February 17, 2025
From soaring melodies to infectious rhythms, the Brownstone Center for the Arts at Pearl River Community College was transformed into an a cappella haven on February 7 and 8, 2025. Making history as the first-ever Mississippi host, PRCC presented the Varsity Vocals International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) and International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) Quarterfinals, bringing together the South’s most captivating vocal ensembles for two days of unforgettable performances. The event filled the air with rich harmonies, dynamic choreography and the pure joy of music.
While the spotlight shone brightly on the competition, the weekend also celebrated the spirit of collaboration and the pure exhilaration of making music together. Attendees walked away with a renewed appreciation for the artistry of a cappella, inspired by the talent and dedication displayed by each ensemble.
“We were thrilled to be able to host such a prestigious international competition on our campus,” said Director of Choral Groups, Dr. LaDona Tyson. “Students from universities across the Southeast were able to enjoy our outstanding facilities and hospitality. It was an honor to be able to showcase PRCC for all of these groups.”
The Voices, PRCC’s premier a cappella group, kept the energy high during deliberations with performances that showcased their exceptional talent. Their set allowed different vocalists the opportunity for solos with other members providing a steady backdrop. Some audience members were moved to tears when Madison Mims was the soloist on “Creep,” one of the group’s selections for the school year. Both Mims and fellow Voices member, Devin Jones, served as Masters of Ceremonies.
At Friday evening’s ICHSA competition, Reverb from Petal High School captured first place, followed by Spectra from Oak Grove High School in second place, and B1nine from Brandon High School securing third place.
At Saturday night’s ICCA competition, All-Night Yahtzee from Florida State University emerged victorious, with TrebullDawgs from Mississippi State University taking second place and Spirit of Southern from the University of Southern Mississippi claiming the third-place position.
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF HIGH SCHOOL A CAPPELLA (ICHSA)
The Brownstone Center stage came alive on Friday evening as seven talented high school groups showcased their unique styles in the ICHSA competition. The lineup featured an exciting mix of debut performances and returning champions: B1nine and Brilliance, both from Brandon High School, brought their passion and harmonies; Reverb from Petal High School and Spectra from Oak Grove High School made impressive ICHSA debuts; Sounds of PRC from Pearl River Central High School demonstrated their versatility; Traces of Blue from Sumrall High School returned with their legacy of excellence; and VocalEase! from Albertville High School in Alabama rounded out the evening with their polished performance. Each group brought their own flair to the competition, setting the stage for an unforgettable night of a cappella artistry.
Emmanuel Carney, Christina Carter, and Jacob F. Morris served as judges for the evening. These music educators and a cappella enthusiasts judged the performances based on vocal quality, arrangement, choreography, and overall entertainment value.
Reverb is in its first year and left on a high note, taking home 1st place as a group as well as the two special awards for the evening: Chandler Bolling for Outstanding Soloist on “Loose Control” and Peyton Bolling for Outstanding Vocal Percussion for the entire set.
Spectra took second place and B1nine placed third. All three groups will compete in the ICHSA South Semifinal to be held on March 7, 2025, at The Carolina Theatre in Durham, North Carolina.
Blaise Taylor of Slidell, Louisiana, attended the evening with friends. They are all members of a Northshore High School choral group and wanted to check out the groups performing after experiencing Aca-Fest in November 2024.
“Our choir teacher told us about it, so we decided to come check it out to study blocking and other aspects to help us with our performances coming up,” said Taylor. “It was well worth it as we could see how the crowd reacted to certain things.”
Spectra from Oak Grove High School was their favorite group for the evening. “We liked the beatboxing a lot and how they switched in between the solos and the beatboxing,” said Taylor.
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF COLLEGIATE A CAPPELLA (ICCA)
Saturday night saw the Brownstone Center transform into a collegiate a cappella showcase as ten dynamic ensembles took to the stage. The diverse lineup included: Accent A Cappella from the University of Florida; All-Night Yahtzee from Florida State University; Currents, the home team from Pearl River Community College; Dooley Noted from Emory University; EC Listening; Harmonic Notion from Vanderbilt University; Infinite Harmony from Georgia Tech; The Sedoctaves from the University of Florida; Spirit of Southern from the University of Southern Mississippi; and TrebullDawgs from Mississippi State University. From seasoned competitors to exciting newcomers, each group brought their A-game, showcasing the depth and breadth of collegiate a cappella talent across the Southeast.
Christina Carter, Jeffery Coulter, Jacob F. Morris, Kate Sawyer, and Dylan Trần were the industry professionals and seasoned a cappella performers who served as judges for the evening. They evaluated the collegiate groups’ performances, assessing their musicality, creativity, and stage presence.
The competition was fierce, with All-Night Yahtzee claiming the top spot thanks to their innovative arrangements and electrifying stage presence. Their performance of “Queen” even garnered an Outstanding Soloist award for group member Cayden Early. Colin We was recognized for Outstanding Vocal Percussion for the group’s entire set.
TrebullDawgs secured 2nd place, solidifying their growing reputation as one of Mississippi’s outstanding collegiate a cappella ensembles. The two groups will advance to the ICCA South Semifinal on March 8, 2025, at The Carolina Theatre in Durham, North Carolina.
The evening included an impromptu “Beatboxing contest,” reminiscent of scenes in the film that introduced ICCA to a larger audience – “Pitch Perfect.” Several students lined up for the opportunity with only one contest happening between the members of TrebullDawgs and All-Night Yahtzee. Both the audience and vocal group members went wild over the students who showed their exceptional beatboxing skills.
While they did not place this year, Currents group members Rylee Brister and Julie Holcomb were recognized for Outstanding Choreography for “Smart Iowa.” Lyric Delcambre of Sumrall is another member of Currents who was happy to have competed.
“I’m so thankful for the opportunity to compete in ICCA with Currents this year,” said Delcambre. “I think our hard work paid off in the end, even though we’re not advancing to the next round. It’s important to walk off the stage feeling proud of your performance, and that is exactly what we did!”
Other special recognition for the evening included Outstanding Soloist to Miles Levitan of Accent for “Hammer to the Heart” and Outstanding Arrangement to Grace Chen and Michael Dehn of Dooley Noted (from Emory University) for “The Gold.”
The vibrant atmosphere throughout the weekend reflected the Brownstone Center’s commitment to hosting world-class events that inspire and entertain the community.
ABOUT VARSITY VOCALS
Founded in 1996, Varsity Vocals organizes premier competitions for high school and collegiate a cappella groups across the globe. The ICHSA and ICCA are opportunities for talented vocalists to showcase their artistry, build community, and celebrate the beauty of the human voice.
For more information on Varsity Vocals or to follow the progress of these incredible groups, visit VarsityVocals.com.
FUTURE BROWNSTONE EVENTS
The spring semester offers audiences several opportunities to experience PRCC student talent.
Variety Show — Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.
Clue — April 3 & 4 at 7 p.m.
Symphonic Band — April 10 at 7 p.m.
JazzCats — April 15 at 7 p.m.
Spring Pops featuring The Voices, Currents & Rapids — April 22 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available at prcc.edu/brownstone/upcoming-events/ with seats assigned at purchase. Groups of 11 or more people are eligible for a discounted rate.
For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats), Instagram (PRCCWILDCATS), Facebook (@PRCCMKTG), and TikTok (@prcc_wildcats).
Article and Photography by Laura O’Neill.
