2025 ICHSA Midwest Quarterfinal @ Skyline 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

Skyline High School
Friday, February 20th, 2026

WE'RE SOCIAL

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

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@varsityvocals

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

Chicapella is an all-female, student-led a cappella group from Brighton High School in Brighton, Mich. They took 3rd place in their 2021 ICHSA Virtual Quarterfinal, along with the award for Outstanding Videography, following other 3rd place Quarterfinal finishes in 2020 and 2018. They have also appeared on Varsity Vocals’ BOHSA compilation album! Aside from their ICHSA accolades, each Chicapella member brings a unique personality and passion for music, and together they’re a family. The “Cheekies” are motivated, creative, and confident, and they can’t wait to leave it all on the stage! They have worked hard to showcase their talents in tonight’s set, which has been their group’s most ambitious project yet. Chicapella is ecstatic to bring their 13-song student-arranged mash-up to the 2026 ICHSA!

Classicality, Howell High School’s student-led a cappella group, is thrilled to be competing in the 2026 ICHSA season! The group’s dedicated members rehearse early in the morning twice each week, proudly led this year by senior captain, Laney. Many Classicality singers are seasoned competitors with previous ICHSA experience, including some returning for their third year. Classicality took 2nd place in their 2021 ICHSA Quarterfinal and progressed to Semifinals during the virtual season. A fully student-led group, Classicality is incredibly proud of their hard work and the challenges they’ve overcome. After last appearing at ICHSA Quarterfinals in 2024, Classicality is excited to make their return in 2026 and can’t wait for the season ahead!

Da Capo is Brighton High School's student-led mixed a cappella group. The group is led by three co- leaders, Ava Urban, Elaina Barsaleau, and Mason Gay.

Northview High School’s From The Top is a group of musicians who spend LOTS of time, energy, and passion on their a cappella journey. Over the past several years, the group has earned multiple trips to ICHSA Semifinals and two recording projects (coming soon!). They owe their success to the supportive Northview community and the Olive Garden catering that keeps them going during their annual 48-hour bootcamp!

Accomplished. Articulate. Ambitious. And that’s just their bass section. They’re kidding, of course (their lone bass has a serious case of senioritis). Anyway, Major VI could tell you that they're from Novi, so you could say “the Novi people were pretty good” or “the Novi people were pretty bad” after the competition. They could tell you that they’re super excited to be here, but they’re all panic-stricken as heck. You might think that many of them only took this choir class because it looks good on a college application, but the truth is that it DOES look good on a college application. After many disagreements and the beginning of secret hatreds, Major VI has selected their songs. It’s been an exhausting couple of years and they’re happy to be here, mostly because they’re near the end of another year.

Noteorious is Brighton High School’s tenor-bass a cappella group! One of Brighton’s four a cappella groups, Noteorious brings a bold energy to the scene, showcasing the versatility and depth of tenor and bass voices. Their smooth tones, intricate vocal percussion, and dynamic performances captivate every audience. They hope you enjoy their performance!

Founded in 2008, Skyline Blues, from Ann Arbor Skyline High School, is under the direction of Lindsay CieChanski and Roman Newhouse. The group meets after school twice a week and participates in many performances and competitions throughout the year. They are a consistent force at the ICHSA, often advancing to Semifinals and progressing all the way to Finals in 2019. Skyline Blues has won ICHSA awards for Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Vocal Percussion, Outstanding Soloist, and Outstanding Arrangement. Skyline Blues has been featured on BOHSA and Voices Only compilations, won several Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs), and has released several EPs and a single, including their most recent EP, We're Golden. Skyline Blues has performed at the National A Cappella Convention (NACC), the One Voice Invitational, the MSVMA Summer Workshop, and numerous other guest appearances. In 2018, they represented vocal music at the State Capitol for Arts Advocacy Day, and were invited to sing at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids (2019 and 2024). Skyline Blues is excited to participate in another ICHSA season and is thankful for every opportunity to make music together!

Soundsation is Vermilion High School's premier pop a cappella group, consisting of 12 student members in grades nine through 12. Performing a variety of genres, including pop, jazz, rock, and folk, Soundsation prides itself on being a fun and energetic group. This is their fourth year at ICHSA, where they previously won an Outstanding Choreography award for their entire set. They enjoy performing around town and at school and all updates can be found on Instagram @vermilionchoirs.

Founded in 2025, The Wrenditions is a fresh voice in the world of high school a cappella. Although they are just getting started, their passion for performing runs deep. The group is composed of students involved in various school activities, from sports and theatre to dance, band, and community clubs, bringing a wide range of experiences to the stage. Wrenditions members are united by a love for music and a love for others and they’re excited to make their debut in the competitive a cappella scene.

GUEST PERFORMER

The DJs, from the University of Michigan, is a competitive all-gender a cappella group with a passion for great music. From funk to opera to R&B, they are known for experimenting with different musical genres and growing their musicianship in the process. You can typically find them in the bell tower, hosting game nights, or tailgating on Michigan football Saturdays. They have been competing annually in ICCA for as long as they can remember! Please welcome The DJs!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Shayna Gibson (she/her) is an award-winning arranger, music educator, and a cappella enthusiast. While studying music education at Michigan State University, she sang with Capital Green, leading the group to the ICCA Great Lakes Semifinals four years in a row. During her tenure as music director, Shayna led Capital Green to victory in the 2024 Great Lakes Semifinals and advanced with them to represent the region at ICCA Finals in New York City. Under her direction, Capital Green recorded three EPs, earned two Outstanding Arrangement awards at ICCA, and won an A Cappella Video Award (AVA).

Sarah Maskill fell in love with a cappella two weeks after joining her college group at her first big performance: the ICCA Great Lakes Quarterfinal! She is a former bass and business manager of Michigan State University's Ladies First. During her time with Ladies First she produced two EPs, was nominated for a CARA, and was fortunate enough to advance to ICCA Great Lakes Semifinals three times. She has since workshopped with many groups in the Midwest region, performed at The Open with her group Revel, and currently runs the Artist in Residence program at A Cappella University. You may have also seen her behind a camera at Varsity Vocals events and Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA) festivals

Andrea Poole served as the national director of the ICHSA from 2009 to 2022. During her tenure, the competition grew from a handful of small Semifinal events into a nationwide tournament, featuring more than 250 groups and sold-out performances across the country. Before becoming director, Andrea served as ICHSA Midwest producer from 2007 to 2009, producing numerous regional and national events during her time with Varsity Vocals. Andrea is an alumna of Michigan State University’s Capital Green, where she served as president and music director and arranged much of the group's repertoire. She continues to arrange for and coach vocal groups throughout Michigan. Before college, Andrea sang with Nuance, a six-person a cappella group at Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., and was active in the school’s choral program. Andrea is an owner and partner at Bellwether Public Relations, based in Lansing, Mich.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Skyline High School, Bel Canto, Lyn Ciechanski, Lenny, Maddie, Jaykob Archer, and Joseph Aquino; 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

#ICHSA