• Barring extraordinary events, the ECOCDA Festival is usually  held the first consecutive Monday and Tuesday in November.  

• Choir selection results are emailed out to the directors the evening of Audition Day following auditions. 

• After results are sent out, Directors are responsible for a few tasks to complete the process of festival preparation:

  1. COMPLETION OF PARTICIPATION GOOGLE FORMS (click on form titles to access):  Links to the two Google Forms below will be activated to receive responses the day after the October Audition Date:

     • The ECOCDA FESTIVAL PARTICIPATION form.  Directors, SHARE THIS LINK (right click and "copy link address") WITH YOUR STUDENTS BY EMAIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (you can paste the link in a mass email or post it on Google Classroom, etc).  IT IS IMPORTANT that this form be completed and submitted by each selected student by two Wednesdays before the Festival (October 23).  This helps:

       •  the ECOCDA administrative team to get a more accurate headcount for the Festival.

       • to make certain the order to the t-shirt vendor is as accurate as possible and so the order can be delivered by the Festival date

       • to have the students commit to compliance with the Rules of Student Conduct.

     • The ECOCDA Multi-Year Award form.  Directors need to complete and submit this form if they have any selected students that qualify.  IT IS IMPORTANT that this form be completed and submitted by two Wednesdays before the Festival (October 23).   Here are the contingencies of qualification for medal recipients.  Awards are only given to the following students: 

       • • • 9th graders:  Sang in the ECOCDA choirs in 7th-9th grade (3 years) - Multi-year medal

           • 9th graders:  Sang in the ECOCDA choirs in 6th-9th grade (4 years) - Multi-year medal

           • 12th graders:  Sang in the ECOCDA choirs in 10th-12th grade (3 years) - Multi-year medal

           • 12th graders: Sang in the ECOCDA choirs in 7th-12th grade (6 years) - Multi-year Plaque

           • 12th graders:  Sang in the ECOCDA choirs in 6th-12th grade (7 years) - Multi-year Plaque

**Students that made an ECOCDA choir through audition but did not participate in the corresponding festival during one of the years included in the medal's sequence are NOT eligible for multi-year awards** 

• 2. PAYMENT OF FEES:  Directors need to make sure that payment arrangements for all audition fees, the school membership fee,  any audio file order fees, and the participation fees are made before the festival.  

     • The participation fee for students selected for the choir they auditioned for is $20 per student, which will be included with the audition fees, membership fee, and any audio file fees on the invoice handed out at the director’s meeting on Tuesday morning of the festival.   

     • Payment is due upon receipt of invoice.  Personal checks from directors, school checks, or booster organization checks will be accepted.  

     • Do not submit any parent or student personal checks. 

     • School purchase orders are acceptable but need to be taken care of in a timely manner. 

     • All accounts must be paid by July 1st  of the following summer or a $100.00 late fee will be applied to the following year’s entry plus the amount already due for the previous year.

  3.  HOTELS AND DINING:  For questions about accommodations in Guthrie: 

     • Call our festival host, Bill Perring at 405-258-5906. 

• The festival will be held on Monday and Tuesday, November 4-5, 2024 in Choctaw, Oklahoma.

• Rehearsal Schedule for Monday, November 4th, at Choctaw H.S.

  • • 5:15 – 5:45 pm:  Registration

    • 5:45 – 6:45 pm:  Sectionals

    • 7:00 – 9:00 pm:  First rehearsal with clinician

• Rehearsal and Concert schedule for Tuesday, November 5th at the Choctaw PAC.

  • • 8:30  – 11:45 am :  Rehearsals

    • 10:00 - 11:40 am:  Director's meeting

    • 11:45 am – 1:10 pm:   Lunch

    • 1:15 – 4:30 pm:  Rehearsals

    • 4:30 – 6:30 pm:  Dinner/Change for concert

    • 6:30 pm:  Warm up in rooms with Clinician

    • 7:00 pm:  Concert

• REHEARSAL/CONCERT ATTENDANCE.  

  • Chorus members are expected:

    •  to be at all rehearsals and the concert

    • to be on time to all rehearsals and the concert. 

  • If a chorus member is absent from any rehearsal, he/she will be removed from the chorus. 

  • Retaining chorus membership after rehearsal absences for extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness or death in the family) needs to be approved by the executive committee. 

• REHEARSAL/CONCERT CONDUCT

  • Chorus members are expected:

    •  to have a respectful attitude at all times

    • to be attentive to the conductor

    • to sit with the appropriate posture.

  • Talking is prohibited during rehearsals.

  • Food, gum, and drinks are not allowed in the rehearsal room or anywhere in the building.   A resealable bottle of water only will be allowed during rehearsals.

  • GUM IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE BUILDING.   In years past, we had to pay extra fees because the Scottish Rite Temple was found with gum on the curtains and floor after we left. This is not acceptable.

• COPYRIGHT POLICY

  • It is forbidden for students to use photographed copies of the music at the performance (except for public domain music).

  • Students, please bring a black folder for your music.

• REHEARSAL/CONCERT ATTIRE:

  • Dress for the rehearsals is school clothes. 

  • Dress for the concert is semi-formal/formal:

    • For the girls, dresses or skirts and blouses

    • For the boys, slacks and ties

    • School uniforms are appropriate. (The dressier the better!)

  • All students will be instructed to avoid any and all use of cologne or perfume during rehearsal and concert.

• Teachers/directors be familiar with ALL Student Rules of Festival Conduct and communicate them to your students

• GUM IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE BUILDING.   Please make this explicitly known to your students. In years past, we had to pay extra fees because the Scottish Rite Temple was found with gum on the curtains and floor after we left. This is not acceptable.

• Due to a tendency of raucous behavior in the balcony at the Temple, we would appreciate it if teachers/directors would sit near their students during the concert and during rehearsals to keep noise and distracting behavior under control.

• The Concert is free of charge.  Please communicate this to your student's parents/guardians.

• There will be a director’s meeting during rehearsals at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, November 5.  All teachers/directors are requested to attend this important meeting. (Location will be shared at a later date.)

•  Please reach out with questions about hotels and dining in Choctaw, if needed.