February/March 2014 Ala Breve

l a b r e v e

President Sara Womack Greystone Elementary School 300 Village Street Birmingham, AL 35242-6447 (205) 439-3200

saratwomack@gmail.com

President, ABA Rusty SmithsCourson Station High School P.O. Box 253 Smiths Station, AL 36877 (334) 664-4435 courson.rusty@lee.k12.al.us

Past PresidentSteve DothanMcLendon High School 1236 S. Oates St. Dothan, AL 36301 (334)dhstigerband@aol.com 794-0146 School

President, AOA Lisa Caravan Auburn University 101 Goodwin Music Building Auburn University, AL 36849 caravanlr@auburn.edu (334) 844-8192

President-Elect

Carl Hancock University of Alabama Box 870366 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 (205) 348-6335 chancock@bama.ua.edu

Executive Director Editor, Ala Breve Garry Taylor 1600 Manor Dr. NE Cullman, AL 35055 (256) 636-2754

amea@bellsouth.net

Treasurer Chris Walker Clay-Chalkville Middle School 6700 Trussville Clay Road Trussville, AL 35173 (205) 379-3100

christopherwalker@jefcoed.com

Recording Secretary Carla Gallahan 212 Smith Hall, Troy University Troy, AL 36082 (334) 670-3502 School cgallahan@troy.edu

President, Collegiate AMEA Ethan Lolley UNA Box 7710 1 Harrison Plaza Florence, AL 35632 (205) 269-9426

President, AVA Jody Powell St. Paul’s Epicopal School 161 Dogwood Lane Mobile, AL 36608 251-463-6961 jpowell@stpaulsmobile.net

Collegiate AMEAAdvisor Ted UnivesityHoffman of Montevallo Station 6670 Davis Music Building 308 Montevallo, AL 35115 (205) 665-6668 ehoffman@montevallo.edu

President, Higher Education Lori Ardovino University of Montevallo Station 6670 Montevallo, AL 35115 (205) 666-6670 ardovinl@montevallo.edu

ellolley@una.edu

President, Elem/Gen Karla Hodges Rock Quarry Elementary 2000 Rock Quarry Dr. Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 (205) 759-8347 karlahodges@gmail.com

Unless otherwise indicated, permission is granted to NAfME members to reprint articles for educational purposes. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of AMEA or the Editor. All announcements & submissions are subject to editorial judgement/revision.The Alabama Music Educators Association is a state unit of NAfME: The National Association for Music Education, a voluntary, nonprofit organization representing all phases of music education in schools, colleges, universities, and teacher-education institutions. Active NAfME/AMEA membership is open to all persons engaged in music teaching or other music education work. Ala Breve is published four times a year (August, October, February & May) by the Alabama Music Educators Association. Subscription for members is $4.00 per year as part of annual NAfME/AMEA dues. Subscriptions

Top 10 Things I Learned from the “Dusting” of 2014

most of each moment and take opportunities as they come.

On January 28, I was one of the thousands of Alabamians stranded at school overnight with students, parents, faculty members, and general citizens during the winter storm. While uncomfortable and inconvenient, I was thankful that my family was never in any danger. My husband made it home safely just as the roads were becoming impassable and my children were stuck with me at school. After the ordeal, I mainly felt exhausted, but also humbled and proud to be part of the noble education profession.

It has been said, “Everyday starts with expectation, but ends with experience. Learn whatever life teaches you.” I definitely learned many things from the crazy “dusting” experience. Here are the top ten.

1. Forgive.

No one can accurately predict Alabama weather, even James Spann. Being angry with meteorologists, superintendents, or community leaders does not improve the current situation. You can only do the best with the hand that you are dealt. Live, learn, and move on.

2. Be prepared.

We should all adhere to the Boy Scout motto. Schools especially need to be ready for emergency situations. Teachers and administrators are seasoned writers of action plans, but we must have the supplies to follow through with those procedures. This is also true for individuals. Do you have an emergency kit in your car?

3. Every minute matters.

As Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” In the chaos of dismissal, some students were able to make it home, while others that left a few minutes later had to return to school due to impassable roads. Make the

4. Music saves.

On the second day of our extended school stay, one of the nation’s most recognized family entertainers, Roger Day, performed via Skype for our students. It was great fun for the children, who sang and danced along with his well-known songs, and a much-welcomed respite for the teachers, who were wearied from a night of restless sleep. Music truly saved the day.

5. Kindness abounds.

Aesop wrote, “No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.” In addition to the impromptu Skype concert with Roger Day, our school was the recipient of many compassionate deeds. Nearby families brought blankets, pillows, cold weather clothing, cookies, and coffee for warmth and comfort. Strangers on ATVs and in 4WD vehicles transported many of our parents to school and our students to their homes. Kind acts also came from colleagues in the form of toothbrushes, Diet Mountain Dew, and phone chargers. Faculty and staff went beyond their prescribed duties by scraping and sanding the road leading to the school and doing whatever needed to be done. It’s the small things that mean so much.

6. Meaningful conversations are essential.

I thought I knew my colleagues, but I surely had no idea what actually drove their character. Spending nearly two days with the same people requires you to delve into their likes and dislikes and what pushes them over the edge. This experience bonded us together as a faculty, because we now understand what makes us individuals. It is worth the time to really listen to what people are saying.

7. Kids have all the fun.

During the storm, our primary concern was taking care of our students. We

wanted them to be safe, comfortable, and loved. Those were the least of the students’ worries. They were having too much fun on their overnight adventure at school. As parents were arriving to retrieve their children, many students were asking why they had to leave and if their parents could come back later. In the words of Bob Basso, “If it’s not fun, you’re not doing it right.” I hope that means that we were doing it right.

8. School can be scary.

Schools can be a little creepy during the day. At night, they are even more so. As my eyes were opening and closing, I saw shadows moving and heard claws scratching. The students’ sleeping habits added to the mystery. We had sleepwalkers and throw up. Some of our bilingual students were talking in their sleep in their native languages. The snorting, laughing, and sneezing added to the menacing symphony of sounds. My imagination was running wild. I’m glad I had lots of company!

9. Try new things.

I usually bring my lunch to school, so I’m not accustomed to eating the typical school cafeteria food. On our overnight stay, our cafeteria staff prepared Crispitos. Why have I not tried them before?!? The chicken and chili filled tortillas were one of the highlights of the experience. I must remember the words of Mark Twain, “Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is.”

