Convention – part of our roots
Our Convention goes right back to our roots, to July 1986, when a weekend of choral activity was held in Oxford, in response to a demand for an organisation for the individuals leading and composing choral music. That weekend formed our very first Convention and we’ve held one every year since, apart from one, including online Conventions during the Pandemic.
Convention is a unique mix of practical, academic and performance, with opportunities for singing leaders at all levels. Teachers who have reluctantly taken on their music curriculum attend alongside some of today’s top choral conductors and composers, and our trade exhibition is filled with music publishers large and small, composers, travel companies and the myriad of organisations which make up the music business.
International connections have always been important to abcd, and we’ve welcomed conductors and choirs from all over the world to lead sessions and perform. Just a few include Professor John Dickson, Eric Whitacre, the Suwon Civic Chorale, the Norwegian Student Choral Society, Kyoto Echo Choir, the Academic Student Choir of Ural Federal University, the Oulainen Youth Choir (Finland), the Lincoln-Nebraska Chamber Singers, the Latvian Radio Chamber Singers, Riga Cathedral Girls’ Choir and Louisiana State University A Cappella Choir.
Convention has always travelled around the UK; for many years regional committees took turns to organise the programme, giving a unique stamp to each weekend.
This year’s Convention
39th Annual Convention, York St John Creative Centre
Saturday 25 October and Sunday 26 October 2025
We’re delighted to be returning to York for our 39th Convention, at York St John Creative Centre, right in the centre of the historic city of York.
Join us for a weekend of workshops, repertoire, exhibition and networking for everyone who leads singing, whatever their experience. Catch up with colleagues, meet new ones, browse new repertoire, brush up on skills with leading practitioners and take part in debate.
More detail and booking information will follow shortly, but do put the dates in your diary now!