2026 ICHSA Great Lakes Quarterfinal @ Hinsdale South 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

ICHSA GREAT LAKES QUARTERFINAL

Hinsdale South High School
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 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.

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.

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 Acafellaz, from Hinsdale South High School, is Hindsdale South’s only tenor-bass competitive a cappella group. This is their third year competing in the ICHSA and they are excited to bring their over-the-top energy and charisma to the stage!

IMPACT is proud to be back on the ICHSA stage to share their love of everything a cappella. Hailing from the north burbs of Chicago and representing the Youth Choral Theater of Chicago, the singers of IMPACT love all musical styles, from pop to musical theatre.

Mod21 is the one and only select mixed a cappella group at the Illinois Music and Singing Academy. Sorry, that’s actually the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy! A completely student-run group, Mod 21 arranges all of their own music and performance details. Throughout the school year, they love performing at culture shows and school concerts and sing in over 13 languages! When they aren’t singing in a stairwell, you can find Mod21 spreading cheer by holiday caroling around campus or delivering singing valentines in the dorms. Mod21 proves that math and music can come together in perfect harmony. They may have 21 problems, but a pitch isn’t one.

Off The Record is a passionate group of student musicians who strive to entertain audiences with technically sound and emotionally compelling performances. In its eight years of existence, OTR has been fortunate to qualify for six ICHSA Semifinal rounds, notably placing as Semifinal Runner-Up in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Last year, they ultimately reached 3rd place in the 2025 ICHSA Wild Card round. OTR actively performs throughout the Midwest and was invited to perform at the Illinois Music Educators Conference and as the opening act for Foreigner’s farewell tour. They also earned featured tracks on the 2024 and 2025 BOHSA compilations. They would like to thank their friends and family for all of their support and hope you enjoy their set this evening.

Secondary Dominance is Hinsdale South's premier all-female a cappella group and is excited for their fourth ICHSA season. Secondary Dominance technically refers to a type of chord, but also represents their status at Hinsdale South’s second a cappella group. This year's set explores breathing as a metaphor for struggle, healing, and the power to endure. They hope you enjoy it!

Founded in fall 2019, Treble Threat is in its seventh year at Buffalo Grove High School. Treble Threat includes 17 members, ranging from freshmen through seniors, and rehearses between two and three hours each week. Treble Threat singers are very active in school activities, participating in athletics, theatre, and many of Buffalo Grove’s 14 vocal ensembles. Treble Threat is very excited to compete in another ICHSA season.

Upscale A Cappella hails from the North Shore and aims to create a fun group of friends first, and singers second. An entirely student-run group, they arrange and choreograph all of their own work and are thrilled to return for their second ICHSA! Last year, they placed 3rd at their ICHSA Quarterfinal and received the Outstanding Arrangement award. They love a little mix of all musical styles, but especially love pop songs. Small but mighty, they are passionate, enthusiastic, and always 100% committed. Fun fact: they frequently hold group “Glee” and “Pitch Perfect” watch parties! Special shoutouts to their parents and teachers who encouraged them to start the group, and to their dog mascot, who often joins them at rehearsals. They always have a blast at rehearsal and are super excited to share their entirely student-arranged set with you. Follow their Instagram @upscale.acappella and always stay acamazing!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Cooper Burton (he/him) is a lifelong musician and a cappella enthusiast. A former member of the Ohio All-State Choir, he has over 15 years of experience in the choral and performing arts. In college, he served as president of Michigan State University’s Capital Green, with whom he advanced to two ICCA Great Lakes Semifinals, recorded and produced two EPs, and helped arrange and choreograph multiple award-winning performances. In addition to serving as an adjudicator for Varsity Vocals, Cooper continues to workshop and advise a cappella performances, including Capital Green’s eight-time award-winning and A Cappella Video Award (AVA)-nominated 2024 ICCA Finals set.

Lili Fujiu is an a cappella clinician based in the Milwaukee and Chicagoland areas. She began her a cappella journey as a part of The Harmelodics, the treble group at Northern Illinois University. Throughout her five years as music director, The Harmelodics achieved ICCA Semifinal appearances, a trip to the VoiceJam Festival, an EP release, and many other notable showcases and tours. Lili is also a three-time Outstanding Arrangement award recipient, making her one of the most decorated treble arrangers in ICCA history. In her post-collegiate a cappella career, she has conducted masterclasses at festivals nationwide and actively workshops with groups across the Great Lakes region, specializing in diction and articulation.

Phil Kim has been involved in the a cappella community for eight years, with seven years of arranging and vocal percussion experience. He was formerly a member of Gold 'n Blues (Marquette University) and No Comment (University of Illinois), for whom he served as music director. In 2023, No Comment placed 2nd in the ICCA Great Lakes Semifinals and 2nd in the Wildcard round, featuring Phil's work as the set's lead arranger. He continues to arrange for groups and volunteers at Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA) festivals around the country.

Ryan Nolan attended University of Wisconsin, where he served as vice-president, visual director, and a choreographer for Fundamentally Sound. While in the group, Fundamentally Sound competed all four years in ICCA, advancing to Great Lakes Semifinals multiple times and placing 3rd at Finals in 2021. Ryan has been singing his whole life and received formal voice training for over a decade. He currently works for an organization that supports music education in Wisconsin.

Samantha Rich began her a cappella journey in a mixed ensemble from Georgia Institute of Technology and never looked back. Since her days arranging, competing (yes, in the ICCA!), and serenading Atlanta audiences with her smoky voice, she spent the last decade performing and recording with various semi-professional groups. After moving from the sunny South to the Midwest, Sam is super excited to judge in the Chicago area and can't wait to hear this season's competitors!

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank 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 finishing groups at this event will advance to the 2026 ICHSA Great Lakes 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

#ICHSA