State Festival (Grades 4-9)

Nominations are now CLOSED for the 2025 State Festival. Thank you to everyone who nominated — we had a record number of nominations this year!

Acceptance notifications, registration forms, and invoices have been sent to participating schools.

The MEACDA State Festival is a nomination-based honors choir festival for students in elementary and middle school. We seek to use the honor choir experience to help inspire students to return and invest more in their home choirs, and to serve our mission.

Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
Location: Cony Middle & High School – Augusta, ME
Choir Structure:
- Acadia Choir – grades 4-6, treble voices
  - Hattie Skvorak, manager
- Cadillac Choir – grades 6-9, cambiata/tenor/bass
  - Benjamin Holbrook, manager
- Katahdin Choir – grades 7-9, treble voices
  - Camille Saucier, manager
Cost:
- Student fees include cost of music, which will be sent once registration and payment are received.
- Students:
  - $40/student (of ACDA members)
  - $45/student (of non-ACDA members)
- Directors/Teachers:
  - FREE for those sending students!
  - $25/director if attending PD (two 45-minute sessions) and not sending students

Three festival choirs allow us to meet the needs of all advanced singers during different stages of vocal development.

Expert guest conductors bring new ideas, diverse programming, sound vocal pedagogy to singers, and professional development to teachers.

Using a nomination-based selection process allows teachers to advocate for students who may otherwise by hesitant to audition during this time of rapid change.

An affordable fee structure removes barriers and promotes equity among Maine’s singing communities.

Including grades 4-9 allows us to promote ensemble leadership and build bridges across school levels, ensuring all students in the state of Maine have access to a state-wide honors festival.

View/Download the Brochure

Criteria for nominated singers:

Musical Readiness
- can easily match pitch
- adjusts tone, intonation, and volume to match others
- has basic score-reading skills (can locate measures, understands dynamics, articulations, basic rhythmic values)
- is able to produce a tone that is clear, free of tension, and steady
Rehearsal Etiquette
- actively listens to instruction
- has no major behavioral referrals on record
- is able to regulate behavior independently
- maintains proper posture and engagement during rehearsals

Past State Festival Conductors:

2025 – Kelly Graeber (Acadia), Kirsten Oberoi (Katahdin), & Rob Finch (Cadillac)
2024 – Krystal Morin (Acadia), Kenneth Griffith (Katahdin), & Matthew Murray (Cadillac)
2023 – Emily Ellsworth (elementary) & Dr. Rollo Dillworth (middle school)
2022 – Elena Efthimiou
2019 – Dr. Henry Leck (elementary) & Dr. Jessica Nápoles (middle school)
2018 – Dr. Patrick Freer
2017 – Dr. Judy Bowers