Prepare your students to audition for the 2018 ACDA Central and North Central Division Honor Choirs. The application deadline is Friday, September 29 (11:59 pm).
Wanted: North Central Advertising Chair
Have you ever considered volunteering for ACDA? North Central ACDA is currently seeking an advertising chair who would be responsible for selling advertising on NCACDA’s website and on the 2018 Central and North Central Division Conference program app. The 2018 conference is six months away, so we are looking for someone to jump in as soon as possible. If you’d like to get involved in your professional organization, are detail-oriented and a good communicator, please send Mary Kay Geston, NCACDA President, a message on NCACDA’s Facebook page for more information.
2018 Research Poster Session Call for Submissions
ACDA will sponsor a session to disseminate the results of excellent research about any aspect of the choral art at its 2018 ACDA Central and North Central Division Conference in Chicago, Feb 14-17, 2018. Participants chosen for the presentation will be required to prepare a poster describing their research and to be available during the presentation session to discuss their work with interested conference attendees.
The intent of the research poster session is to disseminate current research in choral music to inform rehearsal techniques, performance practice, repertoire choice, etc. Of particular desire are papers about repertoire, performance practice, conducting pedagogy, rehearsal pedagogy, vocal development, social/cognitive development, editions, and analyses that will illuminate performance, and vocal or compositional practices in contemporary choral music.
A poster session is a research report format used widely in the natural and social sciences, and increasingly in the humanities. Presenters prepare a poster (usually printed on a 36 x 48 inch sheet in either portrait or landscape orientation and displayed on a board), showing the main points of their research with brief text and illustrations. Then, the presenter stands next to his/her poster during the session, answering any questions from people who come to see the displays. We also expect presenters to have handouts (e.g., an annotated bibliography or an abstract with examples) and copies of the paper upon which the presentation is based. Participants will be required to furnish 25 copies of a report summary (limited to one two-sided page). Participants may also be asked to respond to post-conference inquiries about their work that could include requests for full copies of their reports.
For instructions about submitting proposals click here: 2018 ACDA Central and North Central Division Conference Poster Call
2018 HONOR CHOIR AUDITIONS & INFORMATION
2018 HONOR CHOIRS & CONDUCTORS
ELEMENTARY HONOR CHOIR (Unchanged, grades 5-6)
Francisco Núñez, conductor
Young People’s Chorus of New York City
MID-LEVEL TREBLE HONOR CHOIR (SA, grades 7 – 9)
Judith Herrington, conductor
Tacoma Youth Chorus
MID-LEVEL CHANGED & CHANGING HONOR CHOIR (TB, gr. 7-9)
Ryan Beeken, conductor
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
HIGH SCHOOL HONOR CHOIR (SATB, gr. 10-12)
Jefferson Johnson, conductor
University of Kentucky, Lexington
AUDITION INFORMATION
2018 Honor Choir Audition Form
AUDITION WINDOW
August 15, 2017 through September 29, 2017 (must be submitted by 11:59pm)
AUDITION FEE
$25
PARTICIPATION FEE (if accepted)
$125 – Elementary Honor Choir
$125 – Mid-Level Treble Honor Choir
$125 – Mid-Level Changed & Changing Honor Choir
$150 – High School Honor Choir
DEADLINES
SEPTEMBER 29, 2017: Audition Deadline. Must be submitted by 11:59 p.m.
OCTOBER 20, 2017: Notification of selection
NOVEMBER 3, 2017: Participation confirmation (forms/participation fees due)
NOVEMBER 10, 2017: Honor Choir music/info mailed to participants
AUDITION DIRECTIONS
1) Go to OpusEvent.com to submit audition recordings. Directors of students who audition must be current ACDA members. Login with your ACDA username and password (i.e., member number).
2) Pay the audition fee on OpusEvent.com BEFORE uploading the audition. Auditions cannot be uploaded until the audition fee has been paid.
3) Do not state the student’s name, grade, school or director on any of the audition recordings.
4) Record and upload each of the 3 audition elements as separate tracks. The director is responsible to ensure that each student’s auditions are uploaded correctly and ethically. The student listed is performing each audition element. Each audition element adheres to all given directions including key provided. Each audition element is uploaded under the correct category.
5) Check the OpusEvent.com verification statement: “I verify that each recording adheres to the guidelines of the digital ethics agreement and has not been manipulated or enhanced in any way.”
