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.

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Outstanding ACDA Student Chapter Award

The submission period for 2022 awards has closed.

Deadline: Jan. 13, 2023, 5 p.m. Central

The Outstanding Student Chapter Award was established by the American Choral Directors Association in 1978 as a means for recognizing an ACDA student chapter which, through its activities, best supports the advancement of choral music. The award consists of a plaque that becomes the permanent property of the winning chapter and two awards: $250 to the student chapter and a complimentary national conference registration for an officer or designated representative of the chapter to attend the national conference and receive the award for the chapter.

Anyone may nominate an ACDA student chapter for this honor. Incomplete nominations will not be considered. Please include the following documentation:

  1. A description of chapter activities for the last two years which relates to the criteria below.
  2. Other supporting materials such as programs, newsletters, articles, etc.
  3. Letters of support for the nomination from the administrative chair and the chapter adviser.
  4. The number of chapter members and the total number of music majors within your department or school of music.

The selection will be made by a committee consisting of the national R&R Collegiate Choirs Coordinator, College and University Choirs Chair, and the Student Activities Chairs using the following criteria (not necessarily in order of importance):

  1. Level of impact on the professional development of its chapter members.
  2. Level of impact on the local/state/regional choral community in which the chapter resides.
  3. Innovative and engaging offerings presented by the chapter.

Previous Winners

2021
University of Southern California chapter, Cristian Grases, advisor
ChoralNet announcement
Honorable mentions awarded to the Ithaca College and Indiana University chapters.

2019
Ithaca College chapter, Janet Galvan, advisor
ChoralNet announcement

2017
Northern Arizona University chapter, Ryan Holder, advisor
ChoralNet announcement

2015
Ithaca College chapter, Janet Galvan, advisor