GUEST BLOG: “ACDA Hosts America Cantat VIII,” by Tim Sharp

 

The America Cantat is an international choral festival that takes place every three years in a different American country. Past host countries include Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Venezuela, Columbia, and Mexico. I am proud to say that through ACDA’s hosting and sponsorship of this event, the United States of America now joins this American list of host countries. I am thrilled to also announce that partnering with ACDA and the America Cantat organization in this unique collaboration is the commonwealth of the Bahamas, which is where America Cantat VIII will take place on August 21-31, 2016.

 

Choirs from the United States and throughout the Americas are invited to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime international festival. Of the many rich experiences offered to choruses of all descriptions and voicings, the outstanding feature of America Cantat VIII is the opportunity for individual singers to participate in a choir outside of their own, with singers from other countries working side by side under the baton of a specialist from one of several South, Central, and North American countries.

 

The artistic director for America Cantat is the organization’s president, Oscar Escalada of Argentina, who has been a member of ACDA for many years. He has formed an artistic committee comprising representatives from past participating countries, along with representatives from the United States and Canada.  The operational side of the planning will be accomplished by representatives from both the Bahamas and ACDA national staff as well as ACDA members.

 

By sponsoring America Cantata VIII, ACDA further moves into my vision of creating an association that has direct ties with our North, Central, and South American colleagues. Choirs participating in America Cantata VIII will experience an immersion into the many cultures represented throughout the Americas and have the opportunity to contribute their own music to the understanding of our guests joining us from the Americas and around the world. Furthermore, this all will take place in the paradise setting of the Bahamas.

 

Registration for America Cantat VIII will open in January 2015 when full schedule and artistic and concert details will be presented by the artistic committee. ACDA is thrilled to partner with the Bahamas as we host a festival unlike any other available to us throughout the world. All choirs are invited, and all choirs will find a place in this cultural, noncompetitive event.

 

Please plan to join us in the Bahamas in August 2016 for America Cantat VIII. It is exciting for our American Choral Directors Association to be able to offer choral singers and choral directors this performance and cultural immersion event. Watch for the opening of the website on January 1, 2015, along with full details and registration material. Above all, put August 21-31, 2016, into your calendar now and prepare for the event of a lifetime.