2026 ICCA South Quarterfinal @ The Carolina Theatre

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

The Carolina Theatre
Saturday, February 21st, 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

Aural Pleasure is Emory University’s oldest gender-inclusive a cappella group. Founded in 1994, Aural Pleasure is not your mother’s glee club. The group tends to steer away from customary doo-wop arrangements and prides itself on performing with a passionate energy and modern style. Aural Pleasure strives to foster a musically innovative environment and encourages its members to toy with unconventional sounds to push the boundaries of traditional a cappella. Aural Pleasure’s dedication to excellence has afforded them opportunities to perform at a variety of venues across the Southeastern United States. In addition to regular on-campus performances, the group has performed in North Carolina, Nashville, and even the Bahamas. The group won 3rd place in their 2023 ICCA South Quarterfinal, performed in the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and can be found on Hulu’s new hit show, “Tell Me Lies.”

The Chariots is UNCG’s premier co-ed a cappella group! A fully student-led ensemble, they are all about creating a fun, welcoming environment for its members to grow as individual leaders and a collective unit, all while making awesome music! They focus on sight-reading, arranging, and improving their singing skills, and support group members from all different majors and experience levels. More than just performers, The Chariots is a team and, most importantly, a family. Leadership, collaboration, and creativity are at the heart of everything they do, and these skills prove useful in every area of their lives. Whether they’re rehearsing on campus, arranging their next set, or performing at a gig, The Chariots aim to push themselves musically while creating lifelong friendships. In 2025, The Chariots were proud to take 3rd place at their ICCA South Quarterfinal, a milestone for the group. They’re excited to return to the ICCA stage this season and continue growing as artists and performers.

The Demon Divas is Wake Forest University's premier all-female a capella group, founded in 1998. This is The Divas' fourth ICCA and they’re eager to return after winning 1st place in their 2024 ICCA South Quarterfinal, along with the award for Outstanding Choreography. Although none of The Divas are music majors, they love singing together and sharing their music with every audience! If you like what you hear onstage, check out The Divas' most recent album, Let's Go Girls, along with the rest of their music, on all streaming platforms. They're excited to share their hard work with you today and hope you enjoy an ode to the "Diva's Angels."

Formed in 2007, Ear Candy is an all-female and nonbinary a cappella group of 14 App State students. They cover songs from a variety of genres and popular artists, including Billie Eilish, Rihanna, Beyoncé, and many more! In addition to performing at and around App State, this is Ear Candy's second year competing at the ICCA, after placing 3rd at their 2025 South Quarterfinal. Known for their harmonies and energy, Ear Candy values being a close-knit group of friends who share a love of music and a joy for creating it together.

Founded in 1968, The Grains of Time is North Carolina State University's all-male a cappella group. The Grains love upholding the long traditions of the group, while also pushing new creative boundaries with their song choices and choreography. They also record and release music, and their newest single, "Falling," is now available on streaming platforms! The Grains enjoy performing at events on campus, in Raleigh, around the Triangle area, and across North Carolina for private events, charitable causes, and collaborations with other universities. With five new members this year, The Grains are 16 guys strong and ready to compete. Part of Grains' rich history is competing at ICCA for over a decade, with recent success moving on to the 2023 South Semifinal. The Grains have put together a dynamic set and can’t wait to put on a show for the ICCA audience.

Harmonic Notion is an ICCA-competing, co-ed a cappella group, formed in January 2013 at Vanderbilt University. In 2021, they placed 2nd in the ICCA South Quarterfinal, and won Outstanding Choreography at Semifinals. They were also recognized on the 2020 and 2021 BOCA albums, and release music on all streaming platforms. Harmonic Notion showcases their music at concerts and campus events throughout the year. They strive to perform high-level a cappella music and have fun doing it!

The Ladies in Red is NC State's all-female a cappella group, established in 1993. The Ladies work to empower and inspire others through song. Singing music from various genres, this diverse group includes women from different majors and musical backgrounds. The Ladies in Red have been in and out of the recording studio for the past several years and will soon release their first album in seven years! The album will feature some of their most popular recent covers. Tune into their social media accounts @ncsuladiesinred for more updates about the album release, exciting performances, and more!

Founded in 1992, Rhythm and Blue is Duke University’s oldest (and most iconic) all-gender a cappella group. Since then, the R&B family has developed its own distinct style and matured into a full-fledged member of the a cappella community at Duke and beyond. From their garden jukebox concerts to competing in ICCA, they’re always sure to bring the best vibes, both on and off the stage. Rhythm and Blue has a ton of exciting projects in the works, so make sure to follow them on socials to stay in the loop!

