2027 CODA National Conference
February 25-27, 2027
Conference Registration
Early Bird reduced rates are valid until January 25, 2027.
CODA Members: including Banquet Meal, $120 (early bird – use code “EarlyBirdMember”); $150 after Jan. 25, 2027. Tucson Symphony Orchestra tickets (optional), $30.
CODA Student Members: including Banquet Meal, $65 (early bird – use code “EarlyBirdStudent”); $90 after Jan. 25, 2027.
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 Hotels
The Hampton Inn and the Home2 Suites are connected and share the same entrance. They are essentially the same hotel but offer different room options. The conference rate is identical.
The cut-off date for conference rate is January 24, 2027.
Conference Highlights
Tucson Symphony Orchestra Concert
Tucson Symphony Orchestra
José Luis Goméz, conductor
Johannes Brahms – Ein Deutsches Requiem
Friday, February 26, 7:30PM
Linda Ronstadt Music Hall
Conference group rate for tickets: $30 (available to purchase when you register)
Member Session Presentations
Member Session Presentation Information and Application
Deadline for proposals: October 5, 2026
Conducting Masterclass
Carl St. Clair, Masterclass Clinician and Keynote Speaker
BIOGRAPHY
Following his thirty-five year tenure as Music Director of the Pacific Symphony, Carl St. Clair is now the orchestra’s Music Director Laureate for Life. St.Clair’s long and distinguished directorship with the Pacific Symphony made him the longest-tenured American-born conductor of a major American orchestra. During St.Clair’s lengthy history, Pacific Symphony has become the largest budgeted orchestra formed in the last 50 years. Pacific Symphony was invited by the League of American Orchestra to become the newest and youngest orchestra among America’s Tier 1 Orchestras. Few orchestras can claim such rapid artistic development.
During his tenure, St. Clair has become widely recognized for his musically distinguished performances and his innovative approaches to programming. In April 2018, St. Clair led Pacific Symphony in its sold-out Carnegie Hall debut, celebrating Philip Glass’s 80th birthday at the final concert of Carnegie’s yearlong celebration of the preeminent composer. The concert ended with a standing ovation and with The New York Times calling the Symphony “a major ensemble!” St.Clair led Pacific Symphony on its first tour to China in May 2018, the orchestra’s first international tour since touring Europe in 2006. The orchestra’s European tour included playing concerts in nine cities (including Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, Lucerne, and Vienna) in three countries appearing before capacity houses and receiving standing ovations and critical acclaim. The Hannoversche Allgemeine raved, “St.Clair and his fabulous orchestra completely won over Hanover…with spirit, a sense of sound, and utterly breathtaking precision” and Cologne’s General Anzeiger exclaimed, “Electrifying…captivating!”
Internationally, St.Clair has appeared with orchestras throughout the world. He has led orchestras in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe. In December 2025, St.Clair was appointed Music Director of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra in Bangkok. In January 2024, following a 27-year relationship with Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal (Germany), St.Clair was named Honorary Guest Conductor for Life. In 2023, he concluded a highly acclaimed 10-year tenure as Music Director with the National Symphony of Costa Rica, which he is now named Music Director Emeritus. From 2008-10, St.Clair was General Music Director for the Komische Oper in Berlin. He also served as General Music Director and Chief Conductor of the German National Theater and Staatskapelle (GNTS) in Weimar, Germany, where he led Wagner’s Ring Cycle to critical acclaim. He was the first non-European to hold this position at the GNTS; the role also gave him the distinction of simultaneously leading one of the newest orchestras in America and one of the oldest in Europe.
St.Clair has led the Boston Symphony Orchestra (where he served as Assistant Conductor for several years 1985-90), New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, Atlanta, Houston, Indianapolis, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver symphonies, among many.
Carl St.Clair is a strong advocate of music education for all ages and is internationally recognized for his distinguished career as a master teacher. In addition to his professional conducting career, St.Clair has worked with most major music schools across the country. He received an Honorary Doctorate from Chapman University and has served as a Presidential Fellow, working closely with the students of the College of the Performing Arts. St.Clair has been named “Distinguished Alumni” at the University of Texas Butler School of Music beginning 2019. And, for over 30 years, he has had a continuing relationship with the USC Thornton School of Music where he is Artistic Leader and Principal Conductor of the orchestral and large ensemble program.
Guest presentations by José Luis Goméz, Music Director of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and Marcela Molina, Tucson Symphony Chorus Director
Guest performers: Mariachi Atzlán de Pueblo High School
Mariachi Aztlán de Pueblo High School
John Contreras, director
Mariachi Aztlán de Pueblo High School is an award-winning student mariachi group from Pueblo Magnet High School in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1992 and directed by John Contreras, the group features high school students aged 14 to 18 who balance high academic achievement with prominent performances alongside world-renowned artists. They’ve shared the stage with major performers such as Linda Ronstadt, Mariachi Sol de México, Pink Martini, and Rita Moreno, and have received multiple awards including eleven consecutive first-place wins at the International Mariachi Conference.