Contact Us
Varsity Vocals Headquarters1547 N. North Park Avenue
Suite #1
Chicago, Illinois 60610
info@varsityvocals.com
The Varsity Vocals Staff
| Amanda Newman | Executive Director |
| Lindsay Howerton | Director of College A Cappella Programming |
| Dave Brown | Director of High School A Cappella Programming |
| Lucy Jackson | Director of Marketing and Promotions |
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.
Lindsay Howerton
Director of College A Cappella Programming
Lindsay Howerton graduated from Elon University with a double
major in Psychology and International Studies and a minor in Asian studies.
While at Elon, Lindsay was a member of the Sweet Signatures, serving
two years as treasurer. During her tenure, the group participated in SoJam,
competed and hosted two ICCA quarterfinals, and produced three studio albums,
one of which was named runner-up by the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards
for Best Collegiate Album of the Year. Currently, Lindsay serves as half of
a two-person campaign team for the United Way of Pickens County, South Carolina.
She is also involved in the music program at her church, where she sings in
the Chancel Choir, is lead vocalist in the Contemporary Band, and teaches second-grade
choir.
Dave Brown
Director of High School A Cappella Programming
Dave Brown has been involved in Varsity Vocals since 2005.
Although his a cappella career began in high school in the San Francisco Bay
Area, where he directed two small ensembles, he really got into a cappella music
at Brigham Young University. At BYU, Dave sang with Vocal Point, named ICCA
West Semifinal Champions in 2005, and co-founded BYU's all-female group Noteworthy.
After graduating from BYU in 2005, Dave and his wife Rosa moved to Charlottesville,
Virginia, where he attends law school at the University of Virginia. As a Board
Member for CASA, Dave oversees the A Cappella Originals podcast and serves as
a judge for several categories of the CARA awards. He also co-produces the Mouth
Off podcast.
Lucy Jackson
Director of Marketing and Promotions
Lucy Jackson began her musical career performing with the
Danville Children's Musical Theater for nine consecutive seasons, but she 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, and the co-ed a cappella group Naked Voices.
She transferred to 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 the music director for the Alpha
Phi sorority. Lucy served as business manager and then president of the SoCal
VoCals, performing with the group when they were named International Champion
at the ICCA Finals in New York. She is currently producing the group's sixth
studio album. A professionally trained vocalist, Lucy has performed in locations
across the US, including New York, Las Vegas, Boston, Philadelphia, and Alaska,
as well as at international venues in the Vatican City, Italy, China, Hong Kong,
Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.