The American Choral Directors Association sponsors a number of awards and competitions throughout the year designed to celebrate the highest levels of achievement in various areas of the choral art. Specific deadlines are published in the Choral Journal and on ChoralNet.
Competitions Open!
Pearl Prize
A composition award to recognize works that rely on the beauty of musical idea and are accessible to volunteer choirs with limited rehearsal time. Deadline: Jan. 8, 2022.
ACDA Awards & Competitions
Julius Herford Dissertation Prize
2021 competition closed (deadline: June 15, 2021). The next competition will open in 2022.
Raymond W. Brock Memorial Commission
Established in 1991.
Raymond W. Brock Competition for Professional Composers
2020 competition closed (deadline: June 1, 2020). The next competition will open in 2022.
Raymond W. Brock Competition for Student Composers
2021 competition closed (deadline: June 1, 2021). The next competition will open in 2023.
Student Chapter Award
2021 application period closed (deadline: January 22, 2021). The next competition will open in 2022.
Student Conducting Masterclass
2021 masterclass application closed (deadline: December 1, 2020). The next competition will open in 2022.
Diverse Voices Collaborative Grant
A one-time award, made in 2019.
Genesis Prize: A Composer/Poet Response
A one-time award, made in 2020.
Robert Shaw Choral Award
2020 nomination period closed (deadline: August 31, 2020). The next nomination period will open in 2022.
ACDA National Conference-Related Awards & Competitions
Steven M. Demorest Award for Choral Research
Announced July 2019, the first award will be made at the 2021 National Conference to the highest scoring poster proposal as judged by the poster selection committee.
