CampusConnections...

Asanewschoolyearbegins,wearegrateful toAMEAforprovidingthisopportunityto shareinformationwithourmusiccolleagues andmusicstudentsacrossthestate.

AlabamaIntercollegiateBand

The2015AlabamaIntercollegiateBandperformedonJanuary23rdattheAlabama MusicEducatorsAssociationIn-service ConferenceinMontgomery.TheAlabama IntercollegiateBandwasdesignedbyAlabamacollege/universitybanddirectorstobe acollaborative,educationalexperience.Ten schoolsparticipatedintheensembleconductedbyCol.JohnBourgeois,Director EmeritusoftheUnitedStatesMarineBand.

TheJohnM.LongSchoolofMusic–TroyUniversity

FirstPlaceAward atTroyUniversity,wonfirstplaceattheNationalAssociationforTeachersofSinging CompetitioninGreensboro,NorthCarolina inJuly2015.CarolAnneisavocalstudent ofDr.ChristiAmonson,AssistantProfessor ofVoiceatTroyUniversity.

PercussiveArtsSociety EnsembleShowcase

TheTroyUniversityPercussionEnsemble wonthe2015PercussiveArtsSocietyInternationalPercussionEnsembleCompetition, andwillperforma50-minuteshowcaseconcertatthePercussiveArtsSocietyInternationalConventioninSanAntonio,Texasin November.TheTroyUniversityPercussion Ensemblewonthesamecompetitionin 2012.Thepercussionensembleisunderthe directionofDr.AdamBlackstock,Associate ProfessorofPercussionatTroyUniversity.

Up-comingAnnualEvents:

SoutheasternUnitedStatesMiddle SchoolBandClinic – Dec.3-5,2015.

ContactDr.MarkWalker

SoutheasternUnitedStatesChoralClinic – Jan.15-16,2016.

ContactDr.DianeOrlofsky

SoutheasternUnitedStatesHSHonor Band/ConductorsClinic – Feb.4-6,2016.

ContactDr.CarlaGallahan

GuitarFestival –Feb.19,2016.

ContactDr.RobertGibson

VocalJazzFestival – Mar.16-17,2016.

ContactDr.DianeOrlofsky

ClarinetDay– Apr.2,2016.

ContactDr.TimPhillips

AdditionalinformationabouttheJohnM. LongSchoolofMusicmaybefoundat music.troy.eduWeinviteyoutovisitusonlineorinpersonsoon.

ALL-STATE JAZZ BAND

Greetings! I hope everyone had a relaxing summer and a great start to the school year. In addition to marching band, fall is the time to help your students prepare for the all-state jazz band auditions. Please check the ABA website for audition requirements and registration information. Students have to perform a recorded audition on CD,which consists of two jazz standards (including some improvisation), an etude, and several scales. Students should be able to improvise with just a few scales, so please don’t let your students get intimidated by the improv component. We will have 3high school bands again this year (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) and 1 middle school band. We had 177students audition for the bands last year, and I would like to see this number grow substantially this year. Please encourage your students to audition for the band.

——Remember to allow enough preparation time to get recordings completed and mailed by November 6, 2015.

ALL-STATE JAZZ CLINICIANS

I am excited to report that we have four outstanding clinicians for the 2016 all-state jazz bands.

Mark Foster, Jazz Chair

Mr. Mike Steinel will be directing the gold jazz band. Mr. Steinel is an associate professor of jazz studies at the University of North Texas where he teaches jazz improvisation and jazz trumpet. He is the author of the Essential Elements Jazz Ensemble Method,which is used as a resource by jazz bands from throughout the United States. He holds degrees from Emporia State University and the University of North Texas.

Dr. Chip Crotts will be directing the silver jazz band. Dr. Crotts, a world-class jazz trumpet player, is the director of jazz studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia where he directs the jazz ensemble and assists with the marching band. He has worked with numerous groups (including several top 12 drum and bugle corps) and professional musicians throughout his career. Dr. Crotts holds degrees from East Carolina University, Penn State University and a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.

Mr. Bryan Hooten will be directing the bronze jazz band. Mr. Hooten, a graduate of Vestavia Hills High School in Birmingham,is director of bands at Collegiate High School in Richmond, Virginia. Previously on the faculty of Virginia Commonwealth University, Bryan Hooten taught the Jazz Ensemble II, jazz trombone, and theory. Mr. Hooten is a member of the nationally acclaimed group, No BS Brass Band, and he maintains an active schedule as a professional trombonist in Richmond, Virginia. He holds degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Mr. David Allinder will be directing the middle school jazz band. Mr. Allinderis the band director at Shades Valley High School in Birmingham where his symphonic, marching, and jazz bands have received statewide and national acclaim. Mr. Allinder was previously the band director at Gresham Middle School in Birmingham where he had a tremendously successful program. He is an active bass player throughout the Birmingham area. He holds a bachelors and masters degree from the University of Alabama.

All four of these clinicians are truly top-notch jazz educators, and I am confident they will provide an excellent experience for your students.

Please feel free to contact me if I can be of assistance to you in any way with your jazz programs, and I hope you will encourage your students to audition for the all-state jazz ensembles. I wish everyone a great school year.