NCDA Festival & Honor Choirs
NCDA is proud to host multiple events each year to provide our members with the opportunity to engage their singers in educational and meaningful experiences with like-minded musicians and expert leadership.
2026-2027 Events
Sing Around Nebraska
Honor Choir Year • 4th-6th Graders
Friday and Saturday, February 12 & 13
(snow dates February 19 & 20)
NOTE: No refunds will be offered in the event of cancellation or postponement.
Kearney, NE
(NO Audition Fee, $75 Participation Fee for Accepted Students)
Registrations are non-refundable
AUDITION LIMIT of 20 students per teacher.
FEE INCLUDES:
National Clinician, Rehearsal Tracks, Pianist, T-shirt, Snacks, Great Facilities
NOTE: Lunch is not provided on Saturday. Kearney has plenty of restaurants close by.
SHEET MUSIC:
Sheet music will be available for purchase at JWPepper in a festival packet which we will email and share on this page once it’s available. Schools are responsible for purchasing octavos for their singers, and for the director/pianist if they wish.
Contact Kayla Nilson with questions: knilson@ainsworthschools.org
Honor Choir Repertoire
MUSIC
Music packets will be available for pick-up at NMEA. Anyone not attending NMEA will receive their packet by mail the following week.
Students are expected to have their music, a pencil, and a folder on the day of the festival.
NOTE: Students are expected to have their music well prepared when they arrive. Please rehearse with your students to ensure that notes, rhythms, form, and lyrics are well in-hand prior to arrival.
NOTE: Students should bring sheet music and a folder for use in rehearsal.
Concert Tickets ($5)
LINK COMING SOON
Audition Procedure
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The singer should NOT say their name, grade, school or voice part.
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The singer will sing, acappella, “My Country ‘tis of Thee”. Please make sure there is no accompaniment or additional singing with the student.
- The piano may give the starting pitch:
Soprano: F above middle C
Alto: D above middle C
AUDITION DEADLINE – October 9, 2026
NOTE: Recordings should be in mp3 format. Please title the mp3 with ‘America’ and student name (last, first). For example: AmericaLastFirst.mp3
AUDITION SUBMISSION LINK
NOTE: Notification target is November 1.
REGISTRATION PAYMENT LINK – Coming Soon
Schedule
COMING SOON!
Singing Youth of Nebraska
Festival Choirs • Grades 7-9
Singing Youth of Nebraska Festivals
January-February 2027
January 16, 2027
Fremont High School
Site Coordinator: Mark Harman
Mark.Harman@fpsmail.org
January 30, 2027
Bridgeport
Site Coordinator: TBD
January 30, 2027
Kearney
Site Coordinator: TBD
January 30, 2027
North Platte
Site Coordinator: TBD
REGISTER HERE
REHEARSAL TRACKS
Festival Description
The SYN festival choirs are for students currently in grades 7-9. This is a non-audition year, so no audition audio files need to be submitted.
At each site, students will work with a clinician all day and have a concert at 4:00 p.m. Each site around the state will have a different clinician, but will be singing the same repertoire. (See the list below for details).
Registration is $XX per student and is non-refundable. Payment should be made via Eventbrite at THIS LINK.
NOTE: This price includes a t-shirt and snacks. Music needs to be purchased by the school/attendee for festival years.
Lunch is not included.
Tickets to the concert are $5.00 each (not including online processing) for attendees ages 7+ and are available via www.Eventbrite.com.
Please fill out the google form for each student individually. If you have any questions contact Lacey Franzen at Lacey Franzen for more information! Sites are listed below. We thank you for singing with us!
REPERTOIRE
The Hurricane – Paul David Thomas – (3-part mixed)
O Say Can You See – Ruth Morris Gray – (SAB)
Ridin’ the Rails – arr. Gallina – (3-part mixed)
Be a Light – Tim Hayden – (SAB)
ORDER LINK (coming soon)
Show Choir Festivals
Show Choir Festivals Requirements
Registration is open to schools of all sizes, and directors do not have to be ACDA members to have their ensembles participate. Middle school and high school choirs are encouraged to participate.
Registration is on a first come, first served basis, and registrations are only complete when both your form and entry fee are received. Look for an emailed invoice.
- Registration Opens July 5, 2026
- Registration Deadline is December 18, 2026
ENTRY FEE (per ensemble)
High School – $195
Middle School – $165
REGISTER HERE!
PAY HERE
NOTE: Registrations are non-refundable
SITES
Skutt Catholic – Monday, February 15, 2027
Contact Jason Frew for more information.
Show Choir Festivals Description
NCDA-sponsored Show Choir Festivals are a great way for your ensemble to gain competition and performance experience in a festival setting. We offer three locations around the state to engage with as many ensembles as possible.
Register your middle school or high school show choir to have a performance opportunity that is focused on educational and artistic growth instead of on awards placement. Each show choir will perform and then have a live critique immediately following their set. This immediate feedback provides real-time opportunities for affirmation and improvement. We hope you will join us!