10. I really love my job.

Sometimes it takes a disaster to encourage gratitude. Through this experience, I was thankful for the safety of my family and the love that we share, but also for my school family and the opportunity to share my passion for music with them. William Arthur Ward said, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” My gratefulness through this experience will inspire greatness in things to come. I am sure.

Dr. Sara Womack, AMEA President

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Doing Good Things…Still

“Increasing your self-esteem is easy,” said author and speaker Roger Hinkins. “Simply do good things and remember that you did them.” Every day, music educators throughout Alabama are doing good things. But, our world moves so fast, little time is left to reflect on what we have done, and even less time to leave tracks for others to follow.

This past year has been a journey to gather information which has been all but forgotten and assemble it in one place. In part, it honors those who have paved the way for us. In part, it serves as a motivator to build a future which is even better.

AMEA Past Presidents

Each issue of Ala Breve lists the names of those who have served as AMEA President. But, a list of names was all we had. Now, we have much more. On the AMEA website (alabamamea.org), look for a link in the sidebar labeled “Past Presidents.” Clicking that link reveals pictures and biographical sketches of every single person who served in that role.

Gathering those photos and bios was not without its lessons. For some past presidents, finding the information was easy. For others, the task would have been impossible but for helpful librarians who scoured old yearbooks, programs, and other artifacts in the “special collections” sections. Each former president was held in high enough esteem by their peers to be chosen for the office. In less than three generations, we are hard-pressed to find as much as a decent paragraph about their accomplishments.

Walter Mason is one such example. After an exhaustive search, the information uncovered included a statement that the music building at Jacksonville State University was named for him. “Mason Hall,” I thought. You see, I graduated from Jacksonville State University. Every day, multiple times per day for four years, I walked in that building. Yet, I knew nothing about the man for whom it was named. Two or three generations from now, how much will others know about the legacy you or I leave?

Dr. Frank Buck - AMEA Historian

AMEA Hall of Fame

A second link on the AMEA website will display photos and biographical information for each inductee to the AMEA Hall of Fame. The website has always had a link, but that link pointed to a page featuring photos only. Today, the addition of the biographical sketches honors those who made significant contributions and gives us a better understanding of how each of these people contributed to our profession.

And the Winner Is…

Each spring, Ala Breve features the recipients of the awards for “Outstanding Music Educator,” “Outstanding Administrator,” and the “Barbara Odom Distinguished Service Award.” Yet, nowhere was a comprehensive list of past recipients being kept. Today, look for a link on the AMEA website for “Past AMEA Award Honorees.” On that page, you will see names of all past recipients, many of whom you probably know, and even in a very personal way helped shape your career.

As you scan the page, notice the “holes,” those years when an award was not presented. As music educators, we often do not get the recognition from those outside our profession we deserve. We cannot afford to neglect opportunities to recognize the achievements of deserving people within our ranks. Just this year, the “Outstanding Music Educator” and “Barbara Odom Distinguished Service Award” had no recipients. With so much outstanding work happening across Alabama, let us never again get so busy with our own affairs that we neglect the chance to recognize the accomplishments of our own. When you see the nomination forms for these awards in the Ala Breve, let that be your trigger to stop and reflect on who you think the next recipients should be. Then, put pen to paper and do something about it.

State Band Competition Festival

Can you point to the day you made the decision to become a music educator? For me, it happened on a spring day in ninth grade. At that time, the festival was held all in one location, and only a few miles from my house. Our junior high band had just earned a “Superior” rating on Thursday. Today was Saturday, and I had my parents

drop me off to spend the day listening to bands. It was in that environment that my decision to go into music education was born, April 6, 1974.

On that day, I noticed that all of the band directors in the audience were picking up programs and copying the rating posted in the hallway into those programs. “If I’m going to be a band director,” I thought, “I guess I’m supposed to be doing that too.” And so I did, that year, and the next, and the next. Years turned into decades, and I soon realized my collection was more comprehensive than anything ABA had.

Collecting programs and their ratings prior to 1974 now became a focus. With the help of people such as Bill Springer, Rush Gavin, Jerry Countryman, Orland Thomas, and Ron Sellers, each of whom had a few pieces of the puzzle stored somewhere in a box somewhere in a garage, we have been able to assemble an important part of our history.

On the ABA page of the AMEA website, you will see a link to the programs from the Alabama Bandmasters Association State Competition Festival. The event began in 1947. This collection begins with 1952, and with the exception of one missing year, includes each single year from then to present. For virtually every year, the original program is pictured. The names of the directors, what they played, and the ratings they earned are there. Those programs are filled with evidence that all over this state, in schools large and small, we are doing good things. Making the programs available helps us remember it.

Dr. Hinton’s Dissertation

In 1958, Dr. Wilbur Hinton published a fascinating dissertation chronicling the development of the band programs in Alabama. We have secured permission from Dr. Hinton and the University of Alabama to re-produce that dissertation electronically and make it available. The dissertation will be up in the near future. Watch for a link on the ABA page of the website.

As an organization, we do good things. Remembering we did them just got a little easier.

Collegiate Summit

First of all, I would just like to say thank you to our state NAfME Collegiate officers who put the Summit together. It could not have been a success without them. As college students seeking to become future music educators, opportunities like the Collegiate Summit do not come often enough. The Summit was a great experience that held many attributes towards growth and learning. The University of Montevallo was our gracious host for the Summit. The members of their collegiate chapter were very kind and welcoming to the other collegiate chapters in attendance. It was personally a great liberty to be able to converse and connect with future music educators from across the state. There were members from the University of Alabama and the University of North Alabama there as well.

Upon arrival at the university, we had some time to talk and get to know some of the other state members. Our state officers kicked off the summit with introductions and a few opening remarks, followed by activities and exercises that would further our knowledge as music educators. The first activity of the summit was a demonstration on elementary school music teaching done by Dr. Becky Halliday. Seeing through eyes of a

by Russell Kershaw

examples where this technique was most needed; for those that attended, I am pretty sure we never want to be stuck on a subway with hundreds of people. I spoke with Ethan Lolley, the Alabama state collegiate president of NAfME, who was one of the volunteers during the presentation. He said that when Mrs. Hudson worked with him on some of the usefulness that Alexander technique had to offer. It completely changed his thinking about his posture along with the way he sits and stands. Though we were only were able to scratch the surface, it was a very deep and insightful procedure nonetheless.

