2026 Applications & Registration

Important Dates & Application Links:

  • March 1 – May 1 - Applications window for Performing Choirs and Interest Sessions

  • March 1 – August 30 - Conducting Master Class Applications window

    • 2026 GA-ACDA Conducting Masterclass (Undergraduate/Graduate): Application Link

    • 2026 GA-ACDA Conducting Masterclass (Current Director): Application Link

  • August 1 – September 5th - Director Awards Nominations window

    • 2026 GA-ACDA Distinguished Director Award: Nomination Link

    • 2026 GA-ACDA Young Director Award: Nomination Link

    • 2026 GA-ACDA Mid-Career Director of Excellence Award: Nomination Link

  • August 1 - Treble Honor Choir & All College Choir Registration window (closes 9/12 or until filled)

  • August 1 - Early Bird 2-Day Conference Registration Opens @ $75 per guest

  • September 2 - 2-Day Conference Registration Increases to $100 per guest

  • September 2 - Conference Registration “Friday Only Pass”opens @ $60 per guest

  • September 29 - 2-Day Conference Registration Increases to $125 per guest

  • October 2-3 - 2026 GA-ACDA STATE CONFERENCE

    • LOCATION: Kennesaw State University | 1000 Chastain Rd. | Kennesaw, GA 30144

Conference Registration Price:

  • Active Members - $75 (increases on 9/2 and 9/29)

  • Retired Members - $75 (does not increase)

  • Student Members - $15 (does not increase, includes both days of conference)

  • Active or Retired Members “Friday Only Pass” - $60 (begins 9/2)

Hotel Information:

Established Blocks:

Guests can make reservations by calling 770-420-2505 and pressing 1 to book reservations for GA-ACDA group, or via the personalized group page linked below. Link group cutoff date is Sunday, September 13th at midnight.

https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/atlkses-907-90cc2eff-51f7-4ec1-bce6-9cc58c4f4992/

Other Hotels:

  • Hampton Inn Atlanta Kennesaw

  • Hilton Garden Inn Kennesaw Town Center

  • Tru by Hilton Atlanta NW Kennesaw

Conference Program:

Digital Link: CLICK HERE

Friday, October 2nd

8:00 Registration Opens - Henriquez Atrium

8:45 Opening Session - Morgan Concert Hall

9:20 Interest Sessions

  • Independent Singers, Stronger Choirs: Rhythm as Agency in the Choral Rehearsal

    • Dr. Laura Leigh Spillane, Wilson 114

  • The Bell Curve of Programming: How to Select Developmentally Appropriate Repertoire for Your Choir

    • Alexandria Thompson, Wilson 119

  • Pipeline to Performance: Building Unified Middle–High School Choir Programs

    • Kenneth Boykin & Antoine Bray, Wilson 103

  • Dust off Your Baton: Equipping Choral Conductors for Instrumental Success

    • Caitlin Norton, Wilson 108

10:30 Interest Sessions

  • The Efficient Director: Work Hacks to Simplify Your Day and Save Your Weekend

    • Jay Dunn, Wilson 103

  • The Choral Recipe: Practical Vocal Pedagogy for All Choirs

    • Dr. Andrew Schmidt, Wilson 114

  • Embodied Awareness: The Alexander Technique for Choral Conductors

    • Madison Tiegreen & Carolyn Mielke, Wilson 119

11:30 Lunch Break‍ ‍

1:00 Concert Session #1 - Morgan Concert Hall

  • 1:00: Academy for Classical Education Jr. High Chamber Choir

    • Directed by Lea Anne Walters

  • 1:15: Harrison High School Chamber Singers

    • Directed by Megan Schuitema

  • 1:30: North Gwinnett High School Choral

    • Directed by John Wright

  • 1:45: Pope High School Tenor Bass Choir

    • Directed by Zelda Johns

  • 2:00: Seckinger High School Mastery Chorus

    • Directed by Dr. Alex Ubiera & Stephanie Archer

2:45 Interest Sessions

  • From Mismatch to Mastery: Female directors developing male voices in the choral classroom

    • Zelda Johns & Dr. Elise Sparks, Wilson 103

  • Encouraging Improvisation and Composition at the Secondary Level using the Orff Schulwerk and Kodály Approaches

    • Dr. Stefanie Cash, Wilson 108

  • Body and Brain: Vocal Warmups that Activate Both

    • Dr. J. Christine Linschoten, Wilson 119

4:00 Conducting Masterclass for Current Conductors, Scott Hall (Demonstration Choir: Reinhardt University Chorale, Director Dr. Jacob Augsten). Masterclass Clinician: Dr. Kevin Fenton

5:00 Dinner Break

5:15pm - Beer Choir @ Miller’s Ale House - 745 Chastain Rd NW, Kennesaw Ga, 30144 - Appetizers provided, come sing!

