Deadlines and Links

Updated 8/20/26

• September 1st- CDA Teacher Membership Fee (Required for Honor Choir Registration)

• Friday, September 18th, 2026 - Elementary School Honor Choir School Sign-Up

• Friday, October 2nd, 2026 -  Elementary School Honor Choir Registration Deadline (add student names to this sheet)

  • Student Letter: distribute this student letter to your selected singer. 

• Friday, October 16th, 2026 - All Honor Choir Student Fees Due ($40 per student)

  • School checks written to District VIII CDA

  • Mail to: ATTN Naomi Naquin, 400 S. College St., Minden, LA 71055

• Thursday, November 19th, 2026 -5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. - Rehearsal - First Baptist Church, Shreveport (required)

• Friday, November 20th, 2026 - All Day - Honor Choir Event - First Baptist Church, Shreveport (required)

  • Students and teachers will be present for the entire day.

  • Schedule for Friday, November 20th: TBA

  • Program for Friday, November 20th: TBA

Elementary Honor Choir Learning Tracks

Honor Choir Process

• Elementary School Honor Choir is not a District VIII CDA auditioned process. However, you may choose to audition or select your top singers.

• Each Elementary school may audition/select 10 students. 

  • CDA Honor Choir will be an SA group. Please try to select students of each voice part if possible. 

• Student Letter: Once you have selected your singers, print and distribute this student letter. 

• Music will be distributed by District VIII CDA once it has been ordered and received. 

• Students must come to rehearsal knowing their music.

• Students and teachers must be present at all rehearsals and performances for the entire duration. 

Meet our Fall 2026 Clinician

Amy Prats currently serves as the director of the Christwood Singers at the Christwood Retirement Community in Covington, LA. This special group ensures that Christwood community members have the opportunity to be lifelong learners while continuing to sing well into their 80s and 90s. She also serves as the music director for the elementary school drama program at Christ Episcopal School. 

Previously, Mrs. Prats was an instructor at Southeastern Louisiana University where she was the director of the University Chorus/Northshore Choral Society, taught undergraduate conducting, voice, and music education. Mrs. Prats also served as liaison for the SLU Department of Music and Performing Arts and the SLU Department of Teaching and Learning; in 2021, she was appointed as the Undergraduate Coordinator for Southeastern’s Department of Teaching and Learning.

Prior to Southeastern, Ms. Prats was the Assistant Director for the Northlake Performing Arts Society and taught at Destrehan High School and Ponchatoula High School. She frequently serves as an adjudicator for local music festivals and as a guest clinician for honor choirs throughout the Southeastern Louisiana region. Ms. Prats completed her Alternate Certification in Music Education at SLU and was awarded the highest honor, Exemplary Alternate Certification Student. Ms. Prats holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Southeastern Louisiana University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. After holding two terms as president, she is currently serving as treasurer for the Louisiana American Choral Directors Association.

Mrs. Prats lives in Abita Springs with her husband, Erik and son, Eli.