KCDA 2026 Summer Convention Schedule at-a-Glance

Wednesday, July 8

11:30am - Registration (Burge Union Lobby)

12:30pm - Welcome, Information, & Introductions (Burge Union, Room F)

12:40pm - Reading Session 1: Harry Robert Wilson Award Winner Recommendations(Room D)

1:40pm - Quick Connects (Room D)

2:00pm - Plenary 1: We Are Family - Victor C. Johnson (Room D)

3:00pm - Reading Session 2: Contemporary Styles (Room D)

4:00pm - Plenary 2: Rediscovering Joy: You Can’t Connect on Empty - Dr. Jaclyn Normandie(Room D)

5:00pm - Reading Session Choose One:

  • 2-Part & 3-Part Winners (Room B)

  • Large High School and College (Room D)

6:00pm - Dinner (on your own)

8:00pm - Beer Choir - Join KCDA at Lawrence Beer Company (826 Pennsylvania St.) for an hour of harmonies, hops, and hilarity! Whether you're a pro sight-reader or just in it for the laughs, this is your chance to raise your voice and your glass. No pressure—just good music, great company, and one unforgettable night.

Thursday, July 9

8:00am - Registration (Burge Union Lobby)

8:15am - Reading Sessions 4: PML (Room D)

9:30am - Headliner Session: Rediscovering Our Voices: Intro to Estill in the Choral Rehearsal with Dr. Brian Winnie (Room D)

10:30am - Reading Session 5: Endeavor Publishing (Room D)

11:30am - Headliner Session: Vocal Modeling: Teaching through the Individual in the Choral Rehearsal with Dr. Winnie (Room D)

12:30pm - Lunch (in encouraged groups)

2:00pm - Headliner Session: Vocal Solutions to Common Goals & Challenges in the Choral Rehearsal - Brian Winnie (Room D)

3:00pm - Exhibitor’s Lobby Opens

3:00pm - Pick 2 Session:

  • Session 1: A World Apart From Pepper: Composer-Centric Music Publishing - Bradley Vogel (Room C)

  • Session 2: Cultivating Young Voices: How to Start a Community Youth Choir - Janie Brokenicky (Room A)

  • Session 3: Choir Builders - Scott Allison (Room D)

4:00pm - Conducting Master Class - Brian Winnie (Room D)

5:30 - Dinner (on your own)

7:30 - All-Convention Sing & All-State Vocal Jazz Concert (Burge Union Room D)

8:45 - KCDA Soiree! DoubleTree Hotel Ballroom (200 McDonald Drive)

Friday, July 10

8:30 - Registration (Burge Union Lobby)

9:00am - Headliner Session: Adolescent Voice Pedagogy: Diagnosing the Challenges - Kurtis Heinrich (Room D)

10:00am - Reading Session 6: Music Spoke (Room D)

11:00am - Headliner Session: Adolescent Voice Pedagogy: A Deep Dive in the Toolbox - Kurtis Heinrich (Room D)

12:00pm - Exhibitor’s Lunch & KCDA Awards (Burge Union, Room C)

1:00pm - Headliner Session: Personalized Learning & Sight Reading - Kurtis Heinrich (Room D)

1:30pm - Exhibitor’s Last Call

2:00pm - Plenary 3: Creating Optimal Sound: Voice Matching Methods Large Vocal Jazz Ensembles - John Stafford II (Room D)

3:30pm - Travel to Lawrence High School

4:00pm - Soprano/Alto All-State Treble Honor Choir Concert (First United Methodist Church (946 Vermont Street)

5:15pm - Tenor/Bass All-State Treble Honor Choir Concert (First United Methodist Church (946 Vermont Street)

Saturday, July 12

1:00 - KCDA Board Meeting (via Zoom)