCA and The AcaOpen. He also released an EP, Lifeline, and an album, Legacy, with State of Fifths, receiving CARA and A Cappella Video Award (AVA) nominations and awards along the way. Isaiah was also one of the members of the Voices Only Productions arranging team, sang with Flux Vocals, served as the North Region Relationship Manager for the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA), was on the Boston Sings (BOSS) team, and is a clinician for vocal groups of all ages! 

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 CASA festivals. 

With a Master of Music in choral conducting (Kent State University) and a Bachelor of Arts in music theory and voice performance (Ashland University), BK Riha is a music educator, producer, vocalist, live looper, and arranger with a special interest in building pop a cappella repertoire for treble ensembles and young scholastic groups. Surpassing 25 thousand copies sold worldwide, BK's 200+ innovative yet accessible arrangements have been performed and recorded by ensembles all of levels and ages in over 30 countries, with notable appearances at 2018 World Choir Games in South Africa, the 2021 World Choir Games in Belgium, and the 2023 NACC in Orlando, Fla. BK also adjudicates for the ICHSA, the ICCA, and the CARAs. BK regularly coaches ensembles and leads workshops at festivals like SoJam and the Nordonia A Cappella Festival, as well as various Ohio high schools. BK currently teaches Commercial Voice, Music Fundamentals, and Second Year Project at Tiffin University, one of the only schools in the country to offer scholarships for a cappella, beatboxing, live looping and hip hop music. BK also directs TU's vocal harmony group, Higher Ground, and assists with arts recruitment. BK is the founder, director, and producer of ZERO TO SIXTY, Ohio's summer a cappella group. In their free time, BK tries new recipes and studies the link between psychology and music.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Jeremy Witt and the staff at Hilliard Bradley High School; 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 placing group at this event will advance to the 2025 ICHSA Finals

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