2026 ICCA Mid-Atlantic Semifinal @ The Grand Opera House

DEAR FRIENDS,

Welcome to Varsity Vocals’ 30th season! After more than a quarter century of presenting the best student groups on the stage and in the studio, our enthusiasm for the art of a cappella is greater than ever.

Our tournaments have grown from a handful of events to the massive showcase they are today, currently featuring more than 730 groups and around 12,000 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 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 from other groups.

We have seen a cappella make great strides from where it began on our stage 30 years ago and can’t wait to see how our 2026 competitors continue to 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

ICCA MID-ATLANTIC SEMIFINAL

The Grand Opera House
Saturday, March 21st, 2026

WE'RE SOCIAL

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

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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 college tournament, now in it's 30th year, 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 25th.

The high school tournament is now in its 21st 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 24th.

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 10 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 2010, DaCadence is an elite, all-gender a cappella team from the University of Maryland, College Park. DaCadence is known for bringing their vibrant colors, powerful sound, and energetic performances to the competitive stage. In 2023 and 2024, they were named Mid-Atlantic Champions and advanced to ICCA Finals. After a break from competition last year, they are excited to be back at ICCA to compete with all of the other amazing Mid-Atlantic groups. Fun fact: over half of DaFam are STEM majors! You can find them on Instagram @dacadence_umd and on Spotify for news about their upcoming album and other events.

Faux Paz is one of UMD's a cappella groups, performing mainly R&B and pop arrangements. The group took 1st place at the 2021 ICCA Finals and more recently won their 2025 Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal. Nowadays, Faux Paz travels to perform at nearby schools, continues to compete, and is in the process of recording another album to be released on all streaming platforms.

High Street Harmonix is a competitive all-voice a cappella group from West Chester University. They strive to create community and spread joy through music. The group is composed of undergraduate students from all years and majors and they perform contemporary a cappella music on the WCU campus and within their community. High Street Harmonix has competed annually in the ICCA since 2015, most recently placing 2nd in their 2025 ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal and winning Outstanding Arrangement and Outstanding Vocal Percussion for their entire set along the way. They are so excited to be performing in this year's competition and cannot wait to hear all of the other talented groups tonight!

The MelUDees is one of the University of Delaware’s premier all-gender a cappella groups, spreading good vibes and great music since 2006! Known for their creative arrangements and performances, The ‘Dees love bringing their unique sound to audiences both on and off campus. Over the years, The MelUDees have proudly represented UD at the ICCA, earning spots at Mid-Atlantic Semifinals and placing in Quarterfinals for the last three consecutive years. Whether they’re competing, performing at campus events, or singing for local fundraisers, The MelUDees bring passion, personality, and a whole lot of heart to everything they do. As they celebrate 20 years of making music together, they’re beyond excited to continue sharing their harmonies and joy with audiences everywhere.

The Notes of Ranvier is Johns Hopkins' premier community service and competitive a cappella group! Named after the unmyelinated sheaths in the nervous system that allow people to feel and sing, The Notes of Ranvier perform a variety of musical styles, ranging from pop to indie to R&B.

Off Track is an all-gender a cappella group from Towson University, founded in fall 2021. What began as a group of friends looking for a musical outlet evolved into a highly dedicated, award-winning group that has advanced to every round of the ICCA. The group continues to value fun and friendship and fosters a supportive and diverse environment for all of its members, regardless of their background Off Track was honored to represent the Mid-Atlantic at the 2025 ICCA Finals in New York City! They can’t wait for another fun-filled year!

Founded in 2025, Purple Reign is James Madison University’s first competitive a cappella ensemble. A newly established mixed group, they are dedicated to pushing creative and vocal boundaries through powerful storytelling, intricate arrangements, and a passion for excellence, both on and off the ICCA stage.

Ramifications is a premier, award-winning a cappella group from Virginia Commonwealth University. They were proud to win their 2025 ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal and are thrilled to be back for 2026! Founded in 2009 as The Compass Singers and renamed the Ramifications in 2010, the group has spent the past 14 years growing together and exploring contemporary a cappella across genres, from pop and rock to R&B and indie. Ramifications released their single, “Mania,” and album, Revelations, to all streaming platforms.

The Supernovas is Villanova’s oldest all-gender a cappella group. The group members come from a wide variety of undergraduate majors, including engineering, nursing, finance and more, but share a dedication to music. They love arranging, recording, and performing their own music together and you can find their latest work by searching “The Supernovas” wherever you stream music. They are proud that their performance of “California,” originally by Chappell Roan, was honored on Varsity Vocals’ 2025 BOCA album. In the past, The Supernovas have performed at benefit concerts, toured the Northeast with other a cappella groups, and represented their school across the country. In 2022, The Supernovas made Villanova history by earning the title of Mid-Atlantic Champions and advancing to ICCA Finals in New York City. Tonight, The Supernovas are proud to take the stage for their 12th ICCA season!

