2025 ICCA Midwest Quarterfinal @ Washington University in St. Louis

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 MIDWEST QUARTERFINAL

Washington University in St. Louis
Saturday, January 24th, 2026

WE'RE SOCIAL

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

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@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 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

Avocalypse is the University of Cincinnati’s first all-female and nonbinary competitive a cappella group. The group was founded in 2017 with a goal to empower people with strong voices. The group strives to create opportunities for its members to come together and feel empowered doing what they love. They have performed in various regional showcases, events, and art expositions on campus and throughout the Greater Cincinnati Area. Since making its ICCA debut in 2018, Apocalypse has won a special award for Outstanding Arrangement and progressed to the 2022 ICCA Midwest Semifinals. Through this year’s set, Avocalypse explores what it means to face moments of despair and find light within them, gaining the strength to rebuild in unexpected ways. Avocalypse asks that you hold all applause until the end of the entire set. Thank you and welcome to the takeover.

Bare Naked Statues is Saint Louis University's all-male a cappella group. Founded in fall 2000, they have gained a strong reputation among the SLU community for their innovative style, musical talent, and creative performances. Performing everything from Beyoncé and Ariana Grande to classics like Frank Sinatra and even Little Feat, BNS’s variety of musical selections and unique stylistic arrangements sets them apart from many other collegiate a cappella groups. BNS’s mission is to bring a cappella music to the St. Louis community.

Beyond All Reason is Saint Louis University's first and only all-treble a cappella group. They host two concert extravaganzas each year and sing for various events sponsored by other student organizations, such as Billikens Against Cancer, basketball games, and concerts by SLU’s four other fabulous a cappella groups. BAR enjoys hosting their annual Aca-Prom, in which members of the community are invited to join a night of performances from all five of SLU's a cappella groups, an epic dance party, and the crowning of their Royal Aca-Court.

Saint Louis University's Decadence A Cappella is thrilled to be returning to the ICCA this year! This co-ed a cappella group was founded in 2010 and they have loved performing together ever since! Decadence was founded by 10 members who were equally passionate about performing for others and spending time together! They perform all kinds of musical genres and love building a varied repertoire, including rock, pop, alternative, and oldies! Decadence is grateful to be here at ICCA and cannot wait to showcase their work and cheer on the other incredible groups! They hope you enjoy the show!

Echoes is a co-ed a cappella group from the University of Notre Dame, established in 2012. The ensemble currently maintains a roster of 18 student members who attend three different colleges, all of which form the University of Notre Dame’s tri-campus community. The group performs a repertoire of contemporary songs in the genres of pop, rock, and country. Echoes loves coming up with creative themes for their concerts, such as “Teenage Dream,” which celebrated 13 years of Echoes, and “Off the Record,” which coincided with their second EP release, All That’s Light. Echoes members also love baggy jeans, Lizzy McAlpine, and their group mascot. In 2025, Echoes advanced to the ICCA Midwest Semifinals and they’re extremely excited to compete again this year!

Mizzou Forte proudly stands as the premier co-ed a cappella group at the University of Missouri, specializing in the captivating world of pop music. They have represented their school in the ICCA with enthusiasm and dedication for many years. This group of dedicated musicians has built a reputation for electrifying performances that thrill audiences with captivating harmonies and infectious energy. Their repertoire spans a wide range of pop hits, from the latest chart-toppers to timeless classics. They are proud of their ability to reinvent every song with a unique a cappella twist, creating unforgettable musical journeys that resonate with audiences. Mizzou Forte is a close-knit family, sharing friendship and laughter, in addition to their common love for music. As they work together to cultivate their musical talents, they are also building connections that extend beyond the stage. More than just an a cappella group, Mizzou Forte is a pop phenomenon, a university tradition, and a powerhouse of talent. Join them and let the enchantment of Mizzou Forte's a cappella magic wash over you.

Miner Key is Missouri S and T's first and only a cappella group. Founded in 2018, the group has since grown from eight friends with a love for music to an 18-member competitive ensemble. Miner Key is composed entirely of engineering and science majors and they aim to promote a local musical community and have fun while doing it.

