2026 National Conference

Conference Schedule

Conference Registration

Early Bird reduced rates are valid until January 25, 2026.

CODA Members: including Banquet Meal, $120 (early bird – use code “EarlyBirdMember”); $150 after Jan. 25, 2026.

CODA Student Members: including Banquet Meal, $65 (early bird – use code “EarlyBirdStudent”); $90 after Jan. 25, 2026.

Spouses/Significant Others of CODA Members: Everything including Banquet Meal, $70; Banquet Meal only, $40; Everything except Banquet Meal, $30. To register a spouse or significant other, please include this information in your Member or Student registration.

Conference Hotel

Last Day to Book: January 25, 2026. After this date the special CODA rate will no longer be available.

Wednesday, February 25 – Monday, March 2, 2026

The LOOM Hotel, Warwick, RI

Conference Highlights

Meet our clinicians!

Diane Wittry

Diane Wittry, named nationally as one of the “Top 30 Professional Musicians” by Musical America Worldwide for her work leading orchestras, is a highly respected conductor in the United States today. Frequently engaged as a guest conductor, she has led symphonic performances in more than 11 countries and throughout the U.S.

American Orchestras Wittry has guest conducted include: The Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Milwaukee Symphony, The San Diego Symphony, The Buffalo Philharmonic, among others,
and she was one of the first woman to guest conduct at the renown Ojai Music Festival, CA.. International Orchestras include: The Zabre Philharmonic (Poland), The Niagara Symphony (Canada), The Sarajevo Philharmonic (Bosnia), The National Orchestra of Ukraine (Ukraine), The Sochi Symphony (Russia), The Maikop Symphony (Russia), State Orchestra of Kosice (Slovakia), The Sinfonia Dell’Arte di Firenze (Italy), The Osaka Symphony Orchestra (Japan), among other.

Currently the Music Director of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, PA, under Diane Wittry’s artistic leadership, the orchestra has risen to increasing standards of excellence, winning 1st place for the prestigious national “American Prize” for artistic quality in both 2014 and 2017, receiving national NEA Grants, commissioning new pieces of music, and featuring exceptional soloists like Midori, Emanuel Ax, Garrick Ohlsson, Yefim Bronfman, Angela Meade, and Branford Marsalis.

In addition to her work with the ASO, Diane Wittry has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Garden State Philharmonic, NJ; and has served as the Associate Conductor of the renowned Ojai Music Festival (CA); the Artistic Director of the International Music Program with the Sarajevo Philharmonic, Bosnia; and Music Director and Conductor of the Symphony of Southeast Texas, the Norwalk Symphony (CT), and the Ridgewood Symphony (NJ).

Wittry is an award-winning author, composer, and teacher. Her two books, Beyond the Baton, and Baton Basics-Communicating Music through Gestures, have become standards in the field, and she has given presentations at the Juilliard School of Music, the Curtis Institute, the Manhattan School of Music, and for the League of American Orchestras and the Conductors Guild National Conferences. She also regularly teaches Conducting Workshops such as the Czech Republic International Conducting Institute, the Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute, the New York City-Maestro Master classes, and workshops in other cities throughout the United States.

Wittry has received the national Helen M. Thompson Award from the League of American Orchestras, the USC Thornton School of Music Outstanding Alumnus Award, the Gold Crown Award (Pasadena, CA), the Women of Excellence Award (Beaumont, TX), and the Arts Ovation Award and the Woman of Distinction Award (Allentown, PA).

More information on her work is available at her website: www.DianeWittry.com

Twitter: @DianeWittry
Facebook: Diane Wittry
Facebook Fan page: Diane Wittry – Conductor
Instagram: @DianeWittry

Anna Edwards

Conductor Anna Edwards’ musical career progression as a violinist, educator, and symphony conductor has inspired her mission to encourage and promote musical diversity at the highest level from professional, educational, and collaborative music organizations across the country. She is a passionate advocate of music from underrepresented composers on the concert stage. Currently, Edwards balances her time between conducting in the Pacific Northwest, serving as a guest conductor/clinician across the country, and developing young musicians through instruction and collaboration with professionals in concert settings. The 2025-26 season marks the thirteenth season for Edwards as Music Director of the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, eleventh season as Music Director of the Saratoga Orchestra, and eighth season as Music Director of the Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute.

As a recognized leader for the promotion of musical diversity in symphonic orchestral music, Dave Beck, of Seattle Classical KING FM wrote, “The Seattle Collaborative Orchestra under Dr. Anna Edwards’ excellent musicianship, inspired vision, and creative leadership, is doing everything a modern orchestra should be doing to insure the future of the art of symphonic music. The spirit of collaboration among these professional, gifted amateur and excellent student musicians fosters innovation, diversity, and new possibilities in the life of the 21st century symphony orchestra. SCO is showing the way forward like no other orchestra in our region.” Along with her passion for diversity on the concert stage, in 2022 Edwards launched Anna’s Composer Database; a curated list of underrepresented composers that provides ideas for excellent, well-rounded, and interesting concert programs.

Edwards continues to follow her commitment to program innovative music, which balances traditional classical music with music by women, underrepresented composers, and Northwest artists. Commissioned premieres include works by Joe Jaxson, Sarah Bassingthwaighte, Leanna Primiani, Julian Garvue, Brendan McMullen, Andy Clausen, David Lien, Tim Huling, Angelique Poteat, and Victoria Bond. Anna additionally offers lectures concerning music, gender, and leadership to up-and-coming musicians and community leaders in public schools, community businesses, Colleges, and Universities.

Edwards’ dedication to quality musical performance started with her early career as a professional violinist, performing with prestigious ensembles such as the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Northwest Sinfonietta, Auburn Symphony, and multiple Seattle area chamber ensembles. As she has turned her career towards conducting, Edwards has attended numerous festivals and workshops, with mentors such as Ludovic Morlot, Michael Jinbo, Diane Wittry, Neil Thomson, and Gustav Meier. She received a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Washington, and holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Masters in Violin Performance.