ACDA Western

All applications must be submitted online at the link provided by ACDA Western Region by April 15, 2023.

Eligibility

The director of an ensemble applying for choral performance at an ACDA Conference must be a current member of ACDA; membership shall not expire on or before the last day of the Conference.

The director of the ensemble must have been employed in the same position for no less than three consecutive years.  

No ensemble or director may appear at successive National or successive Region Conferences. Ensembles that appear at a National Conference may audition and appear at the following Region Conference and vice versa. Ensembles that appeared only as a demonstration choir are exempt from this rule.

Choral ensembles and conductors that appeared at the 2022 ACDA Western Region Conference in Long Beach will not be allowed to appear in the 2024 ACDA Western Region Conference in Pasadena.

It is understood that ACDA Western Region will not assume financial responsibility for travel, food, or lodging for conductors or choir participants. Submitting an application implies that the ensemble is prepared to travel and perform at the conference if accepted.

Accompaniment

No recorded accompaniment may be used on an audition recording or in performance at an ACDA Conference. Only live accompaniment is permitted.  

Copyright Statement

“As an ACDA member, I will comply with the copyright laws of the United States of America, including the illegal downloading of music from the Internet. Compliance with these laws is a condition of participation by clinicians and performing ensembles that appear on any ACDA sponsored event or Conference.”

(ACDA Policies and Procedures Manual Guide, adopted by the National Board of Directors August 2002.)

Screening Process

All audition applications will be handled via the ACDA online system to ensure a fair and unbiased review of all submissions.

Reading the stories of applying choral organizations will be key to the selection process. Any identifying information included within application materials will be redacted by Conference Performing Group Co-Chairs in order to ensure an equitable and blind listening process among conference listening panels. Listening panels will select performing groups without specific knowledge of the identity of the choir or conductor.

All applications must be submitted online at the link provided by ACDA Western Region by April 15, 2023.

Interest Sessions

The ACDA Western Region (WACDA) welcomes submissions for innovative, applicable and inspiring interest sessions for our 2024 conference. We encourage submissions that address the conference theme Many Voices, One Song, the diversity of our membership, and sessions that actively engage participants. A large number of students are regularly in attendance, as are choral professionals representing all areas of education, composition and performance. All topics will receive consideration and will be evaluated for scholarly content, variety, innovation, value, pedagogical strength, and relativity to current trends in the choral profession. Special consideration will be given to proposals that particularly focus on how we make music accessible to youth and vulnerable populations. Click [here] to see the detailed rubric for evaluating proposals. 

Please follow the steps below to prepare and submit your proposal:

1. Prepare the title and description of your proposal. Ensure these are edited and ready to appear in the conference program if selected. The description should not exceed 100 words. 
2. Prepare a bulleted outline of your presentation not to exceed 500 words (excluding references). Only the selection committee will view the outline. 

Poster Sessions

The ACDA Western Region invites submissions for research and best practice poster presentations. We encourage submissions that address the conference theme Many Voices, One Song, the diversity of our membership, and are theoretically grounded. Presenters will also have the option to participate in a private small group mentoring session before the poster session. 

• Research Posters: Submissions involving quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, historical, or philosophical topics related to any aspect of the music teaching and learning process will be considered. Graduate students who are working on or who have completed theses, dissertations, or monographs are encouraged to submit their work for consideration. 
• Best Practice Posters: Submissions describing teaching practices, programs, or any aspect of teaching and learning will be considered. Submissions should include a summary of the topic and a description of the context in which it has been or can be implemented if applicable. Topics can include, but are not limited to: instructional strategies, teaching techniques, composition techniques, literature/programming suggestions, choral/vocal pedagogy, technology, classroom management, curriculum design, retention, recruitment, advocacy, assessment, and evaluation. 

Please follow the steps below to prepare and submit your proposal:

1. Prepare a description or bulleted outline of your poster presentation not to exceed 500 words (references are not included in the word count). 
2. Poster title to appear in the conference program if selected.