Vocal Point
UD's Vocal Point to perform at international championship Feb. 25 in Baltimore
1:03 p.m., Feb. 21, 2012--Vocal Point, one of the University of Delaware’s co-ed a cappella groups, will perform at the Varsity Vocals International Championship of A Cappella (ICCA) South Quarterfinal on Saturday, Feb. 25.
Tickets are on sale now for the event, to be held at 8 p.m. in Shriver Hall at John Hopkins University (JHU) in Baltimore.
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This is the sixth year Vocal Point will perform at the international championship.
Jon Smith, musical director of Vocal Point, said the group has been working diligently over the last month to prepare for the competition.
“This year is the hardest we’ve worked and I’m so proud of how far we’ve come,” said Smith. “I cannot wait to share the stage with these amazing and talented people on Saturday.”
Added Ali Accumanno, president of the group, “we are so excited to participate in this competition and show everyone what we’ve been working on.”
For Accumanno, the performance will also hold special meaning as she enters her last semester at UD.
“As a senior, it means so much to get to compete alongside some of my best friends and represent the University of Delaware at the ICCAs one last time,” she said.
In 2011, Vocal Point brought home an outstanding arrangement award from the ICCA South region quarterfinal at JHU. Lauren Wells, a 2011 UD graduate, received the award for her arrangement of Secrets, and tied with Douglas Ceci’s arrangement of Firework/Starlight for the Octopodes of JHU.
Vocal Point also took home honors in 2007, when the group placed third at the ICCA Mid-Atlantic quarterfinal at Lafayette College. Group member Alfredo Austin, a 2009 UD graduate, also landed the outstanding soloist award for his performance of Sir Duke that year.
Other groups performing at the South quarterfinal this year include Blends with Benefits of American University; Cleftomaniacs of University of Maryland, Baltimore County; DoubleTake of the College of William and Mary; the Octopodes and the Vocal Chords, both of Johns Hopkins University; PandemoniUM and TrebleMakers, both of University of Maryland, College Park; and Squawkapella of Salisbury University.
Results will be announced by Varsity Vocals after the event.
About the ICCA
Varsity Vocals ICCA is the only international tournament that showcases student a cappella singing. Programs are held at the college and high school levels, and involve a judging panel that provides feedback to the groups.
The annual tournament runs from January through April in six regions – West, Midwest, South, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Europe – with each hosting several quarterfinal events. The top two college and high school groups at each quarterfinal advance to the college and high school semifinals, respectively.
The winner of each semifinal is then invited to participate in the finals, held at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York, where cash prizes and the title of grand champion are at stake.
Article and photo by Kathryn Meier
