2025 ICHSA Midwest Quarterfinal @ Warren Central 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 MIDWEST QUARTERFINAL

Warren Central High School
Friday, January 23rd, 2026

WE'RE SOCIAL

We're talking about this event, and all of our events around the world!

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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

16th Street Soul is the premier contemporary a cappella ensemble of Warren Central High School. They ignite the stage with a bold, cinematic sound that is raw, urgent, and unmistakably their own. Forged in the heart of Indianapolis’s Eastside, these artists embody resilience, passion, and purpose. Under the direction of Mr. Brian Long, 16th Street Soul is known for its rich vocal blend, striking musicality, and performances that blur the line between concert and theatre, infusing music with movement, emotion, and narrative. Tonight, they present their 2026 competition production, “The Fire You Become,” a four-movement journey through shadow, resistance, confession, and rebirth. This show asks what rises within when the world begins to burn and who people choose to become on the other side. More than an ensemble, 16th Street Soul is a family of artists who train relentlessly, collaborate fearlessly, and represent what truly makes Warren Central the pride of the Eastside. This is their voice. This is their story. This is the fire they become.

Hamilton High School expanded their vocal music program in 2024 with the addition of a brand-new a cappella group called Enharmonix. This group is made up of 17 students who are top scholars, athletes, members of the drama club, and student leaders. Enharmonix loves the a cappella scene and especially enjoys performing alongside some of the nation’s best a cappella groups in the ICHSA. Check them out on Spotify or Youtube at Hamilton Enharmonix. Enharmonix is directed by Austin Teegarden, assisted by Christina Fox, and with choreography by Natalie DiPietro and student Clinton McKinney.

The Harmoneers is a pop and alternative a cappella group from Jonathan Alder High School, nestled in the cornfields of Plain City, Ohio. They’re excited for their second year competing in the ICHSA!

The Melatonics, Trotwood-Madison’s powerhouse a cappella group, is a dynamic team of passionate vocalists who create music with nothing but their voices. From soaring sopranos to booming basslines and electrifying vocal percussion, their sound is bold, unified, and unforgettable. Their energy, teamwork, and unshakable commitment to excellence drive every rehearsal and performance. When The Melatonics hit the stage, audiences should expect an experience that inspires, excites, and brings the house down. All Voice. All Power. All In.

Shades is a mixed a cappella group from Brookville High School. They have previously performed in the academic showcase at the National A Cappella Festival in Orlando, Fla., the Kettering National A Cappella Festival, the Nordonia A Cappella Festival, and more. Shades prides itself on the strong relationships within the group and is grateful for the music that bonds them together.

Sounds of Liberty A Cappella is the premier a cappella group from Olentangy Liberty High School. This is their very first year competing in the ICHSA!

Symphonix is a contemporary pop a cappella group from Harrison High School! This is their second year competing as a group, but many of them are a cappella veterans from previous groups, Dynamix and Take Note. Symphonix rehearses at 7 a.m. every day before school starts. They are very excited to compete again this season after placing 1st at Midwest Quarterfinal last year! Follow them on Instagram @symphonixacappella for more news!

GUEST PERFORMER

Freshly Brewed A Cappella is Butler University's upper-voices a cappella ensemble from Indianapolis. Established in 2004, they arrange all of their own music and cover music from various artists, ranging from Stevie Wonder to Harry Styles. They love singing together and are always on the lookout for performance opportunities in the Indianapolis area and beyond!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Sophie Liese is a performer and arranger based in Indianapolis. She began her involvement with a cappella as a freshman at Ball State University in 2015, when she became the founding music director of The Parallels A Cappella. Since then, she has taught at the National A Cappella Convention (NACC), NE Voices, and A Cappella University. She is passionate about vocal music and loves to create new arrangements and watch them come to life.

Jamaican baritone Giovani Malcolm is a student of Tichina Vaughn at Indiana University. He is in his final year working toward his Doctor of Music at the Jacobs School of Music, where he previously earned his Master of Music. He also serves as Assistant Director of Social Media and an Associate Instructor of Voice at Indiana University. He recently sang in the trio of Bernstein’s "Trouble in Tahiti," and the choruses of "Liverpool Oratorio," "La Traviata," "Don Giovanni," "Sweeney Todd," and "Candide." Giovani was a Finalist in the 2025 NSAL Indiana Chapter Voice Competition, the 2024 Carolyn Bailey Argento Vocal Competition of the National Opera Association, and the 2022 Florida Grand Opera Young Patronesses of the Opera Competition. He also received an Encouragement Award at the 2023 Metropolitan Opera Laffont St. Louis District and the Art Song Award at the 2022 George Shirley Vocal Competition. An active member of the Elevation Vocal Ensemble, Giovani holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Delaware, where he performed with Vocal Point and served as music director of The YChromes for three years, leading the group through the Mid-Atlantic ICCA.

Edric Mitchell has both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ball State University, where he studied musical theatre and executive development for public services. During his time at Ball State, he got his start in a cappella with the all-male group, Charlie's Angels. He quickly became a founding member of the all-male a cappella group, Note to Self, with whom he spent four years as a member, coordinator, and music director. In addition, Edric was a founding member and music director of Sedoctave, and founder of the Association of Collegiate A Cappella (ACA) at Ball State. ACA is an umbrella organization that unites all collegiate a cappella groups on the BSU Campus. As an ICCA competitor, Edric received two Outstanding Arrangement awards and an Outstanding Soloist award. Since 2017, Edric has been a founding member of Impromptu, an Indianapolis-based professional a cappella group that competed in The Open (placing 2nd in Midwest Semifinals), took 2nd place in the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes, and won the title of VoiceJam Champions in 2018. Impromptu has performed at a cappella festivals in Taiwan, Russia, Boston, Memphis, and, of course, the Midwest! As a member of Impromptu, Edric has received awards for Outstanding Soloist and Outstanding Arrangement. He is currently the theatre director at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, where he directs the a cappella group Titan Harmony.

Peter Sepulveda currently teaches choir and IB Music at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis. Before moving to Indiana, he taught at McKay High School in Salem, Ore. At McKay, he directed vocal ensembles that placed at State Festivals and even led Scots-Appella to place at ICHSA Finals in New York City. During his time at St. Olaf College, Peter performed with the St. Olaf Choir and The Limestones a cappella group, arranging and singing on their studio album, Down to Earth. Peter continues to serve the choral community as an educator, collaborator, and adjudicator, bringing his experience, musical insight, and dedication to every ensemble he works with. He enjoys seeing the creativity, passion, and hard work from every group at Varsity Vocals events and is honored to serve as a judge for tonight’s show!

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Brian Long and the Warren Central High School Staff and community, James Bailey, and Jaykob Archer; 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 Midwest 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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