2025 ICCA Northeast Quarterfinal @ Berklee College of Music

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 NORTHEAST QUARTERFINAL

Berklee College of Music
Saturday, February 14th, 2026

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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

Acappellics hails from Emerson College. They sing together to build lifelong bonds of friendship and heal their community through music. They go on a retreat each year and love to boogie!

The Allegrettos is a student-run, all-gender a cappella group from Boston University. Founded in 1994, the group performs throughout the Northeast, records music, and performs in competitions such as the ICCA. In 2016, The Allegrettos performed for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House! The Allegrettos bring a unique blend of alternative-pop, R&B, and gospel influence to their repertoire. Passionate about recording and sharing their artistry, the group has released a growing catalog of EPs, albums, and singles, available on all major streaming platforms. Frequent competitors in the ICCA, The Allegrettos have a long awards history, most recently earning 2nd place in the 2024 ICCA Northeast Quarterfinals, along with awards for Outstanding Soloist and Outstanding Choreography.

Established in 2004, The Audiophiles is the Worcester Polytechnic Institute’ only SATB a cappella group. The group is composed entirely of engineers and scientists who share a love for music and singing. This will be The Audiophiles’ sixth year competing in the ICCA. In fall 2024, they released their new studio EP, BPM, which features a variety of songs arranged by several group members. They primarily perform songs arranged by active members of the group, which allows their repertoire to reflect the group's musical taste at any given time. While the academic interests of the group range from actuarial sciences to electrical and computer engineering, they bond over making good music and spending time together.

Distilled Harmony is one of many collegiate a cappella groups in Boston, and one of four all-gender groups at Northeastern University. Founded in 2003, this energetic, creative, and dedicated group performs music from artists ranging from Phoebe Bridgers to FLO. While they love to sing at Northeastern, they also perform throughout the Greater Boston Area and were proud to take 3rd place in their 2025 ICCA Northeast Quarterfinal! Last year, DH released an EP of their 2025 ICCA set, titled Untethered, featuring “Soft” by Lucky Daye, “Live For M” by Omar Apollo, and “The Blade” by AURORA. They also released their single, “A Little More Time” by Victoria Monet and Lucky Daye, along with a fun office-themed music video. To check out those projects and stay up to date on DH, follow them on all social media platforms @distilledharmonyNU.

The Boston College Dynamics is a student-run, all-gender a cappella group from Chestnut Hill, Mass. Founded in 1998, the group has since developed into a premier performance group on campus. Their repertoire includes Top 40, R&B, and many other popular music genres. The Dynamics produce high-grade professional music videos and award-winning albums, earning tracks on BOCA, and recognition from the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs). They most recently released their new EP, VERTIGO, featuring songs from their 2024 ICCA set. Listen now on all streaming platforms! In 2024, The BC Dynamics made history as the first Boston College group in two decades to advance to the ICCA Northeast Semifinals. This accomplishment is a testament to the group’s hard work and dedication, especially considering that the majority of group members come from non-musical backgrounds. In 2025, The BC Dynamics took a break from competing to rebuild after a majority of group members graduated. The current group includes only six members with competitive experience, so they are thrilled to introduce a new group of singers to the excitement of ICCA!

In 1949, four students broke away from the Brown University Men’s Glee Club to form The Jabberwocks of Brown University. Since then, the school’s oldest a cappella group has become a cornerstone of campus musical life. With a reputation for bold arrangements and tight harmonies, The Wocks are known for pushing the boundaries of collegiate a cappella. In 2025, they took 2nd place at ICCA Northeast Quarterfinals and won Outstanding Arrangement for their powerful rendition of “My Mind (Now)” (opb. Paris Paloma), advancing to Northeast Semifinals. Over their 76-year history, The Jabberwocks have toured across the globe, including recent performances in Spain (winter 2026) and South Korea (summer 2024). They have also earned recognition from the CARAs and multiple placements on BOCA compilations. More than anything, the group is proud of its growth, creativity, and connections made through music. Whether they’re singing on a stage or beneath a campus arch, The Jabberwocks honor tradition while exploring new sounds, developing as artists, and finding innovative ways to share their music with the world.

The Sirens is an award-winning, CARA-nominated, women-centered a cappella group, hailing from Simmons University in Boston. Founded in 1989, The Sirens is now in its third decade of making music together. The Sirens bond through their love of music, creative pursuits, and their experiences through college. They currently consist of 16 members from the Colleges of the Fenway, representing Simmons University, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The Sirens are so excited to collaborate with other amazing a cappella groups and consider the ICCA one of the best bonding experiences ever! If you like what you hear, check out their latest EP, Usual Suspects, featuring R&B, indie, and pop covers.

