Blog Archives

Seeking Nominations for 2026 ACDA-PA Awards

3/11/2026

The American Choral Directors Association of Pennsylvania annually recognizes the accomplishments of three conductors. The awards presented represent the full spectrum of the career as a choral director. Click on the links below to read more about the origination of the award and the qualifications for nominations.

The Elaine Brown Award for Choral Excellence highlights the accomplishments of a veteran choral director who exemplifies outstanding work for a lifetime in the choral art.
The Outstanding Young Conductor Award recognizes the efforts of a new or aspiring choral director who, in their first 3 to 5 years of experience has already demonstrated outstanding leadership or musicianship in the field of choral music.
The Eileen M. Hower Memorial Award is presented to a choral music educator who has been teaching for more than 15 years that has a proven record of commitment to developing voices, particularly at the middle school level.

The deadline for award nominations is 11:59pm EST, May 15, 2026. Successful applicants will be notified of acceptance by May 31, 2026.

SUBMIT A NOMINATION

Call for Interest Session Proposals

3/10/2026

ACDA-PA invites proposals for interest sessions to be presented at the 2026 conference. Centered on the theme “Sing and Serve,” this conference will explore the many ways choral music enriches singers, strengthens communities, and advances our profession. We seek sessions that inspire conductors and educators to cultivate musical excellence while embracing the role of choral musicians as artists, teachers, and servants to their ensembles and communities. Sessions will be 50–60 minutes in length and should fall under the following topics:

Sing and Serve: The Impact of Choirs on Singers, Communities, and the Profession
Explorations of how choral ensembles live out the conference theme Sing and Serve by enriching the lives of singers, strengthening communities, and contributing to the vitality and sustainability of the choral profession.
Rehearsal Techniques and Vocal Pedagogy
Approaches to effective rehearsals that support musical independence and vocal health, including warm-ups, sight-reading strategies, ensemble development, and rehearsal planning.
Practical Strategies for Choral Leadership Across Settings
Sessions that provide practical ideas and resources for conductors and teachers working in church, community, and educational settings, including private instruction and public or private school choral programs at all levels.
Forward-Thinking Topics for 21st-Century Choral Music-Making
Innovative ideas that address the evolving role of choral music today, including inclusive practices, technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, emerging repertoire, and creative approaches to engaging modern singers and audiences.

The deadline for interest session applications is 11:59pm EST, May 15, 2026. Successful applicants will be notified of acceptance by May 31, 2026.

SUBMIT A PROPOSAL

ACDA-PA at ACDA East ENVISION

3/1/2026