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 UNITED KINGDOM QUARTERFINAL

Exeter Northcott Theatre
Sunday, February 15th, 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

Aquapella is a multi-award-winning a cappella group, founded in 2011 and based in Bath. Over the past 14 years, they have been lucky to perform at a whole host of incredible places, from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe each year to competitions such as the ICCA, Solevoci, and the Open A Cappella Competition (OAC)! They sing everything, from pop bangers to meaningful, heartfelt songs, guaranteed to make you shed a tear. As a group, Aquapella aims to emotionally connect with audiences by doing what they love most. 

Aurum Voices is a relatively new group from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, now in its second season! The group is composed of students from across the college, from stage managers and designers to musical theatre and vocal students! They love coming together to rehearse with their a cappella family (when they can, because their timetables are so unbelievably busy!) and are grateful to have built a close-knit community at the college! They love exploring various musical styles and genres and can’t wait to continue evolving! 

The Bristol Suspensions is University of Bristol’s mixed collegiate a cappella group, known for their stunning vocals, slick choreography, and that signature shade of maroon. They earned an international Champion title in 2024 when they won the Solevoci A Cappella Festival, along with a Best Soloist award and a shoutout from “Pitch Perfect” music director, Deke Sharon, who described them as “the future of a cappella.” Over their 12-year history, The Suspensions have competed in many ICCA seasons, notably winning their 2021 United Kingdom Semifinal. Last year, they took 1st place in their ICCA U.K. Quarterfinal and won special awards for Outstanding Soloist and Outstanding Arrangement. They are especially proud of their Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA)-winning album, Red Hot, which showcases the group’s range of genres, including pop, jazz, rap, and soul. Their newest album, Rewind, also embraces their eclectic style and was released in August 2025. The Suspensions brought shows to Edinburgh Fringe for eight years and won the Best A Cappella Show award in 2025. When in Bristol, The Suspensions can often be found busking, bringing passion and electricity to every performance. They can’t wait to bring that to the stage today! 

The DeciBelles is Cardiff University's female and nonbinary a cappella group! Currently in its 13th generation, The Belles give every performance their all and never shy away from competition. From winning the first-ever OAC in 2020 and reaching the ICCA United Kingdom Semifinals in 2019, 2020, and 2023, The Belles are strengthening their talents, musicality, and repertoire! The Belles pride themselves on their teamwork and sisterhood, often performing musical tributes to female empowerment. They continuously surpass expectations for all-treble groups and challenge themselves by exploring new musical genres, like R&B and soul. This year, The DeciBelles are determined to entertain the audience and judges with their complex arrangements, impressive choreography, and a wall of sound that wows anyone who listens. Give it up for the girls in green! 

Illuminations is the University of Exeter’s premier mixed a cappella group. Currently in its 15th generation, the group is composed of Exeter University's finest singers and performers. Whether they’re putting on a sold-out Edinburgh Fringe show, advancing to ICCA United Kingdom Semifinals, or releasing a single to BBC Radio, Illuminations is proud to deliver their signature powerful, energetic, and polished performances. The group takes pride in their clean vocal blend, slick and engaging performances, and professional, yet fun, approach to a cappella. They are excited for their 10th consecutive ICCA, following a successful 2025 run, in which they took 2nd place at ICCA U.K. Quarterfinals and won multiple Outstanding Vocal Percussion awards, courtesy of internationally acclaimed U.K. beatboxing vice-champion, Elliot Mainwaring. This year's cohort of powerhouse vocalists are undoubtedly impressive, especially considering that none of them study music at university. They can’t wait to show the ICCA what Generation 15 of Illuminations can do! 

Pitch Fight is the University of Bristol’s female and nonbinary a cappella group. This group is a purple powerhouse of fun, confidence, and harmony, united by a shared love for singing and performing. From soulful ballads to high-energy pop, Pitch Fight brings passion and personality to every note. Whether they’re rehearsing or singing onstage, their group bond is built on laughter, inclusivity, and fun. They’re here to celebrate their voices, uplift one another, put on a show, and share the joy of music with every audience. Get ready for bold vocals, fierce energy, and a whole lot of heart from Pitch Fight! 

