ACDA student chapters are active on dozens of campuses nationwide, and even in a few high schools and conservatories. Are you interested?
Is there an existing chapter? First look to see if the chapter at your school is active. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a list of active student chapters. If your school is listed, check with the faculty advisor to find out when meetings are!
Was there once a chapter that you can reactivate? If you don’t see your school listed as having a chapter, contact us () to see if there ever was one. If yes, you can easily reactivate the chapter by submitting a Reactivation Form.
Establish a chapter! If there is not and has not ever been, a student chapter at your institution, it’s a straightforward process to establish one. We offer you a variety of resources and suggestions:
If you want to establish a brand new student chapter, once you lay the groundwork on campus, please submit:
- Completed application form (click here)
- Copy of your student chapter constitution
We require that your chapter adviser be a current ACDA member, as well as your student chapter president. Of course, we encourage all of the student chapter members to be ACDA members; and with student memberships only $15, it’s a deal!
Kudos!
Outstanding Student Chapter. University of Southern California (Dr. Cristian Grases, faculty advisor) was recently named the 2021 Outstanding Student Chapter.
The Outstanding Student Chapter Award recognizes an ACDA student chapter that, through its activities, best supports the advancement of choral music. Dr. David Edmonds, then ACDA Student Activities Chair, noted that “The USC chapter stood out in many ways, including how they have championed diversity and social justice by supporting and raising money for many local movements, in the valuable presentations and collaborations they hosted to enrich their student members, and in the wonderful opportunities — including their Choral Collective Choir — which they have provided to their campus community in order to prepare future teachers for their careers ahead.”
Do you Lead an Active Chapter?
- Share news about your chapter! We want to highlight your success. Send us photos of your group to () so we can feature you on our Instagram Highlights (@acda_nation)! Additionally, Choral Journal regularly includes “Student Chapter Updates.” Email news updates and photos to . (Updates should be 250 words or fewer and include your institution’s name and your contact information.)
- Planning chapter activities? Successful ACDA chapters tend to use the following guidelines in planning their year:
- Create and sponsor activities that give your members in conducting training and development opportunities.
- Encourage and stimulate student membership and involvement in ACDA activities at the state, region, and national levels.
- Fundraising for your members’ conference travel and registration, or for important local causes.
- Plan activities that involve your chapter in campus life.
- Looking for new ideas? Chapter activities can include activities like the following:
- Student symposia and workshops
- Conducting masterclasses
- Student composition workshops with student conductors leading
- Reading sessions
- Activities and sessions at ACDA conferences that directly relate to the training and experience of student choral musicians
For additional information and ideas for student chapters, please email Ryan Beeken, Student Activities co-chair for chapter development.
Active Student Chapters
Arizona State University (AZ). Advisor: David Schildkret ().
Appalachian State University (NC). Advisor: Meg Stohlmann ().
Arkansas Tech University (AR). Advisor: Christopher Harris ().
Augustana College (IL). Advisor: Jon Hurty ().
Azusa Pacific University (CA). Advisor: John Sutton ().
Baldwin-Wallace University (OH). Advisor: Jami Lercher ().
Ball State University (IN). Advisor: Kerry Glann ().
Baylor University, ACDA Student Chapter at (TX). Advisor: Lynne Gackle ().
Belmont University (TN). Advisor: Lesley Mann ().
Bemidji State University (MN). Advisor: Dwight Jilek ().
Berea College (KY). Advisor: Stephen Bolster ().
Biola University (CA). Advisor: Shawna Stewart ().
Bob Jones University (SC).
Bowling Green State University (OH). Advisor: Richard Schnipke ().
Brigham Young University-Provo (UT). Advisor: Brent Wells ().
California State University-East Bay (CA). Advisor: Buddy James ().
California State University-Fresno (CA). Advisor: Cari Earnhart ().
California State University-Fullerton (CA). Advisor: Christopher Peterson ().
California State University-Long Beach (CA). Advisor: Jonathan Talberg ().
California State University-Stanislaus (CA). Advisor: Daniel Afonso ().
Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley (CA). Advisor: Elena Sharkova ().
Capital University (OH). Advisor: Laura Kitchel ().
Castleton University (VT). Advisor: Sherrill Blodget ().
Catholic University of America (DC). Advisor: Sharyn Battersby ().
Central Connecticut State University (CT). Advisor: ().
Central Washington University (WA). Advisor: Gary Weidenaar ().
College of Idaho, The (ID). Advisor: Sam Spears ().
Colorado Mesa University (CO). Advisor: Adam Klunck ().
Concordia College (MN). Advisor: Michael Culloton ().
Corban University (OR). Advisor: Eric Foley ().
Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam (NY). Advisor: Jeffery Francom ().
DePaul University (IL). Advisor: Eric Esparza ().
Drake University (IA). Advisor: Eric Barnum ().
Duquesne University (PA). Advisor: Caron Daley ().
East Carolina University (NC). Advisor: James Franklin ().
