The 2026 season of Heart of America championships kicked off on February 28 in Nashville, Tenn. Fourteen groups performed in prelims in the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, with five groups advancing to finals. The day started early with bright blue skies in the southern town of Nashville. Known for its vibrant live music scene, the groups pulling into…
Heart of America Championships is committed to providing fair, educational and affordable events with the highest level of professionalism and integrity. We believe that students can learn as much off stage as they do on stage. Thus, we strive to provide a safe and friendly space where performers and their entourages can stay, perform, eat, find age-appropriate entertainment and learn…
Last month, we began a conversation about the good, the hard and the honest questions that come with competition. Each month, I’m taking on one concern I hear from directors and staff - not to dismiss it, but to look at it from a place of experience and growth. March brings us to another concern I hear often: “Judging is…
March 2026 Marks the 41st Observance of Music In Our Schools Month® This Year’s MIOSM® Theme Continues as “United Through Music” HERNDON, VA (February 23, 2026)— For more than 40 years, March has been designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) as Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®). Ensuring equitable access to music education for the youngest members of our society—students—is…
One of the most common concerns I hear about competing is a simple, valid one: “Competitions create unhealthy stress.” I agree - to a point. Stress absolutely exists in competitive environments. Students feel it. Directors feel it. If we’re not careful, it can spill over into places it doesn’t belong. That said, how on earth can we teach students the…
Why compete? Why take your students on the road, put them in front of judges, clinicians and adjudicators, and give up evenings, weekends and personal time with family and friends to do it? Early in my career, I had to answer those questions for myself. Over time, I’ve learned that every music educator answers them differently. That answer can change…
In late December 2025, two Indiana choirs took part in one of Walt Disney World’s most meaningful holiday traditions: EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional. Carmel High School Choir, directed by Katie Kouns, performed on Sunday, Dec. 21, followed by Terre Haute North Vigo High School Choir, directed by Michelle Azar, on Monday, Dec. 22. Each choir performed once, but the significance of…
This one is personal. Every year in the classroom, it happened. Sometimes it was during late fall, getting ready for the winter and holiday concerts and activities. Sometimes it was in the spring, in the heat of all those contest rehearsals and solo and ensemble activities. It even happened during those exciting days right before school started. What happened was…
Our Heart of America 2028 dates are officially set! If you are a planner and you’ve ever dreamed of taking your program to the next level, now’s your chance to be first in line. Our 2028 HOA VIP List offers directors exclusive early access to registration, hotel blocks and event updates BEFORE they are publicly released. It’s our way of…
Every season, directors tell us the same thing: “We wish we had registered sooner.” Groups come back year after year because Heart of America Championships are more than competitions: they are immersive performance experiences in ideal locations. We design these events around directors, students and the art of choral music itself. By registering early, you create excitement in your program…