The South's Best ICCA Groups To Battle In Winston-Salem
The South's Best ICCA Groups To Battle In Winston-Salem
The 10 best collegiate groups in the South made it through a fierce quarterfinal round to earn their spots at this year's ICCA South Semifinal.
The 10 best collegiate groups in the South made it through a fierce quarterfinal round to earn their spots at this year's ICCA South Semifinal at R.J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on March 31.
The winning group will advance to the 2018 ICCA Finals at the Beacon Theatre in New York on April 21.
BisCaydence
University of Miami
Quarterfinal Score: 444
After two years as quarterfinal runner-up, BisCaydence had an epic night on stage on January 27, winning its quarterfinal with a high score of 444 and taking home awards for the entire set for Outstanding Vocal Percussion (Will Ahlemeier), Outstanding Arrangement (Kent Barnhill and Matt Gagnon), and Outstanding Choreography (Nathan Fox, Anna Park, Maia Mulcahy, and Jackie Rodriguez). Jillian Hobaica also won Outstanding Soloist for “Once.”
All-Night Yahtzee
Florida State University
Quarterfinal Score: 407
Now in its 20th year, All-Night Yahtzee has long been a mainstay on the competition stage. A strong second-place finish at the quarterfinal makes the group a serious contender in this year’s semifinals.
UT Singers
University of Tennessee
Quarterfinal Score: 348
This group is very active on the a cappella circuit, performing at NACC, VOLcappella, SoJam, and previous ICCA. UT Singers' origins date back to the 1950s, and the group has evolved from show choir to jazz choir to contemporary a cappella group.
Prismatics
Belmont University
Quarterfinal Score: 420 (Went over time)
The newest group from Belmont University put on a first-place performance in quarterfinals but ended the night in second place after going over the time limit. “Walk on Water” was a standout song, winning Outstanding Arrangement (Iman Nadeem) and Outstanding Choreography (Hannah Smith and Gabe Greenwood).
Sympathetic Vibrations
Georgia Tech
Quarterfinal Score: 409
A longtime standout from Georgia Tech, the men from SympVibes are always performing, recording, and networking in the a cappella community. Outstanding Vocal Percussion went to Rahul Raina for his performance on “Frustrated.”
Cockappella
University of South Carolina
Quarterfinal Score: 383
Now in its 10th year, Cockappella has made many appearances in ICCA and other competitions. The group released its second album, "Long Time Coming," in the fall of 2017. Senior Cantley Roberts was awarded Outstanding Choreography in the quarterfinals.
Wolfgang A Cappella
North Carolina State University
Quarterfinal Score: 381
This student-run group from NCSU is currently preparing for its 20th anniversary and will be making its first appearance at semifinals. Wolfgang A Cappella's latest single, "Devil’s Backbone," was released in 2017.
Enharmonix
Appalachian State University
Quarterfinal Score: 337
Founded over a meal at Bojangles in 2011, ENX is the leading group from ASU. This is its first appearance at semifinals. Dovydas Abarius was awarded Outstanding Vocal Percussion for the entire set in the quarterfinals.
Mixed Mode
University of Central Florida
Quarterfinal Score: 410
Mixed Mode topped an outstanding field in the quarterfinals at University of Florida. The group released its first EP, "Mixology," in December. In addition to its participation in ICCA, Mixed Mode is also competing at the National A Cappella Convention in Memphis in April. In the quarterfinals, Outstanding Vocal Percussion went to Nate Barone and Outstanding Arrangement was awarded to Michael Hanusiak for “iRobot.”
Gemini Blvd.
University of Central Florida
Quarterfinal Score: 377
Gemini Blvd. has made five previous appearances at ICCA, finishing second in 2016. The group's history of success continues with a runner-up performance at quarterfinals, including Outstanding Arrangement by Lily Schultz for the entire set and Outstanding Choreography by Jon Batista for “Closure.”