American Choral Directors Association

The mission of ACDA is to inspire excellence and nurture lifelong involvement in choral music for everyone through education, performance, composition and advocacy.

Soprano-Alto Choir

“I Am a Musician!” Fostering a Child’s Musical Identity

The children who first experienced choral singing on Zoom five years ago fill the ranks of children’s choirs today. Kendra Kay Friar, Associate Conductor of Pacific Youth Choir and Oregon’s 2021 Outstanding Elementary Music Educator (OMEA), leads this interactive and celebratory session highlighting the educational needs of today’s youngest choristers. Children’s inability to access live […]

“Lessons from Renaissance Polyphony for our Contemporary Choral Toolkit”

The vital connection between the skills of singing Renaissance polyphony and the successful performance of contemporary choral music serves as the basis of this interest session. The Renaissance repertoire is the wellspring of our choral art. It provides all choral musicians, from beginners to professionals, the opportunity to develop, hone, and maintain the necessary skills […]

(re)sounding Joy: Shifting Paradigms for DEI Work in Choral Spaces

Utilizing trauma-informed and equity-centered approaches, this session addresses common DEI programming practices and pitfalls. Attendees will gain strategies for reframing or replacing potentially triggering or trauma-centered music through an examination of common choral practices that may be unintentionally traumatizing for singers. Additionally, we will explore current challenges and common shortcomings of DEI work in choral […]

2023 Spring Contemporary Commercial–Contemporary A Cappella Virtual Reading Session

A virtual reading session for Spring 2023 Permission to Dance Steve Mac, Jenna Andrews, Ed Sheeran & John McDaid arr. Bryan Sharpe 3-PT MIXED Don’t Start Now Dua Lipa, Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick & Emily Schwartz arr. Deke Sharon SATB Should’ve Been Us Tori Kelly arr. Rob Dietz SATB Over the Rainbow Harold Arlen arr. […]

2023 Spring Junior High/Middle School Virtual Reading Session

A virtual reading session for Spring 2023 Rest Not! Laura Farnell TB The Wellerman Nathan Evans arr. MaryAnne Muglia TBB Journey On Derrick Fox TTB Shepherd’s Spiritual, The Donald Moore TB Lacrimosa Menuet Christi Jones SATB We Are All The Stars Greg Gilpin SATB In the Bleak Midwinter Gustav Holst arr. Bernard Sexton 2 pt […]

Adolescent Voice Pedagogy: Guiding Singers Through the Voice Change

Working with singers during the voice change is one of the most daunting challenges of teaching adolescent-aged ensembles. The most important foundations of successfully guiding singers through this time lie in two categories which will be explored in this session: common vocal challenges and their physiological roots, and voicing and grouping ensembles for healthy pedagogical […]

American Roots: Pedagogical Approaches and Performance Practices of Negro Spirituals

There are comparable performance practices that exists in the singing of choral and solo art song spirituals that stylistically contextualize these timeless American songs of resistance. Approaches to performance pedagogy will be considered within the categories of the spiritual and discussions about: (1) text-dialect coupled with International Phonetic Alphabet; (2) ornamentation and embellishments; and (3) […]

At Any Level: Developing Comprehensive Music Literacy Skills

“At Any Level” is designed for directors across all settings within the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) in mind. This initiative is rooted in the belief that enhancing music literacy is fundamental to the success of any chorus or choir program. The session is crafted to arm directors with an arsenal of practical tools and […]

Beyond the Score: Exploring Colombian Cumbia in Choral Spaces

Recent efforts toward the expansion of the choral canon have led to an increase in the programming of musics outside of the Western European classical tradition. Despite their vocal nature, some of these musics did not emerge as choral forms, but have had modern choral adaptations throughout their historical transformations. As strides are made in […]

Brain Smart Rehearsals

Active – Engaging – Celebrating the Joy of Music Making This session will explore the benefits of being “brain-smart” in rehearsals and how we can use activity and novelty to bring out the very best in our rehearsals, our singers and ourselves. Directors will walk away with an INCREDIBLE resource including a toolbox of activities […]

Building a Better Voice Care Toolkit

Voice changes due to fatigue, overuse, aging, illness, and injury can be both physically and psychologically debilitating. A growing body of research suggests that individuals throughout the choral music profession will inevitably face moments where they must reckon with “a voice problem” which impacts themselves or someone they work with. Multiple studies have shown the […]

