NYACDA General News

May 25, 2017

Dear Elementary Children’s Honor Choir Participant and Parent,

Congratulations! You have been accepted to the 2017 NY/ACDA Elementary Children’s Honor Choir taking place on August 14-15, 2017. Please read this letter carefully as it contains extremely important information.

Your black folder has:

• A label with your name, school and assigned voice part
• Choral music (6 pieces)
• Medical form to be completed, notarized and returned by July 1.

REGISTRATION FEE: A registration fee of $125 is due by July 7, 2017. You can pay on-line via PayPal:

Or mail the check (made payable to NY/ACDA) to:

Eric Williamson
c/o Brooklyn Youth Chorus
179 Pacific Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Please note: Scholarship recipients should submit the fee notated in their scholarship award letter.

Late payments will not be accepted. Please contact Eric Williamson as soon as possible if you will not be able to submit payment by the deadline.

MEDICAL FORM: Included in your packet is a medical form. It must be completed, notarized and returned to Eric Williamson by July 7, 2017. 

HOUSING: Housing arrangements must be made individually. You are not required to stay at the Hilton Albany, however it is very convenient as the Tuesday rehearsal and 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: 1NYSMA. Currently the starting rate is $144 a night. All reservations must be made online at www.hilton.com. 

CHAPERONES: Chaperone names must be submitted with the chorister’s information form. Chaperones will have the opportunity to volunteer to be available for portions of the rehearsals, the Monday evening dinner and other events throughout the two day period. While we do not expect all chaperones to be present at rehearsals, we ask that chaperones are reachable by cell phone should an issue arise.

NAMETAGS: Students must wear nametags to all rehearsals, which will be distributed at registration. (We will not wear nametags for the concert/photo opportunity.)

REHEARSALS: 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 Mr. Leck.

REHEARSAL/PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: All Monday rehearsals will be held on the College of Saint Rose campus [Massry Center for the Arts building, 1002 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY 12208] and the Tuesday rehearsal and concert will take place at Hilton Albany [30 Lodge St, Albany, NY 12207] as part of the New York State Summer Music Conference. 

The tentative schedule for Monday, August 14, 2017 is:
11:30AM – 1:00PM Registration (Lunch before on your own.) – College of Saint Rose
1:00PM – 5:00PM Rehearsal (Students should bring a snack for the break.) – College of Saint Rose
5:00PM – 6:30PM Dinner (Provided for choristers) – College of Saint Rose
6:30PM – 8:00PM Rehearsal – College of Saint Rose

The tentative schedule for Tuesday, August 15, 2017 is:
10:30 – 1:30PM Rehearsal and short lunch break – Hilton Albany
2:00-2:45 PM Concert – Hilton Albany

CONCERT DRESS: Singers will wear the festival T-Shirts with blue jeans (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 me.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in August!

Sincerely,
Eric Williamson
Elementary Children’s Honor Choir Coordinator
Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Chorus Manager
179 Pacific Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
[email protected]

FORMS: 2017-NY-ACDA-Elementary-Honor-Choir-Medical-Release

Applications are now available for Interest Sessions and Performing Choirs at the New York ACDA Fall Conference 2017, held on October 20-21, 2017 at Vassar CollegeNY.

Deadline: June 30, 2017

Application for Interest Sessions

Application for Performing Groups

Featuring Guest Conductor
Mr. Rollo Dilworth
Professor of Choral Music Education, Temple University

Who: Current 4th, 5th, and 6th grade choir students.  
Note: 6th grade boys with changed voices should apply as tenors or basses for the middle school honor choir.

Where: The Hilton Albany, 40 Lodge Street, Albany, NY

When: August 14-15, 2017

ITINERARY
Monday, August 14, 2017:
11:30AM – 1:00PM Registration (Lunch before on your own.)
1:00PM – 5:00PM Rehearsal (There will be a snack break.)
5:00PM – 6:30PM Dinner (Provided)
6:30PM – 8:00PM Rehearsal

Tuesday, August 15, 2017:
10:30 – 1:30PM Rehearsal and short lunch break
2:00-2:45 PM Concert

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 15, 2017 POSTMARK

Students who are accepted into the Elementary Children’s Honor Choir are responsible for the participation fee ($125) and their lodging and meals for the weekend. Notification of acceptance will be sent out by May 23, 2017.  Soon after, registration forms and fees ($125.00) will be due. Upon receipt of these materials, music, a rehearsal CD, housing information in Albany, expectations and procedures will be sent to the recommending teacher for distribution. 

For questions or more information please contact Eric Williamson <[email protected]>, NYACDA ELementary Honor Choir Chair. 

Checks can be mailed to:
Eric Williamson
c/o Brooklyn Youth Chorus
179 Pacific Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

APPLICATION

PAYMENT

Featuring Guest Conductor
Dr. Andrea Ramsey

Who: Current 7^th and 8^th grade choir students, and current 6^th graders with changed voices.

Where: The Hilton Albany, 40 Lodge Street, Albany, NY

When: August 12 & 13, 2017

Tentative Schedule:
August 12, 2017:
12:00-1:00 PM Registration
1:00-5:00 PM Rehearsal
7:00-8:30 PM Rehearsal

August 13, 2017:
9:00-9:45 AM Rehearsal
10:00-10:45 AM Open Rehearsal
12:00 PM Middle School Honor Choir Concert

Students who are accepted into the Middle School Honor Choir are responsible for the participation fee ($125) and their lodging and meals for the weekend. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 15, 2017
For questions or more information please contact James Ludwig & Cyndi Feinman <[email protected]>, NYACDA Middle School Honor Choir Chairs.  Checks can be mailed to:

APPLICATION

PAYMENT

ACDA is offering five scholarships to each state that will completely cover conference registration fees for students to attend the 2017 ACDA National Conference in Minneapolis, March 8-11, 2017.

Do You Qualify to Apply?

• You must be a current ACDA student member both at the time of application and during the national conference.

To apply, complete and submit an application & registration form, along with 2 letters of recommendation, to your state contact by October 15, 2016.

• Click here for a form to complete online and print out.
• Click here for a downloadable form to print and complete by hand.

Once you have submitted your application, the state contact should email you to confirm receipt. In addition, they should email you on or shortly after October 31 with the selection results. If you do not hear from the contact, please email them to ensure your application was received, and to request the results of your application.

Please be aware that there will be no refunds given if you register early and then receive a scholarship – the state will just move on to the next student on the selection list. If you apply for a scholarship, wait to hear whether you have been selected before you register for the conference!

Questions?  Contact: 
Dr. Vernon Huff
NY ACDA Student Activities Chair
SUNY Fredonia School of Music
Mason Hall
Fredonia, NY 14063