In its surge of technology renovations, the American Choral Directors Association has adopted a new domain name: acda.org. The domain name was formerly owned by the Antique and Collectibles Dealers Association. ACDA obtained the name through a timely inquiry and recent ownership change of the antique association. The negotiation took place over a six week period, beginning at the ACDA Leadership Conference in early July. Soon to follow will be the new ACDA web site design with many added features and member benefits. The former domain name will be redirected to acda.org, as will former ACDA email addresses.

 

 

ACDA is endeavoring to compile an accurate list of charter members and their contact information in preparation for celebrating its 50th anniversary at the March 2009 National Convention in Oklahoma City. Please help us by correcting any misspellings or any other mistakes on our current list. We are lacking the whereabouts for a number of our charter members. Please help us by providing contact information for them. We would also appreciate knowing if they are deceased, as we always note this in our convention program book. Several special events are being planned for charter members during the convention and your assistance in finding these men and women is greatly appreciated. Please send any corrections no later than December 1, 2008 via a letter, email, fax, or telephone to:

ATTN: Christina Prucha, Archivist
ACDA, PO Box 2720, OKC, OK 73101-2720
Tel: 405.232.8161 Fax: 405.232.8162 Email: <cprucha@acdaonline.org>

ACDA Charter Member List

 

New Publications from Tim Sharp, Executive Director

Genre in Eighteenth-Century Music, edited by Anthony R. DelDonna, Steglein Publishing, Inc., Ann Arbor. Contributed essay:  “The German Songbook in Colonial America”, Timothy Sharp.

The View from Adams Avenue: 19th Century Memphis, A Film by William Bearden. Contributed commentary: Music in 19th Century Memphis, TN, Timothy Sharp.

 

 

ACDA held a national leadership conference in Oklahoma City July 9-13. During this time, state, division and national leaders convened for training sessions, vision planning and social events. We are working together to effectively guide our organization together into the 21st Century and beyond.

Several immediate out comes from the weekend include:

• A re-energized core leadership
• State president's blog to aide in communication and sharing of ideas
• Membership retention and new member campaign
• and many more great ideas with action items to come...

 

Current ACDA Executive Committee:

L-R: Mitzi Groom, Jo-Michael Scheibe, Michele Holt, Jerry McCoy, Tim Sharp, Hilary Apfelstadt, Julie Morgan

Current National R&S Chairs:

Standing: Jeff Carter, John Paul Johnson, Ken Thomas, Bob Johnson, Kirk Marcy, Frank Albinder, Tom Shelton, Julian Ackerley, Paul Aitken
Seated: Debra Spurgeon, Nancy Cox, Amy Johnson-Blosser, Sharon Gratto

 

 

Members can now access full-text articles from the Choral Journal beginning with the February 2008 issue through the Academic Search Complete Database.  Abstracts of articles are available from January 2006 – present.  This service is available only to subscribing libraries.  Check with your library to see if you have access, or contact www.ebscohost.com  to find a library in your area that subscribes.

 

 

His goal: amplify love of singing
by Rick Rogers
The Oklahoman, Sunday, May 25, 2008

"Tim Sharp discovered a love of singing at an early age. His participation in a local children's choir sparked a love of choral music that continues to this day. After spending many years as a choral director, Sharp recently was named executive director of the American Choral Directors Association

"It comes as no surprise that Sharp is a passionate advocate for singing. For many young people, choral music becomes an entry-level arts experience. Whereas band and orchestra players spend considerable time learning the complexities of their instrument, choral music allows young people to experience an artistic moment without a significant investment of time. ..."

Read the entire feature article here

 

 

ACDA and the Library of Congress have entered into an historic agreement:

Whereas the LIbrary is the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States and it maintains collections of historical materials, with more than 130 million items in its collections at this time, including more than 100,000 choral sheet music items;

Whereas the ACDA, founded in 1959, is a nonprofit music-education organization whose central purpose is to promote excellence in choral music through performance, composition, publication, research, and teaching, and it strives through arts advocacy to elevate choral music's position in American society;

Whereas the Library and ACDA wish to cooperate to develop a Choral Music of America web site within the LIbrary's existing web site at www.loc.gov/performingarts/

American Choral Music page

 

 

Today ACDA officially welcomes Dr. Tim Sharp as the new Executive Director. Dr. Sharp outlined four visions for ACDA in the Twenty-First Century in the April 2008 issue of Choral Journal.

