Pensacola, Fla. – February 2024 – The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) has extended a premier invitation to the Pensacola Children’s Chorus to present a solo concert at their upcoming conference in Louisville, Kentucky on February 22.
“This invitation to perform for the American Choral Directors Association is an incredible opportunity for members of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus to shine on the national stage,” says Alex Gartner, PCC’s Artistic & Executive Director. “It is among the highest honors that can be bestowed on a choir.”
Few choirs are honored with this distinction, and the invitation is the result of a rigorous and blind selection process that reviews multiple years of concert recordings. Of the 75 choirs who participated in the selection process, only 15 were selected to perform, of which PCC’s high school-aged Choraliers is among.
The musical selections for the performance will include a variety of songs with messages that touch on the human experience, especially through the lens of self-empowerment, introspection and community. An entirely new piece, “Be the Bridge,” will receive its world premiere at this performance. It was composed by Minnesota-based composer Kyle Pederson and written specifically for the Pensacola Children’s Chorus.
“Performing at an ACDA conference is a distinguished honor and I am proud to be associated with this outstanding organization,” says Sheila Dunn, Director of Voice at Dr. Grier Williams School of Music, University of West Florida, and President of PCC’s Board of Directors. “I wish the members of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus Choraliers all the best as they share their dedication to music and their PCC spirit with the ACDA community.”
To celebrate the singer’s departure, the community is invited to a free preview performance on Sunday, February 18, 2024 at 6:30 pm on the campus of the University of West Florida, UWF Music Hall, Building 82, Center for Fine & Performing Arts.
What: ACDA Send-off Performance
When: Sunday, February 18, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Where: UWF Music Hall, Building 82, Center for Fine & Performing Arts
Tickets: Free
About Pensacola Children’s Chorus The Pensacola Children’s Chorus (PCC) is a non-profit, community-based arts education program which uses music and performance to inspire and nurture a new generation of young leaders. Serving 300 young musicians from over 60 schools across Northwest Florida and Southwest Alabama, PCC uses music education to provide opportunities for personal growth, friendship, and community service. Formally established 1990 as a program of the Pensacola Symphony, the now-independent organization continues to pursue diversity of talent, repertoire, and performance to enhance and enliven the cultural fabric of our community. To fulfill its role as the preeminent regional youth music education program, PCC presents a full season of outreach, educational programs, and performances each year for thousands of children, youth, and adults.
About the American Choral Directors Association
Founded in 1959, the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) is a nonprofit music-education organization whose expressed purposes outline the association’s dedication to the advancement of choral music. The mission of ACDA is to inspire excellence in choral music through education, performance, composition, and advocacy. ACDA is divided into six geographic regions, as well as fifty state chapters, all with their own conferences, newsletters, festivals, clinics, and workshops. Whether at the national, regional, or state level, ACDA is structured so that members can easily connect with other choral professionals and become involved in ACDA’s activities.