Friend,
We want you to know how grateful we are for YOU! In a year like no other, you have faced down challenges, used your creativity and passion, and stepped up for your singers, your students, and the choral art. We have seen how people will do everything humanly possible to sing together, in spite of all the barriers - wearing masks, standing at a distance, coming together online, being outside, and working through new technologies. This was facilitated and made possible because of you.
Thank you, bless you, and our best Thanksgiving wishes to you.
Your supporters at the ACDA national office
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Despite the incredible hit to our lives as musicians, educators, and humans used to working together, I find I’m learning a wealth of new skills, using tools I hadn’t used before. The community has quickly gone into a support mode for each other, and now so many of us have learned tech and communication skills that reach beyond the rehearsal room and stage, and that we’ll be able to carry with us.
Goodness knows it’s tough. I miss my choirs. I’m sad that the only time I’ve really been able to see them was to create a project where I filmed them outside their own homes and edited the footage together to have an ensemble. I know it isn’t the best editing in the world, but that isn’t the point. What is the point is that we are helping each other find ways to keep connected, since we can’t be up in our organ lofts, choir rooms, and stages making music together for the time being.
The generosity of spirit among the choir directors across the U.S. has created new forums, given advice, posted video editing tutorials, etc., and all from a sense that we are in this together. It certainly gives me a touchstone every morning before I have to sit in front of my computer and recording equipment to compose, arrange, or create something for the week.
Gary Ruschman, Minnesota Choral Directors Association member
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Do you have some inspirational words to offer your ACDA colleagues - something that will lift spirits and share gratitude for the choral art? Please reply to this email so that we may consider sharing them with our community in upcoming emails!
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Read About Connecticut ACDA's Advocacy Work! |
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"I now have a very different view of advocacy - not only as a responsibility, but also as a joy. To be working toward something like this for your friends and colleagues - for your students and also for yourself, I feel like there’s something sacred about that.” - Amanda Hanzlik, Connecticut ACDA President |
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Connecticut ACDA was one of the first state chapters to launch into advocacy action in May 2020, just after COVID-19's impacts were beginning to be felt. Chapter president, Amanda Hanzlik, called for a seat at the table, and in the process, found a calling for herself. Click here to read the story.
Visit our Choral Advocates microsite and sign up now to be an ACDA Choral Advocate. Add your voice to those supporting the choral art! |
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ACDA's Fund for Tomorrow
Our Fund for Tomorrow encourages innovative work that takes singing into communities where children and youth might not have an opportunity to sing otherwise. It opens doors, seeds creativity, and works to grow new singers and conductors. Click here to read about some of this work!
- Give online by signing in at acda.org, then click here.
- Make your donation by check (to ACDA, with Fund for Tomorrow in the memo line) and mail it to ACDA Fund for Tomorrow, PO Box 1705, Oklahoma City, OK 73101-1705.
- You may also sign up to make an automatic monthly donation.
Did you know that the CARES Act allows you to deductible a donation up to $300, even if you don't itemize your taxes? If you do itemize, you can deduct all of your cash donations up to 100 percent of your adjusted gross income. You win; we win!
Do you have an idea for an innovative project? The next grant applications are due by Jan. 1, 2021. More information.
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Join Us for Our Most Most Accessible Conference Ever!
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Our profession has worked double and triple time this year dealing with the challenges presented by COVID-19. It has been difficult work, but we are inspired by the innovation and rapid adjustments that choral conductors are making in order to ensure that we can sing together safely now and into the future.
This is a vital time for us to join together, share with, learn from, and be inspired by each other, in ways that only our choral peers truly understand.
We are excited about our 2021 national conference - which will highlight diversity in music. One of our top goals is to open the doors for even more members to join with us - with a discounted registration cost, the ability to attend regardless of where you are geographically, and the option to view sessions and performances at your convenience, during or after the conference. Please join us!
Registration gives you the full conference experience online, including interest sessions, performances, reading sessions, virtual exhibits, composer exhibitions, receptions, and more - and most content will remain available to you following the event.
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Early Registration Prices (through Jan. 27)
General: $179
Retired: $149
Student: $79
You must have current membership to register.
Current Conference Deadlines:
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STATE & OTHER VIRTUAL EVENTS |
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Be a part of this year’s Raymond W. Brock Memorial Composition première through virtual informative chats, dialogue (Q&A), and rehearsals led by 2021 Brock composer Bob Chilcott! He is joined by poet Delphine Chalmers to introduce and rehearse movements from this year’s Brock commission, Songs my heart has taught me, in three interactive workshops:
- SA/Treble voices: Sunday, February 7, 2021; 2:00 p.m. CST
- TB/Lower voices: Sunday, February 21, 2021; 2:00 p.m. CST
- SATB/All voices: Sunday, February 28, 2021; 2:00 p.m. CST
State Events
Chapter virtual conferences and webinars open to members in other states:
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The latest results of our sponsored research studies on COVID-19 and choral singing are posted on this resource page, as well as information on online tools and professional development, free choral music from ACDA composers, and much more. We invite you to check this page regularly for added resources.
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This email is a weekly Wednesday communication we are sending - for a time - to share resources and lift up our members during this challenging period. |
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Wish to unsubscribe to this Wednesday email?
Sign-in at https://acda.org, go to your profile, scroll to your communications preferences, and de-select "Weekly Inspiration." Or, reply with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line and we'll manually remove you from this Wednesday email.
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American Choral Directors Association | 405.232.8161 | membership@acda.org | www.acda.org | PO Box 1705, Oklahoma City, OK 73101-1705 |
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