2025 ICHSA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal @ Ramsey 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 MID-ATLANTIC QUARTERFINAL

Ramsey 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 Acapelicans are known for their lively and engaging performances, hitting the school’s chapel stage twice a year to deliver an experience of musical creativity and coziness. This entirely student-run a cappella group was established in 1989, and the current members strive to cultivate the perfect blend of unique voices and shared passion. Situated on a boarding school campus, they hail from across the country and over six countries. Their repertoire encompasses a vast array of musical genres and features original arrangements by their members. The Acapelicans display their full artistry and vocal talents in a concert at the end of spring term, where they showcase a mashup of songs selected by graduating seniors. Their energetic stage presence frequently extends into improvised encores that exhibit their group’s compatibility and raw talent. The group bonds in and out of rehearsals, often sharing meals and classes across campus.

aChoired Harmony is Egg Harbor Township High School’s premier a cappella group. Founded in 2020 as a creative outlet during virtual learning, the group quickly built a reputation for excellence, energy, and innovation in vocal performance. Since its founding, aChoired Harmony has performed and competed regularly, gaining recognition within their community and surrounding areas. They have earned consistent Gold and Superior ratings and were proud to advance to the 2025 ICHSA Mid-Atlantic Semifinals, in just their second ICHSA appearance. Beyond the stage, aChoired Harmony has recorded numerous songs and albums, all available on major streaming platforms. Their music showcases the group’s versatility and dedication to sharing contemporary a cappella with a wider audience. This season, aChoired Harmony is thrilled to return to the ICHSA and hope everyone enjoys their set!

The Foxy Jukebox comes from Moorestown Friends School in Moorestown, N.J. This group of high school students is passionate about music and loves traveling to perform throughout the Tri-State area! The Foxy Jukebox has competed in the ICHSA for seven years and advanced to Semifinals four times. They have also been featured on B101.1 FM, Philadelphia's largest radio station, as a "Christmas Choir" Semifinalist for six of the past seven years. The students would like to thank their family and friends for coming to cheer them on tonight!

Tamanend Middle School Gold’n’Blues is a lively group of seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students from Warrington, Pa. who love to sing. Their secret, however, is that they are not truly an a cappella group. Rather, they are a chamber choir with an a cappella habit. Over the years, they were selected to perform at the Pennsylvania State Music Educators Annual Conference, won multiple Grand Sweepstakes Awards from their spring adjudication festival, and performed as yearly participants in the Central Bucks Save the Music Charity Concert, the largest scholastic fundraiser for the Save the Music Foundation. As an a cappella group, they have been commended for their engaging and energetic performances. Past highlights include ICHSA appearances in 2020, 2023, and 2025, performing as the opening act for Vocalosity at the Bucks County Playhouse, and participating in regional festivals to work with prominent a cappella clinicians. Gold’n’Blues is active in their local community, performing each year at school functions, charity events, festivals, senior centers, shopping centers, and sports games. They are thrilled and honored to compete in the 2026 ICHSA. Gold’n’Blues is directed by Mr. Ian Sanchez.

The Ram Jams is the principal competitive a cappella group within the Ramsey High School Choral Program. Established in 2016, this group represents the top auditioned students from the chorus program and performs music from a wide variety of genres, including contemporary a cappella, classical choral repertoire, and original pieces. A yearly competitor in ICHSA, they have advanced all the way to ICHSA Finals in New York several times since 2020. Outside of competition, The Ram Jams have been invited to perform in many concerts and festivals, including invitations to the American Choral Directors Association Eastern conference, and as the first-ever student group featured at the New Jersey Music Educators Conference Gala concert. The Ram Jams have produced multiple albums and their recordings are featured on several of Varsity Vocals’ BOHSA albums. They released their most recent album, Unchained, in fall 2024 and a single, “Symptom of Life,” in fall 2025.

The Ramsey Blues is one of two competitive a cappella groups in the Ramsey High School Choral Program. Founded in 2021, the group has grown tremendously ever since and proudly competes in the ICHSA each year. The ensemble brings together students from across the Ramsey High School community and performs regularly at concerts and festivals, both on campus and throughout North Jersey. As performers, they value storytelling through music and cherish the close friendships they have developed from being part of the group. The Ramsey Blues are thrilled to take the stage and share their music in this year’s ICHSA!

