Chorus America invites you to submit a session proposal for our 2024 Conference, June 6-8, in Atlanta, Georgia. The deadline to submit a proposal is Thursday, November 30, 2023.

Questions about applying or presenting? View an informational webinar held on November 15, or email Karyn Castro at karyn@chorusamerica.org. 

We are also inviting suggestions for questions or topics that you would like our Conference event to explore and speakers that you would like to see at the event. Please email your suggestions to service@chorusamerica.org by Thursday, November 30.

About Our Conference Programming

Our Conference programming draws on the expertise and insights of those working in the choral field, as well as in the arts, education, and general nonprofit sectors. The Conference promotes skill-building and facilitates collaboration, exploration, and connections on multiple levels. 

We program sessions across a variety of artistic and administrative topics, with focuses on access, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the choral field and on innovation and relevance in the current climate. Our goal is to work with a diverse group of Conference speakers that represent different demographics, geographic locations, organization sizes, and points of view.

Selected sessions will receive a presenting slot, audio/visual support, and will be included in Chorus America's Conference materials. Selected and invited Conference speakers are offered a complimentary registration to thank them for being part of Conference programming.

Below are examples of session titles that were included in previous conferences for your reference. We encourage new and innovative ideas as well!

• Access, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Equity, Access, and Belonging for Non-Binary and Gender Non-Conforming Singers
  • Blind Spot: Heighten Bias Awareness and Center DEI in Your Hiring
• Governance and Board Engagement
  • Reinvigorate Your Board, Post-Pandemic
  • New Approaches to Board Development
• Community Engagement and Partnerships
  • Creative Collaborations
  • Centering Relationships in Educational Partnerships
• Fundraising
  • Unleash Your Fundraising Potential with Digital Scale
  • Developing a Fundraising Plan
• Marketing and Audience Development
  • Communicating Your Value
  • The Intersection of Marketing Strategies and Diversity
• Conducting and Programming
  • For the Good of the Earth: Choral Music and Eco-Activism
  • Authentic, Inclusive, Intentional Programming
• Finance and Budgeting
  We haven’t had a session on this topic in a while – the session titles below are examples of ones we may be interested in!
  • Budgeting 101: Be Practical Yet Hopeful 
  • The Relationship between ED and Board Treasurer
• Technology and Virtual Engagement
  • Copyright Considerations
  • Using Video to Promote Your Chorus
• Children and Youth
  • Re-Engage, Re-build, Recruit: Building Bridges Between Community Choruses and School Music Programs
  • Children and Youth Choirs Connecting Through Technology

We are particularly interested in sessions that engage attendees in unique ways that reach beyond the standard presenter/PowerPoint model. Sessions are 1 hour long and formats may include but are not limited to:

• Panel Discussion: present an issue or trend as a conversation among experts followed by Q&A
• Case Study: describe a program or project in-depth, focusing on innovative solutions to clearly defined challenges and their implications for the field
• Workshop: encourage participants to use progressional skills to explore a scenario and to teach and learn new tactics

If you are submitting multiple proposals for review, please fill out an application for each proposed session.

What will I be asked to submit on the application? 

Applicants will be required to submit information both about the proposed session and the involved speaker(s). Specifically,

• Name, email, phone number, title and organization, location, and experience with the topic for all speakers involved in the presentation (up to 5 total)
• Title of proposed session
• Session description
• Session topic(s)
• Target audience for session (dropdown list)
• 5 Learning Outcomes from the proposed session
• Session format (case study, presentation, workshop, etc)
• Select availability for each session block (Thursday afternoon, Friday morning, Friday afternoon, and Saturday afternoon)
  
  

What's next after I submit?

Once the call for sessions closes on November 30, Chorus America's staff and Conference stakeholders will review the submissions. As sessions are developed, a staff member will be in touch with all applicants to inform them of their proposal's status by the end of January, 2024. Please note: we may contact presenters who have submitted similar session proposals to explore whether they are willing to collaborate.

Submissions will be reviewed based on:

• Overall balance of variety of sessions being presented
• Session format, design, and creativity
• Presenter expertise and experience with topic
• Clarity of message
• Relevance to current issues and conversations happening in the field
• Variety of perspectives within the field 

Questions? Please email Karyn Castro, programs and membership manager, at karyn@chorusamerica.org.