Diversity

As a state chapter within the larger umbrella of the American Choral Directors’ Association, Illinois ACDA seeks to inspire excellence and nurture lifelong involvement in choral music for everyone through education, performance, composition and advocacy. Our chapter also is aware that a multiplicity of voices—culture- and style-bearers, composers, performers, researchers, and more—is needed to achieve excellence in choral music. We also recognize that the definition of this multiplicity of voices, diversity, is ever-changing as we learn about the world around us and the wondrous choral music all cultures possess. We seek to appreciate, understand, and celebrate this diversity in the music we investigate, champion, perform, and enjoy.

In response, IL-ACDA will continue to address the promise of an ever-more inclusive approach to diverse representation in all levels of choral art. Our organization seeks possible avenues toward enriching choral arts through a widening of the voices in Illinois ACDA, and, by extension, ACDA’s regional and national levels. Among the achievements our chapter has been able to effect is the creation of Join Voices—a choral festival held in a new partnership with ILMEA that increases access to large ensemble singing for schools in Chicago for whom this was not previously possible. Our chapter is committed to actively welcoming diverse voices into our understanding and experience of quality repertory, representation in choirs and on the podium, in our state’s choral leadership, and in the styles of singing and choral experiences that are enjoyed by all of humanity in its exuberant multiplicity of representation.