Remix is Montclair Kimberley Academy’s a cappella group. They love singing together in performances at school and throughout their community, experimenting with styles including pop, R&B, rock, and more. Each year they perform for charitable causes, in addition to holding their own concerts. The group includes 18 total members, with two student captains, student choreographers, a director, and a student assistant manager. They have been a part of ICHSA for many years and are excited to be back!

The MTHS Rolling Tones is Monroe Township High School's competitive a cappella group, and they’re looking to make a name for themselves after last year’s debut. After years of performing at the local level, The Rolling Tones are excited to continue to perform, learn, and grow beyond their little corner of New Jersey.

Soulfege is Millburn High School’s student-led a cappella group, established in 2008. A group of passionate students dedicated to music, Soulfege is proud to have performed from local venues to the international level. Soulfege competes annually in national competitions, such as Sing Strong and ICHSA. They hope you enjoy their set as much as they love performing it!

GUEST PERFORMER

Alzapella is a middle school contemporary a cappella group from Green Brook, N.J. Members of the group range from 11 to 14 years old. Founded in 2016, the group has performed at the NJMEA state conference in Atlantic City, Highlands A Cappella Festival, Jersey Harmony Explosion, and as the guest performer at ICHSA Quarterfinals. They were featured as the best vocal group in Somerset County at the Teen Arts festival and were chosen to represent their county at the State level six times. Their videos have been shared by Deke Sharon and have over 80,000 combined views.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Carolyn Kiel has been singing and arranging a cappella music for 15 years. She got her a cappella start with The Vassar College Night Owls, and performed for nine years with The MetropoliTones in New York. Carolyn has recorded five a cappella albums and performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, and Giants Stadium. She has sung for such luminaries as Hillary Clinton, Zach Galifinakis, and Dr. Ruth Westheimer. By day, Carolyn works in corporate training and talent management, where she uses her newly-earned master's degree in industrial/organizational psychology. Her other skills include songwriting, vocal percussion, and driving in Manhattan.

Andrew John Kim is an a cappella producer, recording engineer, vocal percussionist, and prolific arranger from New York City. He received his Bachelor of Music in music composition from Northwestern University and his Master of Music in film scoring from New York University. At Northwestern, Andrew was a founding member and music director of his collegiate a cappella group, Extreme Measures. He also founded, music-directed, and arranged for the professional a cappella group, Backtrack. With Backtrack, Andrew had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall, the Beacon Theatre, the UN, during the Broadway show "Kinky Boots" and on "The Steve Harvey Show." Currently, Andrew sings, VPs, and arranges for Irish, a vocal trio and winner of the 2018 Open, and completing his M.B.A. at NYU Stern

Alex McKay is a vocalist, arranger, and music director based in the New York City metropolitan area. He has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe with vocal ensembles, including the Richmond Symphony Chorus, the University of Michigan Chamber Choir, regional and national honors choirs, and most recently the New York Vocal Collective under the direction of Ben Bram. Alex earned his Bachelor of Musical Arts in vocal performance from the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance, where he studied with world-renowned operatic tenor, George Shirley. During his time at Michigan, Alex served as music director of Amazin’ Blue A Cappella for three consecutive years, arranging and producing multiple award-winning ICCA sets. In his senior year, he was elected to the executive board of the University of Michigan A Cappella Council, which oversees the nation’s largest collegiate a cappella community. In addition to performing and arranging, Alex frequently leads clinics and workshops with collegiate a cappella groups throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Competing in ICCA was a highlight of his undergraduate experience and he is thrilled to continue his journey with Varsity Vocals.

Lora Riehl served as the vocal percussionist for Northeastern University's treble a cappella group Pitch, Please! for five years, and acting music director for four. She has performed in a cappella groups since high school where she first began learning vocal percussion and went on to win awards for solos and vocal percussion, including Outstanding Vocal Percussion at the 2019 ICCA Finals. Lora is honored to be here as a judge and is excited to see the talent displayed tonight.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank the Ramsey Board of Education; Superintendent Andrew Matteo; Principal Michael Thumm; the Ramsey Chorus Parent Association; RHS Facilities department; 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 Mid-Atlantic 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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