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 SOUTH QUARTERFINAL
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Friday, February 6th 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
B-Side is excited to return to the ICHSA stage this season after a lengthy hiatus. B-Side hails from Bearden High School in Knoxville, Tenn., where the fine arts department maintains a standard of excellence. The students of B-Side are passionate about performing, close-knit as a group, and committed to giving their all on stage every time. These Bearden Bulldogs promise to give a performance that is off the chain!
Crescenloe is an entirely student-run a cappella group from Enloe High School in Raleigh, N.C. Originally founded by Nyla Smith, Crescenloe works hard to follow the five pillars of “Cresc”: collaboration, respect, enthusiasm, slayocity, and communication. A two-time ICHSA Quarterfinal Champion and four-time ICHSA Semifinalist, Crescenloe aims to make music they love with people they love.
Devils Chord is one of three contemporary a cappella groups from Lebanon High School in Tennessee, under the direction of Brenna Provence. Last year, the group made their competitive debut and ultimately placed 3rd at ICHSA Semifinals. Devils Chord members balance their weekly after-school rehearsals with many other extracurricular activities, including Youth in Government, marching band, student council, and theatre. The school’s choir program regularly participates in MTVA, ACDA, and TnMEA events.
Gold Rush is the junior varsity auditioned contemporary pop a cappella choir at Lexington High School in Lexington, S.C. Founded in 2023, this group sang on an AcaPop performance at the National A Cappella Convention (NACC) in 2025. Gold Rush also earned Excellent and Superior ratings at the Carowinds Festival of Music near Charlotte in 2024.
The Lexingtones is the varsity auditioned contemporary pop a cappella choir at Lexington High School in Lexington, S.C. Founded in 2020, this group has already earned high accolades in two showcase performances at the NACC in 2023 and 2025. The Lexingtones also earned straight Superior ratings at the Carowinds Festival of Music near Charlotte in 2024.
Overtone is the resident a cappella team at Dobyns-Bennett High School, in Kingsport, Tenn. They are celebrating their fifth year together and excited for their third showing in the ICHSA! The group has made unforgettable memories performing with numerous musicians, such as Foreigner and cellist Dave Eggar. They were honored to perform at the Smoky Mountain Fan Fest for Matthew Lewis. Overtone is founded on the belief that music connects and heals and they strive to spread joy with every performance. They are always looking for ways to push their limits and bring something new to a cappella.
Sonic Edge A Cappella is the award-winning vocal ensemble from the Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts at Pebblebrook High School. Composed of 18 voices, this group is known for its electrifying performances, dynamic harmonies, and cutting-edge vocal arrangements. Sonic Edge performs a wide ranging repertoire, from chart-topping pop hits and soulful ballads to high-energy musical theatre selections. Under the direction of Trey Giddens, Sonic Edge has earned back-to-back National Champion titles at the ICHSA. Beyond competition, the group performs throughout the community, inspiring audiences with their passion for music and their commitment to artistic collaboration. They can’t wait to perform and see what the other teams have in store!
Tonal Spectrum is the highest level choir at Crest High School and the only high school a cappella group in Cleveland County, N.C. The group includes students from grades nine through 12, with interests ranging from FFA to colorguard to cheerleading and more. They assemble a diverse repertoire every year, from pop a cappella to chamber music. Tonal Spectrum has participated in many ICHSA seasons, notably making it all the way to Finals in 2015.
VocalEase is Albertville High School’s premier a cappella ensemble, bringing bold vocals, tight harmonies, and high-energy performances to every stage. Hailing from Albertville, Ala., VocalEase currently includes 12 members and is directed by Christian Lester. A select group of singers from the award-winning AHS choral program, VocalEase specializes in contemporary pop, jazz, and percussive arrangements, all performed with nothing but the human voice.
TONIGHT'S JUDGES
Paige Betts is the orchestra director at Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville, Ga. She is an experienced music educator, having taught string orchestra, chorus, and musical theatre, and has twice been runner-up for Teacher of the Year. She has given clinics with various orchestras, chorus, and a cappella ensembles across the Southeast, and has taught private voice and viola lessons. Paige is a graduate of the University of Georgia and is currently working towards becoming a Double Dawg. Paige lives in Winterville, Ga. with her husband, Andrew, and their dogs, Jake and Barbara.
Christina Carter holds an M.M.E. from the University of Central Florida and a B.M. from Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. She is the Director of Choral Music at the Ensworth School in Nashville, Tenn., where she directs the Chamber Singers and the contemporary a cappella group, Encore. Christina also teaches Music 1 and AP Music Theory and is the director and conductor for the musical productions. She has been conducting choirs and small orchestras since 1995 and has been an ICHSA and ICCA adjudicator for several years. Her a cappella groups can be heard on Spotify and Acaville Radio. Her current group, Encore, was recently selected for the 2025 BOHSA album. In her spare time, Christina loves spending time with her husband and frequenting Universal Studios to watch her daughter perform.
Noelle Martin is the music teacher at Heritage Elementary School in Thompson’s Station, Tenn. She earned her degree in music education from Belmont University, where she was a member of Prismatics A Cappella and served as music director, leading the group to a win at ICCA Quarterfinals. She previously directed musicals with Front Range Theatre in Colorado and has a deep love for a cappella music.
Jared Sanchez started singing in high school, leading his choir and attending All East. He has a B.A. in theater from the University of Tennessee, where he co-music directed and arranged for his college a cappella group, VOLT. During his time in the group, Jared and VOLT made the most of their five years, attending as many competitive and educational festivals and a cappella experiences as they could, including ICCA, SoJam, Boston Sings (BOSS), and Next Level Arranging. As of 2023, Jared remains active in music and the arts and even has received the resounding title of Mr. Knoxville Idol 2022. Jared wishes each group the best of luck and is excited to be on this evening’s panel.
SPECIAL THANKS
Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank Angie Batey and Javi Castro; 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 three finishing groups at this event will advance to the 2026 ICHSA South 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