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The ACDA's national conference opened with a concert featuring choirs from CCM and throughout the US

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music was recently featured in the welcome concert of the American Choral Directors Association National Conference on Feb. 21, 2023, at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center for the Arts. Titled "A Place of Belonging," the national conference ran for the first time ever in Cincinnati on Feb. 22-25, 2023.

The welcome concert featured the CCM Chamber Choir, Cincinnati Youth Choir (CYC) and the Your Hand and Mine ACDA Festival Choir. Singers included participants from the Glen Cove High School Select Chorale (New York), Kings High School Chamber Choir (Ohio), Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers (Kentucky), Little Miami High School Select Choirs (Ohio), Milford High School Chamber Singers (Ohio), Oak Hills High School Varisty Singers (Ohio), Spencerville Adventist Academy Cantares (Maryland) and William Mason High School Bel Canto and Honors Concert Choir (Ohio).

Joe Miller, CCM Director of Choral Studies, is grateful for CCM’s involvement in the ACDA 2023 conference. “This concert showcase[d] the talent and leadership of CCM in the choral profession,” he says, mirroring the school’s long-standing history as a leader in music education.

The CCM Chamber Choir and Cincinnati Youth Choir opened the performance with the premiere of The Vast and Boundless Sky by Dominick DiOrio. It was commissioned for the 30th anniversary of the Cincinnati Youth Choir, CCM ensemble-in-residence. Full of energy and hope, this bright work highlights the courage, creativity and pure joy that cannot be stifled by dark times.

The concert's grande finale featured the combined ACDA Festival Choir in the world premiere of Your Hand and Mine, composed by Marques Garrett and commissioned by the ACDA welcome concert singers. With text drawn from Spencer Michael Free’s poem “The Human Touch,” this lush work speaks of the healing power of song.

According to acda.org, the ACDA 2023 conference aimed to create “a place where we can celebrate our diversity and affinities, eliminate barriers, and inspire each other towards collective action ensuring that everyone feels they belong to our shared journey.” The annual ACDA conference is attended by hundreds of professionals, students and educators from across the country.

Widely recognized as one of the premier professional organizations for choral teachers, students, directors and performers alike, the ACDA helps to provide its members with networking opportunities, career preparation, and all manner of professional resources. With a mission to inspire excellence and nurture lifelong participation in choral music, the ACDA believes that “Belonging is fundamental to being human,” and provides a community where “each member is heard, understood, seen, and valued.” Learn more about ACDA.