Outreach

“I am so very grateful to Resounding Achord for having this VISION and acting upon it to make choral music more accessible for not only my students, but students throughout California.” – Ken Rawdon, retired choral educator, Hayward Unified

The Program

Since September 2013, Resounding Achord has assisted high school students who are unable to afford the participation fee for the California Choral Director’s Association (CCDA) Honor Choirs. A number of our founders were involved in honor choirs when they were in school, and we recognized as an organization how impactful these programs can be for students.

In that first year, Resounding Achord Productions provided the $100 participation fee for 6 students. We have continued to expand this program over the years, and we are pleased to be able to offer support to approximtely 50 students for the CCDA Coastal and Central Region Honor Choirs, and spatial support scholarships for many of the CCDA All-State Honor Choir participants.

The Process

For the CCDA regional honor choirs, we require that each student fills out an application that justifies the need for the scholarship. The application deadline is usually mid-October—tied to the CCDA schedule.

Note: Details for the CCDA Regional Honor Choirs scholarship application process will be announced with applications to the Honor Choir.   

For more information about the scholarships, send an email to our Artistic Director. For more information about the honor choirs, please visit http://calcda.org/calendar-of-events/honor-choirs/.

History of the Program

Need a place to sing when your choir is off for the summer?
We have the perfect gig for you.

The Summer Conducting Lab gives conductors-in-training an opportunity to work with a choir in a rehearsal setting, gaining valuable podium time and real-time feedback. During the 2-hour sessions, 3-5 conductors work with the all-volunteer choir, made up of singers from all over the Silicon Valley. Master teachers provide feedback to the conductors both during the session and afterward in private communication.

If you are interested in conducting in 2025, please reach out to Dr. Jeffrey Benson: jeffrey.benson@sjsu.edu

What else is great about the Summer Conducting Lab?

No audition.
No practicing.
No cost.
No pressure.
No commitment.

Just show up, sing, and have fun.

Resounding Achord provides music for all participants. About 20 pieces are selected each year that represent different styles, musical eras, and difficulties. About 25-30% of the music changes each year so that there is sufficient variety for returning singers and conductors.  It is a perfect opportunity to practice your sight-reading skills.

Registration for singers is coming soon!

History of the Conducting Lab

We started the conducting lab in 2014 in conjunction with San Jose State University (SJSU) as part of their Three Summer Master’s Program in Music Education. The summer masters students are music educators, and many are conductors of community or school ensembles. The SJSU program offers advanced conducting instruction as part of its program; however, because the residency is held during the summer, there are no ensembles at SJSU for the students to conduct. Our lab provides a live conducting opportunity for the students.
Each year the program follows a basic framework:

• There are typically six evening sessions — two evening sessions per week for a 3-week period.
• Conductors sign up for one or more 20–40 minute conducting time slots and arrive prepared to conduct 1–3 pieces.
• The conductors can either be members of SJSU’s Three Summer Master’s Program, regular-term students at SJSU, or community members who are seeking an opportunity to sharpen their conducting skills.
• There is no participation fee for conductors or singers, and all music is on loan to the conductors and singers for the program.
• We invite and welcome singers of any age and any level to be part of the choir. They don’t have to make a commitment to show up for all or even most of the sessions, and singers do not need to practice.
• Dr. Jeffrey Benson and Kristina Nakagawa give instruction and written feedback to the conductors.

Igniting Musical Passion Among Children and Teens

Our IMPACT program allows all students high-school age or younger to attend our RAP Produced concerts for free. Prior to each concert, we send information to music teachers in order to help provide outside musical opportunities to their students. The goal of this program is to educate our youth about choral music and to assure them that high-caliber performance opportunities exist outside of the education and faith-based organizations.