The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), headquartered in
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, and ...
,
Oklahoma
Oklahoma (; Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New ...
, is a non-profit organization with the stated purpose of promoting excellence in the field of
choral music
A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which s ...
. Its membership comprises approximately 22,000 choral directors representing over a million singers.
Background information
ACDA is organized in seven Divisions, i.e., Central, Eastern, North Central, Northwestern, Southern, Southwestern, and Western. Every year, conferences with topics pertaining to choral conductors are held - in even numbered years, a division conference is held in each division, and in odd numbered years, a national conference takes place in a major U.S. city. In 2009, ACDA celebrated its 50th Anniversary in Oklahoma City; in 2011, the national conference was held in Chicago, Illinois. The 2013 national conference was held in Dallas, Texas. James Madison University was the host for the national chapter for 2011. Each year a different university hosts the yearly ACDA chapter.
Conductors can apply to have their choirs perform at these conferences through a
blind audition In a blind audition the identity of the performer is concealed from the judges so as to prevent bias. The performance takes place behind a curtain so that the judges cannot see the performer. Blind auditions have become standard in symphony orchestr ...
-CD process. Being accepted to sing at an ACDA conference is considered a great honor, both for a choir and for its conductor. Individual singers may also apply to sing with ACDA National or Regional Honor Choirs. About 300 singers are selected from around the country to sing in each national or regional choir.
Their official publications are the ''
Choral Journal'', as well as the scientific research journal ''
International Journal of Research in Choral Singing'' (online only).
Tim Sharp is the current executive director.
In addition to the division organization, a similar break out is done along specialization
lines. The specialties are:
*Boychoirs
*Children's Choirs
*College and University Choirs
*Community Choirs
*Ethnic and Multicultural Perspectives
*Jazz Choirs
*Junior High & Middle School Choirs
*Male Choirs
*Music in Worship
*Show Choirs
*Senior High School Choirs
*Two-Year College Choirs
*Women's Choirs
*Youth & Student Activities
Each specialty is organized under a Repertoire and Standards (R&S) Committee system, with a National Committee, Division Committees, and State chairpersons. The National Chairperson for each specialty is also a member of the National R&S Committee which meets annually to discuss issues common to all specialties.
Brock Commission
Since 1991, the ACDA awards the "Raymond W. Brock Memorial Commission" to "a recognized composer to write a choral composition in an effort to perpetuate quality choral repertoire."
See also
*
John B. Haberlen, a past national President of the Association
References
External links
Official siteInternational Journal of Research in Choral Singing
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Music education organizations
Vocal and choral music organizations
Choral conductors
Music organizations based in the United States
Music education in the United States
Arts organizations based in Oklahoma
Organizations based in Oklahoma City