Concluding the evening, the last event of the summit was a panel discussion with active music educators. While there, those interested in choral music education had their own panel. I personally sat in on the discussion with the instrumental music educators. The general topic was, “things they don’t teach you in college.” There were conversations ranging from dealing with social media to disobedient students, to dealing with parents. The variation of thought and ideas that were given was perhaps the most informative, giving us the outlook of three different directors with years of experience ranging from 1 to nearly 20 plus. Many of the collegiate members in attendance were also able to ask questions that were pertinent to college students seeking a career in music education. I am sure that we could have spent many hours with these knowledgeable music educators.

Afterwards, many people took the opportunity to network with each other as well as the members of the panels, giving all of us time to interact with the demonstrators and teachers on a more personal level. Ultimately, the summit was a great learning experience that we could not have gotten anywhere else. It gave all of us a chance to grow in understanding and at the same time, give us a desire to learn more as current student leaders and future music educators. The summit was a prime example that we can one day not only gain experience but also give experience to our future students.

second grader, she taught us as if we were her students, but she also explained some of the pedagogical reasoning behind her approach. It was an eye opening experience for many people into the world of elementary music teaching, which not many are exposed to. During her presentation, we enjoyed a unique handson activity that included playing on Orff instruments, drums, and other percussion instruments. I know that Dr. Halliday enjoyed teaching us as much as we enjoyed learning under her thoughtful and easy to grasp techniques.

After the elementary music education portion, we had the privilege of learning about the prestigious Alexander Technique from Mrs. Barbara Hudson. The Alexander technique encompasses some very basic concepts that when employed correctly can strongly help many people. I say many people because it is not something geared specifically to musicians. We took some time learning about the way our muscles work as well as the release of tension in those muscles. She also gave us

Russell Kershaw and Austin White are AMEA Collegiate members from the UNA Chapter.

and Austin White

What a conference this past weekend turned out to be! I hope you were able to make the most of this opportunity to not only gain insight from superb clinicians but also to network with the best music educators in the state! How refreshing it was to see so many new faces attend this year as the number of collegiate members in attendance drastically increased! Looking back on my term as collegiate president, I am humbly thankful for the opportunity to serve you all. If we really think about it, we as future educators are servants for education, constantly giving of

I would also like to share a very recent success from our collegiate chapter at UNA. During January we hosted an All State band workshop for the first time. 12 students from area schools registered, attended, and received All State prep instruction from members of our NAfME chapter. Each student was given the opportunity to comment about his or her experience. One student commented, "I now feel like I have the confidence to make All State" As I read this to our UNA chapter, we were all reassured just why we want to be music educators. In reality, we teach so much more than music; we are teaching life skills that will stick with students for the rest of their lives. Not only did we gain experience as active teachers, but even more so, students came out feeling more prepared for their audition. I encourage you all to try a clinic like this for band, orchestra, or choir All State auditions. It was a wonderful experience we plan to continue on every year.

In closing I want to congratulate the newly elected collegiate board voted on by our members at the collegiate luncheon.

President: Stacy Daniels, University of Montevallo

ourselves so those young music makers may experience the same passion for music that we have all been blessed with. Music in itself is a purely selfless art form, one that I know is my calling in life.

For those that attended the Collegiate Summit, I hope you came away with knowledge to better serve you in your future classroom. I thought our clinicians were top notch. If you are interested in discovering more about each topic discussed, their contact information is as follows:

Elementary session - Becky Halliday: ahaliday@montevallo.edu

Alexander Technique session - Barbara Hudson Barbara.Hudson@snead.edu

Vice President/President Elect: Thad Walker, University of Montevallo

Secretary: Mai Yamane, University of Alabama

The proposed by-law making the vice presidency a two-year term commitment in which the vice president moves to president was passed and took effect immediately. I have no doubt that Stacy will lead this collegiate division to more growth and great success. I hope all our paths cross again as I begin my life of music education. Thank you all for sharing this experience with me. I am a better person because of it.

Yours in service,

Ethan Lolley Past Collegiate President

Karla Hodges - President,

Adaptability or flexibility means being able to change as circumstances require it. It recognizes that life will bring us unforeseen challenges and if we are to honor our values and goals, we must adjust and learn as we go. Flexible is defined in the Webster dictionary as willing to change or try different things. As I look back at the past few weeks I see the definition of this beautifully portrayed through you. As we began our spring semester as music educators many of you were met with immediate schedule changes due to unseasonably cold weather. We were flexible at our 2014 AMEA conference when we outgrew our meeting rooms. And once again, just this week, as our state was crippled by an unexpected ice and snow storm- we were flexible. Some of you spent the night at your school caring for your students. Others of you tried to get home, but were

left stranded at a shelter or a friend’s house. Some were the lucky ones who cautiously made the long journey home and enjoyed the warmth of a fireplace. Whatever the case may be, you adapted and you were flexible.

As music educators we often shine like stars when it comes to being flexible. Many times we are faced with not so perfect teaching conditions, but we continue to smile and share the gift of music with hundreds of children every week. We must begin with the end in mind and stay focused on the goal no matter how many curve balls life may throw at us.

In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who were able to attend the 2014 AMEA InService Conference in Montgomery. Overall, the conference was a wonderful time of learning, sharing, and growing as a music educator. Thank you for your

continued support as I strive to serve this organization to the best of my ability. However, the conference would not have been a success without all of you. Thank you to the ones who volunteered to serve as a session presider, to those of you who willingly gave up your seat when it was obvious we were running out of room, to those of you who transported instruments to Montgomery or moved them from room to room, and for those who offered a kind and encouraging smile. The list goes on and on, but that is what makes me proud to be a member of the Elementary/ General Division. Hats off to you for a wonderful conference and I look forward to seeing you all in October for our Elementary Music Festival and Fall Workshop.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain.

– Author Unknown

Dancing in the Rain Campus Connections...

News and Happenings from Alabama’s Colleges and Universities

Auburn University Department of Music

The Auburn University Department of Music is proud to announce three significant performances during spring 2014. Under the direction of Director of Bands, Dr. Rick Good, the Auburn University Symphonic Band will perform at the College Band Directors National Association Southern Division Conference in February 2014. Their selection for this prestigious conference is a distinctive honor. We commend Dr. Good for his excellence and his hard work to prepare our students for this significant performance. In March 2014, the Auburn University Chamber Choir under the direction of Director of Choral Activities, Dr. William Powell, will appear by auditioned invitation at the American Choral Directors Association Southern Division Conference in Jacksonville, FL. We are extraordinarily proud of Dr. Powell and the AU Chamber Choir for this exceptional honor. Both of these conferences are in Jacksonville, FL. We hope to see many of our Alabama colleagues there!