The Trentones is The College of New Jersey’s only competitive a cappella group, founded in 2002. The original founding group’s passion mirrors the current iteration’s drive for performing, arranging, and competing. Hailing from Ewing, N.J., The Trentones perform at all sorts of events on and off campus. They most recently performed at Trenton Thunder Ballpark and at the Philadelphia Flyers stadium. The Trentones have competed in several ICCA competitions over the years, advancing to Semifinals and winning awards for Outstanding Soloist, Outstanding Arrangement, and Outstanding Choreography in 2019, 2024, and 2024, respectively. They most recently placed 3rd at last year’s Mid-Atlantic Semifinal and won Outstanding Vocal Percussion along the way. The Trentones are eager to share the ICCA experience with the group’s newest members and can’t wait to see what the future holds! This year's set encapsulates the feeling of anxiety, questioning self-worth, and rampant internal monologues as the group endeavors to conquer their weaknesses. “Did I make the right decision? Am I supposed to be here? When faced with adversity, can I overcome it? Am I capable?”

GUEST PERFORMER

Black to Gold is an award-winning six-piece a cappella group from New York City. This diverse set of stellar individual artists and performers blend their talents to create a high-energy musical engine, sure to get any audience on its feet. The group produces original arrangements of music across various genres, from classics to modern pop and electronic music, reinventing each piece with their unique sound and unmatchable blend. Black to Gold has been winning accolades and making moves since its formation in 2019, earning Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) for Best Non-Scholastic Debut Album and Best Holiday Album, placing as a Finalist in Varsity Vocals' 2021 Virtual Open, winning the Aca-Idol competition at SingStrong NY in 2024, and headlining festivals, such as Boston Sings (BOSS), N.E. Voices, and SingStrong NY, all while bringing musicality, positivity, and a heaping of fun to every stage. Their new single, “The Reason,” is now available on all streaming platforms! For more info, head to www.blacktogoldmusic.com. Follow @blacktogoldmusic on Instagram, Facbook, and YouTube, and @b2gmusic on TikTok.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Jenna Camacho is a passionate music educator in the School District of Philadelphia, with a specialization in a cappella and choir. Jenna graduated from Temple in the spring of 2022 with a B.M. in music education and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in music education. She continues to share her love of a cappella and vocal music with her students. She currently sings with VICE, a women’s a cappella group based in New York. Most notably, she served as the music director of Cape Harmony, Cape Cod’s professional female a cappella group from 2020-2022. She has competed in the ICCA and The Open with various groups and loves to experience how a cappella music evolves over time. Jenna is excited to give back to Varsity Vocals, since this organization helped inspire her passion for a cappella.

Charnice Frazier has a long-lasting relationship with music and has been singing since she could speak. In addition to singing in choirs from middle school through college, Charnice was part of a chamber a cappella ensemble in high school called Infinity. Through this ensemble, she realized that she wanted a cappella to always be a part of her life. In the fall of 2012, Charnice joined James Madison University's premier female a cappella group, Note-oriety, and served as business manager and president during her years with them. Along with leading the group, she arranged songs and helped record their award-winning album, Note-oriety. Charnice currently resides in Southern Maryland and is the choral director at Thomas Stone High School in Waldorf, Md. Outside of teaching, Charnice sings in D.C.'s newest all-female vocal group, The District, and is one of the group’s assistant music directors.

Originally from Torrington, Conn., Kyle Hogan currently lives in Washington, D.C. and works in antitrust law. As an undergraduate at the University of Rochester, Kyle dedicated most of his time outside of his core studies to making music as he trained in classical voice and sang bass with The YellowJackets, joining shortly after their feature on NBC's “The Sing-Off.” Recently, Kyle has lent his voice to a number of collaborations, including work with Street Corner Symphony and June. Kyle currently sings bass in the new six-person vocal band, Nomadic.

Elliott von Wendt’s love of music began at a very young age. After learning violin and piano, he began his arranging career in high school, where he developed a love of vocal music that would grow into his profession, as well as his passion. After graduating from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Elliott served as a music director, arranger, and bass for the internationally acclaimed a cappella group, The Nor’easters, most recently bringing them to their 2017 win at the ICCA. Currently, Elliott continues to mentor and arrange for many a cappella groups around the country. @elliottvonwendt

Jake Wild is a graduate of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where he earned a degree in modern artistry development and entrepreneurship with a concentration in pop voice. During his time at Miami, Jake was a dedicated member of BisCaydence, the university’s oldest a cappella group, for all four years. In his senior year, he served as co–music director, helping lead the group to the ICCA Finals. Now based in New York City, Jake is pursuing a career as a singer-songwriter. He has performed at notable venues across the city, including Mercury Lounge, Bowery Electric, and The Stephen Talkhouse. Jake is also a member of the New York Vocal Collective and remains deeply connected to the a cappella community.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank 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 Witham
Producer, ICCA United Kingdom

Rebecca Williamson
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

Angelina Corbin
Associate Producer
ICCA & ICHSA South

Sara Yood
Senior Producer, ICCA & ICHSA Finals

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

McKinley Thoreson
Associate Producer
ICHSA Great Lakes

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 2026 ICCA 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!

VIEW ALBUMS

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