Choirs of America


2024 Nationals for Top Choirs


NYC + Lincoln Center




March 21-22, 2024



Principal Conductor: Jason Max Ferdinand


Composer-in-Residence: Jocelyn Hagen


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Sing and Learn in the Big Apple


  (and Perform in Lincoln Center's Geffen Hall)

COA's Nationals for Top Choirs has become the top destination for choral programs looking for the highest magnitude choral festival experience available today. Since the first Nationals in New York City (featuring Anton Armstrong as Principal Conductor) in 2013, the program has grown exponentially.


We meet our mission to “to engage, inspire, and educate choirs” from across the country by bringing them in contact with the finest conductors, composers, and educators in the industry.  Each event is grounded in the belief that collaboration is far better than competition. 

Each program emphasizes high level educational adjudications, full one-hour clinics, and amazing performance opportunities hand-in-hand with collaborative interaction with other choirs and teaching artists.


Moreover, you and your Choir will have the opportunity to study with one of America’s finest choral conductors (Jason Max Ferdinand), perform a world-premiere with well-known composer (Jocelyn Hagen), and engage in clinics and workshops with our incredible teaching faculty leading to an incredibly powerful experience.

Festival Inclusions

Pre-Trip Inclusions...

  • Placement into one of three massed choirs (Grandioso, Vivace, or Armonioso) for the concert in Lincoln Center's newly-renovated David Geffen Hall


  • Festival chorus development and preparation assistance


  • Rehearsal notes from COA’s Artistic Team relating to massed choir repertoire assigned by the Principal Conductor, festival logistics, adjudication details, etc.


  • Detailed festival schedule provided to each participating choir


  • Concert advertising and audience development


  • Concert listing with ensemble names in official Lincoln Center performance calendar, PlayBill, and website

Festival Day Inclusions...

  • COA student ambassador to act as choir’s guide for the day


  • Adjudicated performance in LeFrak Concert Hall (Queens College - Aaron Copland School of Music)


  • On-stage performance review (pre-clinic) – time permitting


  • Written comments and ratings from all three adjudicators per COA’s criterion-referenced rubric


  • Detailed, one-hour clinic with one of COA’s Adjudicator / Clinicians


  • Teaching Faculty / Clinicians: Lynne Gackle, Andrew Clark, Jeremy Wiggins, and James John


  • Scheduled observational opportunity to watch another choir perform


  • xChange workshop (sing for other choirs from across the country… and vice-versa)


  • Broadway 101 workshop

Concert Day Inclusions...

  • Principal Conductor: Jason Max Ferdinand


  • Composer-in-Residence: Jocelyn Hagen


  • One full rehearsal for your assigned massed choir (Grandioso, Vivace, or Armonioso) led by Jason Max Ferdinand at our rehearsal venue in Manhattan


  • Professional collaborative pianist, and supporting instrumentalist (per repertoire), for rehearsal and concert


  • Cue-to-cue walk-through and finale rehearsal in Lincoln Center


  • Professional production team dedicated to the performance (stage crew, house management, ushers, box office personnel, etc.)


  • Official PlayBill concert program with group bio and singer names


  • Dedicated house seats to experience other concert parts


  • Massed choir concert performance in Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall


  • Spotlight, individual choir performance opportunity during concert in Geffen Hall (for choirs bringing 45 or more singers)


  • All choir world-premiere finale performance of newly commissioned piece from COA’s Composer-in-Residence: Jocelyn Hagen

Other Inclusions...

  • One archival, digital video recording of Lincoln Center concert


  • Professional audio recording of adjudicated performance


  • Exclusive access to purchase official concert photos


  • Memories to last a lifetime!


Festival Rate...

♬ Performer Rate: $379.00 per person


♬ Directors and Chaperones (up to 1 per 20): Free


♬ Additional Chaperones (concert ticket): $87.00

Application

Harmony Tours

Sample Tour Itinerary

Day One

  • Travel Day to NYC
  • Meet your Dedicated Harmony Tours Guide
  • Check into Hotel
  • Inclusive Group Welcome Dinner

Day Three

  • Inclusive Group Breakfast
  • Massed Choir Rehearsal for 2024 Nationals for Top Choirs
  • Early Group Dinner
  • Perform in Lincoln Center during COA's Harmonic Convergence Concert

Day Five

  • Inclusive Group Breakfast
  • Director's Selection: explore Central Park, shop along Fifth Avenue, visit Metropolitan Museum of Art, etc.
  • Travel Home

Day Two

  • Inclusive Group Breakfast
  • Participate in 2024 Nationals for Top Choirs - Festival Day at the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College (adjudicated performance, observational opportunity, xChange workshop, and Broadway 101 workshop)
  • Inclusive Group Dinner in Manhattan
  • Narrated walking tour of Chinatown or Little Italy


Day Four

  • Inclusive Group Breakfast
  • Explore Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty
  • Visit 9/11 Memorial and One World Trade Center Observation Deck
  • Inclusive Group Dinner in Times Square
  • Attend Broadway Musical

Customize Your Tour

We have a scores of other ideas and options. Contact us to create and customize the perfect tour itinerary for you and your group!

FAQs

Got a question? We’re here to help.
  • Can I have more than one ensemble perform?

    Absolutely!

  • Can I see your adjudication rubric?

    Sure.  Here they are...


    Concert Band Standards and Rubric (click here)

    Orchestra Standards and Rubric (click here)

    Choir Standards and Rubric (click here)

  • Can we book our entire tour through you?

    Absolutely!

  • Do I use my own repertoire?

    Yes.

  • Is my group required to adjudicate?

    No.