In May 2014, choral singers from Auburn University will perform by invitation at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York

conducted by Dr. William Powell and performing works by renowned choral composer/arranger Dr. Rosephanye Powell, Professor of Voice at Auburn University. Their performance will include her composition, The Cry of Jeremiah, originally commissioned for and premiered at a national AGO Conference.

At Auburn we provide a nurturing atmosphere that provides opportunities for individual attention and regular performance for students. As evidenced by these noteworthy performances, our department is continually reaching for higher standards of excellence. I hope you will encourage your students who are interested in Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts in Music, or Bachelor of Music Education degrees to schedule an audition through our website at: www.auburn.edu/music. Audition dates are: Feb. 15 and 22, 2014. Contact the Department of Music at 334-8444165 if you have questions about our degree programs or offerings. With the College of Education, we also offer graduate degrees in music education.

War Eagle!

Colleges and universities are encouraged to submit newsworthy material and announcements for publication in Ala Breve

Meet the Candidates: AMEA President-Elect

Erin Colwitz received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 1998. She later completed the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California in choral music. Dr. Colwitz studied conducting with William Dehning, David Wilson, Magen Solomon, and Claire McCoy. At USC, she was awarded a full teaching assistantship as conductor of the Thornton Oriana Choir, the University’s only women’s chorus, a post she held for three years. At USC, she also sang with William Dehning and the award-winning Thornton Chamber Choir touring France and Belgium in 2003 and East Asia in 2006.

In Minnesota, Dr. Colwitz was a full-time vocal and general music teacher at Centennial Middle School. There she conducted four choirs, the school’s honor choir and swing choir, in addition to teaching classroom music. As a professional singer, Dr. Colwitz was contracted to sing with the Dale Warland Singers in 1999. As part of this extraordinary ensemble, she performed with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra under the direction of Robert Shaw, Edo de Waart, and Hugh Wolff. The DWS were nominated for a Grammy for their recording of Dominick Argento pieces, Walden Pond (2003); Dr. Colwitz’s doctoral treatise is a critical analysis of Argento’s, A Toccata of Galuppi’s, a twelve-tone work found on that recording.

Dr. Colwitz is currently the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She conducts the Chamber Choir and Concert Choir, teaches music history, beginning and advanced conducting, choral education methods classes, and supervises student teachers. She is an active member of ACDA, MENC, the Alabama Vocal Association, the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO), International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM), the College Music Society (CMS), Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) and the Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society.

Dr. Colwitz is frequently a guest conductor, lecturer, contest adjudicator and choral clinician throughout Alabama and the southeast. She is also the founder and supervisor of the UAH student chapter of ACDA. Dr. Colwitz also serves as the AL-ACDA Repertoire & Standards Chair for Community Choirs. Her choirs have sung at state conventions (AMEA). Dr. Colwitz is also the national board chair for NCCO, representing Alabama. A frequent guest lecturer at state conferences, Dr. Colwitz recently presented an interest session at the Southern Division ACDA conference in Winston-Salem, NC. Dr. Colwitz will guest conduct a collegiate choral festival in Bangkok and Chiangmai, Thailand with her husband, Dr. William Dehning, in February of 2014 under the auspices of the US Embassy. Dr. Colwitz will travel to Chiangmai to work with impoverished high school choral programs while also in Thailand.

Dr. Colwitz lives in Jones Valley (SE Huntsville) with her husband, Dr. William Dehning, an accomplished conductor, Emeritus Professor, and published author, and their very silly golden retriever, Sam.

Susan L. Smith, B.M.Ed, M.A.Ed., has taught general, choral, and instrumental music at the elementary through collegiate level in Florida,Virginia and Alabama and has served as an author, clinician, conductor, and adjudicator across the United States. She is currently Director of Bands at the Saint James School in Montgomery AL. Mrs. Smith is responsible for teaching the Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Bands as well as Guitar, Jazz Band, and Music Technology. The Saint James Band consistently receives Superior ratings in Concert, Jazz and Marching band events including the Alabama Music Performance Assessment, Smokey Mountain Music Festival and Bands of America Super Regionals and Grand National Championships. She served as the Alabama Bandmasters Association District VI Vice Chairman for 1 year and Chairman for 2 years.

Following the completion her degree in Music Education from James Madison University where she was drum major for the Marching Royal Dukes for 3 years, she taught in the Virginia Public Schools. Her responsibilities included the direction of elementary and secondary instrumental music programs as well as teaching choir, guitar and music theory. Her ensembles, including concert band, orchestra, marching band and jazz ensembles, consistently received superior ratings from the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association festivals during her tenure.

After completing her Masters Degree in Education from Troy State University, she taught Applied Horn, Teaching Music for the Classroom Teacher and Introduction to Music as an Adjunct Professor of Music. While at TSU, she served as the Executive Director of the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic and Honor Bands. Smith was integral to the founding of the Middle School SEUS Honor Bands. In addition, she coordinated the visual program for the “Sound of the South” Marching Band.

She was a Coordinating Author for Warner Bros. Publications’ Expressions Music Curriculum, a vision for a vertical, conceptual approach to teaching music. She consulted on the Elementary Music Curriculum Music Expressions and served as an author for Band Expressions, a secondary component of the curriculum. Smith has presented clinics at many state conventions including AMEA, TMEA, FMEA, IMEA, VMEA, GMEA and National and Regional NAfME conferences. She is on the Middle School Clinician team for the Music for All Summer Symposium, presenting clinics each summer to directors and preservice college students and serves as an educational consultant for Music for All. She is responsible for the Chamber Music portion of the Music for All National Concert Band Festival.

Her professional affiliations include National Association for Music Education, Alabama Music Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Sigma Alpha Iota, Phi Beta Kappa and the National Band Association. She is also an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma. Smith is in demand as a clinician, conductor and adjudicator throughout the country. She has conducted honor bands in several states including Midfest at UGA as well as District Honor Bands in Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, Florida and Kentucky. She currently resides in Montgomery, AL. with her husband Robert and they have 2 daughters, Savannah and Madison. Savannah is currently pursuing a degree in Instrumental Music Education and Madison is planning to major in Vocal Music Education.