I envision a twenty-first century ACDA that establishes the opportunity for every child in the United States to sing in a choir.

I envision a twenty-first century ACDA that becomes fully engaged in world choral initiatives.

I envision a twenty-first century ACDA that utilizes the full extent of technological communication and other technologies for the benefit of our membership.

I envision a twenty-first century ACDA that sets the research and publication agenda for the best thinking, past and present, in choral music.

Read Dr. Sharp's complete vision statement here.

Listen to a PodCast with Dr. Sharp here.

Contribute your thoughts and vision of ACDA here.

 

 

The ACDA Student Conducting Awards were initiated during the 1993 ACDA National Convention in San Antonio, Texas. We again offer this highly successful event at the 2009 ACDA National Convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The ACDA Student Conducting Awards are now funded through ACDA’s Endowment Trust.

The objectives of the ACDA Student Conducting Awards are three-fold:

1. To acknowledge and reward outstanding graduate and undergraduate student conductors;
2. To encourage score preparation and advancement of conducting and rehearsal skills; and
3. To promote student activity at the ACDA National Convention.
   

These cash prizes are awarded to the winners of the final round of the conducting awards:

1. First Prize, Graduate Level: $1000
2. Second Prize, Graduate Level: $500
3. First Prize, Undergraduate Level: $500
4. Second Prize, Undergraduate Level: $250.

In addition, the sixteen semi-finalists (up to eight undergraduate and eight graduate) each receive a $200 scholarship funded by corporate sponsors to defray costs to attend the National Convention.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Hold valid ACDA student membership.
   
2. Be a full-time undergraduate student (junior or senior status) or a full-time graduate student at a college or university in the United States at the time of application.
3. Submit a complete application portfolio.

Click here to view and print the complete application guidelines, eligibility requirements and the official application form.

Application postmark deadline: October 31, 2008.

 

 

Congratulations to the winners of the recent ACDA National Election.

Jo-Michael Scheibe, National President-Elect

Robert Eaton, Eastern Division President-Elect

Aimee Beckmann-Collier, North Central Division President-Elect

Solveig Holmquist, Northwestern Division President-Elect

Margie Camp, Southwestern Division President-Elect

View their photos and read their bios here.

 

 

 

The Executive Committee of ACDA is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Tim Sharp as Executive Director.

Dr. Sharp will assume the new role full-time on
May 1, 2008. During the interim Dr. Sharp will assist in an advisory capacity as well as represent the National ACDA Office at many of the Divisional Conventions and other official ACDA functions.

Read the full press release here.

 

 

ACDA is in the final stages of implementing a new internal database system.  We have undergone an extensive review of our current database systems and reevaluated our internal processes.  As a result, we are combining our membership database with several auxiliary databases into one unified system that integrates data automatically with our new accounting system.

Results? 

• More efficient membership renewal and convention registration processes
• Easier navigation and better access to important information
• Improved reporting to states and divisions
• More accurate accounting

Next steps: Review and overhaul of the ACDA National web site including online membership renewal and online convention registration.  It’s coming soon; we first had to ensure our internal systems were up to date.  We are always interested in receiving member feed back.  Let us know what you think by emailing the ACDA staff or phoning our office.  Your input is important to us!  We are working hard on your behalf and want to ensure we are meeting your needs.

 

 

The 2008 ACDA National Leadership Conference will be held in Oklahoma City on July 10 - 13, 2008.

Attendees will include all state presidents-elect, all division presidents and presidents-elect, and all division treasurers, as well as members of the Executive Committee and the national Repertoire and Standards Committee and Chair. If you are an officer in any of these categories, please mark your calendars now!

 

 

The ACDA staff is working hard on your behalf. View the new staff photos.

 

 

ACDA Establishes Dr. Gene Brooks Memorial Fund. Dr. Gene Brooks served as National Executive Director from 1977 until his passing in July 2007.

Click here for more details.