ICDA Will Consider Only Mp3 Files Prepared in Compliance with Specifications Listed Below

Audition Guidelines For Performance At Iowa Choral Showcase Central College, Pella, IA April 26, 2017 6:00 PM Invitations for performance to mixed, treble clef, and bass clef choirs for the ICDA Iowa Choral Showcase are based solely on the quality of musical performances as demonstrated in audition recordings (uploaded mp3 submissions).

I. Preparation Of Mp3s ICDA will consider only mp3 files prepared in compliance with specifications listed below.

The uploaded mp3 files should contain only complete pieces. If a longer work is excerpted, several minutes should be included on the file.

Accompaniment in the forms of mp3/tape/CD may not be used on the audition recordings or at the Choral Showcase

II. Audition Procedures All mp3, and choir/conductor information will be submitted and uploaded through the OpusEvent.com link provided at www.iowachoral.org no later than January 1, 2017. At no time will the choir/conductor identity be known to any of the audition committee. Submissions must fit into the following Repertoire & Resource committee areas as clarified below:

• Children’s and Community Youth 1. Children’s choirs are defined as unchanged voices and may include school choirs, auditioned community choirs, and church choirs. 2. Youth choirs are defined as community groups including singers ages 12-18, pre-college level, and may include (a) treble voicing, (b) mixed voicing (including changed voices); (c) bass clef voices (including changed voices). Note: School ensembles need to submit in the Junior High/Middle School or High School categories.

• Junior High/Middle School

• Senior High School • Two-year College: community college (2 year schools)

• College and University (4 or 4+ year schools)

• Community Choirs Ages 18 and up, adult choirs, in either category: (a) volunteer amateur groups, or (b) semi- professional or professional ensembles with paid members.

• Music in Worship Ages 18 and up, adult choirs, including gospel choirs, even those sponsored by a community or school organization. (Note: children’s and youth church choirs must enter in the children’s choir and youth categories).

• Ethnic Choirs that represent various ethnic backgrounds (excluding gospel choirs that will be considered under Music in Worship).

III. Screening Process All auditions are “blind,” that is without knowledge of the identity of the choir or conductor.

The chair will appoint a panel of five choral directors who have conducted choirs no less than five years: one elementary/children’s choral director, one middle school choral director, one high school choral director, one college choral director, and one adult choral director (or another high school or college director if an adult director cannot be secured). The panel will use a rubric. After scoring is complete, the chair will tabulate the results and submissions will be ranked by area in order of excellence. If needed, a conference call will be used to determine the final selection of choirs. Every effort will be made to represent a broad range of excellent performing groups. Audition committee members will not know identity of groups until after final decisions are made so as to maintain the integrity of the blind audition process.

An effort will be made to choose one of each of the following categories: Children’s/Community Youth Choir Middle School Choir: mixed, treble, or bass clef choir High School Choir (small school): mixed, treble, or bass clef choir High School Choir (large school): mixed, treble, or bass clef choir Two-Year College/College and University Choir: mixed, treble, or bass clef choir Adult Community/Church Choir: mixed, treble, or bass clef choir The chair may select an additional choir(s) in any given category, should a category go unfilled.

The chair will notify all choirs of their audition results no later than February 1, 2017.

IV. Eligibility Conductors must be current active, life, or retired members of ICDA. No choral ensemble or conductor may appear on successive Choral Showcases. It is understood that ICDA will not assume financial responsibility for travel, food, or lodging for performance groups. The submission of this application implies that the submitted ensemble is prepared to travel and perform at the conference if accepted.

V. Items Required for Application Submission: 1. Director’s name, home address, phone, email address, ICDA member number and expiration date.

2. Name of institution, address, name of choir, number of singers, voicing, and age level (See Section II above for clarification regarding area clarification of choir categories).

3. Non-refundable application fee of $25 submitted by credit card only.

4. Two or three pieces, each recorded in mp3 format and uploaded individually based on the following specifications: The total length of the audition uploads should be 8 to 12 minutes, and all from the 2016-2017 school year/season. All materials must be submitted in full no later than January 1, 2017 via OpusEvent.com. An incomplete upload of all audition materials will not be considered. Recordings should not be edited.

VI. Choral Showcase Performance Time Limits Children’s and Community Youth – (maximum of 12 minutes)

Middle School Choir – (maximum of 15 minutes)

High School Choir (small school) – (maximum of 20 minutes) High School Choir (large school) – (maximum of 20 minutes)

College/University Choir – (maximum of 20 minutes)

Adult Community/Church Choir – (maximum of 20 minutes)

ICDA encourages conductors to program a variety of styles from various eras unless it is a concert by a single composer or genre. Only one manuscript (unpublished) piece may be included.

VII. Schedule of Dates December 1, 2016, Submission window opens

January 1, 2017, 11:59 pm, Audition uploads and payment completed, submission window closes

January 20, 2017, Adjudication completed

February 1, 2017 Applicants notified of audition results

Please email Jason Rausch at [email protected] with any questions.