Meet the Candidates: AMEA Recording Secretary

Dr. Carla Gallahan is an Associate Professor of Music Education at Troy University in Troy, Alabama. She received the Bachelor of Music Education Degree, Master of Education in Music, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education from Auburn University. As a member of the faculty at Troy University, her responsibilities include teaching music education courses, instructing the horn studio, and serving as Coordinator for Undergraduate Music Education Internship. Dr. Gallahan is the Executive Director for the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic and Honor Bands held at Troy University. Her teaching background includes eighteen years experience in the Alabama public schools.

Dr. Gallahan is the Recording Secretary for the Alabama Music Educators Association and former chairman of District VI of the Alabama Bandmasters Association. She was selected to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and Outstanding Young Women of America, has been chosen as Auburn Junior High School Teacher of the Year, Auburn City Schools Secondary Teacher of the Year, and has served as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the Southeast. Her professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Educators, Alabama Music Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, College Music Society, and Phi Beta Mu.

On-line voting begins March 1 and ends April 1. Watch your email inbox for a link or visit alabamamea.org to cast your vote!

Rob Lyda is the 6-12 band and K-12 general music teacher at Notasulga High School. The music program at Notasulga offers elementary music, marching and concert band, a World Music Drumming Ensemble, Guitar Lab, and an integrated arts course. Notasulga has been recognized by national music organizations for innovative partnerships with Auburn University’s music education department. Beethoven & Me, a program where elementary students compose alongside university methods students, was featured as a best practices model for the College Music Society. Rob and his students at Notasulga have been awarded several grants to enhance the music program.

Rob earned the Bachelor of Music Education from Troy University, the Master of Education in Music Education from Auburn University, and is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education from Auburn University. In addition to his academic degrees, Rob has earned certification in Kodaly, World Music Drumming, TI:ME, is an Orff-Schulwerk (Level IIII) certified teacher, and has obtained Master Level Certification in Orff-Schulwerk with Chris Judah-Lauder at Trinity University. He has been awarded for his work in the classroom having been named to Who’s Who Among American Teachers, the Teacher of the Year at Notasulga High School, the Rookie Teacher of the Year at Cottondale High School (FL), and was the 2011 Macon County Schools Teacher of the Year.

As a member of AMEA, Rob has served as Membership Chair, Public Relations Chair, and as the Collegiate Division President during which time he founded and held the first Fall Collegiate Summit. He was recognized in 2003 as an "Emerging Leader" for both AMEA and the Southern Division of The National Association for Music Education. He presents educational sessions and research on technology integration and general music education at state, regional, and national music education conferences. He holds membership in AMEA, NAfME, American OrffSchulwerk Association, Phi Kappa Phi, Association for Technology in Music Instruction, The College Music Society, National Band Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Rusty Courson - President, Alabama Bandmasters Association

Wow!!! What an outstanding AMEA InService Conference!!! If you didn’t attend this year, consider making plans now to be there in 2015!!! Thanks to those of you that took the time to present an outstanding slate of clinics, providing practical solutions that we can actually utilize in our band rooms. We enjoyed exceptional concerts from groups at every performance level throughout the state. Thanks to the Alabama Jazz Collective for taking the time to open the convention with an amazing performance, shared by a group comprised of college professors from various institutions of higher learning in Alabama.

In addition, a very special thanks to the Austin High School Concert Band (Clay Sloan), Phillips Preparatory Symphonic Band (Heather Moore), Daleville High School Symphonic Band (Mark Nichols), Bumpus Middle School Symphonic Band (Josh Lynch), Albertville High School Percussion Ensemble (Taylor Cash), Thompson High School Wind Ensemble (Jon Bubbet), and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Wind Symphony (Dr. Sue Samuels). Instrumental music education is definitely alive and well in our state!!!

If you submitted a proposal for a clinic or applied as a performance group, and you weren’t selected this year, PLEASE consider reapplying for 2015. With a limited number of slots for each division,

the decisions that are made regarding clinics and band performances are incredibly difficult. Forms can be found on the AMEA website, and the deadline for submitting applications to Garry Taylor is June 1st.

As you know, our All-State Band Festival will take place in Huntsville again this year. The state solo competition will be held on the campus of UAH on April 9th, and allstate will be located at the Von Braun Center of April 10th – 12th at the Von Braun Center. Clinicians this year are Dr. Linda Moorhouse, Red Band; Samuel Hazo, White Band; Dr. Mark Walker, Blue Band; and Linda Gammon, Middle School Band.

Our summer convention will be held at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Orange Beach this year. The ABA Board and Music Selection Committee will meet on June 24th, while we’ll have ABA general business meetings and clinics on June 25th and 26th. If you have any ideas for clinics, please contact me at courson.rusty@lee.k12.al.us. There is a direct link to the hotel posted on the ABA website that will allow you to go ahead and register now. Discounted rates expire on June 1st…or until they run out of rooms. Don’t wait. Register now!!!

We passed two important pieces of legislation during AMEA. The first proposal streamlines the audition process

2014 ABA All-State Schedule

Wednesday, April 9, 2014 - All-State Solo Festival -UAH - Roberts Hall

Thursday, April 10, 2014

1:00 – 7:00 pm Exhibits open - Von Braun Center (South Hall 2)

1:30 pm Directors Meeting - FBC Huntsville Choir Room

2:00 pmAuditions begin

Brass and Woodwinds at FBC Huntsville

Percussion at their rehearsal location - VBC

5:30 pmAudition results posted at both locations

6:30 – 9:30 pmRehearsal (all bands at Von Braun Center)

Red Band (South Hall – Ballrooms 4-5)

White Band (South Hall – Ballrooms 1-2)

Blue Band (East Hall 1)

Middle School Band (East Hall 3) 7:00 – 9:00 pmABA Board Meeting (Salon 3) 12:00 amCurfew for all participants.

Directors are responsible for their students.

Friday, April 11, 2014

8:30 am–12:00 pm Exhibits Open – Von Braun Center (South Hall 2)

for our percussion students. I want to personally thank the Alabama chapter of the Percussive Arts Society for their tireless work in putting this proposal together. I would start recognizing individuals, but I’ll guarantee you that for every single person I remember, there are many others that contributed to the process as well. The second proposal involves schools that take multiple bands to our music performance assessment. As currently stated in the bylaws, first bands pay a $100.00 school fee, while second and subsequent bands only pay $50.00. In order to ensure that this event is paying for itself (if you think about it, it costs just as much to adjudicate that second band as it does the first), the membership overwhelmingly voted for ALL bands to pay the $100.00 school fee. Of course, we still have to pay the $1.00 per person student fee as well. Hopefully, this will allow ABA to continue to remain solvent.

