NCCO9 National Conference
20-22 January 2022 * Atlanta, Georgia
Hosted by Morehouse College, the Morehouse College Glee Club and Dr. David Morrow
Update, September 1, 2021:
The NCCO9 conference has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 20 through Saturday, January 22, 2022.
While we hope to hold the conference in-person, in consultation with the Morehouse College administration and health professionals we will decide by October 15 whether the conference will be in-person or whether we will switch to a virtual conference model.
Morehouse College will remain our host in both scenarios. We will not postpone a second time, so these dates are firm, it is only the modality (in-person or virtual) which is still to be determined.
Registration for the conference will go live on November 1st. Please stay tuned for additional information about deadlines for conference program book advertisements and the graduate conducting masterclass.
Conference Presenters
We are delighted to announce our NCCO9 Conference Presenters, who were selected through a competitive peer-review process:
- Choral Performance Videos
- Literature Sessions
- Interest Sessions
- Poster Sessions
- Panels:
- Across the Institution: Pedagogical Approaches, Musical Considerations, and Recruiting Students from All Majors
- Expanding the Canon: Exploring Choral Literature Curricula
- Women in Higher Education Choral Music
- Navigating Tenure & Promotion as a Member of the BIPOC Community at a Predominantly White Institution
Joint Statement on SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinations and Best Health Practices
On June 23, the National Association of Teachers of Singing Voice Science Advisory Committee and multiple organizations including NCCO shared a joint statement regarding COVID-19 vaccines and best health practices.
“In an effort to continue speaking with a unified voice on the importance of the singing community becoming as fully vaccinated as possible, our organizations have issued this joint statement which we are sharing widely,” says Allen Henderson, executive director of NATS. “We urge everyone to become fully vaccinated as soon as possible.”
The National Association of Teachers of Singing Voice Science Advisory Committee, the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, the Barbershop Harmony Society, the Performing Arts Medicine Association, the Pan American Vocology Association, Opera America, and National Collegiate Choral Organization strongly recommend that all singing teachers, choral conductors, collaborative pianists, and singers eligible to receive an FDA authorized vaccine follow CDC guidance and become fully vaccinated as soon as possible.
We collectively support public health education efforts at the local, state, and national level that offer accurate information about vaccine efficacy and safety and that encourage all persons to become vaccinated.
We recommend that unvaccinated teachers, conductors, collaborative pianists, and singers continue to follow COVID-19 prevention and mitigation practices that have been effective in reducing the spread of the disease in indoor public areas. These include but are not limited to the use of masks, physical distancing, increased ventilation, reduced contact time, regular cleaning of common surfaces, and vigorous hand washing.
NCCO Adopts Vision and Mission Statements
At a meeting on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, our NCCO National Board voted to adopt our organization's first-ever vision and mission statements, as recommended by our Task Force on Mission, Vision & Principles.
Our vision:
NCCO believes that singing together in post-secondary spaces can be a vital force for culturally responsive teaching and learning, one that connects us with each other, builds empathy, and inspires joy.
You may also read our full mission statement here.
National Board Forms New Committee and Affinity Group Structure
The National Board also voted to form the Mission and Vision in Governance Committee, who will work to ensure that the actions, structures, and activities of NCCO consistently serve and embody the mission and vision of the organization, including supporting the NCCO’s efforts in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In forming this committee, the National Board also voted to create a new ex officio (non-voting) Executive Board position: the Director of Affinity Groups. With the input of the committee, this person will propose the creation of Affinity Groups.
Our NCCO Affinity Groups will affirm the importance of embracing our complex web of identities and seek to honor those identities by serving as brave and safe spaces for our members to seek mentorship, community, and sustaining professional development. The types and names of affinity groups will be proposed through a collaborative process with the full membership, reflecting the needs of the membership.
Affinity groups may include opportunities for discussion among individuals sharing particular aspects of their identities, or individuals sharing similar conducting/teaching positions. Further details will be elaborated after requesting feedback from the membership.
Read the full changes to our newly adopted Constitution and Bylaws here.