The cancellation of the 2003 International Big Sing still bothers me a great deal. And more so because of the conversations in the past few meetings of the International Committee. We hear, time and again... "What can AMCofA do for my chorus?" Well, let me tell you about the help one group had prepared for the entire membership.

Gayle Pohl and the Michigan District had planned and prepared a program which would rival the American Choral Directors Association national conventions. I am very familiar with ACDA and how they promote choral music through the organization and planning of their conventions. I was very happy to see that the Michigan District also understood this importance and worked for a fresh, new approach to our national convention, adding many new aspects. I felt that we could have something similar to ACDA--but on a much smaller scale. ACDA has district conventions one year and an International Convention the next. (Every other year!) If you are a choral director in any part of the world, one of the things you want to accomplish is to attend as many of these conventions as possible. Why? Because of the variety, content and extent of their programs and musical personalities promoting the choral arts.

In these conventions there are amateur concerts by every age, level of education, ethnic background, voicing as well as some singers/singing we may have never heard of. There are also concerts by professional groups where there may or may not be an extra ticket charge. (Some groups can get their expenses covered by corporate contributions.) There are workshops by some of the best music conductors and educators in the world. There are participation sessions: panel discussions, music reading sessions, and idea sharing by every attendee who wants to participate. All of this is in a location that you should be able to attend without traveling hassles. The national convention in Chicago two years ago was in two hotels, Symphony Hall, and a major north side church. All you had to do was park your car anywhere and ride the free shuttle bus from site to site. It was fantastic. (This was also the most spread-out I have seen of any national convention.)

What can AMCofA do for you? Let's give a quick look at what the Michigan District had planned for us.

CONCERTS (Where can you find listening and performing opportunities like this in your district?)

• the Saturday evening Massed Chorus concert (where else can you sing with a THOUSAND VOICE MALE CHORUS?)
• individual choruses could select to sing in shopping centers or at a church services
• anyone who wanted could sing "The Star Spangled Banner" at a semi-pro baseball game
• every chorus was given the opportunity to present a full, 25 minute concert in the convention center
• every chorus had the opportunity to be adjudicated by someone outside their district (a much needed activity by many choruses)
• every chorus had the opportunity to sign up for 2 or 3 songs at the after-glow (even though it was a "pre-glow" on Thursday night)
• some choruses would be demonstration groups for the reading sessions
• the Michigan State University Men's Chorus (one of the best in the nation-- selected to sing at the ACDA Chicago National Convention two years ago)
• Heaslet High School Men's Chorus (probably the best high school male chorus I have ever heard. Sang at the ACDA Central District convention at the Palmer House in Chicago last year.)
• a concert setting for some of our scholarship winners
• Three Guys and a Tenor -- one of the best comedy groups today (professional)
• CANTUS -- the alumni men's group from St. Olaf College that is probably the best TTBB group in the country right now (professional)