Speaking of MPA, I hope that your preparations are going well. This is a great opportunity for us to validate what we’re doing in the classroom, and also a great learning experience for our students as well.

If I don’t see you before, I’ll see you in Huntsville for All-State in April!!!

Dr. Linda R. Moorhouse joined the Illinois faculty in the fall of 2010 and currently serves as Interim Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music. Within the School of Music she serves as conductor of

the Illinois Wind Symphony and teaches courses in graduate and undergraduate conducting and graduate wind literature. Prior to her Illinois appointment, she served on the faculty at Louisiana State University for over 20 years, where she was the recipient of select campus-wide awards for teaching excellence. Dr. Moorhouse is active as a conductor, clinician and adjudicator nationally and internationally and her service to the band profession is a matter of record. She is an elected member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association, and is both a Past President and the current Executive Secretary of the National Band Association, where she also serves as Editor of the NBA Journal. She is a Past President of Women Band Directors International and is a Member Laureate of Sigma Alpha Iota, professional fraternity for women in music. In recognition of extraordinary service to the music community, she was awarded the "Diploma of the Sudler Order of Merit" from the John Philip Sousa Foundation, and has received multiple "Citations of Excellence" from the National Band Association.

television, radio and the stage. His original symphonic compositions include performances with actors Brooke Shields, James Earl Jones, David Conrad and Richard Kiley. Most recently, Mr. Hazo was asked by the Newtown School District to compose the memorial for the children and women who were lost in the tragedy at their Sandy Hook Elementary School. The result was a major work for Choir, Orchestra and Wind Band combined titled "Glorificare." It was premiered in May of 2013 by the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and VOCE Singers performing side-by-side with the Newtown High School musicians. Mr. Hazo also composed "Bridges," which he was requested to write by Virginia Tech University following their tragic shootings. In 2012, two of Mr. Hazo's compositions were performed at the London Summer Olympic Games. Samuel R. Hazo has been a music teacher at every educational grade level from kindergarten through college, including tenure as a high school and university director.

by Indiana University Press. Additionally, Dr. Walker is the Associate Editor of the Journal of Band Research. Dr. Walker keeps an active guest conducting and clinic schedule, and has appeared as a conductor and adjudicator in Canada. Dr. Walker is married to Jessica Walker, who teaches sixth grade at Goshen Elementary, and resides in Troy with their daughter, Emily.

Samuel R. Hazo resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife and children. In 2003, Mr. Hazo became the first composer in history to be awarded the winner of both composition contests sponsored by the National Band Association. He has composed for the professional, university and public school levels in addition to writing original scores for

Dr. Mark J. Walker serves as Director of Bands, Coordinator of Winds and Percussion and Associate Professor of Music at Troy University where he conducts the Troy University Symphony Band, the nationally renowned “Sound of the South” Marching Band, teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting, marching band techniques, measurement and evaluation, and music education. In addition to his teaching duties, Dr. Walker serves as Chairman of the Southeastern United States Clinic and Honor Bands, Executive Director of the Middle School Southeastern United States Band Clinic and Honor Bands, and is the Director of the “Sound of the South” Summer Music Camp and Director’s Clinic. He also serves as CoChair of the National Band Association’s Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Directors. Dr. Walker is a published author, whose articles appears various music education publications and is the editor of the book The Art of Interpretation of Band Music published by GIA. He is a contributor to The Euphonium Source Book, published

Linda J. Gammon currently the director of middle school bands at Rachel Carson Middle School in Fairfax County, VA. She is a native of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine and received her Bachelor of Science degree in music education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts degree in conducting from George Mason University. Under Ms. Gammon’s direction, her middle school bands have earned consistent superior ratings, awards, and enjoy state, regional and national recognition including four appearances at the 1992, 1993, 2000, 2012 Virginia Music Educators State Conferences and the 1993, 2000 Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. In 1997 Ms. Gammon and the Robinson Middle School Symphonic Band were awarded the prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Cup Award, the highest honor bestowed on a middle school band program. Ms. Gammon currently serves as the VMEA Conference Coordinator and is a Past President of the Virginia Music Educators Association, the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, and the Fairfax County Band Directors Association She has been recognized twice by the School Band and Orchestra Magazine as one of the “Fifty Directors Who Make A Difference”, awarded numerous National Band Association “Citations of Excellence” and recognized by the Women Band Directors International as the 2003 Scroll of Excellence recipient. In 2007 Ms. Gammon was awarded the Virginia Outstanding Music Educator of the Year Award and in 2014 the Fairfax County Band Director of the Year.

2014 ABA All-State Clinicians

Linda Moorhouse

Red Band

Linda Gammon

White Band

Mark Walker

Middle School Band

Samuel Hazo

Blue Band

Tips That Click

Tips That Click this month is devoted to a discussion of assisting a young band director preparing a band for concert adjudication for the first time. I was able to talk with three experienced directors who shared with me the experience of taking a group to contest for the first time and the lessons they gleaned.

Scott Thompson taught for 25 years at Gardendale High School, Clay-Chalkville High School, and Bragg Middle School. He began his career at Cordova High School in Walker County and conveys a reflection of that year: “The first thing I would tell any young director is – just go, don’t wait for the next year unless it is just impossible to put the group together. I came into a situation where the students had not gone to concert festival for several years. Many of them were pretty resistant to idea of going at first and I had to sell the benefit to them. There is no doubt in my mind that making the commitment to perform at festival focused their efforts AND mine on what occurred daily in our hour in the band room. We both accomplished and learned a lot! My school was one with very few resources, but my students were exposed to some of the best band directors in the state. I was able to get very successful university and high school teachers to come to rehearse and help my group as we prepared. These people will come and assist you as well….but only if you ask. That first year I did not make the highest ratings, but I may have done one of my best jobs of teaching considering where we started”.

Dennis Carroll is the Associate Director Of Bands at Hoover High School and the current President of ABA District IV. He began his career at Phil Campbell High School, a small Class C size school in a rural area. He shares his reflection from his first time preparing a band for concert

adjudication: “ I was fortunate that I followed an experienced teacher that took the band regularly to District and State contest, so the students were already used to working hard and going to these events. I learned two prominent lessons that first year that I would advise young directors to consider. The first is to choose your music carefully and prudently. Music selection is one of the few factors over which you have total control. Make sure that the music is appropriate for the entire band, remembering that inner parts and the students playing those parts will require a great deal of attention to get a polished and effective performance. Get the advice of others that know your band well! The second factor that is often overlooked is making sure that you understand the logistics of the day of Music Performance Assessment well in advance of the event. That first year I personally went and scouted out the trip from the school to the performance venue at University of North Alabama just so I would have a clear idea of where we would need to arrive to unload the students and equipment. I then travelled the actual route we would take from warm-up to the stage, and from the stage to sight-reading. This helped my nerves tremendously, plus it helped me prepare the students for just what they would be experiencing that day”.

