2025 ICCA South Quarterfinal @ Trinity Prep High School

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 SOUTH QUARTERFINAL

Trinity Prep High School
Saturday, January 31st, 2026

WE'RE SOCIAL

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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

Accent A Cappella (formerly known as No Southern Accent) is the University of Florida's premier all-gender a cappella group. Established in 2001, they are excited to compete at the ICCA. In 2023, Accent released their EP, Before the Dawn, which went on to earn two Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) for Best Pop EP and Best Mixed Collegiate EP, as well as a featured single on BOCA 2024. They recently released another EP, titled Damage Control. In 2024, they competed in ICCA Semifinals in Durham, attended the National A Cappella Convention (NACC) in Orlando, and placed 2nd at Boston Sings (BOSS). As a fully student-run group, Accent offers numerous opportunities for its members to grow musically, creatively, and personally, through collaboration, leadership roles, and performance experience. Their mission statement is to foster inclusivity and support for people of all majors, backgrounds, and identities, by maintaining a safe, welcoming space. Above all, Accent is a family of students who share a passion for music, and cherish their connection as a group even more. They are proud to share their 2026 ICCA set and warmly invite the audience to celebrate their love for this music and one another.

BisCaydence is an award-winning a cappella group from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. Established in 2011, the group features some of UM's top vocal talent and embodies school pride and harmony. In 2019, they advanced all the way to ICCA Finals and ultimately took 2nd place. They went on to record that competition set as their first EP, Blue Horizon, which earned a featured spot on the 2019 BOCA compilation album and three CARA nominations. BisCaydence won the ICCA South Champion title again in 2024, with another coveted appearance at ICCA Finals. They turned that set into another CARA-nominated studio EP, Frostbite, which was featured on BOCA 2025.

Gemini Blvd. is UCF's first co-ed a cappella group, established in 2009. They received 1st place at ICCA Quarterfinals in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, and advanced to Semifinals six times. They have also released two EPs and two albums, including their most recent EP, TRANSIT, in 2025, all of which showcase their creativity and vocal excellence. Beyond their achievements, Gemini Blvd. has always been a close group of friends who are passionate about celebrating their love of music together. They are excited to continue performing and pushing their artistic boundaries every year.

HEARTbeats A Cappella is Florida International University's one and only award-winning a cappella group, recognized for Outstanding Choreography at the 2022 ICCA South Quarterfinals. Founded in 2014 through FIU's Honors College Honors Education in the Arts (HEARTS) Program, the group began as a creative space for students of all fields to express themselves. Today, HEARTbeats reflects FIU's diverse and international spirit, bringing together voices from all backgrounds to share the gift of music with others. The group arranges and choreographs all of their own work, a testament to their creativity and collaborative energy. They aim to foster connections through music, sharing their artistry around campus and their local community. In a world that often feels divided, they hope to use their platform on the ICCA stage to stand for inclusivity, empowerment, and change. Through music that challenges norms and celebrates resilience, HEARTbeats A Cappella encourages unity, emphasizing that beneath every voice, everyone shares the same heart.

Founded in 2009, KeyHarmony is the premier all-treble a cappella group at the University of Central Florida. What began as a small collective of passionate vocalists has grown into a dynamic ensemble known for its artistry, energy, and strong sense of community. United by a shared love of music and performance, the members of KeyHarmony strive to create meaningful connections through their voices and inspire audiences with every note. Over the years, KeyHarmony has represented UCF on stages across the nation, competing in prestigious events such as VoiceJam, the ICCA, and BOSS. Their performances showcase their impressive vocal talents, as well as a deep commitment to musical innovation and emotional storytelling. Beyond competition, the group fosters a welcoming environment which empowers its members as musicians and individuals. They are dedicated to refining their craft, supporting one another, and celebrating the joy of collaborative music-making. Above all, KeyHarmony aims to share their harmony with the world, spreading positivity, creativity, and the unifying power of the human voice.

Mixed Mode is an all-gender a cappella group at UCF, established in 2015. They value artistic expression, storytelling, and individuality. They are experienced competitors, with recent showings at SoJam, BOSS, and ICCA, most recently taking 3rd place at their 2025 ICCA South Quarterfinal. Other recent ICCA achievements include 3rd place and Outstanding Choreography at 2024 Quarterfinals, and 2nd place, Outstanding Choreography, and Outstanding Vocal Percussion in 2023. Coming off of their 10th anniversary celebration with their founders and alumni, Mixed Mode hopes you enjoy their set as much as they’ve enjoyed creating it together. You can listen to their singles and albums on Spotify and keep up with them on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

The Sedoctaves is a feminine-inclusive a cappella group and a family of hard-working and empowered performers. Representing a variety of majors, they are united by a shared love for music and seek to inspire others with their originally crafted pieces, captivating performances, and positive attitudes.

Tone Definition is the University of Florida’s only service-based a cappella group. This means they raise money tailgating by singing their favorite UF songs, and then donate half of those proceeds to a charity of their choosing. Tone Definition also contributes to the community by singing at homeless shelters and sending out holiday-themed singing grams. They took 3rd place in BOSS last year and loved the opportunity to perform for a new audience. Tone Definition prides itself on community building and dedication to their craft. The group includes members from all different majors and backgrounds, all sharing a passion for music. They hope you enjoy their performance!

