WHAT IS abcd?
The Association of British Choral Directors (abcd) was founded in 1986. It is a registered charity which provides a unique forum for the conductors of choral music in the United Kingdom. Its purpose is to promote, improve and maintain the education, training and development of choral directors with a view to improving standards in all sectors of choral activity by:

• the organisation of regional and national training courses and conventions;
• commissioning and publishing regular newsletters and other items of information;
• the encouragement of both the composition of choral music and a closer contact between choral composers and conductors;
• co-operation and liaison with other relevant regional, national and international organisations with aims and objectives complementary to those of the Association.

abcd works in close association with, The Churches' Initiative in Music Education (CHIME), Making Music  (formerly the National Federation of Music Societies),  Music for Youth,  the National Association of Choirs, the Royal School of Church Music, Sing for Pleasure, the Welsh Amateur Music Federation and member organisations of The On-going National Singing Information Liaison group (TONSIL). As a member of the International Federation for Choral Music, abcd has been represented at international choral symposia. Conductors' study tours have been organised with similar organisations in Finland, Hungary and the USA. abcd is presently conferring with several post-graduate establishments and examining boards on their individual choral conducting training courses and examination syllabi.

MEMBERSHIP
abcd is unique among choral organisations in that it is the only one devoted entirely to the interests of choral conductors, both amateur and professional - its ordinary membership comprises individuals rather than organisations eg choirs. Membership has risen to over 700 individual members and 55 Associate and Corporate members. The individual members of abcd conduct over 1,000 choral groups, whose members number several thousand. In 2005 the new category of Friend was introduced.

Individual members are class teachers, animateurs, choral directors, organists, choir trainers, teachers, lecturers, composers, singers, musicians and students. abcd members conduct choirs covering the whole spectrum of choral activity and age, including children's choirs, male and female choirs, non-auditioned and professional choirs, primary and secondary school choirs, gospel and cathedral choirs ... the list is endless.

See the Membership pages for further details.

EVENTS
abcd holds a national 3-day Convention each year in a different regional location. Within the Convention are tutorial and training sessions led by eminent choral experts, discussion forums, a trade exhibition, concerts and open rehearsals with choirs from Britain and abroad. At present, The abcd Convention, which provides a unique annual forum in the UK, is preceded by a short choral conducting course. In addition Extended Choral Conducting Courses form an important part of abcd's annual activities.

In collaboration with Music for Youth, abcd annually promotes and organises Singposium as part of the National Festival of Music for Youth.

Regional committees are highly successful in organising courses, singing and repertoire days, workshops and other events, many of which are supported by abcd Associate and Corporate members.

All abcd events offer exhibition, promotion and sponsorship opportunities to Associate and Corporate members.

abcd's journal Mastersinger is published and distributed to members four times each year, including a Convention edition. The current editorial policy is to carry articles on a wide range of choral matters and activity, to review music, books and CDs and to list events promoted by abcd and like-minded organisations. Editor Emma Disley

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
abcd is grateful for the generous support of the Peter Moores Foundation.