2025 ICHSA Midwest Quarterfinal @ Hilliard Bradley 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

Hilliard Bradley High School
Friday, February 27th, 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

Based in the Cincinnati area, West Clermont Alpha is the competitive vocal a cappella group from West Clermont High School. Through community outreach and performance, their mission is to uplift, support, and entertain every audience! Alpha embodies the belief that every person should be able to #FindYourVoice and make a difference where you are!

ECHO, from Hilliard Bradley High School, is one of four groups that comprise the Jaguar A Cappella program. Currently in its ninth year of existence, ECHO is an extracurricular ensemble directed by Jeremy Witt. Last year, the group released their very first single, "SPEAK," on all streaming platforms. This is their fourth consecutive year competing in the ICHSA and they advanced to Midwest Semifinals in 2024. ECHO put many rehearsals’ worth of passion and hard work into their 2026 ICHSA set and they hope you enjoy it!

Free Verse is a student-run a cappella group from Central Catholic High School and Oakland Catholic High School in Pittsburgh. Free Verse is named for the type of poetry without rhyme or regular meter, producing an authentic style of speech or song, along with a meaningful message. With a mantra of “Friendship, Fun, Free Verse,” the group is celebrating their 10th year of existence and ninth ICHSA season! Last year, Free Verse competed at the 2025 ICHSA Midwest Quarterfinal and participated in the 2025 PMEA A Cappella Festival, where they performed two of their student-arranged songs, “Electric Love” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” Free Verse is excited to share their 2026 ICHSA set, celebrating a decade of a cappella and friendship!

The Grace Notes is the premier vocal ensemble of Columbus School for Girls. Performing choral music from all over the world, jazzy holiday tunes, and now contemporary a cappella, The Grace Notes cover a wide range of genres. This will be their second year competing in ICHSA and they are so excited to share their music with you!

Phoenix is Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School’s all-treble a cappella group. Founded in 2011 as a co-ed group under the name Age 5, the group helped establish and grow their high school’s a cappella program. In 2014, the group rebranded as Phoenix, representing renewal and perseverance. Last year, the group once again “rose from the ashes” and rebranded itself as an all-treble group. Phoenix has embraced the artistic challenge of creating a rich, full sound from upper-voice singers. Like a Phoenix, this group glows bright as fire and they’re excited to shine on the ICHSA stage.

Touch of Class A Cappella is the vocal pride of Port Clinton High School! This talented group consists of 16 members, ranging from freshmen to seniors. Throughout the year, Touch of Class performs throughout the community, sharing music with local businesses, schools, and charities. They perform at concerts and festivals throughout the year, but their favorite event is always ICHSA! Touch of Class (or TOC for short!) has competed in ICHSA for many years, notably earning a trip to the 2016 ICHSA Finals. Most recently, they were proud to earn Outstanding Choreography at their 2025 ICHSA Midwest Quarterfinal. Touch of Class loves to make music together and cannot wait to share their set with you tonight!

The Trebels is a co-ed a cappella group from Seton LaSalle Catholic High School in Pittsburgh. They have been competing for about 10 years as a self-funded group, raising money for ICHSA competitions by caroling in nearby neighborhoods and making a name for themselves at school and throughout their community. The Trebels perform at various school functions, such as concerts, a variety show, and social events, serving as productive contributors to society. They are inspired by the beauty of music and live performance and approach everything as a team. The Trebels are known for their original arrangements and choreography by student members, and won an ICHSA award in 2025 for Outstanding Arrangement. Thrilled to be back at ICHSA, The Trebels are excited to share their talents again this year!

Upbeat is Buckeye High School's advanced a cappella group, under the direction of Pamela Haberkorn. This is their third year participating in the ICHSA. In 2024, Upbeat took 3rd place in the ICHSA Midwest Quarterfinals and won Outstanding Arrangement for their set. In 2025 they took 2nd place at Quarterfinals, advancing to Midwest Semifinals, where they earned another Outstanding Arrangement award. This year’s group includes four seniors, three juniors, one sophomore, and one freshman. Upbeat’s 2026 set was collaboratively arranged by group members and choreographed by Jocelyn Droes. They have enjoyed their time working on music and creating memories together, and they’re excited to share their set with you tonight!

Vega is Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School’s co-ed a cappella group. Established in 2010, Vega has become a well-known ensemble throughout Dayton and surrounding areas, competing in ICHSA since 2013. The group remains deeply connected to its roots, proudly directed by alumni who once sang within its ranks. With a proud legacy and continued spirit of excellence, Vega remains dedicated to connection, teamwork and musical expression. True to their namesake, the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, Vega shines with passion, unity and purpose.

