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 NORTHEAST QUARTERFINAL

Plainview-Old Bethpage J.F.K. 
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

Established in 2006, The Acafellas is a student-run tenor-bass group from Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School. They are known for performing energetic rock songs from the 70s, being an audience favorite during Night of A Cappella (NOA), and sporting their signature yellow ties. Their arrangements blend fun and dramatic moments together, keeping audiences captivated and engaged throughout their sets. This year’s set connects their classic 70s vibe with music from the present day, balancing energy with emotion to create something fresh and unique. An annual ICHSA competitor since 2024, this year marks The Acafellas’ 20th anniversary! Plainview Old-Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School will host an NOA this spring, featuring a mashup performance of Acafellas’ songs from the past 20 years. Follow them on Instagram @_the_acafellas_! 

Established in 2001, The B Sharps is the first-ever a cappella group formed at POBJFK High School. A tenor-bass group, they like to think of themselves as another version of a 2000s boy band. They perform songs by artists like Bruno Mars, One Direction, and many others. During rehearsals, The B Sharps enjoy joking around and sharing fun group traditions. As always, #Bsharpmoney! 

Chock Full of Notes is a 16-member mixed a-cappella group originally established in 2003. Hailing from Plainview Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School, they perform two unique sets each year in the winter and spring. Rehearsing a minimum of two hours each week, their sets balance emotional ballads with dramatic anthems. They are also active in the studio and released their debut album, Platinum, in 2023. All of Chock’s arrangements are completely student-written and they work hard to teach essential arranging and vocal skills to new members. They also create all of their own choreography and utilize a board system to keep rehearsals running smoothly. As a student-run group, they take care to encourage equal input from every member. Chock annually attends the Singstrong convention at Adelphi, where a cappella professionals lead workshops and offer feedback. They have progressed to ICHSA Northeast Semifinals for the past three years and look forward to another successful season. 

Drastic Measures is a treble a cappella group from POBJFK High School that brings energy, confidence, and female empowerment to every performance. They love putting their own spin on pop songs and impacting others through their music. Their signature black vests and combat boots remind them to stay bold and true to themselves, both on and off the stage. Over the years, Drastic Measures has competed in ICHSA and were proud to advance to Semifinals in 2021. More than anything, Drastic Measures is a group of friends who love singing together and sharing that joy with others. Whether they’re performing for their school or at competitions, Drastic Measures always shows up ready to have fun, make music, and inspire. 

Noteworthy is a student-run treble group from Plainview Old-Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School, established in 2002. With a repertoire covering artists like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Adele, Noteworthy is proud to arrange and choreograph all their own songs! Noteworthy placed 4th at their 2024 ICHSA Quarterfinal and were honored to receive Outstanding Arrangement for "Telephone" by Lady Gaga and Beyoncé, as well as Outstanding Vocal Percussion for their whole set. Noteworthy is so excited to compete in this year's ICHSA season. Follow them on Instagram @noteworthytree! 

On A High Note is a student-run treble-voice a cappella group from Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School, established in 2006. They are proud of their strong sense of sisterhood, commitment to women’s empowerment, and, of course, their signature purple color! With members from grades nine through 12, they have built a close-knit community that supports all of its members, no matter their age or experience. Beyond rehearsals and performances, they love planning group events and hanging out together year-round. From their Halloween and Galentine’s Day celebrations to summer BBQs, On a High Note is always finding ways to connect and create memories. Even in their downtime, their passion for music shines through and they can’t help but break into harmonies. Last year, they were honored to earn 3rd place at ICHSA Quarterfinals and win the Outstanding Choreography award for their performance of “Greedy” by Ariana Grande. More than just a singing group, On a High Note is a sisterhood built on music, friendship, and the joy of being creative together. 

Established in 2008, The Rolling Tones is a student-run mixed voice a cappella group from Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School. They are known for their classy business attire and signature red ties! This fun and energetic group loves working together and performing music from various artists, including Maroon 5 and Panic! At the Disco. Their motto? Play, laugh, Tones! 

The Skyline Voices from Success Academy HSLA-Manhattan is a high school a cappella group from New York City, known for their bold take on R&B, soul, and hip-hop. They bring fresh, unexpected styles to the a cappella world with creative arrangements and high-energy performances. In their ICHSA debut last year, they won Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Arrangement, and 3rd place overall in their ICHSA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal. They're back this year and ready to shake things up again! 

