2026 ACDA Regional Conference – Experience and Retrospective
Date
February 25-March 7, 2026
Conference & Retrospective
Course Code
7156A
Credits
1 Graduate Credit
Tuition
$180 is due in full with registration.
Course Description
Make the most of your experience at the Regional ACDA Conference! VanderCook is offering ACDA members the opportunity to earn one semester hour of graduate credit attending clinic sessions and concerts at this year’s conference. Prior to or on the first day of the conference, those taking this course for credit will create a learning schedule for their time at the conference and discuss in writing what they want to see, learn, and hear while at the conference. Following the conference, students will upload copies of all handouts, concert programs and other supporting materials to our online learning platform, Schoology. In addition, students will submit written responses summarizing and critiquing all sessions and concerts attended. Participants must attend 12.5 hours of clinics, concerts, and sessions to earn one graduate credit.
Envision ACDAEast – Providence RI, Feb. 25-28, 2026
Reflections of Us (Midwestern) – Milwaukee, WI, Feb. 25-28, 2026
Sing for a Change (Northwestern) – Tacoma, WA, March 4-7, 2026
Prisms of Voices (Southern) – Memphis, TN, March 4-7, 2026
New Horizons (Southwestern) – Albuquerque, NM, March 4-7, 2026
A Tapestry of Voices (Western) – San Jose, CA, March 4-7, 2026
Instructor
Dean of Graduate Studies Dr. Robert L. Sinclair has served VanderCook as Director of Choral Activities since 2001. His educational background includes three years at Luther College, where he sang in the Nordic Choir under the direction of Weston Noble. After transferring to Sam Houston State University, he completed his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Music degrees with B.R. Henson. In December of 2000, Dr. Sinclair completed a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction (music education) at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he worked with Drs. David Rayl and Wendy Sims.
Dr. Sinclair has 10 years of public school teaching experience and has presented sessions to the Music Educators Associations of Illinois, Ohio, Missouri and Texas, the Illinois Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), as well as the Southwestern and Southern Divisions of ACDA. He continues to work as an active choral clinician and adjudicator for junior high and high school students from across the nation and abroad, including honor choirs in Australia, The Bahamas, Canada, and Japan in addition to all-state choirs in Illinois and Wisconsin. Dr. Sinclair is an active member of ACDA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honors Fraternity, and the National Association for Music Education.