Celebrating Accessible Artistry: Repertoire and Practices for Open-Enrollment Collegiate Choirs

Programming concerts for beginning mixed-voice collegiate choirs can be a daunting task, especially with small ensembles, uneven voice part distributions, and a varied spectrum of familiarity with choral musicianship. How do we create an artistically meaningful and intellectually fulfilling experience for our young adult singers while also building foundational skills and vocal technique? Moreover, how […]

Championing Inclusive Choral Futures: Navigating Disability Perspectives

Do you read the IEPs of your students and feel lost on how to support them in a non-traditional classroom? Ever wondered how your special education department or office of disabilities operates? Are you curious about the resources they offer and how they can benefit your singers? Together, we have collaborated with our Office of […]

Choose Inspiring Sacred Choral Music for the Liturgical Year

“Informed by the Past, Committed to the Present, Preparing for the Future” describes a session presented by the Church Music Institute that will journey through the history of sacred choral music to highlight significant events from early music through the latest sacred music. The session will address these questions: (1) What can we learn from […]

Choral Pioneers: A Conversation with Charlene Archibeque and André Thomas

This diverse panel session, moderated by Gregory Gentry, is designed to convey the wisdom and past experiences of a group of noted choral conductor/educators. We will have an in-person discussion with renowned choral pioneers Charlene Archibeque and André Thomas—a discussion that is intended to be educational to the ACDA membership at large—interwoven with impactful quotes […]

Collaborative Arranging for Contemporary Choirs

Choral singers have long been trained to read written music accurately and carefully. What happens when we flip this modality over and create full and complete choral arrangements aurally? This class will show how to successfully use a collaborative model to select music, guide an arrangement process and ultimately tailor a musical piece to fit […]

Connect and Co-Create: Engaging Singer-Led Artistry with Young Singers

This interactive repertoire session responds to the challenge of co-creating artistry with elementary singers while managing behaviors, accomplishing goals, and building community. The presenters of this session will offer a values-based framework that harnesses the creativity of young singers and their artistic agency in the rehearsal process. Through engaging directly with repertoire, this interactive, responsive, […]

Decolonizing Choral Music of the Philippines

Despite a robust culture of choral music, Filipino musical perspectives are nearly invisible in U.S. curricula. Much of this invisibility is rooted in our oppressive colonial history which has led to pervasive self-denigration and perceived inferiority (Brown, 2008; Halagoa, 2010). Despite being the third-largest Asian subcategory (Budiman & Ruiz, 2021), the Filipino identity and their […]

Developing Embodied Sound: Enhancing Rehearsal and Performance through Movement

Incorporating movement into the choral rehearsal and performance can feel daunting and uninspired. This session will focus on how to organically incorporate movement into rehearsals and performances to enhance, expedite, and ignite musical ownership in your singers. The session will open with an interactive choral warm up that integrates movement to develop and cultivate a […]

Every Student Matters: Crafting Inclusive Spaces for LGBTQIA+ Students

Fostering inclusivity is crucial in today’s diverse educational landscape. This session aims to empower music educators with strategies for creating welcoming and supportive environments for LGBTQIA+ students. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by this community, we will explore proactive approaches to ensure all students feel valued and respected in music classrooms. Participants will delve into […]

Exploring the Negro Spiritual arrangements and anthems of Lela Anderson

The origins of American music can be traced back to the early religious folk songs sung by enslaved Africans upon arriving to North America in 1619. The concertized arrangements of these folk songs/Negro spirituals emerged in the 1900s with adaptations by Harry Burleigh. Many composers today have drawn inspiration from the early Negro spirituals by […]

Getting comfortable being uncomfortable about race in choral music

Considering the current socio-political climate, the rise in violence against Asian and Asian-American communities, and a reignited Black Lives Matter movement, and the current rash of “anti-woke” legislation, we as choral conductor-teachers are faced with some uncomfortable truths about choral music. We as artist citizens can learn about these truths and leverage coalitions to dismantle […]

Good Treble: The Case and Place for Treble Choirs

In the realm of choral music, the hierarchy of different ensemble types has long been a topic of discussion and contention, especially when analyzing the intricate interplay between treble, mixed, and tenor-bass choirs. In this presentation, we aim to uncover historical biases related to treble choirs, acknowledge both the growth and challenges remaining in contemporary […]

Great Stuff I Never Learned (Or Forgot) In Choral Methods

Central to the celebration of the Choral Art: Past, Present, and Future is the professional training of experienced and emerging choral conductors and educators who change students’ lives every day through music. Great teaching inspires great music making. This interactive session will explore many of the topics that are taught in a college choral methods […]

Help! I have to teach a jazz choir!

