PUBLICATIONS | Choral Journal – ChorTeach – IJRCS – IFCM

EVENTS | State Conferences & Workshops - Region Conferences

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS | Joint Statement on Vaccines and Best Health Practices - Latest from the International Coalition of Performing Arts Organizations

PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES | ACDA Member Survey - Third-Party Choral Research Surveys

MEMBER BENEFITS | ACDA App - CMI Membership Discount

JOBS | Highlights of Current Listings in the ACDA Career Center

From Hilary Apfelstadt, Interim Executive Director:

ACDA has embarked on a national campaign to help our organization bridge the gap between pre-pandemic and post-pandemic times. ONE ACDA is our effort to honor the impact that ACDA makes at every level of its existence: state, region, and national. We are one cadre of choral musicians who love our art form, recognize the struggles we have all experienced in the last 15 months or so, and are eager to thrive in the future. Although we have cut our expenses, our income is not keeping pace with costs. To thrive, not merely survive, depends on your support!

Here is the complete Aug. issue in PDF. Following is a selection of the contents:

Practical Teaching Ideas for Today's Music Educator. Terry Barham, editor. Current: Summer 2021 issue. Articles include:

The Scientific Research Journal of ACDA. Patrick K. Freer, editor. Current: Volume 9. New articles include:

Jul. 13 – Alabama ACDA’s Summer Conference. Live sessions from guest clinicians and pre-recorded material for all interested teachers, directors, students, and church musicians. Registration: free. Learn more. – VIRTUAL

Jul. 19-21 – Arkansas ACDA’s 2021 Summer Conference. Registration: $99 / students $49. Student immersion day is Jul. 18 (included in student registration). Learn more. – VIRTUAL

Jul. 21-23 – Washington ACDA’s Summer Institute. Dr. Julie Wu is the headliner. Registration: $15. Learn more. – VIRTUAL

Jul. 26-27 – California Choral Directors Association’s Summer Choral Summit. Registration: $25. Learn more. – VIRTUAL

Aug. 1-2 – Pennsylvania ACDA’s Summer Conference “New Horizons.” Headliners are Dr. Rosephanye Powell and Dr. Andrew Clark. Registration: $35. Learn more. – VIRTUAL

Aug. 3 – Oregon ACDA’s Virtual Summer Workshop. Featuring Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand from Oakwood University. Learn more. – VIRTUAL

Jul. 20-23 – Missouri ACDA’s Conference Choral Music: Upside Down. In Springfield, MO. Registration: rates vary by membership type. Learn more. – IN PERSON

Jul. 27 – Tennessee ACDA’s Re-Entry: Finding Our Way Back Together! In Murfreesboro, TN, with online options. A one-day conference addressing the upcoming return to the choral rehearsal room. Registration: $60 in person; $40 online only. Learn more. – HYBRID

Jul. 28-29 – Iowa Choral Directors Association’s Music Heals 2021 Summer Symposium. In Pella, IA, with online options. Join in person or register for the virtual option for live video. Registration: rates vary by membership status and type. Learn more. – HYBRID

Aug. 3-6 – ACDA of Minnesota’s Summer Dialogue. At St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN. Three and a half days of engaging interest sessions, all-state conductor sessions, new music reading sessions, annual exhibits fair, and evening afterglows. Learn more. – IN PERSON

Eastern Region (Feb. 9-12, 2022, Boston, MA)

Midwestern Region (Feb. 16-19, 2022, Chicago, IL)

Southern Region (Feb. 23-26, 2022, Raleigh, NC)

Southwestern Region (Feb. 28-Mar. 3, 2022, Little Rock, AR)

Western Region (Mar. 2-5, 2022, Long Beach, CA)

Northwestern Region (Mar. 9-12, 2022, Spokane, WA)

Limited time offer! Access the recordings of all 2021 national conference sessions and performances - through December - by registering today.

New lower rates: $149 ACDA members ($79 Student members). Click here to learn more & register.

The National Association of Teachers of Singing Voice Science Advisory Committee, the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, the Barbershop Harmony Society, the Performing Arts Medicine Association, the Pan American Vocology Association, Opera America, and National Collegiate Choral Organization strongly recommend that all singing teachers, choral conductors, collaborative pianists, and singers eligible to receive an FDA authorized vaccine follow CDC guidance and become fully vaccinated as soon as possible.