The Naturelles is the University of Missouri's premier all-treble a capella group. Composed entirely of non-music majors, they combine their diverse backgrounds with a shared passion for vocal performance. They proudly represent Mizzou at the ICCA, earning titles such as 2017 Midwest Quarterfinal Champions and 2022 Midwest Quarterfinal Second Runner-Up. Beyond competitions, The Naturelles perform at various campus and community events across Missouri.

The Sensasians is Washington University's premier Asian-interest a cappella group. Founded in 2009, they specialize in fresh, bilingual mashups that showcase the group’s passion for music from around the world. They have ICCA awards and top placements over the years, including a 1st place finish at their 2016 ICCA Midwest Quarterfinal and a 3rd place finish in 2022. They released their debut EP, The New Kids on the Wok, in spring 2016, followed by their second EP, 21st Sentury, in spring 2018, and they’re both available on Apple Music and Spotify. The Sensasians provide a space for Wash U students to bridge Western and Asian culture through contemporary a cappella. They love exploring Asian music, striving for musical excellence, and deepening their understanding of identity, all while cultivating tight-knit friendships onstage and off.

The UC Vocaholics is a high-energy a cappella group, established in 2014 at the University of Cincinnati. Uniting students from all fields, the group has won many ICCA special awards over the years, including Outstanding Arrangement, Outstanding Soloist, Outstanding Vocal Percussion, and Outstanding Choreography. Most recently, they placed 1st at their ICCA Midwest Quarterfinal and went on to earn 4th place at Midwest Semifinals! They hope you enjoy their performance!

GUEST PERFORMER

Viva Voce is an all-treble a cappella group from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis. Founded in 2016, Viva Voce has thrived competing each year in the ICHSA and sharing their love of a cappella music with their peers and community. Follow them @VivavoceLHS!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Jaylen Davis-Vaughn is the Director of Choral Activities at Webster Groves High School. He received his Bachelor of Music Education with an emphasis in vocal music education and K-12 licensure from Millikin University, where he sang with Dissonance A Cappella. His professional highlights include serving as Interim Director of Millikin University’s BluBop Vocal Jazz, conductor of two choral festival choirs, and singing background for Josh Groban in his 2022 summer tour series. During Jaylen's free time, he teaches private voice and piano students to over 30 students, ranging from 5 to 60 years old, online and in person through his voice studio, Vaughn Music Studios. Through this experience, Jaylen has been able to help vocal and instrumental musicians of all skill levels reach their goals and potential to continue music in their professional careers.

With over 12 years of musical training and four years of experience competing in the ICCA, Kate Embry is very excited to contribute to the other side of the judging panel. As a St. Louis University student, Kate Emery music-directed and competed with SLU's Astha A Cappella. She earned an Outstanding Arrangement award in 2024 for her work on their ICCA set. Before that, she participated in several choral groups in high school, including madrigal a cappella, jazz choir, and the ILMEA competitive district choir.

Bonny Oesch is a K–5 music teacher at John Weldon Elementary in O’Fallon, Mo. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from Missouri State University and is a proud alumna of the university’s a cappella group, A Cub Bella. Over the past 15 years, Bonny has taught music to students, ranging from kindergarten through high school, in Missouri, Virginia, and Florida, and produced multiple high school musicals. She brings a wide range of experiences to her work and is passionate about fostering musicianship, creativity, and confidence in young performers. Bonny is honored to serve as a judge for Varisty Vocals.

Jamie Perkins received a B.A. in music from Washington University in St. Louis, where he sang for four years as a member of The Amateurs, as well as Wash U's concert and chamber choirs. Jamie served as The Amateurs' music director for his final two years with the group before graduating in spring 2013. After graduating from Wash U, Jamie spent two years at Webster University, and earned a master's degree in choral conducting. At Webster, he sang with the Webster University Chamber Singers and worked as the assistant conductor for Webster's choirs. Jamie currently works for the Washington University Department of Music and he is happy to be back in the a cappella community as a Varsity Vocals judge.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Jaykob Archer, Cadence Arnold, and Washington University 560 Music Center 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 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 two placing groups at this event will advance to the 2026 ICCA 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!

VIEW ALBUMS

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