Scroll for all information on individual region conferences.
ACDA COVID-19 Conference Guidance
In support of the choral profession and the return to in-person activities and performances, ACDA is providing the following guidance for all in-person conference activities coming this spring. Decisions regarding protocols will be based on the following three-tiered approach, in this priority:
A) CDC guidance: Current guidance states that all people, vaccinated and unvaccinated, should wear masks while in group settings and practice social distancing where possible. Conference attendees are advised that masks will be required in all public conference spaces.
B) State and city mandates: ACDA will honor the COVID-19 mandates of our host states and host cities. Conference attendees and performers are advised that there may be additional mandates in place in the localities where conferences are being held. Attendees and performers will be required to abide by these mandates.
C) Venue mandates: ACDA will honor the COVID-19 policies of our host venues. Conference attendees and performers are advised that there may be additional mandates in place for specific conference venues. These mandates could include required masking, proof of vaccination, and/or proof of negative COVID-19 tests prior to being admitted to the venue.
Additionally,
· ACDA strongly recommends that all attendees and participants are vaccinated prior to attending a conference.
· This guidance represents the minimum protocols to be followed. Additional protocols may be in place at the discretion of region presidents to meet the varied safety needs of the regions, including additional requirements for performing ensembles, rehearsals, and honor choir participation.
· The policies and guidelines of the CDC, states, cities, and venues continue to change. All attendees and participants should expect to continuously monitor this information in their regions in order to have the most accurate information as conference time approaches. This information will be available on your region website.
· Attendees and participants are expected to know and abide by the protocols currently in place at the time of the conference. You can find the most up-to-date information on your region website.
ACDA recognizes our membership may have varying degrees of agreement with the protocols that will be in place while at the conferences. ACDA cannot modify the mandates that may be in place and exemptions will not be possible. If you have any questions, please contact your region president for the most up-to-date information for your region.
By being transparent in our decision-making process and expectations for conference attendance and performance, we hope that members will know how to plan for conferences this year. More than ever, we need a safe space to convene and recharge together. These guidelines provide the safest way for us to gather to share our joy of music-making with each other, while we continue to battle the impact of COVID-19.
Region-specific COVID-19 Guidance
Eastern Region – Updated Jan. 6, 2022
January 6, 2022, Update
The City of Boston has instituted the B Together vaccination requirement https://www.boston.gov/departments/mayors-office/introducing-b-together: “Starting on January 15, 2022, individuals will be required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to enter certain indoor spaces in Boston.”
In alignment with the ACDA COVID-19 Conference Guidance adopted by the National Board in October, the Eastern Conference will abide by these requirements for the upcoming region conference, February 9-12. Attendees are required to abide by the following:
- The Boston B Together mandate requires that conference attendees and participants (performers, chaperones, accompanists, etc.) must be able to show that they have received AT LEAST one dose of vaccine in order to participate. We encourage all participants to be better protected and to better protect those around them by being fully vaccinated and, if possible, boosted. Honor Choir participants continue to be required to be fully vaccinated.
- You will need to present your proof of vaccination upon check-in at the conference in order to receive your badge. This badge will also serve as your proof of vaccination status for entering any of our conference venues (Old South Church, St. Cecilia’s, Boston Sheraton)
- Acceptable proof of vaccination could be any one of the following:
- CDC vaccination card
- a digital image of your CDC card
- an image or printout of any official immunization record
- a city-designated app containing a digital image of any official immunization record
- any COVID-19 verification app, like Clear Health Pass, Common Pass, Excelsior Pass, VaxYes, IATA Travel Pass, Key to NYC
Adults over 18 will also need a photo ID that matches the name on your vaccination card.
- Masks will continue to be required per current CDC guidance that all people wear masks while in public spaces.
No provisions have been provided by the City of Boston for exemptions or testing in lieu of full vaccination. At this time, all attendees MUST have at least one dose of vaccine to attend the conference. Testing will not be offered and will not suffice in lieu of a minimum of one dose of vaccine.
Midwestern Region – Updated Jan. 7, 2022
UPDATED: January 7, 2022
Effective January 3, 2022, The City of Chicago has issued new mandates to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. You can view the mandate here: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid19-vaccine/home/chi-vaccine-requirement.html
In alignment with the ACDA COVID Conference Guidance adopted by the National Board in October, which requires region conferences to be in compliance with state, city, and venue mandates, the Midwestern Region Conference for ACDA will require all attendees to be fully vaccinated or have a documented medical/religious exemption plus testing to attend the conference. Individuals who have a documented medical or religious exemption, must provide verification from a medical/religious official AND must present a negative test result from a COVID-19 test administered by a medical professional no more than 72 hours in advance of the conference. Continue reading for more specific information.