We recommend that unvaccinated teachers, conductors, collaborative pianists, and singers continue to follow COVID-19 prevention and mitigation practices that have been effective in reducing the spread of the disease in indoor public areas. These include but are not limited to the use of masks, physical distancing, increased ventilation, reduced contact time, regular cleaning of common surfaces, and vigorous hand washing. View statement with citations and source notes.

This statement and other COVID-related resources, including guidance, are available on ACDA's page Resources for Choral Professionals During the Pandemic.

A survey was conducted beginning April 28, 2021, to assess the level of spread events that occurred in school-based music programs. Click here for the report.

Watch a four-minute video summarizing the results.

As we turn the page after a challenging year overshadowed by the pandemic, ACDA is eager to hear your thoughts on our progress on a number of fronts. Specifically, we want to know how we measure up in terms of fulfilling our mission and vision, and also what areas of focus you would like to see in ACDA. Please complete this short survey, which will take you just a few minutes. Deadline: July 23.

Dr. Heather Nelson Shouldice and student Sydney Timmer of Eastern Michigan University seek the assistance of secondary choral teachers to research current characteristics of secondary choral programs in the U.S. The survey should take 5-10 minutes to complete and is completely voluntary and confidential. Take the survey.

Dr. Caron Daley, Duquesne University, and Dr. Gregory Marchetti, Duquesne University, are studying the degree to which self-reported pain/discomfort limits conducting activities and what types of prevention strategies are used to support healthy conducting. You can help by responding to a survey if you are (1) 20 years or older, and (2) engaged in conducting activities in an educational setting (elementary, middle, high school, or collegiate) on a full- or part-time basis. Take the survey.

Dr. Rebecca Seeman of the University of San Francisco requests representatives of choral organizations to complete a short survey (approx. 10 minutes long) to assist her in research on how choral organizations are implementing ADEI initiatives and what factors influence their ADEI practices. Take the survey.

Researchers at the University of Illinois and the UK Copyright and Creative Economy Centre (University of Glasgow) seek input from choral directors on directing and composing/arranging practices in order to identify shared norms of borrowing, attribution, and inter-cultural performance practices. Take the survey.

Dr. Kerry Boyle of Canterbury Christ Church University in the United Kingdom invites your choir members to participate in a new international study that explores the reasons why people sing in choirs and singing groups. Please share the invitation and survey link with your choir members.

Austen Wilson, is doing a weekly Tuesday post sharing experiences and questions focused on adjusting to a new choral landscape, and and Shannon Marie Gravelle is writing a weekly Wednesday post interviewing a variety of choral professionals about their experiences over the past year. Our regular bloggers continue with their inspiring posts: Brian Ackles, Marie Grass Amenta, Amanda Bumgarner, Chris Munce, Shelbie Wahl-Fouts, Ramona Wis. Want to wake up with a quick, inspirational read? 📲 Click here to download the App!

Discount on Church Music Institute Membership

ACDA members receive a $35 discount on CMI membership (reg. $75; ACDA members $40). To access the discount, sign in at https://acda.org and click on "My Offers" in the upper right of the screen.

ACDA CAREER CENTER

Where employers go to find choral professionals. Job postings have picked up dramatically over the past two months! Following is a selection from the many current postings listed:

Hawken School (Gates Mills, OH)

The Thirteen (Washington, DC)

Killeen ISD (Killeen, TX)

The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay (Tampa, FL)

Brooklyn Youth Chorus (Brooklyn, NY)

Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs (Minneapolis, MN)

Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, NY)

Seattle Girls Choir (Seattle, WA)

First, can you log in? Remember, your email address is your username. If you’re not receiving the reset password email at that address, we may need to update your username manually. Please contact us at membership@acda.org or (405) 232-8161 and ask for assistance!

Second, can you renew once you log in? If you aren’t able to move through the renewal process for some reason, please contact us and ask for a “pro forma invoice.” We’ll email you a link to simply click on and pay your renewal dues.

Autorenewal is available to Active members! When you renew your membership, you may opt-in to automatic renewal of your dues during the renewal process.