ACDA Voices United Conference

Annual Collaborative Summer Conference by the Delaware, Maryland/DC, and Virginia chapters of the American Choral Directors Association

CONFERENCE INFO

Sponsored by the VA, MD/DC, and DE chapters of ACDA and The Musical Source

Stay tuned for detailed 2022 Conference Information!

​In the meantime, check out what we did in 2021 below!

2021 Conference Schedule

  • FRIDAY, AUGUST 6
    • ACDA Friends Track: Sessions available beginning at 8:00AM
    • Open to all regardless of membership status with ACDA
    • Sessions are pre-recorded and are available for all on our YouTube Channel.
    • Interest Sessions:
      • Matt Hill: Community Choirs: From Music to Money and Everything in Between, Session 1 – The Music Side
      • Matt Hill: Community Choirs: From Music to Money and Everything in Between, Session 2 – The Business Side
      • Kerry Wilkerson: Careers for Vocalists in the US Military
      • Nathan Reiff: Leading and Growing with a Hospice Choir in the Time of COVID
      • Matthew Clear: Designing a Concert Series to Serve Your Choir, Congregation, and Community
      • Cody Miller: Musical Maps: Are We There Yet?
      • Ashley Conway and Emily Williams Burch: Using Technology to Spark Passion in the Classroom Post-Pandemic: Keeping your Technology L.I.T.
      • Repertoire: Resources from Area Directors, compiled by C.J. Redden-Liotta
  • Seminar Track – “Masterclasses with Michael John Trotta”
    • Open to all ACDA Members; suggested registration fee of $5 per session).
    • Compete this Google form to participate (last day to register is July 24). You will not be registered for the masterclasses until you complete the Google form.
    • The suggested donation is $10 per masterclass. Please add to the total cost in the PayPal link if you are able.
    • The first 12 participants will be emailed masterclass information in advance. If space is filled, registrants will be notified.
    • Members attend live. Space is limited to 12 participants on a first-registered basis.
      • 10:00-10:45AM – Collaborating with a Composer
      • 11:00-11:45AM – Funding Collaborations and Commissions
      • 1:00-1:45PM – The Anatomy of Creativity in Composition
      • 2:00-2:45PM – The Conductor as Voice Teacher
  • State Chapter Conversations: Friday, August 6, 5:00PM
    • Network with ACDA members from YOUR chapter! Separate online gatherings for VA ACDA, MD/DC ACDA, and DE ACDA.
    • Not from around here? You are welcome to network with any of our state chapters!
    • Links to these meetings will be provided separately.
  • SATURDAY, AUGUST 7 (live & online)
    • 9:00 – Panel: In-Person Singing: Tips for Sharing Live Performance in Virtual Spaces. Pam McDermott, with Jane Morison, Max Nolin, and McKenna Stenson
    • 10:00 – Panel: Biases, Barriers, and Boundaries: Establishing Affirming Choral Spaces. Andrew Trites, with Arreon Harley-Emerson
    • 11:00 – Michael John Trotta: The Power of Story
    • 12:00 – Lunch
    • 1:00 – Panel: What Is Equity? The Variety of Challenges Facing Today’s Choral Director​.Sherlee Glomb, Dr. Marshaun R. Hymon, Kari Adams, Daniel Jackson, and A.J. Rodriguez
    • 2:00 – Michael John Trotta: Empowering Singers through Peer Modeling
    • 3:00 – Panel: Extensions of Virtual Singing. Alice Boyars, with David Mann, CJ Redden-Liotta, Bonny Tynch, and Pat Vaughn
    • 4:00 – Ysaye Barnwell: What is the “Negro Spiritual”?
    • 5:00 – Happy Hour / Headliner Q&A with Michael Wu​

Click here for detailed 2021 Conference Schedule and Session Descriptions, and view our pre-recorded asynchronous sessions here!