UC San Diego's Tritones Advance to ICCA Semifinals

A cappella group reaches historic milestone after 11-year drought

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:20pm

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For the first time in 11 years, UC San Diego's premier a cappella group, the Tritones, advanced to the semifinals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) Southwest Regional competition. The group wowed the audience with an emotional and soulful medley, showcasing their strengths in funk, R&B, and choreographed movement.

Why it matters

The Tritones' advancement to the ICCA semifinals is a significant milestone for the 30-year-old a cappella group, as it marks their return to the national stage after over a decade. This achievement highlights the group's dedication, musical talent, and ability to connect with audiences through powerful performances that blend technical precision with raw emotion.

The details

The Tritones' set featured a medley of songs including 'No Peace' by Sam Smith and Yebba, 'LUCID DREAMS' by Leon Thomas and Masego, and 'The Magazine' by Zinadelphia. The group's choreography, directed by Lasya Gangadari, was designed to mirror the emotional depth of the music, with the ensemble often breaking into chaotic formations to reflect the anguish and vulnerability expressed by the soloists.

  • The Tritones began preparing for the ICCA competition in the summer of 2025, when the music directors chose the songs for their 10-minute set.
  • The group's quarterfinals competition was held at UC San Diego on February 7, 2026, where they earned second place and advanced to the semifinals.
  • The Tritones competed in the ICCA Southwest Semifinals at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts in April 2026.

The players

Tritones

UC San Diego's premier a cappella group, with a 30-year history and a focus on funk and R&B music.

Abigail-Monique Frondoza

Tritones' co-marketing chair and mezzo-soprano singer.

Jake Goldman

Tritones' music director.

Indeera Pujar

Tritones' music director.

Maya Bangalore

Tritones' music director.

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What they’re saying

“It is kind of a huge deal for us. The group itself … [has] been putting their blood, sweat, and tears into it, so advancing to the semifinals felt super rewarding.”

— Abigail-Monique Frondoza, Tritones' co-marketing chair and mezzo-soprano singer

“Seeing how the group responded and their ideas themselves were incorporated, so it was an ongoing process. We took a lot of time to be introspective and kind of connect to the songs, as individuals and as a group.”

— Lasya Gangadari, Tritones' performance director

“The experience of going to quarterfinals and feeling how visceral and cathartic that experience was, to be in front of a stage and be truly out there and show all aspects of yourself, was — it was insane.”

— Thomas Le, Tritones' co-marketing chair and baritone

“What we've been able to accomplish leading up to Arizona furthermore allowed us to understand what each song's message is, and put all of those feelings together for us to portray those certain emotions, which really made our entire set provide a 'storytelling' tone.”

— Seth Tambua, Tritones' soloist

“I think it's really beautiful how each and every one of us is able to be ourselves and express ourselves so unapologetically, and I think that ties into why our set itself is so vulnerable. I think that our music directors fully trusted that we were able to sit with our own personal connections with the heavy themes of the music and express that in a way that can connect with so many others, in a very human way.”

— Abigail-Monique Frondoza, Tritones' co-marketing chair and mezzo-soprano singer

What’s next

With the 2026 season behind them, the Tritones are now focused on preparations for their spring concert, future gigs, and possibly reentering into the ICCA next year.

The takeaway

The Tritones' historic advancement to the ICCA semifinals showcases the group's dedication, musical talent, and ability to connect with audiences through powerful performances that blend technical precision with raw emotion. This achievement marks a new competitive era for the 30-year-old a cappella group and highlights the vibrant a cappella community at UC San Diego.