7:00 Concert Session #2 - Morgan Concert Hall

  • 7:00: Rainey-McCullers High School Singers

    • Directed by Matt White

  • 7:15: Jacksonville State University A Capella Choir

    • Directed by Dr. Eliezer Yanson Jr.

  • 7:30: Coro Vocati

    • Directed by Dr. Stanley Roberts

  • 7:45: GA-ACDA Treble Honor Choir

    • Directed by Mary Middlecombe

  • 8:00: GA-ACDA All College Choir

    • Directed by Jeff Bauman

Saturday, October 3rd

8:30 Registration Opens - Henriquez Atrium

8:30 Coffee & Pastry Breakfast - Scott Rehearsal Hall

8:45 Morning Sing - Scott Rehearsal Hall

9:00 Conducting Masterclass for Students, Scott Rehearsal Hall (Demonstration Choir: KSU Chamber Singers, Director, Ryan Fellman). Masterclass Clinician, Dr. Alicia Walker

10:15 Reading Sessions

  • Elementary School, Middle School, Children’s Choirs

    • Alexis Lundy, Carla Henry, Michelle Folta, MU 109

  • Church Choir, College Choir, Community Choir

    • Cody Goss, Jacob Augsten, Robert Glor, Wilson 103

  • Senior High School, SSAA, TTBB

    • Janet Wooten, Dominique Petite, Alex Ubiera, Wilson 114

11:30 Concert Session #3 - Morgan Concert Hall

  • 11:30: South Forsyth Middle School Advance Treble Chorus

    • Directed by Maxwell Marshall

  • 11:45: Crabapple Middle School 8th Grade Husky Chorus

    • Directed by Emma Teems

  • 12:00: West Forsyth Select Treble Ensemble

    • Directed by Claire Pappas

  • 12:15: University of North Georgia Chamber Choir

    • Directed by Dr. Emily Hobson-Gallardo

  • 12:45: Athens Master Chorale

    • Directed by Justin Han

  • 1:00: OurSong Atlanta

    • Directed by Dr. Robert Glor

Driving Directions / Parking Information (scroll down for parking rules)

Friday & Saturday: All conference attendees should plan on parking at the KSU Central Parking Deck located at 525 Parliament Garden Way NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144 (circled in red).  Please park on the 3rd floor or higher to avoid getting a citation. The Bailey Performing Arts center (488 Prillaman Way, Kennesaw, GA 30144) is approximately a 6-minute walk from the Central Parking Deck. Head west on Prillaman Way and look for signs that say GA-ACDA Conference. 

Handicapped Parking: Any guests with a handicap tag may legally park in any handicap designated parking spot in any campus parking lot (including Lot D & E) – no KSU parking permit required.

Bus Drop-off

Buses may drop off at the Bailey Center bus stop on Prillaman Way and then should immediately head to bus parking until time for pickup.

Bus Idling

Buses may park at the KSU Center, which is located at 3333 Busbee Drive (just past Cracker Barrel) – please have buses park in the back of the lot out of the way of regular traffic flow.

PARKING RULES

  • Please allow plenty of time to navigate around campus, find a parking spot, and for walking to the Bailey Performance Center

  • Parking has been approved for Central Deck 3rd floor & above – cars that park in any other area may be subject to receiving a parking citation & a fine from KSU Parking

  • Please do not block the flow of traffic – do not stop or idle on any roadways

  • Do not drop off passengers at the bus stop at Prillaman Way – we need to keep this area clear for buses for ACDA & Cobb Linc buses; only drop off passengers at the front Bailey Performance Center entrance.

  • After parking in the Central Deck, please cross Owl Drive and follow the sidewalk up and around to the front entrance of the Bailey Performance Center. Do not enter the Zuckerman Museum (lower level) – that is operated separately and not to be used as a pathway to the Bailey Center.

  • Use caution and drive slowly when traveling around the roundabout on Campus Loop Rd, or along Prillaman Way – watch for pedestrians and be aware of buses that may block visibility at times.

  • Do not leave cars unattended when dropping off passengers or items.