ACDA Soprano-Alto Choirs National Commission Consortium–Call For Participation

The ACDA Soprano-Alto Choirs National Commission Consortium consists of treble choirs that pool their resources to commission new works for treble choirs. 

The call for participating choirs opens on May 22, 2024. The call for participation closes on August 15, 2024. 

This Consortium was started in 2007 by Debra Spurgeon (the SSAA chair at the time) – the purpose being to help further the creation of new, high-quality repertoire for advanced treble ensembles. Since 2007, this consortium has occurred nearly every year (included at the bottom is a list of all composers/pieces between 2007-2017). This project was continued by Iris S. Levine and then Phillip Swan, pausing during the pandemic. Directors/ensembles paid a commission fee, which would allow them access and rights to the pieces born of that particular consortium. 

The purpose of this program is to promote the creation of new works for treble choirs by established composers and to give treble choirs an affordable opportunity to participate in the commissioning process. This consortium is focused entirely on serving the needs of treble choirs and attempting to fill the still-large gap in available high-quality repertoire for these ensembles.

Upon completion of the commission, each choir and director will receive a copy of the manuscript with the rights to copy for their own choir’s premiere performance. Each choir and conductor will be listed in the score of the composition as well as on our ACDA Soprano-Alto Choirs webpage. 

NEW!!! This consortium will feature two separate projects: one for developing ensembles and one for advanced ensembles. The total number of works to be commissioned for each project will be determined by the total number of participants. If the minimum number of participants is not met, the project will not move forward. Composers will be announced in August of 2024. All participating choirs will have access to all pieces that result from their project (ex. if the advanced ensembles consortium produces three pieces, each participating choir in the advanced category will receive a copy and rights to all three pieces and will be listed in the score for all three compositions). 

How To Participate:

Cost: The commission fee is $300 per choir, to be paid in full to ACDA by September 30, 2024. An invoice will be sent to all participants via email following the August 15, 2024 deadline to sign up to participate.

Choose From Two Projects (or both!): This consortium will have two projects: one for developing ensembles and one for advanced ensembles. The following guidelines are provided to help you determine the best level for your ensemble participation: 

Developing ensembles: middle school, beginning high school, youth/children’s choirs. Two-part and three-part with minimal divisi. Accompanied. 

Advanced ensembles: advanced high school, college/university, community choirs. SSA and SSAA with divisi. Accompanied or unaccompanied. 

Choirs and directors may choose to participate in both projects (developing and advanced choirs for a total fee of $600). 

How to participate: Click the button at the bottom to submit your participation for the project of your choice. A confirmation email will be sent shortly after your submission is received. An invoice will be sent to the director/organization following the close for participation. Payment in full will be due by September 30, 2024.  The submitting director must be an active, retired, or life member of ACDA in order to participate. 

Please note: by submitting this form, you are committing to participating in the consortium and paying the participation fee.

Schedule for Participation in the 2024/2025 Consortium:
Call for participation: May 22, 2024
Deadline for participation application – August 15, 2024
Invoices sent to consortium members: August 16, 2024
Payment deadline: September 30, 2024
Commissions provided to membership: May 2025 

Questions? Contact Erin Plisco () – Soprano Alto choirs R&R chair. 

ACDA Soprano Alto (formerly Women’s/SSAA) Choir Consortium Compositions 

2019 – Lux Veritatis by Daniel J. Hall
2019 – We Are the Ones by Marie-Claire Saindon
2017 – Fall, Sweet Music by Eric William Barnum
2017 – I Am the Wind by Elaine Hagenberg
2017 – You Are the Light of the Stars by Joanne Metcalf
2016 – At the Heart of Our Stillness by Kathleen Allan
2016 – Patterns on the Snow by Mari Esabel Valverde
2016 – Rise Up! by Jake Runestad
2015 – Patito by Gabriela Frank
2015 – Two Friends Like Fireflies by Joseph Gregorio
2015 – I Have a Voice by Moira Smiley
2014 – Truth by Andrea Ramsey
2014 – Spring Shall Bloom by Susan LaBarr
2014 – A Blessing of Cranes by Abbie Betinis
2013 – I Want to Die While You Love Me by Rosephanye Powell
2013 – Yellow Twig of Willow by Stephen Smith
2013 – Mother O’ Mine by Lauren McLaren
2012 – Full Fathom Five by Paul Carey
2012 – Flare by Dale Trumbore
2012 – Carmel Highlands by Daniel Kallman
2011 – Moon Goddess by Jocelyn Hagen
2011 – Chapo Pou Fanm by Sydney Guillaume
2011 – Leshana Haba’a BiYerushalyam, arr. by Shawn Kirchner
2010 – Reasons for the Perpetuation of Slavery by Elizabeth Alexander
2010 – Tundra by Ola Gjeilo
2008 – The Singing Place by Joan Szymko
2007 – Softly Little Child by Daniel Gawthrop

2017 ACDA Women’s Choir Consortium Commission Members

Aria Women’s Choir, Monterey: Sean Boulware, Conductor
Bella Voce Women’s Ensemble: Jennifer Tibben, Conductor
Belmont Universtiy Women’s Choir: Lesley Maxwell Mann, Conductor
California State University: Fullerton, Women’s Choir, Robert Istad, Conductor
Cantala (Lawrence University Women’s Choir): Phillip A. Swan, Conductor
Canzona Women’s Ensemble: Cricket Handler & Jill Anderson, Conductors
Carillon Women’s Chorale: Karen S. Nevins, Artistic Director
Carthage Women’s Ensemble: Peter Dennee, Conductor
Central Bucks West Women’s Choir: Joseph Ohrt, Conductor
Elektra Women’s Choir: Morna Edmundson, Artistic Director
Flower Mound High School Women’s Chorale, Flower Mound, TX: Mark Rohwer, Conductor
Girls’ 21 from Cherry Creek High School: Adam Cave, Conductor
Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble at Augustana College: Michael Zemek, Conductor
Luther College Aurora: Jennaya Robison, Conductor
Marian Singers of St. Mary’s Academy in Portland, OR:  Katheryn E. Briggs, Conductor
Mirinesse Women’s Choir: Rebecca Rottsolk, Conductor
Nazareth Academy Chorale: Katherine Chmelko, Conductor
Peninsula Women’s Chorus: Martin Benvenuto, Artistic Director
Radford University Women’s Chorale:  Meredith Bowen, Conductor
Saint Mary’s College Women’s Choir: Nancy Menk, Conductor
Santa Monica High School Chamber Singers: Jeffe Huls, Conductor
South Salem HS Chamber Women’s Choir:  Jenna Hernandez, Conductor
Tapestry Singers, Austin’s Women’s Chorus:  Jenn Goodner, Artistic Director
The Texas State Women’s Choir: Lynn Brinckmeyer, Conductor
The Women’s Chorus of Dallas:  Melinda Imthurn, Artistic Director
Treble Tones Women’s Chorus:  Tyler Forsythe, Artistic Director
University of Alabama Women’s Chorus:  Andrew Minear, Conductor
University of Mississippi Women’s Glee Club: Debra Spurgeon, Conductor
University of Southern California Oriana Women’s Choir: Jo-Michael Scheibe, Department Chair
University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire Women’s Concert Choir: Frank A. Watkins, Conductor
Vassar College Women’s Chorus: Christine Howlett, Conductor
Vox Femina Los Angeles: Iris S. Levine, Artistic Director
West Ottawa High School Select Women’s Ensemble: Pam Pierson, Conductor
WomanSong (West Virginia): Emily Capece, Conductor
WomenSing: Ofer dal Lal, Artistic Director