High School Choral Festival

Dr. Deborah Simpkin King, Coordinator

Sponsored by
The New Jersey Chapter of the American Choral Directors' Association

Personal Statement of Enthusiasm for ACDA & for the High School Festival

I began my association with ACDA as a freshman in college. Since then, I have missed only one national convention. My first call from my new office upon moving from Texas to an academic position in New Jersey was to the president of the state chapter of ACDA. I became active on the state Board of Directors almost immediately, and both hosted and adjudicated the state High School Choral Festival during that first year. I remained involved in the Festival continuously until, in 1996, I was asked to coordinate the event.

Since then, many changes have taken place in the Festival, and in NJ-ACDA overall. Notably, New Jersey is now one of a small handfull of states which not only includes adjudicated sight singing as part of its high school festival, but commissions its own sight reading examples! The 2001 and 2005 Festivals were the subject of fine feature articles in the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

I believe that ACDA membership is a MUST for any serious choral musician, working on any level and in any arena. The tangible support offered through conferences and conventions, through state, regional, and national publications, and through the available resource of our wonderful Repertoire and Standards Chairs in all facets of choral work, is complemented splendidly by the collegiality of the ACDA members. If you need to hear more about my enthusiasm for ACDA, just ask; but, be prepared to sit and stay a while!

Click here to visit the NJ-ACDA Website