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A view outside the Palatine Centre

Second UK triumph for Northern Lights

3 April 2024
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Group of students on stage, singing

Durham’s a cappella group, Northern Lights, have won their second successive UK ICCA (International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella) Finals in Wimbledon on Saturday 30 March 2024. As a result, they will compete at their second World University Finals in New York on Saturday 27 April.

Northern Lights 

Northern Lights, our flagship student a cappella group, is in its 11th year and has made a huge impact on British A Cappella by becoming two-time National Champions. The group has produced successive sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe in recent years and is regularly invited to perform at all kinds of gigs and events, from weddings and corporate functions to balls.  

Whilst in New York last April to compete at the ICCA World Finals, the group were invited to sing for our Vice-Chancellor and Warden, Professor Karen O’Brien at an event at the Yale Club, attended by senior University colleagues and members of our alumni community.  

Above all, the students of Northern Lights value being in a close and supportive environment. Although they are all driven members who constantly wish to improve the quality of the sound and performance, they are at heart a tight-knit group of friends who love performing together. 

Northern Lights President Lucille Richards commented: “We have just had our milestone 10th anniversary, celebrated with three national Championship titles, a sold-out Edinburgh Fringe Run in 2023, an A Cappella Video Award and features on two of the best collegiate compilation albums worldwide. We are so proud to represent Durham University and the North East on an international scale, while performing at the highest standard and making lifelong friendships!”

Global a cappella competitions

The ICCA and The Varsity Vocals International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) are the only global tournaments that showcase the art of student a cappella. 

The ICCA is the competition that the 'Pitch Perfect' movies are based around. It was founded in a college dorm room in 1996 and has since grown to include 450 groups competing in nine regions in the US and Europe. 

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