CDAS Convention 2026 - Professional Track
Date and Time:
22-24 June 2026
3-10pm
Venue:
Aliwal Arts Centre
28 Aliwal Street, #03-02
Singapore 199918
Cost:*
General Participant: $325 ($250 for CDAS 2026/27members)
Podium Participant: $450 ($350 for CDAS 2026/27 members)
Lite Participants (2hrs per day): $210 ($150 for CDAS 2026/27 members)
It is with great excitement and anticipation that we announce the return of the CDAS Choral Convention. This year, our convention promises to be an enriching and inspiring experience with Dr TJ Harper helming the professional track. This year, we explore the heart of choral leadership through conducting, rehearsal technique, and musical decision-making. Through keynote sessions, hands-on conducting masterclasses, and live rehearsals, the workshop focuses on developing clarity of gesture and efficiency in rehearsal. Participants will also engage with diverse repertoire from North America and Latin America, gaining practical strategies for score study, interpretation, balance, blend, and expressive performance.
We hope you will join us in this journey of discovery and collaboration as we strive to elevate our craft to new heights. As spaces in this programme are limited, do sign up at the link below by Monday, 8th June 2026. You may also contact us at contact@cdasingapore.com if you have any queries. We look forward to meeting you at the CDAS Choral Convention 2026!
Funding Options, with either Option A OR B, not both:
Option A:
This event is supported under NTUC's UTAP, where NTUC members enjoy 50% course fee support (T&Cs apply). More information about eligibility is available here. Do note that this discount applies for CDAS Members in the 2026/27 year. You may renew your membership for the year 26/27 prior to registering for the Convention.
Option B:
The professional track is approved for the NAC-NICA Training Support that provides up to 90% of unsubsidised course fee subsidies and/or training allowance at $7.50/hr. More information about eligibility is available here.
Dr TJ Harper’s professional track promises hands-on conducting masterclasses, live rehearsals, and work on clarity of gesture, but the Lite option only offers two hours per day. How do those shorter sessions connect to the full repertoire from North America and Latin America—do lite participants observe, sing, or also conduct? For anyone weighing podium versus lite, choral conducting and rehearsal technique training needs a clear pathway through those tiers.
Before paying the $450 Podium Participant rate, work out the net cost under Option A OR B—not both. UTAP’s 50% and NAC-NICA’s up-to-90% or $7.50/hr training allowance depend on whether the fee is unsubsidised and on your 2026/27 CDAS membership status. A course fee subsidy and training allowance calculator helps compare that before the 8 June 2026 sign-up; also keep the receipt for claims.
I blocked 22–24 June 2026 in my calendar and renewed my CDAS membership before registering, since the UTAP 50% support only applies for 2026/27 members. I also built a rehearsal-plan template around Dr TJ Harper’s clarity-of-gesture focus, using choral conducting and rehearsal planning materials to map North American and Latin American repertoire. The $325/$250 split made the deadline real.
I’m hoping to join the professional track, especially the live rehearsals. The emphasis on clarity of gesture and efficient rehearsal hits home—I tend to over-explain when a clean beat would work better. I’ve been practising score study by writing out my own score markings by hand, which slows me down and helps phrasing stick. I wonder how the Latin American repertoire will be handled.
Dr TJ Harper's emphasis on clarity of gesture and rehearsal efficiency makes the CDAS professional track a must for choral directors. For subtitle conversion needs, VTT to SRT is a useful tool to manage video content from such events.