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 SOUTHWEST QUARTERFINAL

The University of California, San Diego
Saturday, February 7th, 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

Acamazing, from UC San Diego, is a co-ed a cappella group, specializing in pop, rock, and so much more. Aside from just being silly, Acamazing balances their singing goals with having fun and bonding as a group. As one of the largest iterations of the group, this year’s Acamazing is excited to provide a new full sound for this year’s ICCA. If you love to sing and have an aca-mazing good time, keep an eye out for auditions every fall! 

Clair de Lune A Cappella is the only all-treble a cappella group at the University of California, Irvine. Founded in 2010, this diverse group includes artists from different backgrounds, but they all share a passion for music and performance. Clair de Lune performs on and off campus and has built a wide-ranging repertoire, from pop to R&B. They love blending musical styles to create unique and captivating arrangements. The group prioritizes inclusivity and supports each member’s musical growth, building each singer’s confidence on their own and as part of the ensemble. CDL is thrilled to partake in their sixth ICCA!

Established in 2000, The Daughters of Triton is UC San Diego's premier all-female a cappella group. The DOTs select and arrange all of their own music, drawing from a wide range of genres that reflect the group members’ diverse musical backgrounds and tastes. They have worked hard to build a collaborative environment that welcomes all ideas and facilitates a tight group bond. Beyond singing together, The DOTs form a supportive community where creativity, inclusivity, and lasting friendships thrive. They believe in the power of women’s music and do not apologize for breaking the rules of all-female a cappella. Every woman has a voice and every DOT amplifies it. 

Morse Coda A Cappella is an all-inclusive a cappella group at the University of California, Irvine. This group of passionate musicians represent various academic backgrounds, but all of them share a love for a cappella. Morse Coda thrives on collaboration and innovation, blending contemporary choral, pop, jazz, and R&B music in their arrangements and compositions. They are thrilled to return to the ICCA stage and share incredible stories through song! 

NOVA, No Voice Alone, is a diverse, all-gender a cappella group at the University of California, Irvine. They are dedicated to helping each member grow as a vocalist and performer through guidance, collaboration, and creativity. Their mission is to inspire confidence, foster musical excellence, all while building a close-knit community. Although they perform a wide variety of genres, their arrangements draw major influence from pop, R&B, and jazz. This year marks NOVA’s ICCA debut and they are beyond excited to premiere their first competition set. 

Sitaare is the premier South Asian fusion a cappella team at UC San Diego. Since its inception in 2006, Sitaare has taken pride in creating arrangements that blend South Asian film and classical music with R&B and pop. In 2025, they placed 2nd at ICCA Southwest Quarterfinals and received awards for Outstanding Arrangement and Outstanding Soloist. In addition to competing in two circuits, Sitaare enjoys performing at community events in San Diego and hosting their annual spring showcase on campus. Sitaare is always looking to push the boundaries of Desi A Cappella and reach for the stars. 

SoundWave is the first and only co-ed a cappella ensemble at San Diego State University. This group aims to encourage creativity, foster teamwork, embrace diversity, and provide a space for artistic expression. They frequently perform around the SDSU campus, in the greater San Diego area, and have competed annually in the ICCA since 2020. SoundWave is the top-ranked group in the California State University system, following its 3rd-place finish at their 2025 Southwest Quarterfinal. SoundWave was also an ICCA Southwest Semifinalist in 2020, 2021, and 2022. 

The Trebles is the premier soprano-alto a cappella group at UC San Diego. They sing a wide variety of genres and create their own arrangements of their favorite songs. The Trebles love spending time together outside of rehearsals as well, whether for karaoke, pizookie night, late-night study jams, or just hanging out.

Founded in 1996, The Tritones is UCSD’s premier co-ed a cappella group! The Tritones represent a diverse collection of the UCSD student body, some bringing years of vocal training to the group, others guided solely by their talent. They foster a creatively empowering environment where group members can find respite from the arduous life of university. The Tritones have won the Los Angeles A cappella Festival (LAAF), advanced as far as the ICCA Semifinals, and shared the stage with renowned artists, such as Taylor Swift and Imogen Heap. 