This session will address basics of vocal jazz pedagogy with a slightly different-than-usual emphasis: What do I need to “un-learn”, leave behind, or modify when I go from teaching choir to teaching jazz choir? Choral educators are well-trained to teach choir, but not necessarily jazz choir. As we gain choral experience, we develop tried-and-true, cherished […]

In Her Voice: Spotlighting Female Choral Composers

In 2022, a number of conversations among several choral conductors led to the idea that our profession was past due for a publication focused specifically on female choral composers. Many of the existing materials on female composers highlight gender rather than the media for which they compose, and many such materials include primarily instrumental composers. […]

Integrating Aural Theory in the Choral Rehearsal

This interactive session is designed to support music literacy and promote independent learning through the integration of aural skill development in the choral rehearsal. We will examine trends and address common issues related to sight singing, including instructional strategies, use of time, assessment, financial considerations, student engagement, and the importance of selecting quality choral literature […]

Learning by Trial and Many Errors: Early Career Teaching

The earliest years of our teaching careers are often the most difficult. As young teachers, we may have great ideas, but can struggle to put all of them into successful practice. We often have dreams and ideas of how we’re going to craft the ideal program but suddenly it’s the first day of school and […]

Mass of the Americas – New Directions in Sacred Music

Frank La Rocca’s 2019 Mass of the Americas has been described as “The best piece of liturgical music for the Mass since Duruflé” (Dr. Michael Linton) and “Perhaps the most significant Catholic composition of our lifetime” (Michael Olbash, Music Director of Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary). Scored for SATB choir, organ, strings, guitar, marimba, […]

More than Surviving: Collegiate Stress, Burnout, and Musicianship

This session focuses on the collegiate experience of stress, burnout, and musicianship. Through smartphone-enabled full group brainstorms and small group break out sessions, participants will actively engage in applying presented research to their lived experiences as college musicians. The goals of the session are to: identify the ways stress and performance anxiety impacts the body; […]

Multigenerational Choral Excellence: Lead, Empower, Achieve

The volunteer singer brings a unique enthusiasm to succeed beyond what they believe they are capable of. With effective leadership through empathy and empowerment, the choral director can provide tools and strategies to improve what singers bring to the ensemble. By empowering their members, directors can attract and retain youthful singers while enriching aged singers […]

Nosotres Existimos: Mexican Choral Repertoire and Resources

1) Thesis: The goal of Nosotres Existimos: Mexican Choral Repertoire and Resources, is inclusion and belonging; by connecting choral conductors to Mexican repertoire and resources to include in their programming, they will demonstrate belonging for their students and community. 2) Description: Mexican choral music, despite its rich history, is largely absent in our choral community. […]

R&R Deep Dive: Children & Community Youth: Repertoire for C&CY You Don’t Want to Miss!

From 2023 National Conference Our deep dive will feature four exceptional selections aimed at different levels of ability and maturity from beginning to advanced singers. The FoxBlake Richter & Taylor ShaefferWalton Music StardustB.E. BoykinGraphite Publishing Clap PraiseDiane L. White-ClaytonHal Leonard You Can FlyBrandon WilliamsMusicSpoke

R&R Deep Dive: Community Choirs

From 2023 National Conference This repertoire-focused session will provide historical, theoretical, and performance practice guidance for 5 to 6 titles from the Community Choirs Virtual Reading Session. We will discuss the most efficient ways to introduce and teach each selection, identify likely “trouble” spots, and share strategic tools to address those moments efficiently and effectively. […]