Treble on Huntington is Northeastern University's first upper-voice a cappella group, founded in 2007. They showcase their unique style and artistry in their pop, R&B, and mixed-genre repertoire. The group members span a diverse range of majors, from neuroscience to engineering to international affairs and criminal justice, but they all share a deep love for music. Treble on Huntington has had the pleasure of performing at some incredible venues, including the Massachusetts Conference for Women, Fenway Park to sing the national anthem for the Boston Red Sox, the National A Cappella Convention (NACC), and the ICCA! They’ve also been nominated for several CARAs, and most recently released the music video for their 2025 NACC set on YouTube. Be sure to check out their newest EP, MUSE, plus the remixes, on all streaming services. Follow them on all social media platforms @TrebleOnHuntington to stay up to date with their shows and music!

Triple Major A Cappella is Wesleyan University's only a cappella group. They specialize in sick harmonies, smooth moves, and having an impeccable sense of style. Triple Major was established in 2017 and has competed in the ICCA every year since.

Unjust Intonation is The New School's only a cappella group, spanning across all colleges within the university and open to all genders. Established in fall 2022, this young, upcoming group has been finding their voice within the collegiate a cappella space. UI prides itself on being entirely student-run! Nearly all of their arrangements, graphics and branding, are made in-house! As a group, Unjust Intonation continuously strives to grow, exploring new sounds, diverse genres, and fresh musicianship. Within the walls of Arnhold Hall, where incredible (but often intense) school-run classical and jazz ensembles rehearse every day, Unjust Intonation is a bright, inclusive, and supportive ensemble based on the joy of creating music together. No voice is ever unwelcome here!

GUEST PERFORMER

Named one of the top five a cappella groups in the country by USA Today, Pitch Slapped has won two ICCA Champion titles, in 2011 and 2014. The group appeared on NBC's "The-Sing Off" in 2010 and was featured on "America's Got Talent" in 2015. The group also opened for Charlie Puth and toured in cities around the world, including Beijing, China. Previous members include Matt Sallee from Pentatonix, Lizzy McAlpine, members of Tiny Habits, and many other skilled vocalists. In 2025, the group released their studio album, Confidential, which can be found on all streaming platforms.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

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 AEA Association.

Brandon Hetherington is a seasoned a cappella professional, having started his first a cappella group in high school, The Spartones. He attended UMass Amherst for voice performance and music education, where he sang in The Vocal Suspects and served as a tenor, arranger, performance director, and choreographer, winning Outstanding Choreography at ICCA. He later joined The Hexachords, advancing with the group repeatedly to ICCA Semifinals, and was featured on Pop TV’s “Sing It On.” He has taught at festivals including Boston Sings (BOSS), and has also taught at Uxbridge High School.

Though music has always been an important part of his life, Alberto Naveira was properly introduced to a cappella at college in 2017. There, he joined The Chorallaries of MIT and finally realized his "Pitch Perfect dreams," competing in three ICCA seasons. The rich traditions and music adventures with the group led him to long-lasting friendships, a life partner (now fiancée!), and an endless obsession with all things a cappella. Since graduating in 2021, Alberto has stayed active in the a cappella world through arranging, audio engineering, festivals, mentoring The Chorallaries, and, most recently, joining Sound Off, a post-collegiate group. Being back onstage again has filled a hole in Alberto’s heart and reinvigorated his love for the a cappella community. He is very excited to give back to Varsity Vocals as a judge and eager to witness tonight's performances!

Cay Outerbridge is a vocal music jack-of-all-trades: voice teacher, conductor, coach, arranger, learning track producer, and singer. He serves as the musical director for two highly regarded Boston-based choruses, Vocal Revolution and VocaMotion, and sings bass in Daily Special, an internationally competing barbershop quartet. He coaches singers and groups across the globe, using a science-informed, compassionate, and personalized approach.

Jake McVey began his a cappella journey as a member, assistant music director, and business manager of Hawkward (@rwuhawkward) at Roger Williams University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in music. After completing his undergraduate studies, he joined the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus (@bgmc1982), contributing as a singer and Music Section Representative while earning his M.B.A. in music business from Southern New Hampshire University. Since 2019, he has been a part of Sound Off (@soundoffacappella), an award-winning Boston-based a cappella group. Jake has been an active member of the Varsity Vocals community since 2019, serving as a production assistant before taking over as ICHSA Northeast Producer from 2021-2023.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank the Berklee Performance Center team & Berklee College of Music; 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 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

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