The American Choral Director's Association hold Honor Choir auditions every year. On even years, they hold Regional Honor Choir Auditions. Students from the northeast (11 states) are eligible to audition. On odd years, they hold National Honor Choir Auditions. Students from the entire country (all 50 states) are eligible to audition. Each year thousands of students audition for minimal spots. Caravel has been fortunate to send students to both Regional and National Honor Choirs in Philadelphia, Providence, Baltimore, Dallas, Minneapoli, Boston, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, and Rochester. Our students have been fortunate to work with world-renowned conductors and singers from across the country. It is hard work and truly the experience of a lifetime! Students interested in auditioning must contact their CA choral director to review the audition requirements and set up time/s to prepare the audition material. Students should also be prepared to work diligently on their audition material at home and with their private vocal teacher (if applicable) as well. 
The cost of these events vary from year to year. There are audition fees and recording & accompanist fees (when applicable). If a student is accepted there are registration fees (which typically includes hotel accommodations) and travel fees. The Music Boosters offer a few special fundraisers during the year to help students cover expenses but it is not a guarantee that all expenses will be reimbursed. 


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Pictures from our various Honor Choir locations and participants: 

Children's Honor Choir Rehearsal in Minneapolis

ELIGIBILITY

• Singers who will be in grades 5, 6, or 7 in March 2025 may apply
• Application opens August 15, 2024 and closes September 26, 2024. Help desk support is available until 5pm central time on September 26 by emailing [email protected]. Late submissions will not be accepted for any reason. Plan ahead to access support if you need it.
• Singers must be sponsored by an ACDA member who holds a current active, life, paying life, or retired ACDA membership.
• This choir will be for unchanged voices 
• Application fee of $30 per student, payable at the time of audition submission. Payment types available will be debit card, credit card, or school PO. Checks will not be accepted.

REGISTRATION FEES & COSTS
Accepted singers are responsible for all of the following

• Registration/participation fee, hotel accommodations, food, and personal transportation to and from Dallas, Texas.  
• Registration/participation fee of $360
  • This fee covers breakfast and lunch on Thursday and Friday, as well as music, and other costs of the honor choir
• This fee does NOT include hotel accommodations.  Participating singers and their parent(s) or parent-appointed chaperones will be responsible for arranging and paying for their accommodations. A link will be provided after students are accepted to make reservations at a conference rate in designated hotels.
• This fee does NOT include personal transportation to and from Dallas, TX.
• Scholarships are available and financial need will have no impact on the audition outcome. 

EXPECTATIONS

• Accepted singers must be in attendance at all scheduled rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances.
  • Students participating in a performing choir or other aspects of the conference will not be able to participate in the honor choir.
• Singers must be well-prepared on all music prior to arrival. Re-auditions will take place before the first rehearsal on Wednesday, March 19. Singers who are not prepared will not be allowed to participate in the honor choir.
• Singers are expected to abide by all ACDA Honor Choir policies. If rules are broken, singers will be sent home at their personal expense.
• Singers must have an ACDA sponsor (or a representative named by the sponsor) staying at a conference hotel who can provide ACDA with a working cell phone number.

COMMUNICATION

• All information regarding the Honor Choir experience will be communicated through the ACDA Sponsor. Singers should check regularly with the sponsor and on the Honor Choir Announcement webpage (https://acda.org/archives/events/2025-national-conference) for updated information. Singers must have an ACDA sponsor (or a representative named by the sponsor) staying at a conference hotel who can provide ACDA with a working cell phone number. 
• Any questions can be addressed to Jared Berry & Andrea Galeno, ACDA Honor Choir Chairs, at [email protected]

AUDITION PROCESS

1. Online applications will open on August 15, 2024 & will close on September 26, 2024.
2. ONLY the ACDA Sponsor may submit the online application information. Other submissions will be disqualified.
3. DO NOT state the student name, sponsor name, or organization for any uploaded recordings.
4. Include a non-refundable application fee of $30 paid online on the application site. Debit or credit card payment will be accepted. Teachers will also have information available on how to use POs. Checks will not be accepted.
5. Sponsor uploads two separate sound files of the following for the student. The sound files are: 

A. Vocalise
The student will sing four (4) legato five-tone scale passages, ascending and descending, beginning on the given pitches.  All vocalises must be sung a cappella.  The starting pitch or chord may be given for each of the four vocalises on piano, pitch pipe, guitar or voice.  Vocalises are to be sung on the syllable “mah”.  The first pitch of each phrase should be voiced on “mah” with the following four notes sounding the extension of “ah”.  (Please follow the metronome markings and do not stop the recording until all four phrases are completed.)
mm = 80 – 100
Four Starting Pitches for Vocalises
Soprano                                        Alto
D above middle C                          A below middle C
F# above middle                              C middle C#
A above middle C                           E above middle C
Fourth line D                                 A above middle C

B.  Repertoire Excerpt
“We are the Music Makers” by Reginal Wright, pg. 2 m. 5 to pg. 5 m. 20. Singers should record themselves using the practice track with only the piano part playing.  The piano should be heard with the singer in the recording.  Singers will be disqualified if other parts are heard.

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