R&R Deep Dive: Contemporary Commercial–Contemporary A Cappella & Show Choir

From 2023 National Conference We are excited to “Deep Dive” into some amazing pieces that could serve your a cappella group, choir, show choir, or showcase your singers in new and exciting ways! These pieces are out of the “norm” for show choirs and bring a new take on contemporary a cappella! Es Tu TiempoFrancisco […]

R&R Deep Dive: Junior High/Middle School: Dive into the Middle

From 2023 National Conference “Dive into the middle” with Clinton Hardy as he explores four pieces of upper middle school/junior high literature. He will teach you how he has taught these pieces in the past and give you some of his insights on how to teach complex music to middle school students. We often think, […]

R&R Deep Dive: Men’s/TTBB Choirs

From 2023 National Conference Come take a “deeper dive” into selected titles featured on the Tenor-Bass/Men’s virtual reading session. We will hear from some of the composers of these pieces and explore practical rehearsal strategies for working with tenor-bass voices at all levels. Alle, AlleluiaBruce W. TippetteExcelcia Music Publishing For My BrotherAndrea RamseyMusicSpoke Hold Out […]

R&R Deep Dive: Music in Worship

From 2023 National Conference Composers B. E. Boykin and Wendell Glick will offer insights into their compositional process and musical traditions. Dormi Jesu KP0015 MSBB01B.E. BoykinKlavia Press John 3:16 KP0014 MSBB01B.E. BoykinKlavia Press Holy Lord WS001R MSWG05Wendell David GlickSelf Published If Anyone Would Follow Me WS002R MSWG05 Wendell David GlickSelf Published

R&R Deep Dive: Senior High

From 2023 National Conference This Deep Dive will take an in-depth look at four accessible selections that can be used to build tone, technique, musicianship, and artistry with your high school ensemble. Enjoy in-depth strategies for building community, engaging your students, and for getting the most out of the music you select. Measure Me, Sky!Jonathan […]

R&R Deep Dive: Vocal Jazz: The 7 Virtues: Seven details selecting a vocal jazz chart

From 2023 National Conference This Deep Dive section will explore seven details to look for when choosing a vocal jazz chart for your small or larger choral ensemble. Especially for choral directors new to jazz music, this session will provide some ideas about selecting charts appropriate for a school ensemble at any level. The session […]

R&R Deep Dive: Women’s/SSAA Choirs: Breaking the Mold

From 2023 National Conference This session takes a deeper look into literature for SSAA choirs that empowers singers and ensembles in different ways. Participants will explore four diverse pieces of music in depth, gaining insight into composer intent, rehearsal strategy, performance practice, and cultural understanding. No Fairy Tale HereZanaid Steward RoblesMusicSpoke I’m On My WayAnthony […]

R&R Deep Dive: World Musics and Culture: Love, Lyricism and Humor in World Music

From 2023 National Conference If you have always wanted to include Slavic or Asian music in your concerts but never felt confident, this hands-on session is for you! We will sing and explore the universal theme of love, expressed with humor and lyricism, through the lens of Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, and Korean languages and folk […]

Recruiting and Retaining Singers: Building the Present, Planning the Future

As choral directors, we are always exploring ways to recruit and retain singers in school choral ensembles. When growing choral program in all settings, it is helpful to consider the following three opportunities: 1) exploring and/or modifying program structure in order to meet the needs of the community/school; 2) identifying and connecting with prospective singers; […]

Setting the Tone: Voice Placement for Choirs

Topic: This session explores the process of individual and group voice placement to improve the tone quality of choirs while allowing for singers to perform with their most natural and healthy vocal technique. We will explore the individual voice part assignment process, outline the considerations for voice placement within a choral section, and experiment with […]

Shaping the Sound: Attaining Authenticity in your Jazz Vocal Ensemble

Shaping the Sound: Attaining Authenticity in your Jazz Vocal Ensemble Why doesn’t my choir sound like other groups? You love the Jazz and contemporary sound, however, find it challenging to articulate swing, improvisation, and the blues, as well as obtain that “authentic” commercial sound in a healthy and productive manner. In Vijay Singh’s article “Advocacy […]

Shattering Barriers: Empowering Women of Color in Choral Leadership

Have you ever wondered why there is a lack of representation of women conductors of color in leadership roles within the choral community? Have you ever observed any patterns or trends that contribute to invisibility of women conductors of color in different choral organizations or institutions? Join us for an empowering session dedicated to amplifying […]