East Tennessee State University (TN). Advisor: Alan Stevens ().
Eastern Kentucky University (KY). Advisor: Richard Waters ().
Eastern Michigan University (MI). Advisor: Brandon Johnson ().
Eastern New Mexico University (NM). Advisor: Jason Paulk ().
Eastman School of Music (NY). Advisor: William Weinert ().
Florida Gulf Coast University (FL). Advisor: Trent Brown ().
Florida State University (FL). Advisor: Kevin Fenton ().
Friends University (KS).
George Mason University (VA). Advisor: Lisa Billingham ().
Georgia Southern University (GA). Advisor: Shannon Jeffreys ().
Georgia State University (GA). Advisor: Deanna Joseph ().
Gonzaga University (WA). Advisor: TImothy Westerhaus ().
Grand Rapids Community College (MI). Advisor: Caleb Wenzel ().
Grand Valley State University (MI). Advisor: Kody Wallace ().
Gustavus Adolphus College (MN). Advisor: Brandon Dean ().
Harding University (AR). Advisor: Cliff Ganus III ().
Hofstra University (NY). Advisor: David Fryling ().
Illinois State University (IL). Advisor: Karyl Carlson ().
Illinois Wesleyan University (IL). Advisor: J.Scott Ferguson ().
Indiana University – Bloomington (IN). Advisor: Chris Albanese ().
Ithaca College (NY). Advisor: Sean Linfors ().
Jacksonville State University (AL). Advisor: Eliezer Yanson ().
Kansas State University (KS). Advisor: Julie Yu ().
Keene State College (NH). Advisor: Sandra Howard ().
Lawrence University Conservatory of Music (WI). Advisor: Stephen Sieck ().
Lee University (TN). Advisor: Cameron Weatherford ().
Lipscomb University (TN). Advisor: Gary P. Wilson ().
Longwood University (VA). Advisor: Pamela McDermott ().
Loyola Marymount University (CA). Advisor: T. J. Harper ().
Lynchburg College (VA). Advisor: Jong Kim ().
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania (PA). Advisor: Peggy Dettwiler ().
Marietta College (OH). Advisor: Jay Doughtery ().
McGill University — Schulich School of Music (QC). Advisor: Jean-Sébastien Vallée ().
Meredith College (NC). Advisor: Shannon Gravelle ().
Messiah College (PA). Advisor: Joy Meade ().
Michigan State University (MI). Advisor: Sandra Snow ().
Middle Tennessee State University (TN). Advisor: Jamila McWhirter ().
Millersville University (PA). Advisor: Jeffrey Gemmell ().
Mississippi State University (MS). Advisor: Gary Packwood ().
Missouri Baptist University (MO). Advisor: Jordan Cox ().
Montclair State University (NJ). Advisor: Heather Buchanan ().
Morehead State University (KY). Advisor: Greg Detweiler ().
Nazareth College (NY). Advisor: Brian Stevens ().
Nebraska Wesleyan University (NE). Advisor: Boyd Bacon ().
North Dakota State University (ND). Advisor: Jo Ann Miller ().
Northern Arizona University (AZ). Advisor: Ryan Holder ().
Northern Michigan University (MI). Advisor: Erin Colwitz ().
Northern Vermont University – Johnson (VT). Advisor: Bethany Plissey ().
Northwest Missouri State University (MO). Advisor: Brian Lanier ().
Ohio University (OH). Advisor: Bradley Naylor ().
Oregon State University (OR). Advisor: Steven Zielke ().
Pacific Lutheran University (WA). Advisor: Brian Galante ().
Pennsbury High School (PA). Advisor: David Reimschussel ().
Pennsylvania State University (PA). Advisor: Christopher Kiver ().
Plymouth State University (NH). Advisor: Harmony Markey ().
Providence College (RI).
Radford University (VA). Advisor: Meredith Bowen ().
Reinhardt University (GA). Advisor: Melissa Arasi ().
Rowan University (NJ). Advisor: Christopher Thomas ().
Rutgers University (NJ). Advisor: Brandon Williams ().
San Jose State University (CA). Advisor: Jeffrey Benson ().
Shorter University (GA). Advisor: Aaron Rice ().
South Dakota State University (SD). Advisor: Andrew Robinette ().
Southeast Missouri State University (MO). Advisor: Barbara Lamont ().
Southern Utah University (UT). Advisor: Krystal McCoy ().
Southwestern University (TX). Advisor: Beth Everett ().
State University of New York at Fredonia (NY). Advisor: Adam Luebke ().
Stetson University (FL). Advisor: Sandra Peter ().
Syracuse University (NY). Advisor: John Warren ().
Temple University (PA). Advisor: Mitos Andaya Hart ().
Tennessee State University (TN). Advisor: Marques Ruff ().
Tennessee Tech University (TN). Advisor: Craig Zamer ().
Texas A&M University-Commerce (TX). Advisor: Rnadall Hooper ().
Texas State University-San Marcos (TX). Advisor: Jonathan Babcock ().
