Lift Every Voice 2025
“Lift Every Voice” Symposium 2025
October 21-24, 2025
“Lift Every Voice,” sponsored by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), is an all-expenses-paid mentor program for talented young choral conductors from under-represented groups. The 2025 program will bring six young female conductors and ACDA members nearing the end of their undergraduate music study to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus to work with an outstanding guest faculty of experienced conductor-teachers and University of Illinois faculty.
Guest Mentors
Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt, University of Toronto
Dr. Felicia Barber, Yale University
Dr. Cory Boulton, Bradley University
Dr. Marcela Molina, Tucson Girls Chorus
The week will include private conducting lessons, conducting classes, participation in graduate level choral courses, sessions on female composers, rehearsal technique, and round-table discussions on how to navigate the day-to-day challenges of being a choral conductor. All participants will rehearse and conduct University of Illinois ensembles in a closing performance. All travel costs, housing, and tuition will be paid through the Choral Excellence Fund at the University of Illinois. The symposium takes place October 21-24, 2025 in Urbana, Illinois.
TO APPLY:
To be considered for participation, applicants must submit (1) the Nomination Application, (2) a 4-5 minute Conducting Audition Video, (3) a 400 word Nomination Application Essay, and (4) receive a recommendation from their instructor or professor.
The 4-5 minute Conducting Audition Video must include one of the the following:
- The applicant conducting in a rehearsal.
- OR
- The applicant conducting in a concert.
The nomination application essay must include the following:
- Why you should be selected to participate in the symposium.
- AND
- How you intend to take the experience back to your school to share with your peers.
Nomination Application, Nomination Application Essay, and Conducting Audition Video – Due April 15, 2025
Nomination Application available here on March 1, 2025.
– Links to submit the Conducting Audition Video and Nomination Application Essay will be sent to the applicant AFTER the Nomination Application has been submitted.
Professor/ Instructor Recommendations – Due April 30, 2025
– Request for instructor/professor recommendation will automatically be sent to the instructor/professor AFTER the applicant submits the Nomination Application.
Have any questions about eligibility? Please reach out directly to Andrea Solya at asolya2@illinois.edu.
Mentors