VoiceMale is Appalachian State University’s only all-male a cappella group, celebrating 15 years of music, brotherhood, and resilience. Rooted in tradition and driven by passion, the group has navigated both triumph and challenge, including a recent season of loss and instability that tested its foundation. In response, VoiceMale reconnected with its core values, returning to the heart of its sound and the strength of its community. Blending pop, R&B, and hip-hop influences, VoiceMale brings energy and emotion to every performance, creating a sound that bridges power and soul. Over the years, the group has become a staple of App State’s music scene, performing across campus and beyond, while continuing to foster its members’ artistic and personal growth. Last season, VoiceMale earned Outstanding Vocal Percussion at their ICCA South Quarterfinal, marking a new milestone in the group’s ongoing story of creativity and collaboration with its first ICCA award. Today, VoiceMale continues to honor its past while embracing a new era of sound that reflects growth, healing, and unity.

For decades, Wolfgang has brought together students by building a close-knit family of music lovers. Wolfgang consistently strives for excellence and their musical projects have won awards. From their energetic performances to their expansive discography, Wolfgang’s creative process prioritizes originality and authenticity.

GUEST PERFORMER

Forecast Quartet is an award-winning men's a cappella quartet from North Carolina that has been entertaining audiences around the country since 2014. They have performed at notable venues, including the Carolina Theatre and the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham N.C., the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts in Greensboro, N.C., the historic Birchmere in Alexandria, Va., the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, the AXIS Theater at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, and the Marin Veterans’ Auditorium in San Rafael, Calif. They have opened for Steve Martin, performed with The Jive Aces swing band from the U.K., and entertained thousands of fans with music that spans from traditional early American vocal standards in the barbershop style all the way to four-part harmony versions of contemporary hits by Michael Bublé, Big Bad VooDoo Daddy, Zac Brown Band, and The Jive Aces. You can find their recordings on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. Mike, Bryan, Travis, and Kevin hope to meet you after tonight’s show in the lobby!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Jessica Efird was a member of Duke University's Sapphire for five years and missed the collaborative nature of a cappella after graduation. After a year in a community a cappella group called The Raleigh Jaychords, she co-founded Second Shift A Cappella in 2007. Second Shift has now been performing in the triangle region of North Carolina for 16 years, during which time Jessica has served multiple terms as the group’s business director and musical co-director.

Haley Gustavsen is a private voice teacher and former instructor at both Natick High School and Wellesley High School. As a choral director, she led a select a cappella group at Miscoe Hill School and previously served as the music director of Divisi, University of Oregon's women's a cappella group. During her tenure as director, the group competed in ICCA three times, advancing to Finals at Lincoln Center in 2010. Haley was individually recognized with Outstanding Soloist and Outstanding Arrangement awards. As an individual voice instructor and guest choral clinician, Haley has a passion for working with young singers. She holds a B.M. in music education from University of Oregon and an M.M. in vocal performance from Texas State University, where she taught undergraduate coursework in vocal technique as a graduate teaching assistant in opera. On the classical music stage, performance highlights include Boston Lyric Opera, Konzerthaus Berlin, and several leading roles with Texas State Opera Theatre.

Ian Koff's passion for a cappella began in his freshman year at the University of Rochester, where he was a vocal percussionist and baritone for The YellowJackets. Post-graduation, he expanded his involvement in the a cappella community by performing with and directing several East Coast groups, including Rochester's InnerLoop, The Long Island Sound, Stony Brook University's High Cs, Suffolk University's Ramifications, and Boston's soniCrush and Slapdash Graduate. Ian's a cappella expertise extends to arranging music for groups featured on “The Sing-Off” and coaching vocal percussion privately. Residing in Cary, N.C. with his wife Brianne, Ian is a philanthropist, creative director, and TV ad producer.

According to legend (i.e. her parents), Amy Pruitt was singing before she could talk. She fell in love with a cappella at age 9, when spontaneous harmonizing broke out at a cast party (she was playing a Cratchit child in a high school musical production of “Scrooge”). The summer before freshman year of high school, Amy began an unbroken streak of continuously singing in a cappella groups that would go on for the next 20 years. Highlights include busking with her high school group on the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland, during the Fringe Festival, and performing for a crowd of more than 20,000 at UNC’s Keenan Stadium for their 4th of July celebration. While in college at the University of Michigan, she arranged, performed, and competed in ICCA tournaments with Amazin’ Blue. Since then, Amy has sung with several professional a cappella groups, including Transit Vocal Band, Avante Vocal Jazz, and her current group, THEORY: the Vocal Experiment. Amy is honored to participate tonight in memory of her dear friend, Jim Diego.

While his experience with a cappella began as a member of Eight Beat Measure in 2005, Rick Thomas has been extremely active in the greater a cappella community since 2010. Over the years, he has served as the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America's (CASA) Program Manager of Awards, Director of Outreach for both CASA and the A Cappella Education Association, and a member of the SoJam production team. Additionally, Rick serves as a clinician for groups across the country and works as a producer and mix engineer with Richard Thomas Music.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank the Carolina Theatre staff and Forecast; 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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