Conducting Masterclasses

2026 Western ACDA Conducting Master Class Overview 

Call for Applications 

Western ACDA announces three conducting master classes at our regional conference (March 4-7, 2026, San Jose, CA), led by exceptional conductor-teachers within our region. As part of our mission to foster the growth of choral leaders at various stages of their conducting careers, each master class is open to attendees based on experience. The 2026 master classes are non-competitive: although the selection process is by audition, there is not a competitive element to the master classes. 

Conducting Master Class Categories 

  1. Conference Attendee: this category is open to all attendees, including graduate students. 
  2. Undergraduate Student: this category includes students enrolled in collegiate programs at the post-secondary level of bachelor’s or associate’s degrees. 
  3. Teachers & Emerging Conductors: this category is open to conductors with 5 years or less of conducting experience (including the current 2025-2026 year). 

Conducting Master Class Ensembles 

Three performing choirs at the region conference will serve as master class ensembles, representing a variety of ages and settings. They may include adult community chorus, high school chorus, children’s community chorus, and collegiate chorus. 

Conducting Master Class Clinicians (see below for bios) 

  1. Conference Attendee Clinician: Dr. Craig Jessop
  2. Undergraduate Student Master Class Clinician: Dr. Edith Copley
  3. New and Emerging Conductors Clinician: Nola Nahulu 

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of conductors outside the Western ACDA Region, representative of a variety of backgrounds and locations. Applicants will remain anonymous to the screening panel. 

DEADLINES

Applications Due: October 31, 2025 11:59 pm PST (Click here for 2026 Application Form) 

Video Verification Due: October 31, 2025 11:59 pm PST (Click here for Video Verification Form) 

Applicant Notification: November 15, 2025

 

Application Instructions 

  1. Applicants must hold an active ACDA membership. Membership available at https://acda.org/membership
  2. Applicants must reside, work, and/or study in the Western ACDA Region (Arizona, California, Hawai’i, Nevada, and Utah). 
  3. Applicants submit their 2026 WACDA Conducting Master Class Application by October 31, 2025. 
  4. Video Verification Form is completed by another ACDA current member by October 31, 2025. 

Video Guidelines for Successful Submission 

  • Video includes up to two choral selections in contrasting style and cultural background, or one longer selection. 
  • Video may be a rehearsal or performance setting. 
  • Video duration will be between eight and twelve minutes. Videos longer than 12 minutes will not be considered. 
  • Video will not be edited in any manner. The selections will be presented consecutively without stopping recording between selections. 
  • Video angle shows a complete frontal view of the conductor and captures all conducting movements within the frame. 
  • The choir’s sound and applicant’s comments are clearly audible. 
  • The applicant will not identify themselves nor their ensemble/organization in the recorded audition. 
  • The applicant will begin each selection by announcing the title and composer of the work to be conducted. 
  • Video recording must be observed by a current ACDA member, who will verify the validity of the recording. 
 

Video Uploading: Applicants will upload videos to YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/). 

  • Videos will be submitted as “unlisted” (not “private” or “public”). 
  • Videos must be accessible to the screening panel. Applicants are responsible for providing the correct URL in the application. 
  • Video description will include composer and title of repertoire conducted. 
  • Anonymous Submission: Applicant name and organization will not be identified. Videos with the applicant’s name or organization in title or YouTube channel will be disqualified. 

Video Verification 

A current ACDA member will verify the validity of the video using this Video Verification Form. 

Questions? 

Contact the coordinator, Dr. Marcela Molina:

Masterclass Clinicians

Dr. Craig Jessop (Conference Attendee Clinician)

Dr. Craig Jessop is Professor of Music and Coordinator of the Master’s in Conducting Program (Choral Emphasis) at Utah State University. From 2010 to 2019, he served as the inaugural Dean of USU’s Caine College of the Arts, following his distinguished tenure as Music Director of the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square and Head of USU’s Department of Music.

Founder and Music Director of the American Festival Chorus and Orchestra, now in its 18th season, Dr. Jessop has served as Music Director of the Carnegie Hall National High School Choral Festival and, for the past 15 years, the National Memorial Day Choral Festival at the Kennedy Center. Under his leadership, the Tabernacle Choir received numerous awards, including the National Medal of Arts, and recorded over 15 CDs on the Telarc and MTC labels, earning a Grammy nomination in 2008.

Dr. Edith Copley (Undergraduate Student Master Class Clinician)

Dr. Edith A. Copley is a Regents’ Professor Emerita at Northern Arizona University.  During her 31-year tenure in Flagstaff, she conducted the Shrine of the Ages Choir and taught courses in undergraduate and graduate conducting and graduate choral literature.  Prior to her NAU appointment, Copley taught secondary choral music for seven years in Iowa and four years at the American International School in Vienna, Austria. She has contributed articles and chapters for several publications and has conducted all-state choirs in over 30 states and international festivals in Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Luxembourg, Tasmania, England, Australia, China, Oman, Turkey, Ireland, Austria, and France.  Copley has served ACDA in various leadership roles and is currently National President. 

Nola Nahulu (New and Emerging Conductors Clinician) 

“Ma o na Keiki, e mau ai ka ‘ike ku’una o ka Lahui”
“Through our children, we perpetuate our knowledge and heritage”

As Choral Directors, we share with our singers the history and stories of diverse cultures. It is our kuleana (responsibility) to ensure this knowledge grows by passing it to future generations. Through choral singing, we help students “bring out” their best, gaining lifelong skills and experiences in literature, history, and music. Daughter of Thomas K. Nahulu and Chiyoko Nozaki Nahulu, Ms. Nahulu is a native of Mākaha, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. She attended Wai‘anae Elementary School, Kamehameha Schools, Whitman College (B.A. Psychology), and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (M.A. Music Education, Choral). Ms. Nahulu has been deeply involved in Hawai‘i’s choral community for decades, serving as Artistic Director for HYOC & Kawaiolaonāpūkanileo, Choral Director for Kawaiaha’o Church & Hawai’i Opera Theatre Chorus & Directed of the Hawaiian Chorus at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa.