Contact Varsity Vocals

VARSITY VOCALS

Varsity Vocals Headquarters

1547 N. North Park Avenue
Suite #1
Chicago, Illinois 60610
(312) 636-8855
info@varsityvocals.com

Our programs are run largely by part-time employees and volunteers. Therefore, it is easiest to reach us by email. Thank you!

The Varsity Vocals Staff

Amanda Newman (e-mail)
Executive Director

David Rabizadeh (e-mail)
Director - International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA)

Andrea Poole (e-mail)
Director - International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA)

Valerie Dowdle (e-mail)
Director of Publications

Dave Brown (e-mail)
Adjudication Director

Virginia Demoss (e-mail)
Album Production Coordinator

Shane Ardell (e-mail)
Webmaster

Regional Producers

Sara Yood (e-mail)
ICCA Finals Producer

Lucy Jackson (e-mail)
ICCA West Producer

Lindsay Howerton (e-mail)
ICCA South Producer

Jennifer Sharkey (e-mail)
ICCA Midwest Producer

Holli Matze (e-mail
ICCA Northeast Producer

Saqib Mikey Yasin (e-mail)
ICCA Mid-Atlantic Producer

Amanda Newman

Executive Director

Amanda Newman has been on the Varsity Vocals team since 2002. She spent a year serving as ICCA Midwest Producer before becoming Executive Director of the company. Amanda came to Varsity Vocals after serving as business manager and choreographer for the University of Illinois a cappella group, No Strings Attached, and was awarded for Best Choreography at the ICCA Midwest Semifinals. Amanda holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Illinois. She plays piano and cello and has sung with the University of Illinois Concert Choir, the Augustana Choir and the Handel Oratorio Society. Amanda has served as Publicity Manager for the Apollo Chorus of Chicago and Operations Coordinator for Ravinia Festival's Steans Institute for Young Artists.

David Rabizadeh

Director - The International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA)

David Rabizadeh has played an active role in Varsity Vocals programming since 2008, spending his first two years as a producer for the ICCA before assuming his present role as ICCA Director. David graduated from Rutgers University in 2007 with bachelor's degrees in business economics and information technology. During his matriculation, he began his a cappella career with the co-ed OrphanSporks. He also founded the university's first male a cappella group, Casual Harmony. Under David's leadership, Casual Harmony competed and hosted in several successful ICCA events. David is also accomplished in the a cappella recording world, having served both as a nominator and judge for the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. He produced two full-length albums for Casual Harmony during his tenure, earning critical acclaim including five CARA nominations and selection for the BOCA: Best Of College A Cappella albums as well as other major compilations.

Andrea Poole

Director - The International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA)

Andrea Poole is an alumna of Michigan State University's Capital Green, having served as president for two of her four years in the group. During her time in the group, Capital Green hosted and competed in the ICCA each year and advanced to the Midwest Semifinals in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Before singing with Capital Green, she was part of Pine Creek (Colo.) High School's female a cappella group, Nuance, and was actively involved in the choral program. Andrea also served as ICHSA Midwest Producer from 2007 to 2009 and has produced numerous ICHSA and ICCA shows around the Midwest. She graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in English in 2007 and a master's degree in public relations in 2009.

Valerie Dowdle

Director of Publications

Valerie cherishes the written word, and she reveres music of nearly every kind, so joining the Varsity Vocals team in 2009 just felt right. She also works as an editor for a publishing company in Baltimore, Maryland. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University, but her bachelor's degree is in theater, and she has been known to star in plays and musicals (and the occasional student film). Her favorite singing role was a lascivious "Madam" Marcus Lycus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at St. Mary's College. While a student there, Valerie madly desired to join the Nightingales, the college's all-female a cappella group. When audition time rolled around, she signed up, showed up, then promptly wussed out. There's something about singing unaccompanied that makes her shake in her boots. She gives kudos to all the talented singers who get up on stage and let those vocals rip. Bravo!

Dave Brown

Adjudication Director

Dave Brown is best known as the co-host of the award-winning weekly a cappella podcast Mouth Off. He also serves as a nominator and judge for the Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards (CARA) and has been a producer, emcee, and judge for the ICCA tournament. At Brigham Young University, Dave performed with Vocal Point, and he co-founded and directed the all-female group Noteworthy. Dave served for four years on the Board of the Directors for the Contemporary A cappella Society (CASA), serving as president and founding the CASAcademy educational program. He has worked as coach and clinician on many aspects of performance and group management at private master classes and large festivals across the United States.

Virginia DeMoss

Album Production Coordinator

Virginia began her a cappella career singing lead in her high school's first female barbershop quartet with her three best friends. She then attended Florida State University where she spent two years in All Night Yahtzee followed by two years in the AcaBelles. She served as Public Relations Chair for one year in Yahtzee and arranged music for both groups, even after graduating. Virginia is the Program Manager for Volunteers on the CASA board of directors and served as Collegiate Competition Coordinator for SoJam 2011. She has produced and judged ICCA/ICHSA events and has previously served as Volunteer Coordinator. Virginia lives in beautiful Asheville, NC where she has just recently started up a (currently) all female a cappella group and works on a recovery farm for adults with mental illness.

Shane Ardell

Webmaster

Shane began arranging music at an early age and ventured into arranging a cappella music at the age of 16. She started her contemporary a cappella career at Georgia Tech as a performer, arranger, and eventual president of the all female group, Nothin' but Treble. While still in college, she also began singing in a rock/gospel semi-professional group, Breakdown, in Atlanta. Shane continues to arrange and coach groups as well as judge for the ICCAs. She also helps to maintain acaspot.com, an online a cappella group management tool that stemmed out of Georgia Tech. She is currently the Infrastructure Program Manager for CASA.

Sara Yood

ICCA Finals Producer

Sara Yood has been a producer with Varsity Vocals since 2003 and has been singing a cappella since her high school years. An alum of The Washington University Amateurs, Sara served as both Concert Coordinator and Group Coordinator and led the Amateurs to their first appearance in Varsity Vocals competition. After moving to New York in 2004, Sara sang with Treble, New York's a all-female a cappella group. In her spare time, Sara is a third-year law student focusing on Intellectual Property Law at Fordham University, where of course she directs law school's co-ed a cappella group The Tortfeasors. Sara has previously served as Midwest Producer, Northeast/New England Producer, and as an Associate Producer.

Lucy Jackson

ICCA West Producer

Lucy Jackson began singing a cappella in high school, when she performed with a Sweet Adelines double quartet and co-directed the quartet Bel Canto. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, singing with the University Singers Chamber Choir, Opera Scenes, Opera Productions, and the co-ed a cappella group, Naked Voices. She transferred to the University of Southern California, where she earned her bachelor's degree in communication with a minor in music studies. She was a member of the USC Concert Choir and Opera Productions, and she served as director of music for Alpha Phi sorority. As a member of the USC SoCal VoCals, Lucy held the position of business manager, album producer, and president, and she performed with the group when they were named International Champion at the 2008 ICCA Finals in New York City. Most recently, Lucy appeared in the first-ever season of NBC's The Sing-Off as a member of The Socals.

Lindsay Howerton

ICCA South Producer

Lindsay Howerton has been on the Varsity Vocals team since 2008. After serving as both South Producer and ICCA Director, she is thrilled to be back working exclusively in the South! Lindsay graduated from Elon University in 2008 with degrees in Psychology and International Studies and a minor in Asian Studies. While at Elon, Lindsay sang with the all-female a cappella group Sweet Signatures, serving as their treasurer for two eyars. Lindsay currently lives in Greenville, South Carolina, where she is Marketing Coordinator for KeyMark Incorporated. She is active in her church music ministry as a lead singer for the contemporary band, a member of the Chancel Choir, and a fourth grade choir teacher.

Jennifer Sharkey

ICCA Midwest Producer

Jen discovered a cappella in high school and has been hooked ever since. An alumna of the Washington University Amateurs, Jennifer has been planning and hosting ICCA events with the group for the past four years. She served as Group Moderator and ICCA Coordinator for the Amateurs and is thrilled to continue her involvement in Varsity Vocals. Jennifer graduated with a degree in Fashion Design and now works as a design intern for Dottie's Delights, a vintage-inspired lingerie company based in Chicago. She also freelances in apparel and graphic design.

Holli Matze

ICCA Northeast Producer

An alumna of James Madison University's School of Theatre and Dance, Holli Matze was a member of the BluesTones for five years, serving as music director and president. Through her position, Holli coordinated numerous major a cappella events on campus and led the BluesTones to compete in the ICCA as well as several other competitive events. Currently, Holli resides in Brooklyn, where she works for the educational company The Broadway Workshop and acts as assistant music director for the NYC-based group, Empire.

Saqib Mikey Yasin

ICCA Mid-Atlantic Producer

Saqib is very excited to join the Varsity Vocals team this year. He attended Rutgers University, where he served as president of Casual Harmony and led the group to host and compete in several ICCA events. He has most recently recorded and produced albums for Casual Harmony and Rutgers University Shockwave.

VARSITY VOCALS