Our Mission...is to provide a variety of educational experiences for students that will encourage their lifetime appreciation of and participation in the art of choral music.
Our Purposes...include promoting cooperation among choral directors in Alabama, enhancing the programs of vocal music in schools in Alabama, providing a means for professional ideas and methods to be shared, and promoting growth and higher standards in music education throughout the state.
Our Affiliation...The Alabama Vocal Association (AVA) is the choral division of the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA). AMEA is the state chapter of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC).
Our Membership...is made up of over 400 choral teachers in public and private high schools, junior high schools, middle schools, colleges, and universities in Alabama. If you are a choral teacher in Alabama and are a member of MENC, you have automatic membership in AVA.
Our Structure...The Alabama Vocal Association is a non-profit educational organization governed by its Board of Directors under the rules of its Constitution and Bylaws. Sitting on Board of Directors are the AVA Officers (Executive Board: President, Vice President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer), who are elected by the membership and whose duties include organizing and implementing state events (All-State Festival, State Performance Assessment, All-State Show Choir, Honor Choir, State Outstanding Choral Student and Outstanding Accompanist auditions, the Music Education Scholarship, and the Frances P. Moss Award) and the seven District Chairs, who are appointed by the AVA President and who schedule and plan district events (District Outstanding Choral Student and Outstanding Accompanist auditions, All-State auditions, All-State Show Choir auditions, District Performance Assessments, and Solo/Ensemble Festival), keep the choral directors in their district informed about events and activities, keep a district bank account, and serve on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors also includes non-voting appointed positions, such as the webmaster position. All of the board members are school choral directors who volunteer their time to serve on the AVA Board.
What We Do...AVA offers adjudicated performance evaluations, All-State festival venues, and in-service opportunities for Alabama choral teachers and their students each year. AVA gives each choral teacher in Alabama an opportunity to make AVA policy by participating and voting in the three AVA membership meetings held each year, or by serving in a volunteer capacity as a District Chairman or Officer. AVA recognizes outstanding choral teachers with the Frances P. Moss Choral Director's Award and encourages future choral teachers with Outstanding Choral Student/Accompanist scholarships and the Music Education Scholarship.