Choral Impact and Artistry Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize the work of a conductor/teacher/educator in the state that is making an impact on their community through the choral arts. Nominees are to be nominated by a current ACDA member but do not need to be current ACDA members themselves. It is our hope that this award will help recognize the outstanding work that might go unnoticed because it is occurring in underrepresented areas of the state. Additionally, this award is not necessarily geared toward the conductors with the best programs, but rather as a way to recognize those building programs in underrepresented areas and districts, creating strong community impact and involvement and demonstrating a commitment to diversity, access, equity and inclusion.

This award will be presented annually at the NC ACDA Luncheon held during the NCMEA conference in November. Recipients will receive a plaque at the annual luncheon, and recognition in the Carolina Caroler.

Past Award Recipients:
Ashton Humphrey, 2021
Ben Thorburn, 2022
Aaron Brown, 2023
Ashley Brady, 2024

Frankie Lancaster, 2025

In order to nominate an individual, you must be a current ACDA member and you may only nominate one individual per year. Nomination submissions will close on October 15th at ncacdaonline.org. Your submission must include a 500 word or less narrative on the work of an NC conductor/teacher/educator that is making an impact on their community through the choral arts. We hope that you will contribute to this opportunity to shine a light on some of the amazing work that we KNOW is happening across our state in choral music. Now more than ever, we need to support and lift each other up, creating an even stronger, more tightly knit community of choral educators committed to artistry in our state!

If you have any questions about this award, please email Awards Chair, Carol Earnhardt