All applicants have been notified of their acceptance to the 2022 Choral Leadership Academy in Fresno, CA. Please us the links below to book housing, access the medical liability forms, and pay the $75 registration fee. Please see the email from Ryan Clippinger, CLA Coordinator for complete information: 

Event Overview
The Choral Leadership Academy (CLA) will bring together high school students who demonstrate an interest in the music profession, together with pre-service college music education majors, for two days of musical and educational activities. These activities will teach musicianship skills, inspire confidence, and build camaraderie among musicians of the next generation. The students in the CLA will:

• sing new literature
• work on their musicianship
• listen to and learn from veterans in the field
• develop friendships that will support them as they begin their careers

We are privileged to have an outstanding CLA headliner; Dr. Kevin Fenton, Professor of Choral Conducting and Ensembles at Florida State University; who will bring expertise, humor, and insight to the CLA students’ experience. The CLA faculty will also include Dr. Angel Vazquez-Ramos (CSU Bakersfield), Professor Lori Marie Rios (College of the Canyons), Professor John Sorber (College of the Sequoias), and Mr. Ryan Clippinger (Ridgeview High School).
Due to the nature of this event, we must limit our enrollment to 75 students. Acceptance to the CLA is on a “first come, first served” basis, but please be aware that we must have a balance of vocal parts as well as a balance of high school and college students. Therefore, as registration moves forward towards our limit, students might have to be placed on a waiting list. Encourage your students to register by December 10 to be a part of this exciting experience!

Choral Leadership Academy Timeline

November 1, 2021: CLA information packet and online application will be available on the CMEA website.
December 31, 2021: EXTENDED Application deadline.
December 31, 2021: EXTENDED Director’s recommendation submission deadline.
January 8, 2022: Singers and directors notified of acceptance via email. (Participants will be accepted on a first come/first served basis, but leadership reserves the right to ensure that a balanced choral ensemble is created.)
IMPORTANT: When you receive Notification of Accepted Application: Make your housing and transportation arrangements right away. Hotels near the convention center will fill up quickly.
January 22, 2022: $75 participation fee due (PayPal).
High school student’s permission and liability forms due.
January 8 – February 18, 2022: All CLA participants, high school parents, and directors receive email updates regarding event.
February 18-19, 2022: The Choral Leadership Academy is held in Fresno during the California All State Music Education Conference, which runs from February 20-22, 2020. Participating CLA students will receive free admittance to attend all sessions before and after CLA begins!
 
 
Eligibility

Professional Membership
To be eligible to audition, all singers must be students participating in school choirs whose directors are members of the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), the Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA), or the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). CMEA is proud to offer this opportunity to our affiliate organization members. Sponsoring directors must sign a recommendation form for each applicant.
 
Participant Expectations
The 2022 CLA will be comprised of some of the very best choral singers in the state, who may also become our next generation of music educators. Through director recommendations, each singer applying should demonstrate the highest level of musicianship, exceptional work habits, exemplary citizenship, and a passion for choral singing. It is our goal to have the most talented, deserving, and committed singers go to the CASMEC conference in Fresno, and participate in the CLA on February 18-19, 2022.

• CLA Students must check-in and register on Friday, February 18 from 8:00 - 9:00 am (room location will be emailed to participants)
• The CLA officially begins at 9:00 am on Friday, February 18 and ends by 5:00 pm on Saturday, February 19
• All participants will make their own housing arrangements. We may have a block of rooms available for CLA students to reserve near the Convention Center, information will be confirmed to participants. The CLA will take place at the Fresno Convention Center.
• All participants will remain until after the final event of the CLA, which will conclude at 5:00 pm on Saturday, February 19.
• Participants will attend all rehearsals and events of the CLA and submit themselves to the authority of the CLA staff, and chaperones as designated by CCDA.
• The CASMEC Conference begins on the morning of Thursday, February 17, and students are invited to arrive early to take in as much of the conference as possible. Your registration fee for CLA also gives you full registration into the conference…a real bargain! It is recommended but not required that all CLA members attend the entire conference.

 
Grade Level and Voicing Requirements
Students who are in their high school choirs are eligible to apply, as are any undergraduate/graduate students from the community college and university levels. We look forward to the mentorship of the collegiate members with the current high school students. You are all the potential future of choral music education in California! The CLA choir will be a mixed choir with balanced SATB voicing. 
 
Financial Commitment
Each singer accepted to the 2022 CLA will be financially responsible for the following expenses:
 
1.   There is NO audition or audition fee for this event. Qualified students are recommended by their directors. Please have your director complete the Director Recommendation Form online (this form should automatically be sent to them upon the completion of each student application).
 
2.   Participation fee:  $75.00 (Due January 22, 2022):  Each accepted singer will be responsible for payment by credit card through PayPal. The PayPal link will be sent directly to accepted students.
      This covers costs of the CLA Leadership (Conductors and Accompanist), a music packet, a CLA T-shirt, two group meals (lunch on Friday and Saturday) rehearsal and performance facilities, and full registration for the California All State Music Education Conference.
 
3.   Lunch on Friday and Saturday are included and will be eaten together.  All other meals are on your own.
 
4.  Housing is up to the individual participants (or parents/directors) to arrange. Rooms fill up fast, so send in your make your reservations early upon notification of acceptance. We will have a block of rooms available for CLA students to reserve near the Convention Center, information will be confirmed to participants.
 
5.   CLA participants and chaperones will be responsible for their own transportation costs and arrangements to and from the CLA in Fresno. Chaperones will need to purchase Conference concert tickets or day passes to attend concerts/sessions along with high school students that are not contained within the CLA schedule.
 
Application Process

• Submit the Application Form online by December 10, 2021. Please be thorough and complete.
• Once accepted, high school students must print out, complete the permission and liability form, secure parental/guardian signatures, and then EMAIL it to Ryan Clippinger, CLA Coordinator at Ryan_Clippinger@kernhigh.org.

                                               
We are accepting the first 75 applicants who can provide us with a balanced choir and a balance of high school, college and university students. Please get your applications in right away! In the event that we have an overage of applicants in any one voice area (S, A, T, or B) or age area, we will cap off that section until the appropriate balance has been received within the other areas. Applicants will be kept informed via email as to their status. 
 
Need Help?If you have questions about the application process, please contact Ryan Clippinger, CLA Coordinator at Ryan_Clippinger@kernhigh.org. Please put CLA in the subject of all emails.