MOUNT OLIVE, NC – Carolina Sound, the premier a cappella ensemble from the University of Mount Olive, earned a third-place finish at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) Finals. The competition was held on Saturday, April 25 at The Town Hall in New York City, just steps from Broadway.
The ICCA Finals brings together the top collegiate vocal groups from across the globe. Out of roughly 440 competing ensembles representing hundreds of universities, only ten advance to the final stage. Carolina Sound was one of them, competing on an international platform and finishing among the top three.
Carolina Sound arrived in New York not as a novelty, but as a contender. By the time the final notes faded, the group had done more than perform. They had introduced themselves on the international stage in a way that will be difficult to overlook.
Their path to New York City was decisive. A first-place finish at the South Semifinals, held at the Carolina Theatre, secured the region’s lone bid to finals. From there, the scale shifted quickly. Ten groups. A global stage. But for director Lester Rector, the defining moment came before the first note.
“The most important part for us was before we ever walked on stage,” he said. “We had a time of prayer together. We talked about our recurring theme of being in the right place, at the right time, with the right heart. Without the right heart, none of the rest of it matters.”
That perspective shaped everything that followed. Rector noted that the group’s set was built as a message, not just a medley, blending contemporary songs with gospel influences. It opened with Come Alive, encouraging individuals to step fully into who they are created to be. From there, Scars to Your Beautiful acknowledged personal struggles while pointing toward growth. Midway through, Kung-Fu Fighting shifted the tone, adding energy while reinforcing confidence and self-worth. The set closed with Goodness in My Life, bringing the performance together with a clear expression of faith and gratitude.
“We wanted to be inspirational,” Rector said. “We wanted to give people something that points them forward. Something that reminds them there’s purpose in where they are.”
That intention translated to the stage. Judges noted Carolina Sound’s professionalism across the board, reflecting not only vocal ability but composure and presence. “One of the things that stood out from the judges’ sheets was that every judge gave us the highest mark in professionalism,” Rector said. “That’s a testimony to how they carry themselves.”
There were moments of energy and surprise throughout the performance, but the most lasting impact came in personal interactions afterward. “A woman came up to me that night and said, ‘A lot of people sing gospel music, but when you sing it, I can tell it’s real,’” Rector said. “That’s what matters to us. That it’s genuine.”
Carolina Sound’s third-place finish placed them behind programs with years, and in some cases decades, of experience in the competition. Many competing groups operate with dedicated vocal and choreography coaches and extensive resources. “We’re not a choreography-heavy group, like a lot of the teams are,” Rector said. “That’s something we can continue to grow in, but we’re always going to protect the vocal. At the end of the day, it’s a singing competition.”
Even so, the group held its ground against seasoned competitors. “To place third with the schedule we keep, with everything else these students are involved in, it’s huge,” he said.
For many in the audience, the name “Mount Olive” was unfamiliar. By the end of the night, it was difficult to ignore. Carolina Sound’s performance challenged assumptions about what a small, rural university can produce on an international stage. It also reinforced the group’s role beyond competition. Unlike many ensembles that focus primarily on ICCA preparation, Carolina Sound maintains a demanding schedule of 50 to 60 performances each year, serving as both a performance group and a recruitment and outreach arm for the University.
That balance makes the result even more notable. Competing against programs that treat ICCA as their central focus, Carolina Sound managed touring, academic commitments, and other campus responsibilities while still reaching the top tier of the competition.
The third-place finish is not being viewed as a conclusion, but as a starting point. There is already discussion around refining choreography, expanding coaching resources, and building consistency for future appearances.
For a first appearance at finals, Carolina Sound did more than participate. They made an impression, one that signals staying power. In a competition built on precision and performance, Carolina Sound added something else to the conversation, showing not just how well a group can sing, but how clearly it can communicate who it is and what it believes, and resoundingly they believe that is being in the right place, at the right time with the right heart!
