Summer Dialogue 2026

Campus Food Service

Deadline to order campus meals is Wednesday, July 8

Concordia College will offer two options of a pre-packaged meal ticket for meals served in the Anderson Commons Dining Hall payable within the registration shopping cart:

• Option #1:  4 meal card @ $60
  • Wed dinner, Th breakfast, Th lunch, Fri breakfast
• Option #2:  6 meal card @ $90
  • Tues, dinner, Wed breakfast, Wed dinner, Th breakfast, Th lunch, F breakfast

Regular (non-packaged) prices for meals served in the Anderson Commons Dining Hall are:

• Breakfast @ $10.69
• Lunch @ $15.87
• Dinner @ $15.87

Meals included in your registration fee are:

• Wednesday lunch
• Thursday evening banquet

Hotel Information

Retired Member Day

Retired ACDA-MN members throughout the state are invited to travel to Concordia University to experience the best of Summer Dialogue in one day – Thursday, July 30 at no registration cost, compliments of ACDA-MN. Follow all or part of the Thursday schedule at your own discretion.
Retired members may opt to purchase a ticket ($30) for the Thursday evening award banquet on the registration shopping cart.

Deadline to order and pay for your banquet meal is Wednesday, July 8.

Student Conductor Workshop

Starting on July 28, students selected to participate in the Student Conductor Workshop will work with guest clinician Brandon Dean and Brad Miller, R&R Student Activities Chair. The students will prepare repertoire and conduct an ensemble consisting of the Summer Dialogue attendees.

Karla Miller, Student Conductor Workshop Accompanist

SCHEDULE 

Tuesday, July 28

1:30 – 2pm – Student Housing Check in

2pm – 5pm – Student Conductor Workshop (pt 1)
5pm – 6:30pm – Dinner w/ ACDA-MN Board
6:30pm – 9:45pm – Student Conductor Workshop (pt 2)

Wednesday, July 29

9 – Noon – Attend Summer Dialogue session
Noon – 1pm – Lunch (provided)
1pm – 2pm – Visit Summer Dialogue Exhibit Fair – Olson Gym
2pm – 3pm – Reading Session with Dialogue participants

Thank you to Gateway Travel for providing  scholarship support for the participating student conductors which includes registration on-campus housing, and all meals for the week.

Reading Sessions

In-Person and Reimagined Digital Reading Sessions

In-person digital reading sessions sponsored by JW Pepper with titles hand-selected by our own ACDA-MN R&R Chairs, will include newly released (easy/moderate/advanced) titles from leading music publishers around the country.

In addition, resources that feature tried and true titles, rehearsal tips and other helpful information will be presented for directors at these teaching levels:

TTBB • SSAA • High School •  Children & Community •  Sacred Music • World Music

Digital Reading Sessions

JW Pepper will again offer electronic versions of music for Summer Dialogue reading sessions. Registrants may view scores on your personal viewing device. Instructions will be sent how to access the JW Pepper digital reading site. Please note – recommended titles will be offered for only the session offered during Summer Dialogue. 

Special thanks to the volunteer R&R Chairs for screening titles!

Picnic & Exhibit Fair

Wednesday, July 29: 11:45am – 2pm

Location: Olson Gym

Sponsored by Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

Registrants will be provided with a catered picnic lunch served in Olson Gym, also the site of the Exhibits Fair. Bring an old friend, invite a new friend and grab, sit down, and enjoy your lunch (included in the registration fee).

While there, meet, greet, and make professional contacts with leading music industry representatives. Music suppliers, publishers, composers, college and universities, professional choirs, fundraising and travel companies, music equipment and performing attire specialists will all be located in Olson Gym.

Selected Picnic Menu:

• Hamburgers, brats and veggie burgers with buns
• Lettuce, tomato, pickles
• Condiments
• Potato salad
• Fresh vegetables with dip
• Potato chips
• Assorted cookies
• Soft drinks, bottled water

Olson Gym is #27 on campus map.

Social Events

Afterglow: Junkyard Brewing

Wednesday, July 29 (9pm) Junkyard Brewing 1416 1st Ave N Moorhead, MN 56560 Sponsored by Gateway Travel

Afterglow: Wild Terra Cider

Thursday, July 30 (9pm) Wild Terra Cider Bar 6 12th St N Fargo, ND 58102 Sponsored by Bruce W. Becker

Directions to Concordia College

Via Interstates

• At the intersection of Interstate 94 and Interstate 29, Concordia College is an easy three-hour drive from Bismarck, Minneapolis, or Winnipeg, and is only four hours from Sioux Falls. Concordia College is just off I-94 at Moorhead’s Exit 1. Travel about 16 blocks north on Highway 75, which is also labeled Eighth Street. You’ll see the skyway at the edge of campus at 12th Avenue. 

By Air, Bus, or Train

For getting from the bus station, train depot, or airport to Concordia, you might first consider calling an Uber or Lyft. Other options are renting a car or, if you’re in downtown Fargo, taking the local bus system — the MATBUS.

If you’re flying into Fargo, you’ll land at Hector International Airport, which is served by United, Delta, Frontier, Allegiant, and American Airlines. The airport is located in north Fargo about 11 miles from campus.

Fargo’s Amtrak train station and Greyhound bus station are located downtown, each about 2 miles from campus.

Parking

• You can park in any lot for free on campus except R1 (between Old Main & Lorentzen) R2 (between Lorentzen & ISC) and R3 (ISC). All other lots are free for them to use at any time.
  

Summer Dialogue Locations