ABCD Annual Convention

The Association of British Choral Directors

abcd's 33rd Annual Convention takes place from 24-26 August at Leeds Beckett University, offering an inspirational weekend for singing leaders of all kinds of workshops, performances, trade exhibition and much more. Over 30 sessions are on offer, following five strands which weave through the programme: access and community; repertoire and style; technique; young choirs; and a bank of essential management and administration knowledge. Presenters include Charles MacDougall, Jenevora Williams, Lithuanian composer Vytautas Miškinis, Susan Hollingworth, Em Whitfield Brooks, Paul Whittaker and Neil Ferris, along with organisations including Making Music, the Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme and Opera North. We're delighted to be working with Making Music on orchestral and choral conducting workshops, and there's also the chance to conduct young singers and a group of local Leeds singers in a workshop situation.

Guest choirs include the NYCGB Boys’ Choir, Leeds Contemporary Singers and New Dublin Voices, all of whom will perform in the Saturday night gala concert in Leeds Cathedral.

A large trade exhibition runs through the weekend, with all the major UK music publishers, along with several European publishers, tour operators, agents and concert dress company Black Dress Code.

There is also a Pre-Convention conducting course from 23-24 August. A Young Conductors’ course runs in parallel with Convention for anyone aged 18-25.