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Application Guidelines for Insight Choirs
2027 ACDA National Conference
Minneapolis, MN
March 7-10, 2027

The 2027 National Conference Committee is pleased to continue insight choirs, an initiative launched at the 2023 Nation-
al Conference in Cincinnati. Insight choirs support missions that are social or community related and use choral music as
a tool to reach these goals. Insight choir sessions support and inspire the membership by providing engaging research,
pedagogies, practices, and repertoire. Contrasted with demonstration choirs, we consider insight choirs as inextricably
linked with the presentation, where the choral ensemble is critical to the topic and the presenter is intimately tied to the
ensemble. We seek proposals for a 50-minute session that will actively engage conference participants and contribute to
the professional development of our membership. ACDA members in all repertoire and resource areas are invited to apply.

The 2027 National Conference theme is Singing Through the Ages. All topics are welcome, but the conference committee
is particularly interested in those that celebrate our choral heritage, embody strong pedagogical ideas, scholarly content,
and relevance to our choral community. Topics could include but are not limited to:

• Working with singers with special needs
• Working with aging voices in community and religious settings
• Living composer-conductor collaborations
• Working with students in a Title 1 school
• Multigenerational singing

• Non-auditioned choirs that operate and rehearse in alternative ways to meet the needs of their membership
and community at large.

I. Eligibility

Conductors/presenters must hold life, paying life, retired, active, or student ACDA membership at the time of application,
registration, and performance. Please note that all accepted conductors/presenters are expected to meet ALL posted dates
and deadlines. No choir or conductor may perform at successive national conferences as a performing choir, demonstra-
tion choir, or insight choir.

II. Registration and Travel Info

It is understood that ACDA will not assume financial responsibility for registration, travel, food, or lodging for presenters or
participants. Insight choir conductors must register for the conference. Completing the online application implies that the
conductor and the ensemble will obtain the necessary funds to travel and present at the conference if accepted.
Presenters are expected to officially register for the conference at the posted registration rates.

III. Session Conductor/Ensemble Expectations

The conductor and ensemble will arrive 15 minutes prior to the session to establish standing positions and ensure all
audiovisual equipment is working properly. Insight choirs will not have a dress rehearsal prior to their session. Ensembles
must be under 75 singers and may include a pianist and four additional instrumentalists. It is the responsibility of the
ensemble to set up the chairs and music stands for the instrumentalists as per the submitted application materials.

CHORAL JOURNAL May 2026 Volume 66 Number 8 45