Call for Choral Performances

Deadline: May 4, 2025, 11:59pm EDT

The National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) invites applications for collegiate choirs to perform at the 11th Biennial National Conference, November 6-8, 2025, hosted by California State University, Fullerton.

NCCO aspires to provide representation from many types of choirs; conductors from all post-secondary institutions are welcome to apply. We encourage you to bring not only SATB chamber choirs but also town-and-gown choirs, treble or tenor/bass choirs, choirs specializing in many types of music, and other configurations.

Please consider applying with choirs that are innovative in their approaches and that can inspire our membership by embodying an expansive and ever-evolving definition of choral excellence. We recognize that there are many ways to define excellence (sound ideals, historical and cultural practices, visual elements, and more).

New this year: NCCO is waiving application fees for this call.

Eligibility

Conductors must be active NCCO members at the time of application. (Not a member? Join NCCO here.) If accepted to perform, conductors are required to register for the conference.
Choirs and/or conductors that performed at the 2023 Morehouse conference are ineligible to apply this year.
Conductors must submit recordings of their own work at the institution from which they are applying.
Conductors applying must have been employed at their institution for at least two years, beginning in 2023-24 or earlier.
Conductors must provide two recordings from the current academic year (2024-25) and two recordings from either/both of the previous two years (2023-24 and/or 2022-23). NCCO acknowledges that conductors may not have been with the same ensembles every year at their institutions, and therefore recordings may be from more than one ensemble at the same/current institution.
Conductors may choose whether to submit audio and/or video recordings. Recording quality will not be a factor in the evaluation.
Members of the NCCO Executive Board, both elected and ex officio, are ineligible to apply.
Conductors must attest that they acknowledge that NCCO is unable to provide financial support for their travel expenses and hotel accommodations and that such costs will be the responsibility of their institution.

NCCO seeks to remove barriers from application. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.

Programming Aspirations

Based on feedback from previous conferences and our Mission and Vision, NCCO values repertoire from across 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 conferences that span a breadth of choral history and practice. They 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, consider repertoire and composers from a diverse array of backgrounds and traditions, and choose repertoire that reflects the strengths and values of their ensemble or institution.

You may choose to propose either of these two options:

25-minute concert program (including entrance, applause, and exit)
an extended work that may be longer

Please know that performance slots for extended works are more limited than those for 25-minute programs.

Selection Criteria

An adjudication committee of peers from around the country and from multiple types of institutions and backgrounds will evaluate applications based on the following areas:

The ensemble's recorded performances. NCCO's Mission and Vision celebrates an expansive and ever-evolving definition of choral excellence. Recording quality or type (audio or video) will not be a factor in the evaluation.
The ensemble's application and statement of purpose.
The proposed concert program.

Following ratings and recommendations by the adjudication committee, the NCCO Executive Board will review recommendations to ensure a breadth of types of choirs and programs and then award invitations to perform at the conference. Please note: because we are allowing video recordings this year, applications will not be anonymous. The adjudicators and Executive Board will keep all materials and deliberations confidential.

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 be prepared to submit:

Recordings consisting of four selections, each of which must be either an audio recording or a video recording. Two selections must be from the current academic year (2024-25), with two others from any of the previous two years (2023-24 and/or 2022-23). Recordings must be submitted in MP3 format or as YouTube links (please ensure no password is required).
- Recordings must be from live concert performances.
- Recordings must be from the same conductor and institution.
- Where possible, please consider submitting recordings that reflect aspects of the music in your proposed program.
Proposed program including titles, composers, and total duration.
- You must apply to offer either a 25-minute program or a longer extended work. Please see the guidelines above.
- Conference performances must feature the same music that is proposed in your application. Any changes after being selected to perform will require the approval of the NCCO Executive Board.
- Please note that NCCO cannot offer projection support during the concert performances.
Information about the performers:
- A. For future publicity (if selected to perform):
  - Brief profile of the ensemble (maximum 500 characters, about 70-130 words)
  - Brief 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)
- B. For committee consideration only (will not be shared publicly):
  - Statement of Purpose for your choir, in PDF format. What are the strengths, values, "superpowers," et cetera of your ensemble that you would like to share with the NCCO membership?
  - What additional information, if any, would you like to share about yourself or your choral philosophy?
Letter of acknowledgement from the music administrator of your institution granting permission for the conductor and ensemble to appear on the NCCO11 conference program and confirming the institution will be responsible for travel expenses. A PDF of an email or a PDF memo on letterhead will suffice.
Confirmation that you and your ensemble meet all of the eligibility requirements listed above. Conductors must hold an active NCCO membership at the time of application and must register for the conference if selected to perform.
Your consent and agreement, as conductor of the ensemble, to the "Visual/Audio Images Release" given in the application form.

NCCO is waiving application fees for this call.

Click on the button below to apply.

Deadline: All materials must be submitted by May 4, 2025, 11:59pm EDT.
Notification: Results will be communicated to applicants by June 15.

Apply to Perform at NCCO11

Deadline: May 4, 2025, 11:59pm EDT