OFFICIAL INVITATION
2026 COA NATIONALS FOR TOP CHOIRS
MARCH 19 - 21, 2026 (CARNEGIE HALL)
MARCH 28 - 29, 2026 (CARNEGIE HALL)
Choirs of America is honored to invite you and your entire choral program to participate in the 2026 COA Nationals for Top Choirs in New York City + Carnegie Hall.
Rollo Dilworth Artistic Director
Geoffrey McQueen Executive Director
2026 COA Nationals for
Top Choirs
Carnegie Hall
New York City + Carnegie Hall
March 19-21, 2026
Principal Conductor: Craig Hella Johnson
Guest Conductor and Composer-in-Residence: Rollo Dilworth
Clinicians/Teaching Artists:
Julie Yu-Oppenheim, André Thomas
Bruce Rogers, Coty Raven Morris
Festival Cost: $429 per singer
Coty Raven Morris
André Thomas
Bruce Rogers
Julie Yu-Oppenheim
Craig Hella Johnson Rollo Dilworth
2026 COA Nationals for Top Choirs
Carnegie Hall
New York City + Carnegie Hall
March 28 - 29, 2026
Principal Conductors:
Edie Copley, Coty Raven Morris, Andrea Ramsey
Composer-in-Residence: Andrea Ramsey
Clinicians/Teaching Artists:
Edie Copley, Cotry Raven Morris, Andrea Ramsey
Festival Cost: $429 per singer
Coty Raven Morris
Edie Copley
Andrea Ramsey
2026 COA Nationals for Top Choirs Carnegie Hall
The 2026 COA Nationals for Top Choirs combines high magnitude music education experiences with world-class faculty culminating in an amazing, massed choir concert event in Carnegie Hall.
Festival Experience
• Adjudicated Performance at Queens College in LeFrak Concert Hall, one of New York’s finest concert venues (for fully voiced choirs of 24+ performers)
• Private One-Hour Clinic with one of COA’s industry leading Teaching Artists
• xChange Workshop during which you will have the opportunity to learn from, and build connection with, choirs from across the country through sharing a bit about your choir community and singing for, and with, the other participating choirs
• Pen2Podium Workshop with Composer-in-Residence
• Opportunity to observe another groups adjudicated performance
Rehearsal and Concert Experience
• Full massed choir concert rehearsal in a Manhattan venue led by Principal Conductor(s)
• Cue-to-cue walk through in concert venue with Principal Conductor(s)
• Incredible Harmonic Convergence Concert performance in Carnegie Hall’s legendary Stern Auditorium
• All choir finale of a newly commissioned World Premiere from our Composer-in-Residence
• Concert advertising and audience development
• Concert listing with ensemble names in official Carnegie Hall performance calendar, website, and Playbill
• Archival video recording of the Carnegie Hall concert
Special Feature Opportunity
• Choirs with 45+ singers automatically qualify for a Spotlight Performance of one piece of your own directed by you!
2026 HARMONY TOURS
Passion, Artistry, Excellence
With experience and passion, Harmony Tours creates group performance tours to exceed the expectations of the most discerning teaching artists and their talented music groups. We are artists, musicians, educators, and experienced performance tour experts bringing our passion for group travel and performance to every tour.
Sample Itinerary
DAY 1
• Arrive at NYC Airport and Meet Your Dedicated Tour Guide
• Check Into Hotel
• Inclusive Group Welcome Dinner
DAY 2
• Group Breakfast at Hotel
• Participate in 2026 COA Nationals for Top Choirs Festival Day
• Narrated walking tour of Chinatown or Little Italy
• Inclusive Group Dinner in Manhattan
DAY 3
• Group Breakfast at Hotel
• Massed Choir Rehearsal for evening concert
• Early Group Dinner
• Perform in Carnegie Hall during COA’s Harmonic Convergence Concert
DAY 4
• Group Breakfast at Hotel
• Statue of Liberty
• Ellis Island Tour
• Visit 9/11 Memorial and One World Trade Center
• Inclusive Group Dinner in Times Square
• Broadway 101 Workshop
• Attend Broadway Musical
DAY 5
• Group Breakfast at Hotel
• Free time to explore Central Park, Metropolitan Museum of art, or similar
• Travel Home
*Please note that this is a general overview and will be tailored to align with your specific event schedule and tour preferences.
