05/25/2022 – Time sensitive – Special Opportunity – Summer ACDA Honor Choir
Dear Parents,
I am writing with a special invitation for your child to audition for this summer’s ACDA Voices United Children’s Honor Choir.
**Please Note: we received the audition info for this honor choir MUCH later than usual this year and we have a very short turn around time to submit audition applications**
ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) is one of the top professional organizations for choral music educators. In addition to providing support and professional development for choral music teachers and directors, ACDA sponsors many different honor choirs across the United States,that provide students the opportunity to sing under nationally renowned conductors and with other accomplished singers their age.
ACDA VoicesUnited is a summer conference, held at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, for choral music teachers from throughout Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington DC. As a part of this conference, ACDA hosts a Children’s Honor Choir for students age 10-15. DCYC has had many singers participate in this honor choir over the past 6 years and they have had a fantastic time – many return each summer. This summer’s honor choir will be conducted by Dr. Janet Hostetter from the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Chorus in Virginia. A High School/Adult Community Honor Choir is also held in conjunction with the conference for singers 15 and older.
Students must audition by preparing and submitting an audition recording. An application with audition requirements is attached. There is a $10 fee that must accompany the application and audition recording. If selected to participate, a parent must accompany the student as a chaperone, and there is a $100.00 participation fee (this does not include lodging or meals.) Selected singers will receive their music and practice recordings over the summer and they will be expected to learn the music on their own. I had the pleasure of participating in this specific honor choir back in the 90’s and it has left a lasting impression on me and propelled me forward in my love of music and singing. I think it would be a fantastic experience for your singer!
All of the singers come together from Friday, August 5th – Saturday, August 6th, for 2 days of combined rehearsals and a free culminating concert is held at 4pm on Saturday.
If you would like for your child to participate, here is what we will need to do:
- Make an Mp3 audition recording. I would be able to meet to make recordings tomorrow night, Thursday, May 26th between 6-8pm. Recordings could also be made from home and sent to me. We will need 2 recordings: singing a scale (on solfege- do, re, mi…) up and down, and singing My Country Tis of Thee – both a cappella. Both must start on a certain note depending on the voice part for which your child wishes to audition. Parents will be sent a link to pay the audition fee via credit card. Singers should bring the completed audition application when they come to make their audition recording, or email the completed form to me with their recordings. I must submit all applications by Friday, May 27th. We should be notified of acceptance by mid-June.
- It is imperative that each chorister accepted to the Honor Choir has a chaperone within 10 minutesof the rehearsal space at all times, and that we have that chaperone’s cell phone number (which you will enter in the link above.) Lunch on Friday, August 5th, and Saturday, August 6th are both unsupervised. A schedule will be included in your singers packet so you can plan accordingly.
- If accepted, registration is $100 and parents are responsible for arranging for housing and meals during the event.
- Once registration is completed, a music packet will be mailed to you.
- Learning tracks will be provided online and directions to that link will be included in the music folder that will be mailed to you as well.
I’m so proud of your child’s accomplishments this year, and I hope that they are able to have the wonderful experience of participating in this honor choir. If you have questions and would prefer to talk on the phone – feel free to call me anytime – 301-524-4435. Please let me know if your singer would like to audition for this honor choir!
I look forward to hearing from you regarding this opportunity!
—
Julie Culotta
Artistic Director
Deer Creek Youth Choir
youthchoir@deercreekchorale.org