American Choral Directors Association

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The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a non-profit organization with the stated purpose of promoting excellence in the field of choral music. Its membership comprises approximately 22,000 choral directors representing over a million singers.

Contents 1 Background information 2 Divisions 2.1 Central Division 2.2 Eastern Division 2.3 North Central Division 2.4 Northwestern Division 2.5 Southern Division 2.6 Southwestern Division 2.7 Western Division 3 External links

[edit] Background information

ACDA is organized in seven Divisions, i.e., Central, Eastern, North Central, Northwestern, Southern, Southwestern, and Western. Every year, conventions of conductors are held - in even years, a divisional convention is held in each division, and in odd years, one massive national convention takes place in a major city somewhere in the country. In 2009, ACDA will celebrate its 50th Anniversary with the National Convention to be held in Oklahoma City.

Conductors can apply to have their choirs perform at these conventions through a blind audition-tape process. Being accepted to sing at an ACDA convention is considered a great honor, both for a choir and for its conductor. Individual singers may also apply to sing with ACDA National Honors Choirs. About 300 singers are selected from around the country to sing in each national choir.

The official publication is the Choral Journal.

In addition to the divisional organization, a similar break out is done along specialization lines. The specialties are:

• Boychoirs
• Children's Choirs
• College and University Choirs
• Community Choirs
• Ethnic and Multicultural Choirs
• Jazz Choirs
• Junior High & Middle School Choirs
• Male Choirs
• Music in Worship
• Show Choirs
• Senior High School Choirs
• 2-Year College Choirs
• Women's Choirs
• Youth & Student Activities

Each specialty is organized under a Repertoire and Standards (R&S) Committee system, with a National Committee, Division Committees, and State chairpersons. The National Chairperson for each specialty is also a member of the National R&S Committee which meets annually to discuss issues common to all specialties.

[edit] Divisions

The Divisions are organized by state chapters as follows:

[edit] Central Division

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Michigan
• Ohio

[edit] Eastern Division

• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Maine
• Maryland and District of Columbia
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Vermont

[edit] North Central Division

• Iowa
• Minnesota
• Nebraska
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Wisconsin

[edit] Northwestern Division

• Alaska
• Idaho
• Montana
• Oregon
• Washington
• Wyoming

[edit] Southern Division

• Alabama
• Florida
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• West Virginia

[edit] Southwestern Division

• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Kansas
• Missouri
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma
• Texas

[edit] Western Division

• Arizona
• California
• Hawaii
• Nevada
• Utah

[edit] External links

• Official site