Vocal Point is Marietta High School’s premier contemporary a cappella ensemble. The group got their start over a decade ago, and has since become a fixture of the Marietta community. Vocal Point performs at major events throughout the year, including the Marietta Sternwheel Festival, Harmar Days Festival, and the Labor Day Parade. This year’s ensemble is made up of 13 student musicians, ranging from sophomores to seniors. Vocal Point has attended Kettering National A Cappella Festival, appearing on the main stage for three consecutive years, as well as the Nordonia A Cappella Festival. This year marks Vocal Point’s second ICHSA season!

GUEST PERFORMERS

Shades of Blue A Cappella is the premier contemporary a cappella ensemble of the Jaguar A Cappella Program at Hilliard Bradley High School in Hilliard, Ohio. Over the last nine years, they have evolved into one of the most successful high school a cappella groups in the country. In 2023, Shades of Blue earned the ICHSA Champion title at Finals in New York, taking home The Gooding Cup, In 2025, they returned to ICHSA Finals and were named Runner-Up. They were featured performers at the Kettering National A Cappella Festival, SoJam, National A Cappella Convention, and the American Choral Directors Association national conference. Shades of Blue has also found success in the studio, earning a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) nomination in the category of Best High School EP for their very first EP, Courage, in 2022. Their single, “Gold,” won the CARA for Best High School Song in 2023, and their debut album, Brighter Days, was the Runner-Up for Best High School Album in 2024. Last March, they released their second album, titled First Light. You can stream their music on all streaming platforms!

Wave, from Hilliard Bradley High School, is very excited to be performing for the ICHSA! Wave is an all-treble a cappella group and one of four a cappella groups that comprise the Jaguar A Cappella program at Hilliard Bradley High School. Wave is composed of vocalists who love to sing, perform, and create music together. They are so excited to share their music with you today!

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Allyson Adams is a dedicated musician and a cappella arranger with a lifelong passion for all things music. She began her educational music journey at the Long Island High School for the Arts. Allyson served as co-president, music director, and an arranger for her high school group, Acouschicks, where she developed a love for leading and teaching others through music. At The Ohio State University, she served as co-music director for the group Majors & minors, and led them to place 3rd and 2nd at the ICCA Midwest Quarterfinals, marking the first competitive placements in the group's history. Post-graduation, Allyson continues to fulfill her passion for a cappella by writing arrangements and offering mentorship to groups in her community.

Christopher Andres is a passionate and dedicated music professional with a diverse background in both vocal and instrumental music. He attended The Ohio State University and Sinclair Community College, where he actively participated in The University Chorus and Men's Glee. A proud graduate of Greenville High School, Christopher was deeply involved in the school’s Vocal Music Department, singing in the men’s choir, concert choir, Choraliers, and The Wavaires. He was also a key member of the Instrumental Band Department, performing in symphonic band, concert band, and marching band. His instrumental talents include the flute, saxophone, and baritone. Christopher has performed on numerous stages across the world as an instrumentalist and vocalist. Currently, he is the Assistant Vocal Music Director and accompanist at Greenville Senior High School in Greenville, Ohio, going into his eighth year. In addition to his church leadership, Christopher is in his seventh year as assistant vocal music director and accompanist at Greenville Senior High School in Greenville, Ohio. Christopher's musical journey began at age five when he first played the piano at his local church, a connection that ignited his lifelong passion for music and education. He also serves as a board member for the Darke County Civic Theatre since 2025. Through his work, Christopher continues to inspire and enrich the musical community.

Justin Babbitt (he/him) is an award-winning choreographer and producer with a love for a cappella. In college, he served as creative firector of Michigan State University's Capital Green, advancing to three consecutive ICCA Great Lakes Semifinals and all the way to the 2024 ICCA Finals. His accolades include three ICCA Outstanding Choreography awards, an A Cappella Video Award (AVA) for Best Choreography and Staging, and a CARA nomination. From 2017 to 2019, he choreographed three gold-winning Show Choir sets at the World Strides Festival. He continues to work with groups across the Great Lakes region as a choreographer, clinician, and producer.

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.

Ariel Radinovic is a performer, director, and vocal coach active in contemporary a cappella. She was a member of Remedy A Cappella at the University of Dayton and served as music director from 2023 to 2025. During that time, Remedy advanced to ICCA Semifinals in consecutive seasons, received 1st place and Audience Favorite awards at the 2024 Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes, and earned a National Championship win at Harmony Sweepstakes Nationals in San Francisco. Ariel‘s musical background includes professional work in theatre and solo performance in her hometown of Pittsburgh. She has served as a judge for the 15 Minutes of Fame talent competition with Prime Stage Theatre and currently teaches voice privately as a freelance instructor.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Jeremy Witt, Anna Adams, Hilliard Brady High School Facilities, Hilliard Bradley Music Boosters, 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

#ICHSA