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The World Choir Games arrive this summer, and for the very first time, to a U.S. city, bringing over 350 choirs from around the world to Cincinnati, Ohio. International adjudicators and workshop presenters include Rollo Dilworth (USA), Oscar Escalada (Argentina), Morten Lauridsen (USA), John August Pamintuan (Philippines), and a long list of stellar choral leaders […]

On June 29-31, ACDA celebrates the conclusion of the initial phase of our multi-year partnership with the Library of Congress in the National Symposium on American Choral Music, “The Search for an American Style.” The Symposium features keynote speaker/composer Conrad Susa, along with Pulitzer Prize winning composer and 2013 Brock Memorial Commission composer, Steven Stuckey, […]

The Pope may be one of the most celebrated visitors Cuba has welcomed this spring, but next month, the American Choral Directors Association will be there, joining with choral conductors and composers of Cuba for the ACDA initiated US/Cuba Choral Summit in Havanna.   This event grew out of ACDA’s International Conductor Exchange Program (ICEP) […]

Tomorrow is tax day. For a this week’s Saturday Respite let’s let Abbot and Costello do some math for us.  (I got hammered by Uncle Sam this year – maybe I should hire these guys as my accountant!)  

       Choral music requires its own historical organization for two reasons: (a) many traditional terms, such as "Classic" and "Romantic," are confusing because choral music combines words (literature) and music; and (b) many historical divisions, especially after 1600, have been created to account for operatic, soloistic, or instrumental ensemble styles that are not obvious in […]

       Choir members must be given instructions as to what to do during the concert besides sing. "What if I make a mistake?" "What if I feel like I might faint?" "Do I applaud for a soloist ormy director at the end of the concert?" "What do I do when I see my mother in […]

       In comparing the adolescent female voice with the adolescent male voice, several characteristics become apparent.  After age ten, due to obvious physical changes in the vocal anatomy, there is a marked contrast in quality and color between the two voice types. Clarity of tone and brilliance in certain ranges seem effortless in the young […]

       With the influx of choral music from around the world, we choral directors have the opportunity and the challenge of incorporating a vast array of choral colors in our musical performances.  Choral directors with a basic knowledge of vocal pedagogy can work very effectively within the rehearsal to develop the vocal ability of all […]