DUE May 21, 2025 @ 11:59pm CENTRAL TIME
ENVISION 2026 invites us to visualize and actively engage in creating a world that embraces choral singing as an act of humanity. To ENVISION and shape a society where choral music is fully integrated into culture and daily life, with no barriers to participation, and where every voice has a place on the risers and in positions of influence. To ENVISION this world requires a persistent commitment to equity and the dissolution of gatekeeping to ensure that choral singing reflects who we are.
This vision demands artistic innovation, collaboration, and a collective effort to turn our shared dream into reality—a world where choral music unites, elevates diverse voices, and fosters leadership that is equitably distributed across all communities.
Part performance, part interest session, INSIGHT CHOIR SESSIONS offer conference attendees a multi-dimensional informance with an intentional balance between lecture, discussion, and performance elements. The 2026 ACDA Eastern Region conference seeks dynamic conductor-teachers and their ensembles to present INSIGHT CHOIR sessions that ENVISION the possibilities of choral music in all spaces and communities.
Process in Practice
If you are a conductor looking to present an Interest Session using your choir as a demonstration choir, you should apply as an Insight Choir.
Insight Choir sessions will provide opportunities for conductors, ensemble leaders, music educators, and choral ensembles to present a multi-dimensional informance with an intentional balance between lecture, discussion and performance elements.
These informances are designed to elevate & demonstrate any or all of the following:
- Pedagogical practices
- Practical processes
- Performance skill
- Research
Insight Choirs may include, but are not limited to:
- Ensembles that have an extra-musical mission that is as important, if not more important, than their musical objectives.
- Ensembles whose processes celebrate the diversity of the choral arts through culturally grounded practice.
- Non-auditioned ensembles who operate and rehearse in flexible and alternative ways for the sake of the needs of their membership and the community at large.
In addition to intentional connection to the 2026 Conference Theme ENVISION, we are particularly interested in topics that engage with DEIAB (diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging) values and philosophies, pedagogical processes, proven real-world content, or scholarly research that is relevant to all facets of our membership.
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Embedded community and socially conscious practices
- Living composer-conductor collaborations
- Lecture performances of underrepresented composers and/or cultural traditions
- Experiential approaches to repertoire and pedagogy
- Action research projects
We invite proposals for 50-minute sessions that actively engage attendees.
All sessions will occur in the Rhode Island Convention Center which has limited space for performing forces and basic support for equipment and audio-visual needs.
Conference Registration and Travel Information
ACDA will not assume financial responsibility for registration, travel, food, or lodging for the conductor or the ensemble. Completion of the online application implies that the conductor and ensemble are prepared to travel and perform at the conference if accepted.
Session Presenter Expectations
Presenters must be current members of ACDA willing to grant ACDA rights to record their presentation and allow ACDA to use such recordings to advance the mission of ACDA. Note that all accepted presenters are expected to meet ALL posted dates and deadlines. We reserve the right to make adjustments to any session at any point.
Additional Considerations
The ACDA Eastern Region strongly encourages performing ensembles to consider giving back to the Providence community. Contributing activities could include performing in venues such as schools, hospitals, and senior citizens facilities. Ensembles may also connect with charitable or community-minded institutions, or bring financial donations or gifts-in-kind for organizations such as shelters or the local Food Bank. The Eastern Region Board will supply a database of organizations and institutions.
Insight Choir Audition Process Timeline
March 31, 2025 Online application opens
May 21, 2025 Online application closes
July 5, 2023 Choirs will be notified of their status via email
Application Requirements
*Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in disqualification. Please read and include all required elements.
- Session Title
- The session title should be reflective of the session’s content and be no longer than 10 words.
- Ensemble Statement
- To ensure diverse representation, without identifying the name of the ensemble or conductor, applicants are asked to share the ensemble’s mission and practices in a narrative no longer than 900 characters
- The narrative might include:
- The demographics of the ensemble, institution, and/or the wider community
- The ensemble’s history, mission, values, and philosophy
- How/If the ensemble works with the wider community
- How/If the ensemble meets the needs of a specific population
- Session Outline and Description (two separate PDF files)
- Your Session Outline (no more than 2 pages) should address the content and key learning outcomes of the session, as well as provide a clearly defined outline. This document will be used to help evaluate your session and may provide content for the conference app.
- If your session is highlighting rehearsal techniques or something similar, your outline might include details about, but is not limited to discussing:
- Repertoire (if any) you plan to address
- Rehearsal techniques (if any) you plan to address
- Ensemble development
- Community engagement
- Other
- If your session is highlighting rehearsal techniques or something similar, your outline might include details about, but is not limited to discussing:
- Your Session Description (100 word maximum) should describe your content and key learning outcomes more briefly. This document will solely be used in Choral Journal advertisements.
- Your Session Outline (no more than 2 pages) should address the content and key learning outcomes of the session, as well as provide a clearly defined outline. This document will be used to help evaluate your session and may provide content for the conference app.
- An application fee of $40 will be required to complete the application. Online payments only.
Recordings
Recordings should feature the ensemble’s performances from 2022 to 2025:
- Up to five audio and/or video recording(s) totaling between 10 and 30 minutes should be submitted. These should provide evidence of your ensemble’s ability to clearly demonstrate the process(es) described in your session’s outline. At least one example of the current makeup of the ensemble in performance should be included.
Terms of Agreement
By submitting an application, you consent to being audio and video recorded with no financial compensation from ACDA or the recording company if chosen to perform in the conference. ACDA assumes no financial responsibility for performer travel, food, or lodging. However, ACDA Eastern Region is committing to assisting with the financial burden of Spotlight and Concert Choirs’ conference participation through providing counsel and support in the budgeting process, helping ensembles to access resources for funding, or by partially subsidizing funding (in collaboration with the state chapters) once an ensemble has been invited to perform. We hope that potential financial burdens will not stop conductors and choirs from applying.
Please direct any questions or concerns to:
Will Gunn
Performing Choirs Chair, ACDA Eastern Region 2026
Eastern Region R&R Chair – High School Choirs
[email protected]