Texas Tech Univeristy (TX). Advisor: Carolyn Cruse ().
Towson University (MD). Advisor: Diana Saez ().
Trevecca Nazarene University (TN). Advisor: Thomas Lerew ().
University of Akron (OH). Advisor: Marie Bucoy-Calavan ().
University of Alabama-Birmingham (AL). Advisor: Brian Kittredge ().
University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa (AL). Advisor: Andrew Minear ().
University of Arizona (AZ). Advisor: Elizabeth Schauer ().
University of Arkansas (AR). Advisor: Stephen Caldwell ().
University of Central Florida (FL). Advisor: Kelly Miller ().
University of Central Missouri (MO). Advisor: Adam Zrust ().
University of Colorado at Boulder (CO). Advisor: Elizabeth Swanson ().
University of Dayton (OH). Advisor: Andrew Hohman ().
University of Florida (FL). Advisor: Cory Alexander ().
University of Georgia (GA). Advisor: Daniel Bara ().
University of Hawaii at Manoa (HI).
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (IL). Advisor: Andrea Solya ().
University of Kansas (KS). Advisor: Melissa Grady ().
University of Massachusetts-Amherst (MA). Advisor: Stephen Paparo ().
University of Memphis (TN). Advisor: Emily Frizzell ().
University of Miami, Frost School of Music (FL). Advisor: Amanda Quist ().
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor (MI). Advisor: Julie Skadsem ().
University of Minnesota-Duluth (MN). Advisor: Richard Robbins ().
University of Minnesota-Morris (MN). Advisor: Bradley Miller ().
University of Mississippi (MS). Advisor: Elizabeth Hearn ().
University of Missouri-Columbia (MO). Advisor: Brandon Boyd ().
University of Missouri-Kansas City (MO). Advisor: Charles Robinson ().
University of Montana (MT).
University of Montevallo (AL). Advisor: Melinda Doyle ().
University of Nebraska at Omaha (NE). Advisor: Derrick Fox ().
University of Nevada – Las Vegas (NV). Advisor: David Weiller ().
University of Nevada – Reno (NV). Advisor: Paul Torkelson ().
University of New Hampshire (NH). Advisor: Amy Kotsonis ().
University of New Mexico (NM). Advisor: David Edmonds ().
University of North Alabama (AL). Advisor: Ian Loeppky ().
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (NC). Advisor: Randy Haldeman ().
University of North Florida (FL). Advisor: Cara Tasher ().
University of North Texas (TX). Advisor: Jessica Napoles ().
University of Northern Colorado (CO). Advisor: Jill Burgett ().
University of Northern Iowa (IA). Advisor: Amy Kotsonis ().
University of Oregon (OR). Advisor: Sharon Paul ().
University of Redlands (CA). Advisor: Nicholle Andrews ().
University of South Carolina (SC). Advisor: Jabarie Glass ().
University of Southern California (CA). Advisor: Cristian Grases ().
University of Southern Mississippi (MS). Advisor: Jonathan Kilgore ().
University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (TN). Advisor: Kevin Ford ().
University of Tennessee-Knoxville (TN). Advisor: Angela Batey ().
University of Texas at El Paso (TX). Advisor: Elisa Wilson ().
University of Texas-Arlington (TX). Advisor: Karen Kenaston-French ().
University of Texas- Austin (TX). Advisor: Suzanne Pence ().
University of Washington (WA). Advisor: Giselle Wyers ().
University of West Georgia (GA). Advisor: Karen Graffius ().
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (WI). Advisor: Frank Watkins ().
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (WI). Advisor: Christopher Hathaway ().
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI). Advisor: Duane Karna ().
Valdosta State University (GA). Advisor: Clell Wright ().
Valparaiso University (IN). Advisor: Christopher Cock ().
Vanderbilt University (TN). Advisor: Tucker Biddlecombe ().
VanderCook College of Music (IL). Advisor: Robert Sinclair ().
Washington and Lee University (VA). Advisor: Shane Lynch ().
Washington State University (WA). Advisor: Lori Wiest ().
Wayne State University (MI). Advisor: Alexander Sutton ().
Webster University (MO). Advisor: Trent Patterson ().
West Chester University (PA). Advisor: Ryan Kelly ().
West Liberty University (WV). Advisor: Douglas McCall ().
West Virginia University (WV). Advisor: Kym Scott ().
Western Michigan University (MI). Advisor: Kimberly Dunn Adams ().
Western Washington University (WA). Advisor: Tim Fitzpatrick ().
Westminster Choir College (NJ). Advisor: Tom Shelton ().
Wichita State University (KS). Advisor: Ryan Beeken ().
Wingate University (NC). Advisor: Nana Wolfe-Hill ().
Winona State University (MN). Advisor: Harry Mechell ().
Wintrop University (SC). Advisor: Jeremy Mims ().
Xavier University (OH). Advisor: Megan Boyd ().
Updated 8/15/2022