DIGITAL ETHICS AGREEMENT
Sponsoring teachers and students are responsible for adhering to the following digital ethics agreement.
1) Sound files may not be manipulated or enhanced in any way. Record in a traditional rehearsal space. The space should not
be too “live” (like a cathedral) or too “dead” (like a carpeted room with a low ceiling) to avoid the impression of an enhanced recording. If the recording is determined to have been altered, the student will not be eligible for participation. The ACDA Executive Committee’s decision will be final.
2) The sponsoring teacher must be in the room when the audition is recorded. If there are multiple teachers in a school/program, this may be delegated to a member of the team.
HOUSING AND MEALS
Parents or legal guardians are responsible for making housing reservations for their singers in the Central/NCACDA designated hotel. Hotel contact information will be included in acceptance letters. Accepted participants MUST stay in the designated hotel. The cost of meals and other expenses is the responsibility of each singer/family. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for all supervision when singers are not in rehearsal or performance. Commuting will not be permitted.
CHAPERONES/SECURITY
ACDA Honor Choir policy requires one parent or legal guardian to chaperone and be housed with his/her child in the same room.
AUDITION ELEMENTS
Click on a link (below) to download and print the audition elements for each honor choir. The elements are listed below, as well.
Elementary Honor Choir Audition Elements
Mid-Level Treble Audition Elements
Mid-Level Changed/Changing Audition Elements
High School Audition Elements
ELEMENTARY HONOR CHOIR
1. Scale
Sing an unaccompanied ascending and descending major scale using solfège, numbers, or a neutral syllable showing the applicant’s top and bottom range and the ability to sing in tune. STATE THE STARTING NOTE of the scale BEFORE you begin. Your teacher may provide the starting pitch.
2. America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)
Sing the first verse of America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee) at a moderate tempo, UNACCOMPANIED, in one of the three keys listed below. STATE THE KEY in which you are singing BEFORE you begin. Your teacher may provide the starting pitch.
Soprano 1 – G Major
Soprano 2 – F Major
Alto 1 – E Major
3. Concert Excerpt
Sing your voice part, measures 6-20, of Bread Baking by Bela Bartok UNACCOMPANIED. End after the word “driving” in measure 20. Tempo ca. quarter note = MM 120. Your teacher may provide the starting pitch.
Bread Baking – Bela Bartok
MID-LEVEL TREBLE HONOR CHOIR
1. Scale
Sing two major scales (scale = eight tones) on a neutral syllable or solfège – one from the middle of your range to the lowest accurate note and the other from the middle of your range to the highest accurate note (including treble/falsetto register). STATE THE STARTING NOTE of the scale BEFORE you begin. Your teacher may provide the starting pitch.
2. America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)
Sing the first verse of America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee) at a moderate tempo, UNACCOMPANIED, in one of the three keys listed below. STATE THE KEY in which you are singing BEFORE you begin. Your teacher may provide the starting pitch.
Soprano 1 – G Major
Soprano 2 – G Major
Alto – E Major
3. Concert Excerpt
Sing your voice part of Day Break, m. 27-38, by Stephen Paulus UNACCOMPANIED. Tempo ca. quarter note = MM 110-120. Your teacher may provide the starting pitch.
Day Break
MID-LEVEL CHANGED & CHANGING HONOR CHOIR
1. Scale
Sing two major scales (scale = eight tones) on a neutral syllable or solfège – one from the middle of your range to the lowest accurate note and the other from the middle of your range to the highest accurate note (including treble/falsetto register). STATE THE KEY in which you are singing BEFORE you begin. Your teacher may provide the starting pitch.
2. America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)
Sing the first verse of America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee) at a moderate tempo, UNACCOMPANIED, in one of the three keys listed below. STATE THE KEY in which you are singing BEFORE you begin. Your teacher may provide the starting pitch.
Unchanged/Cambiata – D Major
Tenor – A Major
Baritone/Bass – E Flat Major
3. Concert Excerpt
Sing your voice part of Journeyman’s Song, mm. 105-143, by Braeden Ayers UNACCOMPANIED. Tempo ca. quarter note = MM 145. Your teacher may provide the starting pitch.
Journeyman’s Song
HIGH SCHOOL HONOR CHOIR
1. Scale
Sing a scale, UNACCOMPANIED, in the key corresponding with your voice type. You may use numbers, solfège, or a neutral syllable. Humming is not permitted. Your teacher may provide the starting pitch.
