Double the Harmony: Rockwall’s A Cappella Powerhouses Return to Nationals

ROCKWALL/HEATH, TX (April 22, 2025) Well, they’ve done it again.  Rockwall High School’s “Walk the Line” and Rockwall-Heath High School’s “Infiniti” are headed back to ICHSA Nationals in New York City.

Have you ever watched the “Pitch Perfect” movies? The International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) is the real-life high school level of the competition that was featured and is filled with the same up-tempo music, the same choreography, and the same excitement that made the movies a blockbuster hit.  Schools from across the nation start competing at seven regional levels at the beginning of the year.  From those over 4000 performers, nine teams rise up the ranks to compete in the national finals.

And for the second year in a row, TWO of those nine elite teams hail from Rockwall County, the smallest geographic county in Texas.

“It’s honestly quite extraordinary,” said Kenda Culpepper, the Rockwall County District Attorney and mother of a Walk the Line team member.  “The kids on both teams are hardworking and driven to succeed.  And they have outstanding directors who push them to be their best.”

“But there’s also a great chemistry and synergy with these groups,“ she added.  “They honestly push each other to be better.”

Both teams competed in the Southwest Regional quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.  In what many have called the toughest Southwest Regional semi-final competition yet, Rockwall High School’s Walk the Line seized first place and RHHS’s Infiniti placed second last month.  And while Walk the Line’s first place trophy got them an automatic bid to nationals, Infiniti was able to later secure a national wild card spot.  Last year, the roles were reversed, but both schools still placed in the top four in the nation.

The groups are under the direction of Walk the Line directors Leia Browning and Donny Behne and Infiniti directors Lauren Smith and Patrick Vu.

“It’s amazing to have even one group advance to this level of competition but to have two from the same school district in the smallest county in Texas is simply out of this world!  These kids are among the best of the best,” said Benjamin Sumrak, the Director of Fine Arts for Rockwall ISD.  “And they have a healthy rivalry.  But they are also friends and support each other outside of a cappella.   Many are also in other extracurricular activities together, and they watch each other’s shows and games.  They are really great and talented kids.”

The two groups will compete at The Town Hall Theater on Broadway in the heart of the New York City Theater District on Friday, April 25th.

“Going to Nationals is a lifetime bucket list achievement, and these kids are now headed to do it for the second time in two years,” said Browning.  “We’re so excited to take this trip together again and cheer each other on as we try and bring home a National Championship to Rockwall!”

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