Due to the current health pandemic of COVID-19, the Summer 2020 Conference, including the Elementary, Junior High, and High School Honor Choirs, are canceled.

NY-ACDA Choral Grants is a new initiative that provides funding to members of the New York American Choral Directors Association for creative and innovative projects that support choral singing and/or reach people of all ages who may not otherwise have access to the benefits and community of choral music.

Funding Priorities

• Focus on choral work and/or singing
• Reach populations who may not have access to choirs and/or singing
• Reach populations who may not have access to additional special choral events in their region such as honor choirs, festivals, and special workshops
• Innovative and creative 
• Sustainable
• Collaborative (e.g., with other funder involvement and/or implementation partners)
• Replicable or adaptable to other settings

Apply Here

Deadline: Friday, January 3, 2020

Previous Grant Recipients:

Kristy Ingersoll, Youth Chorus of the Fingers Lakes
Community Youth Chorus Festival for grades 6-12, with Janet Galván, clinician, Spring 2020

Anthea Jackson,  The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra NY
The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York’s Choral Commission for the Nassau Chamber Chorale, Rosephanye Powell, composer, Spring 2019

Patricia Bordonaro, Syracuse Chorale
Performance of Martin Palmeri’s Misa a Buenos Aires (Misa Tango), Spring 2019

Dena Tasse-Winter and Elizabeth Núñez, SoHarmoniums
The SoHarmoniums, present “Lullaby Project”, Spring 2019.Newly commissioned choral works to be premiered at Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space on the theme of “motherhood.”

Dear Middle School Honor Choir Participant and Parent,

Congratulations! You have been accepted into the 2019 NY-ACDA Middle School Honor Choir taking place on August 10-11, 2019. Please read this letter carefully as it contains extremely important information.

MUSIC: Music was mailed to your teacher.

Your black folder has:

• A label with your name, school, and assigned voice part
• Choral pieces (5 music pieces)

Students are expected to come to rehearsals in August fully prepared to perform their music. Please use this link for rehearsal tracks to practice your music: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/i9kpjjjwce0jvsz/AACxIiW7-sE91Cegb051p_SGa?dl=0

REGISTRATION FEE: A registration fee of $140 is due by June 15th.

Payment Options:  

REGISTRATION FEE: In order to participate in the program, a registration fee of $140 is due by JUNE 1.

Payment Options:  
1. Paypal (preferred)

Student's First Name

Student's Last Name

Please note: NY/ACDA runs an Elementary and Junior Honor Choir program. Make payment for the Junior High Honor Choir.

2. Check – Make payable to NY/ACDA and mail to the following address:
Ann Murphy, NYACDA Treasurer
158 Saint Johns Drive, Rochester, New York 14626

Please note: If you applied for a scholarship, you will receive a separate letter/email notifying you of the results. Scholarship recipients should submit the fee notated in their scholarship award letter.

Late payments will not be accepted. Please contact Cyndi Feinman and Kristy Koonz as soon as possible if you will not be able to submit the payment by the deadline.

MEDICAL FORM: You will find a medical form here as well as in your e-mail. It must be completed and returned by email to [email protected] by June 15th.

HOUSING: Housing arrangements must be made individually. You are not required to stay at the Hilton Albany, however it is very convenient as the all rehearsals and the concert will take place there. Hotel arrangements should be made on your own as soon as possible, as the hotel fills up quickly for the summer music conference. Here is the hotel code: 1SMA19 . Currently, the starting rate is $147 a night. All reservations must be made online at www.hilton.com

CHAPERONES: All students are required to have a chaperone in reachable distance during the two days of the Honor Choir. This can be a parent/guardian, a teacher or another appointed adult.  Chaperones will have the opportunity to volunteer to be available for portions of the rehearsal and other events throughout the two-day period. While we do not expect all chaperones to be present at rehearsal, we ask that chaperones are reachable by cell phone should an issue arise.

WHAT TO BRING: All students participating must attend all parts of all rehearsals in order to participate in the concert. Students will not be excused from any part of any rehearsal. There are no exceptions to this rule. Please be prompt and remember to bring your music, 2 sharpened pencils, and a refillable water bottle (water only) to all rehearsals. NO GUM! Remember to use your best listening, concentration, and singing skills while working with the conductor.

REHEARSAL/PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: All rehearsals will take place at Hilton Albany (30 Lodge Street, Albany, NY 12207) as part of the New York State Summer Music Conference.

The tentative schedule for Saturday, August 10, 2019 is:

• 12:00-1:00pm – Registration – Hilton Albany Ballroom Foyer
  (Lunch with families prior to arrival)
• 1:00-3:00pm – First Rehearsal – Ballroom A
• 3:00-3:30pm – Break – Snack Provided for Participating Students (Not for Chaperones)
• Second Rehearsal – 3:30-5:00pm Ballroom A
• 5:00-7:00pm – Dinner Break with families.
  Please return promptly. It is critical that every student attend every minute of every rehearsal.
• 7:00-8:30pm – Third Rehearsal –Ballroom A
  Evening free with families.

The tentative schedule for Sunday, August 11, 2019 is:

• 9:00-9:45am – Fourth Rehearsal – Ballroom A (Breakfast with families prior to arrival. Please be punctual.)
• 10:00-10:45am – Open Rehearsal – 10:00-10:45am Open to all Parents, Teachers, Summer NYSSMA Conference Attendees.
• 10:45AM-11:45am – Short Lunch Break with families
  Please return promptly. It is critical that every student attend every minute of every rehearsal.
• 11:45am – Pre-Concert Warm-up – Behind Ballroom A
• 12:00pm – Concert – Open and Free to the Public, No Tickets Required

CONCERT DRESS: Singers will wear the festival T-Shirts with black pants (knee-length skirt or pants are acceptable – please no shorts). T-shirts will be distributed to the singers at registration. T-shirts must be tucked in and are only to be worn at the concert. Please make sure hair is clean and out of your face, with limited jewelry worn. Please avoid scented perfume, cologne, or hair products due to allergies.

Additional information will be sent via email throughout the summer. If you have any questions in the meantime, do not hesitate to contact us.  

Sincerely,

Kristy Koonz & Cyndi Feinman
NY-ACDA Middle School Honor Choir Co-Chairs
[email protected]