And it's likely the winner here will win the finals.

A bold statement, you say?

Let's look at the history:

2007 - BYU Noteworthy - Won
2006 - BYU Vocal Point - Won
2005 - U Oregon Divisi - 2nd place (and some argue they actually won if not for a judging snafu)
2004 - BYU Vocal Point - Didn't travel to the finals, so their replacement Mt. Sac Fermata Nowhere went and placed 2nd
2003 - U Oregon On the Rocks - 2nd place
2002 - BYU Vocal Point - Didn't travel to the finals, and their replacement On the Rocks took 3rd
2001 - UC Berkeley Golden Overtones - 2nd place
2000 - UC Berkeley Men's Octet - Won
1998 - UC Berkeley Men's Octet - Won
1997 - Stanford Talisman - Won
1996 - Stanford Fleet Street Singers - perhaps 2nd or 3rd place? (not sure)

(note: for religious reasons, BYU Vocal Point had to abdicate twice and let the second place group go in their place as they couldn't compete on a Sunday. Many think they would have won the finals at least once if they'd gone).

This track record is unmatched anywhere else in the country.

Granted, 11 years is perhaps not a large enough sampling size to have long-term statistical significance, and yet there does seem to be something in the West Coast water that results in such ICCA dominance. But what is it?

Honestly, I don't know.

* West Coast a cappella groups are few and far between, which at first would seem to be a hinderance, but when you consider the fact that the groups don't have many other colleges to visit on road trips each weekend, they have more time to focus on the ICCAs. A weak argument, frankly, as more performing usually makes a group better.

* West Coast groups are younger, and as such have the ability to focus on a more contemporary sound and ICCA-focused performance style. Perhaps true, but tradition is usually the best indicator for a group's excellence year after year, as an established tradition at a school, a solid alumni organization and reliable fan base all play a big role in an a cappella group's success.

* Many of the dominant East Coast groups don't compete. This has some significance, as many of the nation's best-known and longest-standing a cappella groups never enter the ICCAs. However, there are more a cappella groups in the East than anywhere else, so other groups should (and do) step up in significant numbers. Plus, the South and Midwest are on equal footing with the West when compared to New England.

* West Coast colleges tend to have fewer groups, which results in a larger student population to a cappella singer ratio. Some East Coast colleges have over 10 groups, which results in fewer singers at auditions, and a talent pool that's more thinly spread. Yet again the South and Midwest are on equal footing, so this doesn't seem to argue for the West.

It's not the weather (the colder it gets, the more people stay indoors, which you think would result in more rehearsal time!), it's not the schools themselves (New England schools tend to be more helpful to their a cappella groups, as the tradition is longstanding. Western colleges do not nurture their groups the same way), it's not the style (the internet has more or less eroded regional differences, with plenty of cross-pollination happening throughout the community), it's not the students (every school has students from all over the country, and all around the world).

So... what is it? Thoughts?
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Comments (4)

	1. Written by davecharliebrown on 17-03-2008 16:19 - Registered
	Here's a thought It's guys like Bob Ahlander and Pete Hollens.    It's also the case that wherever a championship group lies, others have to step it up. All-Night Yahtzee blew everyone in the South away a couple years ago, and the region suddenly ramped it up. Honestly and truly, this year's South ICCA shows have been unbelievable this year. This Semi on March 29 at Wake Forest is going to be aMAYzing.    Vocal Point dominated a few years back, then On the Rocks stepped it up, then Divisi picked it up from both, then Noteworthy learned from all three, and now VoCals were forced to be flawless. It pushes itself forward.    With YouTube and increased exposure in general, I bet you'll see a great quality equalization among all regions in the coming 3-5 years.

	2. Written by daverab on 19-03-2008 08:34 - Registered
	Another Thought Great points Deke  However the track record of BYU - which is a large percentage of the success from the west - is a school that nurtures a cappella moreso than any other group probably in the country.   Vocal Point receives 1 credit from BYU for being a part of the organization as it is also directed by the BYU music faculty.     "it's not the schools themselves (New England schools tend to be more helpful to their a cappella groups, as the tradition is longstanding. Western colleges do not nurture their groups the same way),"    I beg to differ.   When 30% of the west's success has been from a group that is nurtured tremendously.

	3. Written by DekeSharon on 19-03-2008 17:02 - Registered
	True... the BYU club is very helpful, and they have a great faculty advisor. And yet that's one school. You can argue that UC Berkeley and now U Oregon are just as powerful, as they've proven to be, without an advisor.     The thing that doesn't make sense is that there are fewer schools and group in the West, and yet they do so well. Take BYU completely out of the running and the West has still won more ICCA's than any other region. Which I can't explain.

	4. Written by seth on 19-03-2008 18:00 - Registered
	True... I think it's because of the time zone difference. Those east coast groups are off their game from having to wake up so early every day.

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