Shelter Me: Sharing Stories of Our Unhoused Neighbors Through Music

This session features singers from the Dallas Street Choir, UT Dallas, and the Credo Community Choir, led by conductor Jonathan Palant with composer Jacob Ryan Smith. Together, we will explore how the transformative power of communal singing fosters connection for our unhoused neighbors. (Re)discover how music cultivates empathy, understanding, and drives social change. Hear selections from […]

Spirituals: A Conversation with Alice Parker and André Thomas

This session (Friday at 1:30, repeated at 5:00) premiers a new video featuring Alice Parker and André Thomas. Hearing these two giants of our profession philosophize about spirituals is a joy and a revelation. Both believe passionately that spirituals belong to everyone as a unique “avenue of soul expression.” In this conversation, they discuss origins, […]

Spring 2023 Children & Community Youth Choirs Virtual Reading Session

A virtual reading session for Spring 2023 Music of Life B.E. Boykin SSA Tyger Elaine Hagenberg SA All Day Blues Natalie Wilson arr. Dustin Hunley 2-PT MIXED Jamjari Kkongkkong Minhee Kim arr. Minhee Kim SSA Ikan Kekek Yu Hang Tan SSA,SSAA,SA TaReKiTa Reena Esmail SSAA Hanerot Halalu Sarah Riskind SSA Kuumba Zanaida Robles UNIS/2-PT Ave […]

Spring 2023 College & University Choirs Virtual Reading Session

A virtual reading session for Spring 2023 Cliff Notes Carol Barnett SATB Round Me Falls the Night Annabel McLauchlan Rooney SATB Snow is Silent Jenny Mahler SATB Look Out Above Dessa & Jocelyn Hagen SATB De Profundis Cristian Grases SATB Winter Breviary, A Reena Esmail SATB Lux Brumalis Nathaniel Adams SATB Ego sum panis vivus […]

Spring 2023 Community Choirs Virtual Reading Session

A virtual reading session for Spring 2023 Agnus Dei Hyun Kook SSATB Canto que Amabas Z. Randall Stroope SSATBB, SATB Ex Sion Species Johann Michael Haydn arr. Martin Banner SATB Gaudeamus Hodie Victor C. Johnson SATB Laus Trinitati Faith Zimmer SATB Lightless Luster Robert Schumann arr. William J. Bullock SATB O Sacrum Convivium Giorgio Susana […]

Spring 2023 Men’s/TTBB Virtual Reading Session

A virtual reading session for Spring 2023 For My Brother Andrea Ramsey TTBB Alle, Alleluia Bruce W. Tippette TBB Gloria in Excelsis from LUX: The Dawn From On High Dan Forrest TTBB Exultate David C. Dickau TTBB Lake Isle of Innisfree Eleanor Daley TTB Arirang Hyo-Won Woo TTBB Sha! Shtil! Ian Assersohn TTBB Winter Ride, […]

Spring 2023 Music in Worship Virtual Reading Session

A virtual reading session for Spring 2023 Examine Me Cedric Dent SATB O Sacrum Convivium Giorgio Susana arr. Z. Randall Stroope SATB Let All the World Stan Pethel SATB Faith of Our Mothers Sally Ann Morris SATB I Would Be True Undine Smith Moore SATB Under the Stars, One Holy Night Jocelyn Hagen SSA,UNISON Draw […]

Spring 2023 Senior High Choirs Virtual Reading Session

A virtual reading session for Spring 2023 Shout for Joy! David Paul Henry SATB I Am Not Yours Bruce W. Tippette SATB; SSAA; TTBB Moon Flight Daniel Brinsmead SSA Arrow Jocelyn Hagen TBB Sing Out, My Soul! Marques L. A. Garrett SATB Spark of Light Andrew Steffen SAB Hentaken Jiwa Ken Steven SATB Always Keep […]

Spring 2023 Vocal Jazz Virtual Reading Session

A virtual reading session for Spring 2023 Gloria from Missa Lucis Justin Binek SATB Satellite Laila Biali arr. Julia Dollison SSATB Orange and Blue Sarah Jarosz arr. David von Kampen SATB Wish You With Me Peter Eldridge SSATB I Used to Know You Tim Buchholz arr. Jeremy Landig SATB Till There Was You (from The […]