Soprano 1 – A flat, second space on treble clef, ascending then descending
Soprano 2 – G, second line on treble clef, ascending then descending
Alto 1 – E flat, first line on treble clef, ascending then descending
Alto 2 – F, first space on treble clef, descending then ascending
Tenor 1 – F, fourth line of bass clef, ascending then descending
Tenor 2 – E flat, third space of bass clef, ascending then descending
Bass 1 – D, third line of bass clef, ascending then descending
Bass 2 – F, fourth line of bass clef, descending then ascending
2. Alma del Coré
Sing Alma del Coré at a moderate tempo, UNACCOMPANIED, in the key corresponding with your voice type. Your teacher may provide the tonic chord and starting pitch.
Soprano 1 – A flat
Soprano 2 – F
Alto 1 – E flat
Alto 2 – B flat
Tenor 1 – G
Tenor 2 – F
Bass 1 – C
Bass 2 – A flat
3. Concert Excerpt
Sing your voice part, measures 19-36 of Regina coeli, K. 127 by Mozart, UNACCOMPANIED. Tempo ca. quarter note = MM 92. Your teacher may provide the starting pitch.
Regina Coeli – Mozart
2018 Division Conference Audition and Application Dates Announced
Audition and application dates for the 2018 ACDA Central and North Central Division Conference have been announced by program co-chairs Mary Kay Geston, NCACDA president, and Mark Munson, Central ACDA president-elect. Performing choir applications and honor choir auditions will be submitted through OpusEvent. Information about interest session proposals and score submissions for the division composers reading sessions will be announced as it becomes available.
UNITE IN SONG!
ACDA Central & North Central Division Conference
February 14 – 17, 2018
Chicago, Illinois
PERFORMING CHOIR APPLICATIONS
Applications Open: January 15, 2017
Applications Close: May 26, 2017 (11:59 p.m. CST)
Notification: June 30, 2017
Click on the following link to go to OpusEvent website: OpusEvent
Select “ACDA North/Central Division Performing Choirs”
INTEREST SESSION APPLICATIONS
Applications Open: February 1, 2017
Applications Close: June 15, 2017 (11:59 p.m.)
Notification: July 31, 2017
CALL FOR SCORES: DIVISION COMPOSERS READING SESSIONS
Submissions Open: March 1, 2017
Submissions Close: Postmarked by May 12, 2017
Notification: July 28, 2017
2018 HONOR CHOIR AUDITIONS
Applications Open: August 15, 2017
Applications Close: September 29, 2017 (11:59 p.m.)
Notification: October 27, 2017
2018 DIVISION HONOR CHOIRS & CONDUCTORS
Elementary Honor Choir (Unchanged, grades 5-6)
Francisco Núñez, conductor
Artistic Director & Founder of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City
Mid-Level Treble Voice Honor Choir (SA, grades 7 – 9)
Judith Herrington, conductor
Founder and Artistic Director, Tacoma Youth Chorus
Mid-Level Changing & Changed Voice Honor Choir (TB, gr. 7-9)
Ryan Beeken, conductor
Director of Choral Studies, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
High School Honor Choir (SATB, gr. 10-12)
Jefferson Johnson, conductor
Director of Choral Activities, University of Kentucky, Lexington
2017 International Conductors Exchange Program
Dear Friends,
I am writing to request your assistance in spreading the word about the 2017 International Conductors Exchange Program for the next generation of emerging leaders in our profession.
Among the selection criteria for eligibility is the following statement:
- “The candidates should reflect a wide diversity of interests and accomplishments (church, high school, community, elementary, et al.). The ICEP Review Committee will consider a diversity of conductors (e.g. not all from one setting, such as Higher Education).”
In continued efforts to fully represent the rich diversity of our profession, I would like to encourage you to consider ways we can reach a larger segment of our membership who may be interested in participating in this initiative.
Thank you very much for your time and your continued support of this program.
Sincerely,
T. J. Harper, DMA
Chair, Department of Music
Associate Professor of Music & Director of Choral Activities
2014-2015 Joseph R. Accinno Teacher of the Year
Providence College
Chair, ACDA Standing Committee on International Activities
Director, ACDA International Conductors Exchange Program
President, Rhode Island Music Education Association
harpertj.com