Tones of Gold A Cappella is the University of South Florida’s only all-gender a cappella ensemble. They celebrated their 10th anniversary last year and continue to share their passion for music through performances on campus, in the community, and on the ICCA stage. As they step into the next decade, Tones of Gold aims to grow as musicians and performers and set the gold standard for a cappella.

Tufaan is the University of Miami’s premier multicultural a cappella group, blending Western and South Asian musical styles to create a distinctive and powerful sound. Founded in 2009, the group embodies Miami’s diversity and creativity, with innovative vocal arrangements and dynamic performances. Over the years, UMiami Tufaan has performed and competed on stages across the country, including the ICCA and South Asian fusion circuit. The group has received national recognition, most recently placing 3rd at Gathe Raho 2024, and previously competed at the All-American Awaazein. This year marks Tufaan’s first showing in the ICCA circuit since 2016 and they’re eager to share their culturally blended a cappella with the ICCA audience.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Kenzie Bigott, a New Jersey native, is a choir director at University High School in Orlando, Fla. She earned her Bachelor of Music in choral music education from Liberty University and has directed award-winning ensembles, led a cappella groups to ICHSA Semifinals, and even shared her love of music with students in Nepal. Kenzie loves helping students discover their voices and is excited to join the community this year as a first-time judge with Varsity Vocals.

Hailing from Kissimmee, Fla., Jabari Lewis is a young artist working on the opera stage. Jabari was most recently seen at The Glimmerglass Festival, where he originated the role of Tito in "The House on Mango Street" by Derek Bermel and Sandra Cisneros and covered Sellem in Stravinsky’s "The Rake’s Pogress." Jabari also performed at the Des Moines Metro Opera in "Il barbiere di Siviglia," "Salome," and the world premiere of Damien Geter and Lila Palmer’s "American Apollo." Jabari holds a Bachelor of Music from Florida State University and a Master of Music from the University of Michigan. At the University of Michigan, Jabari performed the roles of Die Knusperhexe in Humperdinck’s "Hänsel und Gretel," Little Victor Farrell in Kevin Puts’ "Elizabeth Cree" and Gherardo in "Gianni Schicchi." He was also a tenor soloist in Beethoven’s "Mass in C" and various oratorio works throughout Ann Arbor, including Mozart’s "Coronation Mass" and Adolphus Hailstork’s "I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes." As an undergrad at FSU, Jabari balanced his opera studies and performance schedule with the collegiate a cappella scene. He competed with All-Night Yahtzee in the SoJam A Cappella Festival and ICCA, earning a 1st place title with the group at ICCA South Quarterfinals and sailing through to Semifinals. Jabari is excited to support young musicians as a judge with Varsity Vocals!

Holly McWilliams is a proud University of Tennessee alumna and a founding member of the women’s a cappella group, reVOLution. They advanced to ICCA Semifinals during their inaugural season, igniting her love for the organization. From 2014 to 2022, Holly worked as a performer and music educator, dedicating her career to vocal excellence, musical storytelling, and the development of young artists. With a deep love for choir, a cappella, and the performing arts as a whole, she maintains a lasting connection to the Varsity Vocals community and is honored to serve as a judge. She is eager to celebrate the artistry, commitment, and magic each group brings to the stage. Never stop creating

Simya Phillip has been involved in the a cappella scene since 2012, when she performed in her middle school’s a cappella group. In high school, she competed in ICHSA with Winter Park High School’s Take 7, and continued her competitive journey with her collegiate groups, qualifying for and advancing through ICCA, SoJam, NACC, and BOSS. Simya has a music education degree from Florida State University, where she was the music director of All-Night Yahtzee and a vocalist and percussionist for The Acabelles.

Sami Sorce is a singer, musician, and performer based in Orlando, Fla. She attended the University of Central Florida, where she helped form the a cappella group, Voicebox, and served as their performance director for two years. During her time with the group, Sami earned three Outstanding Choreography awards for their full competition sets at one ICCA Quarterfinal and two Semifinals. In 2016, Voicebox placed 4th at ICCA Finals and Sami contributed to the group’s first album release. In 2019–2020 and again in 2021–2022, Sami performed with the a cappella group, SingIt, at Universal Studios. In 2020, she co-founded the band, Red Mint, and serves as lead singer. The band has grown significantly in the years since and continues to perform throughout Florida. Sami also performs in a cappella shows and choir groups at Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, and SeaWorld. She owns her own Entertainment LLC, spent two years performing at "Howl at the Moon," and is currently on the roster for multiple entertainment companies across Central Florida. In addition to performing with Red Mint, Sami is a featured performer and singer at Universal Studios Epic Universe, notably appearing in the Celestial Trio show.

Sahar Sultany has been involved in music and performance since elementary school, performing in multiple choral groups prior to matriculating to the University of South Florida. There, she wrote, arranged, and taught music for her a cappella group, Rocky’s Angels, all while serving as the group's vice president and music director. Sahar remembers her time at ICCA fondly and is excited to share her knowledge and experience with new a cappella generations!

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Charlie Carroll; 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 South 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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