2025 ICHSA Northeast Quarterfinal @ Danvers High School

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 NORTHEAST QUARTERFINAL

Danvers High School
Sunday, February 2nd, 2025

WE'RE SOCIAL

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

varsityvocals

@varsityvocals

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

Founded in 2016, The Crescendos evolved from an after-school treble choir to a contemporary a cappella group. They entered the ICHSA for the first time in 2017 and they have steadily advanced through the tournament since then. Accolades include three appearances at the Northeast Semifinals and special awards for student arrangements, vocal percussion, and choreography. In 2023 they placed in the top three at Northeast Voices (NE Voices), earned Runner-Up at the ICHSA Northeast Semifinals, and placed 3rd in the ICHSA Wildcard Round. In 2024, they were named the Northeast Champions and attended ICHSA Finals in New York City. The Crescendos are so excited for another season and wish the best of luck to all competing groups.

Dachords is an a cappella group hailing from Hanover, N.H. They are student-directed and the only SATB group at Hanover High School, represented by group members from all grades. They are excited to be returning competitors to ICHSA. The Dachords’ group motto is "We love freedom, we love food, we love free food."

The Newton South High School Newtones is a co-ed, completely student-led, student-arranged, student-choreographed, and student-everything else group! They were founded and have been making moms happy since 1998! In their free time, you can find them anywhere but Newton South! They enjoy both rocking and rolling, hipping and hopping, and popping, but never locking. The Newtones won their ICHSA Quarterfinal in 2023 and group members have won individual awards over the past two years, such as Outstanding Soloist, Outstanding Arrangement, and Outstanding Choreography. They had so much fun that they just HAD to come back this year! Some of their favorite activities are making snow angels, watching movies, dancing to the beat, and of course, singing! They perform on various stages, from their very own high school's to the porches of Newton residents for Christmas caroling. The Newtones are extremely grateful to return to the ICHSA stage and can’t wait to show off what they've been working on!

The Jewel Tones is a co-ed a cappella group from Marblehead High School. Founded in 2003, the group has released two albums and three EPs on all streaming platforms. They adore performing around town, at schools, and at other competitions, such as ICHSA and NE Voices. They are so excited to present the set that they’ve TIED together for you today. Make sure to check out their most recent EP, Glitz & Glimmer, follow @mhsthejeweltones on Instagram and TikTok, and enjoy the show!!

Founded in 2022, Revolution represents the Advanced Vocals students enrolled at the Conservatory of The Arts in Springfield, Mass. They compete regionally in the Northeast, participate in masterclasses with Broadway performers and Grammy-winning artists, and love to perform in festivals and workshops. This is their second year competing at the ICHSA.

Sassafras is an energetic, treble a cappella group that thrives on producing the best possible performances and a strong sense of community! They prioritize creating memorable experiences for their audiences and for the members of their team. Sassafras brings new, vibrant energy to well-known hits by artists, like Rihanna and ABBA, and they know how to get their audience dancing and singing along. Their infectious enthusiasm for singing together makes each performance a celebration.

Skywave is a treble-voiced a cappella ensemble from Danvers High School in Danvers, Mass. The group most recently competed at the ICHSA Quarterfinals in Troy, N.Y. in 2022 and the virtual ICHSA Semifinals in 2021. Skywave’s recordings have been featured on BOHSA compilations and nominated for Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs). When not competing, they enjoy singing at school and community events, especially with their friends from Falconize, the other a cappella group at Danvers High School.

The Thursdays was founded in 2014. Having evolved from a pre-existing jazz choir, the group enthusiastically embraced contemporary a cappella and took part in local festivals and collaborative events, including NE Voices, where they have frequently placed in the top three groups over the years. In 2017 and 2018 they appeared on the PBS television show “Sing That Thing,” earning 1st place in 2018. This is their 11th year competing in the ICHSA. They have won multiple special awards for Outstanding Choreography, Vocal Percussion, and Soloists, and they have represented the Northeast at Finals four times. The Thursdays are very excited for another season and eager to watch all of the amazing sets from their fellow competitors.

Saugus High School's Tonal Chaos is pleased to be performing in ICHSA for the fourth time. The group has grown over the last few years and they are thrilled to be able to sing together.

GUEST PERFORMER

Falconize is one of the contemporary a cappella ensembles from Danvers High School in Danvers, Mass. The group has been competing in the ICHSA tournament for over 10years, with numerous appearances at the Semifinals and one trip to Finals (3rd place, 2015). Their recordings have been featured on Varsity Vocals' BOHSA albums and nominated for CARAs. Falconize enjoys performing for community events and at school concerts throughout the year.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Emily “Em” Benjamin has been singing a cappella for nearly 15 years! Her collegiate years performing with University of Chicago’s Voices in Your Head saw many of the group's accomplishments, including two 2nd place finishes in the ICCA, the release of their award-winning album, Lights, and performing for President and First Lady Obama at the White House. Since college, Em has been active in the a cappella community as a singer, volunteer, music-director and producer. She served as music director for post-scholastic, and grad school a cappella groups and recently made her musical theatre directorial debut with “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” at the Majestic Theatre in Manchester, N.H. She has also worked as ICCA producer for the Northeast Region since 2022. When not surrounded by music, Em works in clinical research and spends her free time exploring beautiful New Hampshire, where she lives with her fiancé, and their beagle, Flapjack.

Destiny Cooper is an active musician and music educator. She loves helping students embrace their best selves and works to support voiceless communities through music, expression, and leadership. As a musical leader, Destiny collaborates with local musicians to cross-connect choral music with diverse audiences, through concerts, podcasts, and roundtable discussions. She is currently a middle school choral Director in the Greater Boston Area and serves on the board of Massachusetts ACDA. She continues to nurture her passion for a cappella through opportunities with organizations such as A Cappella Academy and the A Cappella Education Association (AEA).

Amy Malkoff is one of the producers of the Haunted Harmonies festival in Salem, Mass. She has served as the marketing director for the A Cappella Education Association, as well as the media director of the Women's A Cappella Association (WACA), and on the board and as web content director for the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA). She is a longtime ICHSA/ICCA judge, as well as a certified judge for other vocal events. She is a workshop teacher, master clinician, writer, designer, social media manager (www.amymalkoff.com), and a singer/songwriter and studio musician (www.amymalkoffmusic.com). She currently runs and manages the New Hampshire-based performance venue Club Sandwich (Sandwich, N.H.), where celebrity John Davidson performs on weekends, along with a lineup of nationally known artists on Thursdays. She was a founding member of the groups All About Buford and Deadline Poet and has appeared onstage and in the studio with acts such as Wayne Brady, Jonathan Brooke, The Persuasions, Ellis Paul, Vance Gilbert, GrooveLily, Patty Griffin, and Dar Williams. She has a degree in music from Kenyon College, with music studies at Youngstown State University and master’s-level coursework at the New England Conservatory of Music. Amy's music has appeared on both the Rounder Records and Hear Music/Starbucks labels. @amalkoff

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Clarus/Jill Clark Productions (sound), Tri-M Music Honor Society, Falconize, Alex Grover, and the Danvers High School Music Teachers and 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 Northeast 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!

VIEW ALBUMS

#ICHSA