Dr. Johnny Jacobs has earned one of the most distinguished records of any teacher in this region. He has served as a President of both the Alabama Music Education Association and the Alabama Bandmasters Association and is a member of the Hall of Fame of both organizations. For those of us that have known him, it is hard to believe that he would have ever had anything but the highest level of musical excellence at any of his festival appearances, but he admits that it took a

few years for him to attain the results he desired. Here is his remembrance of his first trip to concert festival with the Dixie Junior High School Band over 45 years ago: “ I remember working very diligently preparing the performance for those adjudicators. I think however, that I learned my best lessons not from the comments of the judges, but from actually sitting down and listening to other performances after we had finished. It became obvious to me very quickly, that while I had done a good job in teaching the students to make good sounds on their instruments and monitoring accurate execution of notes and rhythms, I had far to go in learning how to mold these elements into a true ensemble sound. In particular, I remember being inspired by the Pittman Junior High band and their director, Charles Hulgan. With the sounds of that band and others that I admired, I went directly to work developing the concepts of a blended and more nuanced sound in my band. An analogy would be while characteristic tones are primary colors, a great painter can mix and blend those colors in infinite variation to produce great art”

The advice from these experienced directors should guide all of us as we prepare for our evaluation performances this Spring and in future years. I hope this is the best performance year for all bands in our state!

Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster Fraternity is committed to the improvement of bands and band instruction in this state. Comments on this column and ideas for future columns are welcome! Please email: pemin@mac.com

Hello everyone! As I write this article, All-State Orchestra Festival is a short two weeks away! The collaboration of 215 students with three incredible conductors, composer-inresidence and countless volunteers is expected to bring a phenomenal experience for all. Thank you University of Alabama once again for hosting Alabama All State Orchestra Festival this year! Our guest conductor for the Festival Orchestra will be James Ross, director of orchestral studies at University of Maryland. Dr. John Fetter, assistant professor of music education at the Eastman School of Music, will conduct the Sinfonia Orchestra and Dr. James Mick, assistant professor music education at Ithaca College’s School of Music will conduct the Consort String Orchestra.

Our composition competition was an exciting success. We had 21 entries from all over the world but in the final decision, the winning composer was Michael-Thomas Foumai, with a piece called Kinder-und Hausmärchen (Children’s and Houshold Tales).

A brief biography of Mr. Foumai follows:

The music of Michael-Thomas Foumai has been described as “vibrant…cinematic” (New York Times), “full of color, drama and emotion” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) and “exciting, energetic and full of vivid passages and picturesque moods” (Honolulu Advertiser). He has recently been named MTNA Distinguished Composer of the Year and his music has received numerous awards including the 2013 American Prize for Orchestral Composition, Composer of the Year from the Sioux City Symphony, Jacob Druckman Prize from the Aspen Music Festival, three BMI composer awards and the Presser Foundation Award. Michael’s orchestral works have been performed by the Milwaukee Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, American Composers Orchestra, Sioux City Symphony, New England Philharmonic, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, Aspen Philharmonic and Alarm Will Sound among others.

Onto other news, the AMEA conference was a great success this year with enlightening information on left hand technique and orchestra bowings by Gabriel A. Villasurda, an incredibly informative and helpful session on string repair by Anna and Charles Huthmaker, and Dr. Anne Witt shared her expertise with establishing systems and

routines in your classroom. Thanks to everyone who attended the educational sessions, participated in the two-hour J.W. Pepper reading session and to the presiders! I would like to especially thank Rob Seebacher and the Mobile Symphony Youth Orchestra for a moving performance at the AMEA conference. We’re already looking ahead to next year’s conference with some exciting ideas for performances and new session topics. If you are looking for specific topics for the session please let us know!

Let me end with a special thank you to all of the AOA Governing Board, District Chairs, judges, sectional leaders and volunteers who spent countless hours insuring the success of the Alabama Orchestra Association’s 2014 All State Festival! Everyone involved is essential and so appreciated!

Whether you sing in the choir, dance in a musical theater production, play an instrument in a band, have a passion for opera, or lead worship for your church, the University of Mobile Center for Performing Arts has the program for you!

If you desire a university that prepares you to make a difference in today’s culture, UMobile is for you!

center for performing arts

The course of study is music - the four-year journey is the real education! To schedule an appointment to audition: cpaauditions@umobile.edu or call

Lisa Caravan- President, Alabama Orchestra Association

Conference Photos

AMEA honors Tony Pike President-elect Carl Hancock, President Sara Womack, Kristen Pike, Kim Pike, and ABA President Rusty Courson

AMEA President Sara Womack, AMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator James Schaeffer, and President-Elect Carl Hancock

AMEA Honor Roll

AMEA Outstanding Administrator Dr. Bill Cleveland, Superintendent, Homewood City Schools with Homewood Music Educators

AMEA Young Composer Competition Finalists: Isabel Fisher - Edgewood Elementary

Harrison Hornsby - Clay Chalkville Middle School

Charles Renneker - Alabama School of Fine Arts

Joseph Crittenden - Homewood High School Nicholas Murphy - UNA

Jody Powell,- President, Alabama Vocal Association

It was so nice to see so many of our outstanding choral directors at the AMEA In-service Conference. It truly makes me realize, with great humility, the privilege to lead such a wonderful organization. The AMEA conference was well attended by our fellow AVA colleagues. Thank you all for attending and supporting our sessions. Many of these sessions had more participants than I have ever seen attending.

Thank you so much to our presenters who inspired and encouraged us to take their ideas and gifts back to our classrooms. Thank you especially to Erin Colwitz, Melinda Doyle, Robert Lyda and Jane Kuehne, Megan Wicks-Rudolph, Earlene Rentz and Randi Bolden. And thank you to the AVA Board for their leadership in presiding over the sessions.