Sweet Nothings is the University of Exeter's female and gender-nonconforming contemporary a cappella group. In the last six years, they have placed 1st in ICCA United Kingdom Quarterfinals and 4th at Semifinals, released an EP, and successfully sold out a run of shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival! Their 2025 Fringe show, "Lost Harmonies: The Search for Music," featured a variety of musical arrangements, from Disney to Ed Sheeran to Queen, and an original storyline written by group members. Currently celebrating their 21st year, Sweet Nothings enjoys singing around Exeter, busking, and participating in showcases and competitions. They also look forward to their 13th year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival! 

Founded in 2014, Cardiff University Vox is Cardiff’s mixed a cappella group. “Vox” means voice in Latin and the group is pretty sure their founders must have run out of puns when settling on a name! They placed 3rd in their 2024 ICCA United Kingdom Quarterfinal and 3rd again in the 2025 OAC, additionally winning the People’s Choice award! Their group focus is creating and performing energy-filled, high-level arrangements that are as fun to watch as they are for them to sing. Vox is grateful to be back for another year of competing and can’t wait to hear all the other fantastic performances! 

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Matt Chinery is an a cappella singer and recording engineer with over a decade of experience in contemporary a cappella. He sang for two years with Oxford University's Out of the Blue, and finished 2nd place with them at the 2006 ICCA Finals in New York. He also directed scratch group, Last Minute, in the 2008 BBC television series, "Last Choir Standing." He currently sings with AfterParty A Cappella, a former Shard Choir of the Year and member of the Contemporary A Cappella League (CAL). As a recording engineer, Matt's credits include one CARA and several further nominations, a track on prestigious compilation album, Sing 9, a Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB) Pick of 2015, and multiple tracks on U.K. Compilation, The Voice Collection. In his limited spare time, he is a lawyer.

Joshua Gray is a versatile and lively musician, holding a music performance degree from the Royal College of Music. In addition to being a singer, he is a skilled cellist and musical director, with experience in classical, musical theatre, and pop music settings. He currently works professionally with groups including Down for the Count, in the dark, and Orpheus Sinfonia. He is a proud member of Meantime Chorus, the United Kingdom National Barbershop Champions and European silver medalists, with whom he sings a wide range of genres and styles. As the former musical director of The Techtonics from Imperial College London, Joshua is a big fan of all things a c appella!

David Green has been performing a cappella for over 16 years, with over 200 performances under his belt. He began first as a singer and arranger for Naked Voices, touring all over the U.K. for eight years. Naked Voices was an early arrival on the U.K. a cappella scene, establishing a cappella music at the Edinburgh Fringe in the 2000s, winning the festival's Sell Out Show award for three visits in a row, and featuring on the BBC's "Best of the Fringe" show. In 2009, David formed Original Sing from former Naked Voices members, who went on to win the 2013 Voice Festival Community Championship and the open category of the Bristol Choir of the Year contest.

Kim Muñasque is a professional vocalist and vocal percussionist based in London and Manchester. Her a cappella journey began at A Cappella Academy in Los Angeles, where she trained with Grammy-winning musicians and discovered her love for vocal arranging and performance. She went on to start her own competitive a cappella group at University College London while completing a degree in chemistry. A winner of the ICCA Outstanding Vocal Percussion award, Kim is one of the few female vocal percussionists in the circuit and continues to perform with ensembles such as ChoirCo and Enchord. Scientist by day and performer by night, one might call her a modern-day Hannah Montana.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Bel McFerran (Production Assistant), Nina Fitton and Grace Hitchen (MCs), James Dempsey (Sound Engineer), and the Exeter University Jazz Orchestra (Guest Act); 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 United Kingdom 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!

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