Spring 2023 Women’s/SSAA Choirs Virtual Reading Session

A virtual reading session for Spring 2023 They May Tell You Andrea Ramsey SSAA By Night Elaine Hagenberg SSAA Aia la ‘o Pele i Hawai’i Jace Kaholokulu Saplan SSAA Sun Never Says, The Dan Forrest SSAA She Lingers On Zanaida Robles SSA We Remember Them Susan LaBarr SSAA Fecit Potentiam Nicola Porpora arr. Kristina MacMullen […]

Spring 2023 World Musics and Cultures Virtual Reading Session

A virtual reading session for Spring 2023 Download the Video Companion Guide Nguoi O Dung Ve Brent Wells SATB,SSAATTBB Shumayela arr. Charlotte Botha SSAA Tek Kapidan arr. Ertugrul Bayraktar SATB Jesu Weja arr. Eslon Hindundu SATB Ai Dievini arr. Ethan Sperry SATB Aia la ‘o Pele i Hawai’i Jace Kaholokulu Saplan SSAA Turlutte acadienne montrealise […]

Switching It Up: Thoughtful Creativity in Music Ministry

This interest session explores frameworks for fostering intentional creativity in music ministry that both speaks to and expands the congregation’s sense of their collective musical identity. These ideas encourage church musicians to embrace their congregation’s traditions while prompting them to consider in what ways those traditions can be celebrated and supplemented. While many music professionals […]

The Future of Choral Music: Performance, Literacy, and Pedagogy

American choral singing experienced a century of tremendous growth in participation and excellence all across the country. School and community programs grew dramatically between 1900-2000, and college/university programs created multiple music degrees. A benefit from having choral singers who learned performance excellence was that K-12 through university programs continuously increased in enrollment and participation. As […]

The Score Study and Rehearsal Techniques of Margaret Hillis

This session will explore the choral methods of Margaret Hillis, the founder and first director of the award-winning Chicago Symphony Chorus. Margaret Hillis’s aspiration, from a young age, was to become an orchestral conductor. Her early years were steeped in studying, playing, and listening to orchestral music. Upon graduating Indiana University, she planned to pursue […]

Together We Sing: Celebrating the Power of the Treble Chorus

In the choral worlds, focus is frequently on mixed choruses, and the treble chorus is often overlooked when it comes to special opportunities, programming exciting repertoire, and status within a choral program. As conductors, it’s our responsibility to cultivate distinct identities and nurturing environments for each ensemble within our program, ensuring they feel valued and […]

Voices from the Light: Reviving a Masterwork for Treble Voices

In 1997, the Girls Choir of Harlem premiered “Voices from the Light,” composed by African-American composer Dorothy Rudd Moore. As was common with many pieces by persons of color, it remained largely unknown for many years. Following the piece’s premiere at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on November 23 of that year, the piece […]

Voices Unleashed: Empowering Students in Contemporary A Cappella

Join us for a hands-on workshop designed to equip choral directors with the skills and knowledge to guide students in expressing themselves through contemporary a cappella. Using members of a five-person professional a cappella group to demonstrate, participants will gain the tools necessary to teach students how to independently handle every aspect of a cappella […]

Why Social Media is Vital for Choir

Drawing from experience managing the social media presence of the UH choral department and a high school choral program, this presentation emphasizes the importance of an active and engaging online presence for choral programs. It aims to provide practical insights into utilizing social media effectively and gives tips and tricks on how to actually get […]

You Are the Voice Teacher: Teaching Technique in Choral Singing

“Blend. Drop your jaw. Straight tone. Darker.” Most people have likely heard one of these phrases before in a choir, but do these ideas really help inexperienced singers? Due to the nature of the voice, it is the most abstract instrument. What terminology can we use to give clarity to singers that connects them in […]

گلهای پنهان (Golhā-ye panhān) “Hidden Flowers” – Persian Choral Music

While vocal music has a centuries long history in Iran, choral music is a very recent section of the Iranian musical landscape and cultural imagination. The first Western-style group singing ensemble traces its roots to 1946, when the first Persian choir was established at the High Music Conservatory in Iran by Iranian-Armenian composer, conductor, and […]