2025 ICHSA West Quarterfinal @ John Burroughs 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 WEST QUARTERFINAL

John Burroughs High School
Friday, January 24th, 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

Abbe Road A Capella is a 16-member a cappella group from Santa Susana High School in Simi Valley, Calif. Abbe Road is excited to return to ICHSA after competing in 2018 and 2023. Throughout the year, they participate in festivals and competitions such as the Los Angeles A Cappella Festival (LAAF), Verdugo Hills Vocal Festival, and other jazz festivals. They primarily perform pop music, but enjoy experimenting their sound with different genres, like jazz, musical theatre, and choral pieces. The group’s name refers to The Beatles’ album, Abbey Road, but the spelling reference’s their director's last name, “Abbe.” Abbe Road is eager to show the ICHSA what they have to offer!

The Bishop Amat Memorial High School Dynamics is a talented group of nine singers, including five seniors, one junior, one sophomore, and two freshmen. While they specialize in a cappella, their passion for music extends far beyond the group. Many group members are active in various musical activities, from instrumental to choral and musical theatre. The Dynamics share a deep love for creating music and aim to bring energy and excitement to the stage. Although the group was established in 2021, the current membership is all new and wholeheartedly committed to mastering the craft of a cappella. They rehearse with dedication, meeting every weekday before classes at 7:10 a.m. and putting in extra time after school. Their hard work helps them shine at pep rallies, sporting events, concerts, and other community gatherings. Last year, The Dynamics competed for the first time at ICHSA Quarterfinals and performed at the National A Cappella Convention (NACC) in Orlando, Fla. Under the direction of Jennifer Escovar, The Dynamics are thrilled to carry on the legacy of their predecessors and make their mark in the a cappella world.

In Tone Nation, from Gila Ridge High School in Yuma, Ariz., is excited to be back competing this year. They look forward to hearing the other groups and competing with such talented musicians. Last year, In Tone Nation had an excellent ICHSA experience competing in West Quarterfinals and one of their members earned Outstanding Arrangement. Although they have been competing since 2017, this is their second year back since the Covid-19 shutdowns.

Neo Chromatics is a select group of singers from John Burroughs High School directed by Hannah Abrahim. They rehearse after school once a week and proudly represent their school at many performances throughout Southern California. The choral program at John Burroughs High School, under the direction of Brendan Jennings, is nationally recognized for its excellence in the field of show choir and has won numerous local and national championships. The students of Neo Chromatics are all members of Powerhouse, the school’s top choir. Founded as a vocal jazz ensemble in the 1980s, Neo Chromatics began transitioning to more contemporary a cappella repertoire around the turn of the millennium. In 2006, Jennings, a JBHS alum and four-year member, became the new choral director. As a co-founder of USC’s Reverse Osmosis, he brought a cappella experience, new ideas, and a series of ‘SC alums to help shepherd the group into a new era. With a group history of over 30 years, Neo Chromatics is excited to be a part of the a cappella community. Follow them on Instagram @neochromatics or look them up for tickets to shows www.jbhsvma.com

Since beginning as a club in 2011, OC Voices has represented Oaks Christian High School in the local community and abroad. OC Voices has competed over five times in the ICHSA and has been a Finalist in the LAAF. Many current members of OC Voices are part of the Oaks Christian Institute of Arts and Innovation Vocal Performance Track. This group is about musical excellence, commitment, storytelling, and family. Sometimes they laugh more than they sing, because having fun while making music is what this group loves to do.

From the award-winning Calabasas High School Music Program, Unstrumental is a mixed-voice a cappella ensemble with a focus on powerhouse vocals and dynamic stage performances. Many alumni go on to prestigious music and performing arts universities and have found success on Broadway, as recording artists, and in TV and film. Throughout its 23 years, Unstrumental has earned accolades as a two-time featured performer at Carnegie Hall in New York, three-time 1st place Champion of the LAAF, and five placements on the BOHSA compilation albums.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Julia Chase is a Los Angeles-based creative dedicated to creating art that provides space for people to feel and heal. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Theatre, with a minor in Performing Arts Administration, from Northeastern University. While there, she was an integral part of Pitch, Please!, a women-centered treble a cappella group, and held several leadership roles, including business manager, PR manager, treasurer, and choreographer. Julia earned Outstanding Choreography two times in the 2023 ICCA season, taking her group to Finals where they placed 3rd overall. She was previously the Creative Director of a theatre workshop in Massachusetts and most recently served as movement director for Playboy’s “Chokecherry’s Raw and Real Story of Love, Music, and Power,” as well as the band’s music video, “Messy Star.” Julia is currently in pre-production for a music video she is directing, set to release in Marc 2025. As a Varsity Vocals judge, she hopes to use her experience to support the next generation of a cappella talent.

Bella Chinnici received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre from the University of California, Irvine. During her time at UCI, Bella was a member of the a cappella group Uniting Voices, where she served as both music director and choreographer. She led the group to two ICCA Semifinals, earning two Outstanding Choreography awards and one Outstanding Arrangement award for her work in their competition sets. Currently, Bella is a musical theatre educator at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, as well as a freelance arranger, choreographer, and actor in Orange County.

Kate Crellin (she/her) is a vocalist, arranger, composer, and educator. She currently serves as the choir director for the Grammy-winning program at Mira Costa High School and Manhattan Beach Middle School. Kate is an Associate Conductor of the National Children's Chorus, where she is Associate Conductor for the L.A. Concerto Level Ensemble. Kate is also on staff at A Cappella Academy. Kate earned a double B.A. from the University of Southern California (Choral Music and Law, History and Culture), a Master of Music from Queens' College, Cambridge, and a teaching credential from CSUN. She is a proud graduate of USC Reverse Osmosis and CreSCendo Vocal Jazz Ensemble, CSUN Acasola, and Cape Harmony.

Avery Roberts is a songwriter, producer, and arranger based in Los Angeles. A choral artist at heart, their love of vocal harmony has led to their deep involvement in the a cappella community, with a record-breaking eight Outstanding Arrangement awards gathered over several Varsity Vocals competitions (including at the 2019 AcaOpen Finals), plus nominations and wins at the A Cappella Video Awards (AVAs) and Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs). Their work can be heard performed by ensembles around the country, and they continue to make music as a solo artist under the name Avo.

Originally from Austin, Texas, Rene Ruiz was a featured performer and show director for the Walt Disney World Co. for over 15 years. He conceived, directed, and performed in “TOXIC AUDIO,” an a cappella concept show that played Off-Broadway and won the 2004 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience. The show has toured internationally, including stops in Japan and Barcelona. He executive produced their album, Chemistry, which won the CARA for Album of the Year in 2000. He’s also directed a cappella shows for Six Flags New England, Hershey Park, and Kennywood Theme Parks. He can be heard as the bass/beatboxer in the Progressive Insurance a cappella commercials and in recorded park announcements all over Walt Disney World.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank tonight's host, Brendan Jennings and John Burroughs High School; sound engineer, Sid Sosa; guest performers, Muses and Reverse Osmosis; Bri Decerio, Seth Fetro, Ian Policarpio, and all of the staff and parents from John Burroughs 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 three placing groups at this event will advance to the 2025 ICHSA 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!

VIEW ALBUMS

#ICHSA