What is the ACDA National Honor Choir?

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, Rhode Island, Baltimore, Dallas, Minnesota, Boston, Pittsburgh, Kansas City and now 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! 

What is the Honors Performance Series?

The world’s renowned stages demand the world’s best performers. The Honors Performance Series assembles some of the world’s rising young musicians to perform under the baton of master conductors at several of the world’s most celebrated concert halls: Carnegie Hall in New York City, USA; Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia; Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre in London, England; and the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria. Caravel Academy has been fortunate to have 6 high school students and 1 junior high school students selected to the Carnegie Hall Performance Honor Choirs and now 2 students who have been selected to the International Honor Choir Program. ! student performed in Sydney, Australia and now Sophomore Katie Doyle will travel to Austria to perform this summer!!! ​https://honorsperformance.org/

Our 2019-2020 Scholarship Recipients:

About our recipients: 

Meera- Grade 4: 

​My name is Meera Shah. I am in 4th grade. I am part of the Little Bucs music program at Caravel Academy. I love singing with my friends and learning from Mrs Busovsky. I am really excited to be selected to participate in Eastern Region ACDA Elementary  Honor Choir in Rochester NY. This is a first and big opportunity for me. I am practicing very hard to prepare for the upcoming performance. I look forward to sharing my experience with my schoolmates and encouraging them to participate in future events.

Ava- Grade 5:

My name is Ava Dawson and I’m in the 5th grade at Caravel Academy.  I’m very excited to have the opportunity to sing with the ACDA Honor Choir this year in Rochester, New York.   This experience will allow me to explore the beauty in musical arts and I hope to bring back new knowledge for our choir at Caravel Academy.  I was in our Little Bucs choir in 3rd and 4th grades and enjoyed learning new songs, techniques and making wonderful friends along the way.  I hope to also have a memorable experience in Rochester that I will cherish for a long time!

Makenna- Grade 5:

Hello, my name is Makenna Olds.  I am 10 years old and in 5th grade. I have been attending Caravel Academy since the age of 3 and I love my school!  I have always loved music and have had amazing experiences, while at Caravel, to sing and perform.  I was a member of the Little
Bucs Choir in both 3rd and 4th grade.  I am currently a member of the 5th/6th grade chorus, and I was invited to join Glee Club this year! I have also participated in two additional Honor Choirs over the last year!  Outside of school hours, I receive private voice and piano lessons.  I am very excited to perform as a member of the ACDA Honor Choir in Rochester, New York.  I am most excited to meet a new director, learn new voice skills that will make this choir great, and to share my experience with my classmates when I return home.  I feel very lucky to be a part of such an incredible experience!  Finally, I am very grateful to my music teachers for their support and help.

Maddie: Grade 6:

My name is Madeline Duus and I am in 6th grade at Caravel Academy. I am so excited to sing in New York. This is my second year doing honor choir, but my first time doing the ACDA Honor Choir. I was very excited to be accepted into this amazing musical experience. I have been in many musical related activities such as the Glee Club, Little Bucs, Aladdin, The Lion King, Footloose, and Schoolhouse Rock. After school I do voice lessons and dance. Most of my life is based around music and it means so much to me I hope this experience is just as thrilling as it sounds. 

Larissa- Grade 6:

Hi, my name is Larissa Duggan and I am in 6th grade. It is an honor to have been selected to go to Rochester for Honor Choir. I've been singing for three years, and   I am helping with little bucs for Mrs. Busovsky.  For my musical school activities, I participate in band, choir, jazz band, and school plays. I am so excited to work with new directors, new songs, and new singers. I have learned a lot in the past, but I still look forward to learning more!
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Siri- Grade 7:

Hi my name is Siri Pula, I am in 7th grade and I was selected to go to the Junior High Rochester Honor Choir. I am apart of our Tri-M (Music Honor Society) and I am the Historian. I’m in various ensembles such as: Glee Club, and 7th and 8th grade choir. I also take vocal lessons outside of Caravel. I have been doing choir and going to Caravel since 4th grade. I also help Mrs. Busovsky during H period with Little Bucs Choir. Just to be selected into this great choir is such an honor. To be with other very talented musicians and artists, it feels amazing! I hope to learn new skills and I am ecstatic that this is a real opportunity for me.  

Ashton- Grade 9:

My name is Ashton Hill, I'm in 9th grade. I am part of Caravel's Elite Ensemble which is a great opportunity. I like to sing because it relieves me and takes the stress away from life. I have been doing chorus since I was young and have had some solo's along the way. I really started to like singing when I was in 6th grade with my chorus teacher, Mr. Bell at P.S. Dupont. He taught me many things and it gave me interest toward singing. I had a blast in 7th and 8th grade chorus at Caravel with Mrs. Busovsky and she handed me off to Mrs. Anderson for me to keep singing throughout high school and maybe further on. I am extremely excited to be a part of this National Honor Choir and I am extremely grateful to be selected to be a part of this program. I am looking forward to singing in Rochester NY and can't wait for a great experience. 

Katie- Grade 10:

Hi, I'm Katie Doyle and I'm in 10th grade. Caravel allows me to have many opportunities with Elite Ensemble, Women's Ensemble, and experiences such as All State. I have attended Caravel Academy since I was in the Blue Room, and have done choir since 4th grade. This year I have been selected to go to the Musical Theater Honor Choir in Rochester through ACDA and later perform in Vienna, Austria in the High School Honor Choir through the Honors Performance series this upcoming summer. This will be my fourth time performing in an ACDA choir, and I am extremely excited to sing with a choir filled with singers from around the world in Vienna! I know that both will be amazing experiences.