Winter edition of OCDA News now available!

Summer Conference Performing Ensemble application deadline extended until March 31st. Apply today!

Have Your Ensemble Perform at OCDA Summer Conference

Show off your amazing choral ensemble with all of your choral music colleagues at this year's summer conference. The conference will be held from June 15-17, 2026 at Upper Arlington High School. Submitting your ensemble for consideration has never been easier. Here is what is required:

There should be 3 contrasting compositions, preferably from live performances.
Recordings should not be re-mastered or digitally altered in any way.
Recordings should be sent as shared links (audio files or YouTube links). All submissions will be evaluated anonymously for selection.
Complete and submit the application by March 15th, 2026.

Summer Conference Performing Ensemble Application

Summer Conference Registration Now Open!

Get Ready for 2026 OCDA Summer Conference

OCDA is excited to announce its 2026 Summer Conference: SING from the Inside Out!, held June 15-17 at Upper Arlington High School in Columbus. This year's clinicians include Anthony Trecek-King and Amanda Quist, with additional sessions by John McClain and Directors' Chorus conductor Robert J. Ward. Wednesday will also feature a Developing Voices track, with sessions led by Adam Albright, Katie Silcott, and Kelly Winner. Join us for three days packed with inspiring, insightful, and practical interest sessions, concerts by some of Ohio's finest choirs, and reading sessions full of new and varied repertoire ideas hand-selected by our R&R Chairs. OCDA's Middle School and High School Honor Choirs will perform during Monday night's concert, several industry exhibits will be available, and there will be many opportunities to network and make new friends among professional peers. Graduate credit will be available through Capital University. More information will be available in the coming weeks.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Click the image to go to the Conference Page!

Interested in participating in one of the OCDA Beginning Treble Festivals? Click here for more info.

Winter 2026 Edition of the OCDA News Now Available

The winter issue of the OCDA News is now available for viewing.

Winter 2026; Volume 45, Issue 2

In this issue:

Dara Gillis recounts the many opportunities available to us and our choristers;
David Croglio provides experience-tested approaches for preparing for sight-reading in Large Group Adjudicated Events;
Heather Cooper shares helpful ideas for choosing repertoire for young choirs;
Jamie Lercher and Steven Hankle offer updates from their respective Standing Committees (Professional Development and Diversity Initiatives);
Matthew Swope proposes a mnemonic that helps us focus our attention and broaden our listening to make our rehearsals more efficient and effective; and
Jeanne Wohlgamuth makes the case for the importance of regional leadership within OCDA, and solicits nominations.

Click the link and benefit from the expertise and experience of our choral colleagues!

Previous editions of the newsletter are available here.

Quire Cleveland Fund Grant Application

OCDA Sets Up Grant Through Donation Funds

The Ohio Choral Directors Association has received a generous gift from the dissolution of Quire Cleveland, with the funds intended to support activities aligned with Quire Cleveland’s original mission. The donation aims to promote opportunities for Ohio singers to learn and perform a cappella vocal ensemble repertoire, particularly works composed before 1700. Funds may support public performances, workshops, masterclasses, festivals, and professional development for choral directors, including establishing new a cappella ensembles in underserved areas.

Usage of the funds will be overseen by the OCDA President, who, along with the executive board, will disperse the monies based on the merit of the proposal and alignment to Quire Cleveland's mission. A sponsorship application process will be available to OCDA members, with grants up to $2,000 per project. All approved projects must publicly acknowledge support from the Quire Cleveland Fund and provide a report on the project’s outcomes. There can be no modifications to the fund's guidelines.

Ben Ayling is the 2024 Distinguished Service Award Winner

Excerpted from Rich Schnipke's nomination letter.

Dr. Ayling’s direct service record to OCDA is wonderful. He has served on the OCDA board in many positions over the years, including president. As president, he established a board “contingency fund” that remains in place today, protecting the organization from unforeseen financial burdens. As retired director’s representative, he founded an annual golf outing to help provide scholarship funds for university students to attend the OCDA summer conference. He also encouraged young directors to become involved with OCDA and has made countless summer conference personal invitations and board membership recommendations. I honestly cannot remember an OCDA summer conference when Ben has not been in attendance and actively working for the organization.

While Ben’s direct OCDA board service is impressive, I think his greater contribution to our Ohio choral community is through is connections with people. Ben’s warm, welcoming smile and inviting personality have helped him become a friend and mentor to so many Ohio choral directors, including me. As a young teacher, he encouraged my natural talents and provided warm, constructive feedback for areas of improvement, always doing so in a thoughtful, kind manner. Even after his retirement, I have seen him continue this type of leadership/service to the profession by engaging with current early career teachers in the same way he did for me many years ago.

Dr. Ben Ayling has been an integral part of our Ohio professional choral network for over 30 years. He leads by example in a calm, caring, and engaging manner. He is a wonderful musician and conductor, a consummate professional, a caring mentor, and a warm friend. I highly encourage the Ohio Choral Directors Association to recognize Dr. Ayling with 2024 OCDA Distinguished service award.

OCDA News Archive Available

OCDA is proud to announce the introduction of the OCDA News Archive. Thanks to the efforts of OCDA Historian, Amy Gelsone and IT Coordinator, Eric West, OCDA News issues dating all the way back to the late 1960's are now available for viewing and downloading in PDF format.

Click here to access this new OCDA resource and peak back into what OCDA was and what it become over the past six decades.