Until further notice, attendees are required to abide by the following:
- Conference attendees must be fully vaccinated to attend the conference or have a documented medical/religious exemption plus testing to attend the conference..
- Fully vaccinated means you have had your second dose of vaccine at least 14 days prior to the conference start.
- For medical or religious exemption, attendees must:
- Provide documentation from a medical or religious official stating that the attendee should be exempt AND
- Provide documentation of a COVID-19 test (PCR or Rapid) that is administered by a medical professional no more than 72 hours in advance of the conference. Home COVID-19 tests do not meet this standard.
- You will need to present your proof of vaccination or your medical/religious documentation and test results upon check-in at the conference in order to receive your badge.
- Physical, photo, or digital documentation will be accepted. For example, your physical vaccination card, a picture of your vaccination card, or a digital vaccination record will all be acceptable proof of vaccination. A printed letter, digital test results, PDF records will be acceptable proof for medical/religious exemptions and testing results
- Adults over 18 will also need a photo ID that matches the name on your vaccination card. Your information will not be collected or stored by the conference.
- Masks will continue to be required per current CDC guidance that all people wear masks while in public spaces.
Outside of what has been implemented above, the City of Chicago mandate does not provide any additional exemptions or testing in lieu of vaccination. It is the attendees sole responsibility to ensure that they can provide the required documentation, as listed above, for entry to the conference.
We recognize our membership may have varying degrees of agreement with these protocols. ACDA must be compliant with any mandates in our conference cities. By being transparent in our expectations for conference attendance, we hope that members will be able to make an informed decision about their participation at the conference.
Conference leaders will continue to monitor the situation and will provide additional updates as necessary.
Northwestern Region – Updated Nov. 29, 2021
ACDA Northwestern Region conference leadership has been notified that the Fox Theater in Spokane, Washington, will require proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours to enter the venue. In alignment with the ACDA COVID-19 Conference Guidance adopted by the National Board in October, the Northwestern ACDA Conference will abide by these requirements for the upcoming region conference, March 9-12, 2022. All attendees, presenters, staff, and performing choirs must observe the following guidelines:
- Conference attendees, presenters, staff, and performing choirs must be fully vaccinated or provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to attending the conference.
- Attendees, presenters, and staff will need to present your proof of vaccination or negative PCR test results upon check-in at the registration area in order to receive your badge.
- Acceptable forms of proof of vaccination include: (1) your physical vaccination card/PCR results, (2) a picture of your vaccination card/PCR results, or (3) a digital vaccination record/PCR results.
- Your medical information will not be collected or stored by the conference.
- Attendees who are ineligible for the vaccine must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to entering the theatre.
- “Fully vaccinated” means you have had your second vaccine dose at least 14 days prior to the conference start.
- Masks will continue to be required per current CDC guidance that all people, vaccinated or unvaccinated, wear masks while in public spaces.
Conference leaders will continue to monitor the situation and will provide additional updates as necessary.
Western Region – Updated Feb. 24, 2022
Feb. 24, 2022, Update
The ACDA mask mandate for Western Region conference will continue to be in place for the duration of the conference, even though Los Angeles County will lift the city-wide mandate on February 25. All attendees should continue to expect to wear a mask while indoors in all conference facilities and performing venues.
Jan. 5, 2022, Update
Per Los Angeles County and the City of Long Beach Health Department: For attendees who are not fully vaccinated, effective December 15, pre-entry testing must be performed within 24 hours for Antigen test or 48 hours for a PCR test, prior to first entry to the conference center. This is a change to the allowable time frame on testing, which previously was set at 72 hours in advance.
If you are fully vaccinated, there is no change from the guidance set forth previously. See below.
Nov. 15, 2021, Update
ACDA Western Region conference leadership has been notified that the Terrace Theatre will require proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test to enter the venue. In alignment with the ACDA COVID-19 Conference Guidance adopted by the National Board in October, the Western Conference will abide by these requirements for the upcoming region conference March 2-5, 2022. Attendees are expected to abide by the following:
- Conference attendees must be fully vaccinated or must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to attending the conference.
- You will need to present your proof of vaccination or negative PCR test results upon check-in at the conference in order to receive your badge.
- Your physical vaccination card/PCR results, a picture of your vaccination card/PCR results, or a digital vaccination record/PCR results will all be acceptable. Your information will not be collected or stored by the conference.
- Attendees who are ineligible for the vaccination must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to entering the theatre.
- “Fully vaccinated” means you have had your second vaccine dose at least 14 days prior to the conference start.
- Masks will continue to be required per current CDC guidance that all people, vaccinated or unvaccinated, wear masks while in public spaces.
Conference leaders will continue to monitor the situation and will provide additional updates as necessary.
