2025 ICHSA West Quarterfinal @ Sherwood 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 WEST QUARTERFINAL

Sherwood High School
Friday, January 30th, 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

The Sheldon High School Dublinaires is an elite a cappella and vocal jazz choir from Sheldon High School in Eugene, Ore. The Dubs help students build the skills and confidence to create, perform, and enjoy a wide range of music, both on their own and as a team. With national and international performing experience, The Dublinaires are committed to performing with integrity, supporting their community, and nurturing each group member’s personal and musical growth.

Formed in 2009, Free to Breathe prides itself on arranging all of their own music and creating a fun and welcoming environment. They are excited to perform at the 2026 ICHSA!

The Sherwood High School Mixolydians is a group of fun-loving musicians from Sherwood, Ore. They love spending time together just as much as they love creating beautiful music. The Mixolydians have participated in the past 12 ICHSA seasons, notably placing 1st at Quarterfinals in 2020 and 3rd at Quarterfinals in 2022. The Mixolydians have also enjoyed performing at Rose City Sing-Off for many years and working with icons like Deke Sharon! They are proud to have earned multiple ICHSA awards over the years for Outstanding Vocal Percussion, Outstanding Soloist, Outstanding Arrangement, and Outstanding Choreography. Thrilled to be back for their 13th ICHSA season, The Mixolydians are grateful for this experience and excited to see all the groups perform tonight!

The Pionaires is the only a cappella ensemble representing the Sandy, Ore. area. Hailing from the slopes of Mt. Hood, these hardworking students enjoy learning challenging music and sharing it with their school and local community.

Sound Check is Oregon City High School’s premier vocal ensemble, composed of 17 friends who love making music together. In its 10 years of existence, Sound Check has been developing its sound and presence in the community. Sound Check now has three albums available on iTunes and many other music streaming platforms. Last year, the group was excited to make its debut in the 2025 ICHSA West Quarterfinals and thrilled to advance to the West Semifinals in California. They treasure their memories from that trip and value the experience singing onstage alongside some incredible a cappella groups. They are excited to be back performing at this year’s ICHSA!

Soundscape is an a cappella group from West Salem High School that focuses on contemporary music. They have gained recognition by earning top placements at ICHSA Quarterfinals during their first three years of competing. They have also won the Rose City Sing-Off in 2023 and 2024. Soundscape performs a range of songs that showcase their vocal harmonies. The group’s commitment to music and teamwork creates a strong sense of community among its members. As they continue to grow, Soundscape looks forward to pushing their creative boundaries and inspiring audiences.

Strawberry Serenade is Lebanon High School's only a cappella group. Named in honor of the Lebanon community's famed annual Strawberry Festival, Strawberry Serenade specializes in performing pop, contemporary, and jazz music. The students also work together to create all their own choreography. This will be their second year competing in ICHSA and they are excited to come back!

Synergy is the treble a cappella ensemble from the Oregon Children’s Choir, made up of treble singers from surrounding high schools in Eugene/Springfield, Ore. Founded in fall 2012, Synergy was created by Evynne Hollens, co-founder of Divisi. Brought together through a shared love of music and desire to sing songs about strength and empowerment, these singers share a unique bond, both onstage and off.

Vivace is Lincoln High School’s only student-led a cappella ensemble and has become an outlet for students to develop leadership skills, along with their passion for music and performance. This group stands out in its unwavering commitment to excellence, which takes a lot of hard work for a student-led group! Each member of this tight-knit ensemble brings their own special blend of talent, contributing to a collective synergy that is nothing short of magical. Vivace has competed in various competitions, including ICHSA, and is excited to be back this year. Vivace previously won Rose City Sing-Off in both 2017 and 2018, took home the ICHSA award for Outstanding Arrangement in 2019, and most recently placed 1st in PIL Solo and Ensemble 2025.

TONIGHT'S JUDGES

Amanda Farmer is a graduate of Michigan State University, where she sang, arranged, and served as president for Capital Green, a co-ed a cappella group, leading the group to multiple appearances at ICCA Semifinals. Now a resident of the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Amanda created and coached an a cappella group at Pacific Crest Community School from 2014-2017. She has worked in music licensing and custom commercial and film composition, taught voice lessons, and performed with a Portland-based band for several years. Having both competed and assisted with the production side of Varsity Vocals, she is excited to join this evening's panel.

Nikolas Johnson has been active in the contemporary a cappella community since 2011. A five-year member of the University of Washington's Furmata A Cappella, he served as the group’s primary arranger and musical director. Along with these roles, Nikolas recorded and produced several studio releases for the group. After graduating, he continues to assist different groups with arranging, recording, and production. Based in Portland, Ore., Nikolas is a semi-professional vocalist and musician. During the holiday season, he performs with the Dickens and Grotto carolers in a quartet, performing harmonically rich arrangements of classic holiday tunes. In addition to his vocal work, Nikolas occasionally takes audio engineering projects, applying his skills to support and improve live and recorded performances.

Justin Miller is a sought-after composer, arranger, choral conductor, clinician, consultant, and coach, with a growing focus on choral consulting and private voice instruction. His work as a composer and arranger is performed by top ensembles around the world, with a catalog spanning barbershop, contemporary a cappella, traditional choral, and more. Justin curates a Choral Series with National Music Publishers, which features many of his original compositions and arrangements alongside works from other celebrated composers and arrangers. From 2008 until 2022, Justin served as Musical Director of the Westminster Chorus, guiding the ensemble to international acclaim. Under his direction, Westminster earned the title of “Choir of the World” at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales (2009) and won the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Chorus Championship in 2010, 2015, and 2019. He has directed other award-winning barbershop ensembles, including The Masters of Harmony and the Big Apple Chorus, and now leads Vocal Summit, a dynamic new ensemble based in Portland, Ore., while consulting choirs on artistic growth, healthier vocal production, and stronger ensemble culture. A former high-school choral director for 15 years, Justin’s ensembles were consistently recognized for excellence at festivals and contests. He holds a Master of Music in conducting from Portland State University and remains an active member of ACDA, NAfME, and the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS), frequently leading honor choirs, masterclasses, clinics, and giving private vocal lessons focused on sustainable technique, musical expression, and stylistic flexibility. His writing on choral artistry and arranging appears in several publications, including “The Choral Conductor’s Companion” (ed. Brian J. Winnie) and “Arranging Barbershop: Visions of Excellence” (BHS). Justin lives in Oregon with his wife, Andrea, and their two children, Tenley and Mason. For more, visit www.JustinPMillerMusic.com

From early beginnings in musical theatre and choirs, to playing violin and trombone, to receiving a music scholarship to sing a cappella in college, music remains an instrumental part of Paul Carter's life and passion. Paul is a three-time Pacific Northwest Evergreen District Barbershop Quartet Champion, with four top-15 International Quartet finishes, as well as two top-15 International Chorus finishes. Paul has coached quartets and choruses, served as a clinician for youth camps across the Northwest, and is an assistant professor at Corban University.

SPECIAL THANKS

Varsity Vocals would like to recognize and thank tonight's photographer, Jake Young (jakeyoungphotography.com); sound engineers, Pete and Trina from Yoakum Sound and Light; our volunteers from Sherwood High School Performing Arts Boosters; all the staff we've partnered with from Sherwood High School; our guest performers, the
Sherwood High School Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Tristan Weitkamp; 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 West 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