Warwick A Cappella Society is a society for performing, arranging and appreciating unaccompanied vocal music.
It is an umbrella for all a cappella groups within the university to centralise our shared passion for music as well as to develop our knowledge and skills relating to the art. It is a platform for all a cappella lovers at the university to come together and appreciate a cappella music. No one should ever have to suppress their need to sing and make music, and this society aims for members to express their musical abilities freely!
We aim to be a platform for new a cappella groups, provide motivation for them to compete, and be an access point to the outside world. Warwick A Cappella holds events, competitions, contact performance venues, and reach out to other universities – amplifying the voices of these groups. The society simply gives the opportunity for rehearsed groups to perform through a unified, recognised, established and professional society.
We hope to pave a way forward, leaving a legendary mark and a legacy for the University of Warwick.
The Leamingtones' 2026 ICCA quarterfinal win!
We hold auditions for all our groups at the beginning of the academic year primarily, but we do re-open auditions at the beginning of term 2 for additional members!
We also hold group specific workshops to develop and improve various a cappella skills such as arranging, dynamics, blending, beatboxing, tuning and many more aspects. We’ve even previously invited many well-known musicians in to work with us such as select members from the likes of the Sons of Pitches and the Swingles, as well as other people well-known to the a cappella community.
This year, we proudly hosted the very first Midlands A Cappella Showcase (MACS) at the Warwick Arts Centre, bringing together all of our groups alongside Aca-pocalypse for an unforgettable evening of live performance. The showcase celebrated the incredible talent across the midlands with a diverse repertoire. We also hosted an exciting riff off, where our groups competed against one another, with fun themes such as Shrek and Colours! To top it off, we were thrilled to welcome Grammy Award winning Tom Hartley for an inspiring workshop that gave members the opportunity to learn from one of the very best in the a cappella world.
In 2025-2026, the society included five groups! These are:
- The Leamingtones - the founding pop competition group
- OffScore - a pop competition group
- Athena - all upper-voices group
- Soul – our R&B group
- Open Harmony - our non-auditioned group
- BBX Group - our vocal percussion group
- Interval - our barbershop quintet group
Soul's MACS performance
Intervals MACS performance
'The Leamingtones' is Warwick’s first competition a cappella group, known for their tight blend, bold arrangements, and infectious energy. Since their formation, they’ve enjoyed success at the ICCAs (International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella), including a 2nd place finish in the UK Finals in 2025 and four consecutive quarterfinal wins, as well as 3rd place in 2026 at the OAC (Open A Cappella Competition), taking home the 'People's Choice Award'. Along the way, members have been recognised with awards such as Outstanding Arrangement for the whole set to George Collier. Off stage, they cherish traditions like their annual ‘barn trip’, a much-loved bonding weekend, and typically rehearse together two to three times a week.
'Offscore' is the University of Warwick's pinkest, freshest competitive a cappella group, bringing vibrant, high-energy performances to audiences everywhere. After just 3 competition seasons, including performances at the OAC and London Vocal Jam, they have achieved consecutive 3rd place finishes in the last two ICCA QFs, as well as two Outstanding Soloist Awards in recognition of the individual talent of the group. OffScore have established themselves as a rising force in the UK a cappella scene, with each set aiming to entertain, move, and leave a lasting impression on every audience, pushing the boundaries of vocal creativity.
Athena's MACS performance
Offscore's MACS performance
'Athena' is WACA’s non-competitive a cappella group for female and non-binary upper-voices. We sing everything from pop and indie to musical theatre, bringing our own creativity, energy and harmonies to every performance. Some of last years repertoire included Paris Paloma, Adele and Amy Winehouse! Whether we’re on stage or just singing for fun, Athena is all about friendship, building confidence and making great music. And here's our little secret, our logo cleverly hides the melody of Cindy Lauper’s iconic hit “Girls Just Want to Have Fun!”, see if you can spot it!
'Soul' is all about rich harmonies, heartfelt grooves, and the joy of making music together. We celebrate the best of soul, R&B, and gospel-inspired sounds, bringing smooth vocals and dynamic energy to every performance. Whether it’s an intimate ballad or a high-energy jam, our aim is to connect with audiences through authenticity, warmth, and real groove. Our rehearsals are full of laughter, inside jokes, and the kind of musical moments that make us forget we’re “rehearsing” at all.
'BBX group' is our brand new beatbox group! Formed this year, the group brought together six talented beatboxers from across our society to create unique arrangements and perform unforgettable performances, such as their rendition of 'Drop it like its hot'.
BBX Groups MACS performance
'Interval' is another one of our groups, created this year by our previous head musical director. They're a barbershop quintet, unlike the traditional quartet structure, and they love singing Disney classics as well as close-knit harmony pieces. Though newly formed, they are excited to develop their repertoire further and have fun at more performances!
'Open Harmony' is our non-auditioned group! A few times a term, guest musical directors will drop in to lead a fun, low-pressure session featuring a fresh arrangement. No commitment, just good music and great vibes!
WACAs annual ice skating social!
Our 'Shrek' themed circle.
The society runs some amazing socials including nights out to the well-loved POP! and circling, Ice Skating, our annual Christmas Carolling, and attending various shows in the arts centre. We also look to continue expanding our presence at Warwick in every way we can by better incorporating with the music centre and engaging in more inter-society events!
To join this society, you’ll need to pay the Societies Federation fee (£12 for undergraduates and £6 for postgraduates) plus £3 for a standard WACA membership. The Federation fee is a one-off payment each academic year, and once you’ve paid it, you can join as many societies as you like without paying again!
If you want to start a new group, WACA can support you! Our past groups have included:
- The Practical Folkers, formed in October 2019 and specialised in performing folk songs. They had a busy first year, recording several arrangements, performing in Warwick blackout, and competing alongside 9 other groups in the OAC just 5 months after forming. Despite most of them having graduated, they still stay in touch and release occasional recordings of new arrangements.
- Schrödinger’s Scat, a jazz group formed in 2022, performed everything from popular jazz standards to barbershop tags. Their shows featured playful choreography, clever props, and heart-warming moments that left audiences in awe.
Here are a couple of testimonials:
‘Over the past few months becoming a member of WACA has become a significant part of my life at Warwick. It is simply great to meet people with the same passion for singing every week and work hard for collective achievements such as new songs, choreography and great performances. Being on stage with an amazing bunch of talented people and seeing everyone having a fantastic time is one of the best feelings you can have as a musician and performer.' -Kathy
'I have absolutely loved my time in WACA and it has been such a pivotal part of my uni experience! It is such a welcoming community and I am so grateful for the incredible performance opportunities I have had - from performing at Warwick Castle, New Wimbledon Theatre, Camden Assembly, Warwick Arts Centre theatre to St Donatus Church in Croatia. I have learnt and grown so much as a singer since joining in my first year, and there are so many opportunities for musicians of all levels to get involved! Competing annually at the ICCA competitions has definitely been a highlight. Working hard with everyone to perform to high standards and getting to meet a cappella groups from unis across the UK has been so much fun! I’m so excited to see what the society does next <3' - Jessie, WACA President 2025/26, Leamingtones and Offscore Alumni