Established in 2009, Vermillion Vocalists, also known as VEVO, is an all-inclusive a cappella group at the University of California, Irvine. They are dedicated to creating meaningful musical experiences through vocal performance. Recognizable in red and black, A diverse and talented group, VEVO is a close-knit family. United by a shared passion for music, the group embraces a wide range of styles, from timeless hits to modern pop, hiphop, and R&B. An active participant in the collegiate a cappella scene, VEVO values collaboration, creativity, and the lasting connections formed both on and off the stage.

GUEST PERFORMER

Echoes After Hours, is a vocal trio from San Diego! The group includes soprano Mackayla, who loves to sing musical theatre and rock, mezzo-soprano Leslie, an avid indie pop lover, and R&B-obsessed alto Jade. They met through the School of Music and Dance at San Diego State University. Their collective passion lies in reimagining the songs they love and inspiring others to collaborate on music the way that they do. As a trio, Echoes After Hours values their relationship above all else. Their music is at its best when they remember their roots of love, support, and friendship.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Bella Chinnici received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in music theatre from the University of California, Irvine. During her time at UCI, Bella was a member of the a cappella group Uniting Voices, where she served as both music director and choreographer. She led the group to two ICCA Semifinals, earning two Outstanding Choreography awards and one Outstanding Arrangement award for her work in their competition sets. Currently, Bella is a musical theatre educator at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, as well as a freelance arranger, choreographer, and actor in Orange County.

Soprano Natalie Moran is a Southern California–based vocalist known for her versatility across a cappella, choral, and classical performance, as well as her distinctive voice work. She holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from the USC Thornton School of Music and studied at Oxford University. At USC, Natalie co-founded The Los Angeles Muses, an all-female a cappella trio that has performed throughout Southern California, including appearances at NBA games, a 10-year engagement at Disneyland, as well as private and corporate events. She later founded the ensemble’s San Diego chapter and continues to perform with them throughout San Diego County. 

Avery Roberts is a songwriter, producer, and arranger based in Los Angeles. A choral artist at heart, their love of vocal harmony has led to their deep involvement in the a cappella community, with a record-breaking eight Outstanding Arrangement awards gathered over several Varsity Vocals competitions (including at the 2019 AcaOpen Finals), plus nominations and wins at the A Cappella Video Awards (AVAs) and Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs). Their work can be heard performed by ensembles around the country, and they continue to make music as a solo artist under the name Avo.

Isabella Stewart has been passionate about music and a cappella since high school. During her three years in show choir, she became well-versed in sets, choreography, singing, and performance, understanding how to best showcase their hard work throughout the year. After her first year in high school a cappella, she quickly stepped into the role of music director, where she honed her arranging and directing skills. In 2020, she led her group to their first ICHSA competition, where she won Outstanding Arrangement for "River" by Bishop Briggs and Outstanding Choreography. Isabella continued to pursue this passion in college as the music director and arranger for her collegiate a cappella group, Uniting Voices at UC Irvine. Under her direction, the group successfully progressed to ICCA Semifinals for two consecutive years. Isabella currently works at Hart High School, providing musical direction for their a cappella groups. She hopes to become a high school choir and music teacher, sharing her love for music with the next generation of students.

Kelsey Young graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in 2009 where she earned a B.A. in music with a focus in voice and a minor in theater. At PLNU, Kelsey sang with the upper-division chamber choir Point Loma Singers for four years and the Point Loma Jazz Ensemble for three years, serving as the soprano section leader for both. She also taught private lessons for several young people from the community. After graduating, Kelsey lived in Vienna, Austria with her husband for a year, studying German and absorbing the rich musical culture of Austria, Germany, and eastern Europe. Shortly after her return to the U.S., Kelsey started her teaching career with the San Diego Children’s Choir. She was one of the first teachers for the Early Years program and taught multiple locations of the Neighborhood Choir, the free community choir for the first through third grades. Kelsey founded the musical theatre performance troupe, The Prosecco Players, which performs one to three shows a year, including a three-show run at the Coronado Playhouse. Kelsey has beeen a paid soprano section leader at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Torrey Pines Christian Church, Mission Valley United Methodist Church, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral. In 2023, Kelsey was hired as the soprano section leader at St. James-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church. In 2024, Kelsey received her Smart Start Music teaching certification from The Royal Conservatory and was hired as part of the teaching staff for Villa Musica, a local nonprofit for whom she teaches five classes per week. She also music directs for the musical theatre program at Longfellow K-8.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank tonight's host group, SoundWave; 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 Southwest 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!

#ICCA