Call for Choral Performances
Applications have now closed.
Results will be communicated to applicants by June 15.
The National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) invites applications for collegiate choirs to perform at the 10th Biennial National Conference, November 9-11, 2023, hosted by Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Performance length will be a maximum of 25 minutes of music (including applause), except for extended works. The musical quality of the ensemble’s performance and the proposed concert program will be weighted equally in the selection process.
NCCO typically stipulates that choirs may not perform at two consecutive in-person conferences; as such, choirs that had the opportunity to perform live at the 2019 Maryland conference will be ineligible to apply this year. Choirs who shared a single virtual video during the 2021-22 online conference are welcome and encouraged to apply for live performance in 2023. The Executive Board aspires to provide representation from many types of choirs.
Programming Aspirations
Based on feedback from previous conferences, our 2020 Membership Survey, and our recently adopted Mission and Vision statements, the Executive Board encourages proposed programs that highlight music from the vast range of choral literature (many time periods, countries and cultures of origin, types of texts, types of choirs, etc.) Our membership has consistently and strongly articulated a clear preference for NCCO performances that span a breadth of choral history and practice. Our members also desire thoughtful programs that offer a unified and coherent theme and/or that present premieres of newly composed full-length pieces.
To these ends, applicants are encouraged to be creative in their programming, to consider repertoire and composers from a diverse array of backgrounds and traditions, and to present repertoire that can be performed by a variety of collegiate choirs.
We ask applicants to propose concert programs in these suggested general categories:
Historical Periods/Regions
- repertoire from a specific period or geographical region (e.g. 20th-century Ghana, 18th-century Austria, etc.)
Thematic/Topical
- music by a single composer
- music representing a specific country, region, or language
- music set to texts by a specific poet
- music set to texts representing a particular topic
Extended Works
- the performance of a complete or abridged choral or choral/orchestra work
- Note: performances submitted in this category may exceed 25 minutes
Selection Criteria
The committee will evaluate applications based on the following areas:
- The musical quality of the ensemble’s recorded performances
- The proposed concert program
To preserve anonymity in this process, the recordings are first screened by an adjudication committee of peers (free of identifying information) and ranked with regard to overall recording quality. Then, the NCCO Executive Board separately considers and ranks the thematic programs, again free of identifying information. Finally, these two rankings are folded together to create an overall ranking from which invitations to perform at the conference are awarded. Equal and careful consideration is given to every ensemble's application. The Executive Board strongly encourages applications from conductors representing diverse cultures and lived experiences and from many types of institutions and choirs.
TO APPLY
Please read all of the following information carefully to assist you in the application process. Each applicant should prepare to submit:
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Recordings consisting of four selections, including two selections from the current academic year (2022-23) and two from any of the previous three years (2021-22, 2020-21, and/or 2019-20), in MP3 format.
- Recordings must be from live concert performances.
- Your recordings must include at least one example of music from the categories for which you wish to be considered (i.e. include a work from the 17th century if you wish to be considered for a performance in that category.)
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Proposed program in the category of your first choice including titles, composers and total duration.
- You must apply for specific types of performances (see suggested categories and guidelines above).
- Programs are not to exceed 25 minutes in length, except in the case of complete performances of major works.
- Conference performances must feature the same music that is proposed on this application. Any changes after being selected require the approval of the NCCO Executive Board.
- Please note that NCCO is not able to offer projection support during the concert performances.
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Information about the performers:
- Profile of the ensemble (maximum 500 characters, about 70-130 words)
- Profile of the conductor(s) (maximum 500 characters, about 70-130 words)
- High-resolution photo of the ensemble
- High-resolution photo (headshot) of the conductor(s)
- Letter of acknowledgement from the music administrator of your institution acknowledging permission for the conductor and choir to appear on the conference program. A PDF of an email or a PDF memo on letterhead will suffice.
- Your consent and agreement, as conductor of the ensemble, to the "Visual/Audio Images Release" given in the application form.
- Application fee of $50 paid online (immediately below).
Deadline: All materials, including the application fee, must be submitted by May 1, 2023, 11:59pm EDT.
Notification: Results will be communicated to applicants by June 15.
Application Fee
Applicants for choral performance may submit their application fee here.
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