Established in 2014, Under A Rest (UAR) is a student-run mixed group from Plainview Old-Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School. UAR arranges and choreographs all of their own songs and selects fun, nostalgic music, ready to send their audiences right back to childhood. Under A Rest placed 3rd at their 2023 ICHSA Quarterfinal and was recognized with Outstanding Arrangement for “Determinate,” originally performed by the cast of “Lemonade Mouth.” Follow them on Instagram @official_uar! 

Vibe, the newest a cappella group at POBJFK High School, is the only teacher-led group within a program of eight other student-run groups. Vibe took 1st place at their ICHSA Northeast Quarterfinal for the past two consecutive years and also won Outstanding Soloist in 2025. Vibe is thrilled to take the stage again and share some good vibes. @vibe_pobacappella

GUEST PERFORMER

Makin’ Treble is Hofstra University’s only all-treble a cappella group, established in 2008. Makin’ Treble is a group of 21 talented, kind, and supportive people, who love to sing, have fun, and share in a musical community. This group has competed in the ICCA since 2016, most recently placing 2nd at their 2025 ICCA Quarterfinal and advancing to Semifinals for the first time. Their repertoire includes a variety of musical genres, all arranged by current members or alumni. Makin' Treble performs at concerts, invitationals, and open houses, both on and off of the Hofstra campus. Their music is available on all streaming platforms and they will compete in the 2026 ICCA Quarterfinals on March 7.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Harrison Acosta is composer, sound designer, multi-instrumentalist, and music educator based in Boston. Harrison originally studied film score and vocal pedagogy at the UCF School of Performing Arts. Two years later, he founded and directed UCF’s Voicebox. Under his direction, they attended the 2016 ICCA Finals and were crowned the 2016 SoJam and 2018 Boston Sings (BOSS) Champions. Harrison has earned 10 Outstanding Arrangement awards (including ICCA Finals, BOSS, and SoJam) and four Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs). After completing his capstone thesis, "Capturing Moments in Music feat. the Human Voice," he studied at the Contemporary Writing and Production program at Berklee College of Music. Since graduating, he has been working as music director and orchestrator for “Once Upon A Carnival” at the New Works Festival in Boston. He also can be spotted on AcaVille TV’s aca-competition talk show, “The Winning Edge!”

Jason Fitzpatrick is a music educator with a deep connection to a cappella. He started singing with groups at Connetquot High School, where he competed in the ICHSA, and continued through college with Ammerman A Cappella and SUNY-Potsdam’s Pointercounts. Jason is also a vocal percussionist and arranger. A certified K-12 music educator, he currently teaches general music and chorus in the Middle Country Central School District and enjoys exploring music technology in his personal arranging and a cappella projects.

Alex Green is a recording engineer, producer, and arranger from New York City. He is a graduate of Tufts University with a dual degree in music and archeology. There, he was a member of The Tufts Amalgamates, with whom he sang, directed, and recorded 2011′s CARA-winning Hands Off The Mannequin. He is a co-owner and producer at Plaid Productions, a full-service a cappella production company with dual home bases in Brooklyn, N.Y. and Somerville, Mass. Alex shares two RIAA-certified Platinum and Billboard-charting albums with Ed Boyer and Ben Bram for his work with Pentatonix, while other clients of Plaid Productions have had songs featured on SING, BOCA, and Voices Only, garnering over 100 CARA nominations. Since graduating in 2010, he has regularly served as a masterclass leader and instructor at a cappella festivals nationwide, sung with Overboard (Boston), and written for the Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB).

Mikayla Thompson is an award winning arranger and composer raised in Orlando, Fla. From competing in ICHSA with Take 7 to music directing her former group Mixed Mode at University of Central Florida, her involvement in competitive a cappella spans the better portion of a decade. Mikayla currently works as a freelance transcriber and arranger, while also music directing for local theatre.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank the entire Plainview-Old Bethpage School District for their unwavering support of bringing the ICHSA Quarterfinals to POBJFK High School; superintendent of schools Dr. O’Meara and District Director of Music Mr. Michael Rodgers for their support; Ethan Meixsell, our sound engineer for tonight, and Adam Paltrowitz, the choral director and point person for this event; Portatonix and Makin’ Treble for their performances this evening as well; 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 Northeast 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!

#ICHSA