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

Crescent 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

The Cardiff University Acappellads hope to wow the audience with more than just their bold choice of colour! Marking the group’s 13th iteration, this year's lineup of Acappellads continues to challenge conventional lad culture one step-ball-change at a time. Over the last decade, the group has evolved in their musical style, performance attire, and choreography, and Acappellads 13.0 is a tight-knit group of singers with a shared love of performing. With some fantastic new members, the current ensemble reflects a diverse mix of musical backgrounds and personalities. The lads are proud members of the Cardiff University A Cappella Society and love performing alongside the other Cardiff groups and cheering them on from the wings (almost as much as they love an evening of mini-golf or a trip to the pub on Wing Wednesdays!). With a lineup of showcases, friendly competitions, gigs, and, of course, the ICCA, The Acappellads look forward to a busy 2026 season! 

Northern Lights is Durham University’s mixed, competitive a cappella group, consisting of 16 talented and passionate performers. An ICCA competitor since 2015, Northern Lights is back in its 13th iteration. With four incredible new members, this group is stronger than ever and continues to embody their ethos of “One Entity, One Voice.” Find them on all socials @nlacappella to hear more about their latest music, projects, and exciting new ventures! 

OffScore presents “Reflection,” a set that encourages its audience to embrace individuality in a society that forces conformity. As the University of Warwick's pinkest, freshest a cappella group, OffScore is celebrating its third year competing. Last season, the group took 3rd place at ICCA United Kingdom Quarterfinals and won a special award for Outstanding Soloist. For 2026, OffScore hopes to entertain and share a journey through identity. 

The Oxford Commas is the newest and hottest a cappella group from the University of Oxford. This gender-inclusive, lower-voice group prides itself on their soulful harmonies, infectious stage presence, and diverse repertoire, spanning from iconic pop bangers to close harmony, with forays into bossa nova and R&B. Most importantly, they believe that their camaraderie is key to their success as a group, which shines through in performances and has been noted by audience members and professional reviewers alike. Founded in 2015, the group enjoyed early success, reaching the Final of Sky TV's “Sing: Ultimate A Cappella” and going on multiple U.S. tours. After a hiatus during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Commas experienced a major resurgence, touring Germany and making their successful debut at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Their critically acclaimed, 5-star reviewed show, "Aca-Demic Weapons," showcased the highs and lows of life at Oxford through the unlikely medium of a cappella. Following that achievement, The Commas are ready to take on their first ICCA! 

Roselution is Lancaster University's one and only competitive a cappella group! Established in 2020, this is their second time competing in the ICCA, after making their debut last season. The group is filled with amazing talent from all around the world and they are proud to showcase their incredible mix of voices and musical backgrounds. Resolution is so excited to be back for the 2026 ICCA and can’t wait to give a performance that shows off all of their hard work! 

Hailing from the University of Manchester, The Skylarks is a new a cappella group on the scene! They competed in their first ICCA last season and have doubled down on their commitment to being the poster kids for diversity at UoM. They’re back with members from nine different countries, all brought together by a shared love of music and performing! The Skylarks were also featured singing in the latest Netflix series, “Runaway,” so be sure to check them out! The Skylarks hope you enjoy their 2026 ICCA set as much as they have loved creating it! 

Tune Army is Newcastle University’s mixed-gender a cappella group, returning this year for its eighth ICCA. Now in its ninth generation, the group has taken on 11 newcomers, bringing its total to 17 voices, the largest in Tune Army history. After a busy start to the year and an exciting new logo, the group is closer than ever! The new Tune Army made its debut at SNAC, performed at the Newcastle Fashion Show, and embraced the festive spirit with their Christmas concert and cabaret, cohosted with other Newcastle-based groups. Repping the black and green, Tune Army hopes to bring rich harmonies, infectious energy, and unforgettable Geordie charm to the ICCA stage. 

The Uptone Girls is an all-female a cappella group at the University of Birmingham. Running for 15 years, they have performed original shows in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, took 1st place in their 2022 ICCA United Kingdom Quarterfinal, and sang in the 2017 BBC “Pitch Battle.” Deke Sharon, creative force of the “Pitch Perfect" trilogy, described them as "the real-life Barden Bellas." With The Uptone Girls, you can expect powerhouse vocals, complex arrangements, and visually pleasing choreography. Beyond competitions, The Uptone Girls hold charity fundraisers and have given workshops at local schools to inspire creative young people. The Uptone Girls centre female empowerment and have created a powerful and supportive sisterhood through music.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Bass-baritone Felix Dickenson is a Yorkshire-born singer, conductor, and music director based in London. A versatile musician, Felix performs with LowKey, an award-winning professional a cappella group, and has toured with them across Germany, Italy, and Denmark. He is an in-demand concert soloist and ensemble vocalist, with solo performances including Mozart’s "Requiem," Brahms' "Ein Deutsches Requiem," Handel’s "Alceste," and Horowitz’s "Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo." Also an actor and voice artist, Felix has originated characters in new works of British and American musical theatre, including "The Circle" and "FLITCH!" Offstage, he is an award-winning producer and arranger of both contemporary and classical music, garnering multiple nominations and wins at the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs). 

Ida Pajunen graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in violin performance. During that time, she also got her first taste of a cappella, performing with Tangled Up In Blue. She now splits her time directing and arranging for two high school a cappella groups and performing and recording as "Ida Jo." She has three full-length records to her name and has appeared at festivals such as South By Southwest and Summerfest. For more information, visit www.idajo.com

Charley Strachan is a choir leader and music director with over 10 years experience, based in London. Working with a cappella choirs of all sizes, from community groups to professional ensembles, Charley currently directs ChoirCo Women, a group focused on musical expression and community, made up of over 50 incredible singers. Having competed internationally, Charley is excited to be back at the ICCA, where she got her first taste of competitive a cappella.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Rachel Xuereb (Production Assistant), Casey Lim (Production Assistant), Tom Fairbairn (Sound Engineer), Perfect Storm (Guest Act), and Toby (MC); 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!

#ICCA