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Submission Guidelines for Performing Choirs - 2027 National Conference pg 2

III. Application Process

All materials listed below will be submitted and uploaded through the online platform at www.acda.org. no later than
11:59 pm CST on April 15, 2026. Help desk support is available until 5:00 pm CST on April 15, 2026. After that time, no
support will be provided, even if technical issues are encountered. Applicants are encouraged to plan ahead to ensure they
can complete the submission process. Late submissions will not be accepted for any reason.
The online platform assigns each submission a number, assuring confidentiality until after the National Adjudication Com-
mittee has completed its consideration. At no time will the choir/conductor identity be known to any of the screening
committee members. An incomplete upload of the audition materials listed below will not be considered.
The following is the list of requirements for the application:

For all submissions except Contemporary A Cappella & Show Choir:

1. A list of your proposed repertoire for the 2027 conference. The proposed program should include the following:

a. The title, composer and/or arranger, poet/lyricist, complete publication information for each piece, and website
link (if available) to publisher/distributor, and;
b. The approximate performance time of each piece. Total program time should not exceed 25 minutes total on
stage, including applause.

2. Accepted choirs are expected to perform the program proposed in the application, as the proposed program is eval-
uated in the final screening rubric.

• The program should reflect the conference theme by presenting a historic program and/or a combination of eras
and styles. Programs highlighting historically excluded and/or twenty-first-century composers are also welcome.
Only one manuscript (not commercially available) piece may be included, and a maximum of two pieces by any
particular composer may be presented.

• The proposed repertoire listing must be accurate. Take care to confirm the spelling of titles and names, correct at-
tributions of composers, arrangers, poets/lyricists, and detailed publisher information. An inaccurate submission
will impact the final score and may be grounds for disqualification.
• In the event of a duplicate selection, preference will be given to the application received first. Impacted conduc-
tors will be notified and required to make a substitution in their program; failure to do so by the deadline will
result in cancellation of the invitation to perform.

• In special circumstances, the Conference Committee may consider petitions to change repertoire after invitations
have been issued, between August 15 and October 1, 2026. Changes impacting more than 20% of the total
performance time will not be considered. Approval of changes are at the discretion of the Conference Committee
Chair.

• The use of photocopies or duplicated music at ACDA conferences is strictly prohibited.

3. Three audio recordings (or six recordings for co-conductors—see Section I) in digital format are to be submitted. The
combined total duration of the three recordings should be no longer than 15 minutes in length (30 min if co-conduc-
tors are submitting six recordings).

40 CHORAL JOURNAL May 2026 Volume 66 Number 8