What's happening: In the midst of Hollywood's glittering awards season, Ramsey High School’s a cappella program has quietly made history on a different stage. Their album "Unchained" has received multiple nominations for the prestigious Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs), including a rare crossover nomination that places our high school performers alongside Grammy-winning professionals.
Top talent: CASA recently announced their nominations, with "Unchained" earning recognition in several categories:
🎙 Best Professional Arrangement for a High School Group ("If I'm Honest" by Katherine Bodor)
🎙 Best High School Song ("Herald")
🎙 Best High School Album ("Unchained")
In addition, “Unchained” was nominated for Best Pop Album—a category not limited to scholastic entries. This places our singers in competition with one specialized recording-focused high school group, four collegiate ensembles (including an ICCA National Champion), and The Swingles, a professional group with five Grammy Awards to their credit.
Why it matters: With results due in April, this nomination represents a significant achievement in the a cappella community. Research reveals that in the past decade, only four high school groups have ever been nominated in the Best Pop Album category, placing our performers in elite company.
One fun thing: The Ram Jams recently performed with Mr. Wolf at the New Jersey Music Educators Conference, showcasing contemporary a cappella to music teachers from across the state. 💫