Thank you also to our wonderful performing groups. Jane Powell and the Florence 8th & 9th Grade Girls Choir, Charles Henry and the Spain Park High School Chamber Choir, Melina Doyle and the University of Montevallo Chorale, Nichol Hill and the Pleasant Grove High School Chorale, Dr. Meghan WicksRudolph and the Vestavia Hills High

Honor Choir, Karen Anderson and the Huntsville Middle School Mixed Choir and Ginny Hughes and the Gardendale High School Choir. All of you truly outdid yourselves.

The All-State Show Choir had an incredible experience and performance under the musical direction of Mark Myers and choreographer extraordinaire Jarad Voss. It is overwhelming that these gentlemen can put together and perform such a wonderful program in just two days. Great Job! Thank you so much Jane Powell for coordinating this entire effort. Thank you also to our volunteer band, too. You guys are awesome!

The AMEA Honor Choir, under the direction of Dr. Christopher Aspaas, was a huge success. Thanks to all of the directors that prepared their students and participated in the screening process. The concert was outstanding. Thank you also to Carl Davis, coordinator for the Honor Choir. Carl that was truly an outstanding job.

Our accompanists should also be commended for their hard work during the conference. Thank you so much to Terry Moore for accompanying the All-State Show Choir. And a huge thanks to Lana Cornut for accompanying the session with Earlene Rentz and Karen Cantrell for

the florida state university

SUMMER MUSIC CAMPS

............................................June 22 - July 5

Band Camp for Middle School ..................................................July 6-12

Choral Ensemble Camp ...........................................................June 8-14

Double Bass Workshop..........................................................June

Double Reed Workshop .........................................................June 10-13

Elementary Music Day Camp...................................................June 9-13

Guitar Workshop ...................................................................June 17-21

*Honors Chamber Winds Camp .....................................June 22 - July 5

Jazz Ensemble Camp for Senior High ......................................June 15-21

Jazz Ensemble Camp for Middle School ...................................June 8-14

Marching Band Leadership Camp ..............................................July 6-11

Piano Camp ..............................................................................June 8-21 ..........................................................June 8-21

String Orchestra Camp ....................................................June 22 - July 5

Tuba & Euphonium Workshop................................................June 18-21

*Audition Required

Visit music.fsu.edu or call 850-644-9934 for more information. Registration is now open.

accompanying the Honor Choir.

I am truly honored to be surrounded by people who are willing to go above and beyond to provide greatness for the conference. Jerry and Jordan Cunningham, who took care of the ASSC risers and platforms and were the liaison to the MPAC crew, Liz Donaldson and her booster parents who provided food during the conference, the AVA Executive Board and AVA Board for making sure everything was done and taken care of… You guys are seriously true servants. Thank you to all of the Presiders for each session and performance. Thank you so much to Pat Blackwell, our Executive Secretary, for doing it all…all of the time!

It is now time to look ahead to the AllState Choral Festival. We are indebted to Samford University, Dr. Joe Hopkins, Dr. Phillip Copeland, Dr. Moya Nordlund, Dr. Time Banks and the staff for handling the logistics of a huge festival and allowing it to run smoothly. We look forward to working with outstanding clinicians. The SATB Choir with Dr. Daniel Bara from the University of Georgia , the SSA choir with Elena Sharkova from Silicon Valley Chorale, the TTBB choir with Jonathan Palant from Kessler Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, the Middle School Mixed Choir with Anthony Trecek-King as Artistic Director with the Boston Children's Chorus, Dr. the Middle School Treble choir with Dr. Andrea Ramsey from Ohio State University .

It is also time to think about our State Choral Performance Assessments and our State Solo and Ensemble Assessments. Many of you have spent countless hours working with your students across the state to prepare them for this endeavor. I hope you all have a wonderful experience with each and every performance you create.

Thank you to each and every one of you who tirelessly work to promote the choral art with your students in the classroom every day. Sometimes it seems like a thankless task, but know this… It is you and your tutelage that really makes the difference in those students’ lives. Keep up the good work! See you all in April at All-State.

2014 All-State Choral Festival Schedule

Wednesday–April 2, 2014

11:00 a.m.AVA Board Meeting

Wright Basement

2:30 p.m.OA Competitions/Picture

3:00 p.m.Female OCS Competition

Brock Recital Hall

4:45 p.m.OCS – Picture

Brock Recital Hall

5:00 p.m.Male OCS Competition

Brock Recital Hall

7:00 p.m.ASSC Band Rehearsal

Wright Performance Center

Thursday–April 3, 2014

8:00 – 11:30 a.m.All-State Show Choir Rehearsal

Wright Performance Center Stage

10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.Registration

Wright Basement

11:00 a.m.Luncheon Meeting

Wright Mezzanine

(President, President-Elect, Clinicians, Accompanists, Coordinators)

12:00-12:30 p.m.ASSC Dress Rehearsal

Wright Performance Center Stage

1:00-1:45 p.m.General Assembly

Wright Performance Center Directors & Students

Samford A Cappella Choir

ASSC Performance

2:00 – 5:30 p.m.All-State Rehearsals

HS SATBWright Concert Hall

HS SSABrock Recital Hall

HS TTBBBolding Studio

MS MixedReid Chapel

MS TrebleCassesse Band Hall

5:30-7:30Dinner Break

7:30-9:30 p.m.All-State Rehearsals

Same sites as first rehearsal

Friday–April 4, 2014

8:30-11:30All-State Rehearsals

HS SATBReid Chapel

HS SSABrock Recital Hall

HS TTBBBolding Studio

MS MixedWright Performance Center Stage

MS TrebleCassesse Band Hall

11:00 p.m.

Wright Mezzanine

(AVA Board, Clinicians, Accompanists) 1:30-4:30 p.m.All-State Rehearsals

HS SATBReid Chapel

HS SSABrock Recital Hall

HS TTBBBolding Studio

MS MixedCassesse Band Hall

MS TrebleWright Performance

Saturday-April 5, 2014

2014 AVA All-State Clinicians

High School

Daniel Bara is the Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia where oversees seven university choral ensembles as well as the graduate choral conducting program. His university choirs have performed for state, regional, and national conventions of ACDA and MENC, and the ECU Chamber Singers completed two professional recordings for the Gothic Records label (Greater Love, 2007; Eternal Light, 2010). His conducting students have advanced into the live rounds of the ACDA National Conducting Competition and other ACDA sponsored conducting master classes, and former MM and DMA conducting students now hold collegiate conducting appointments at Susquehanna University, New England Conservatory, Miami University of Ohio, University of Idaho, and William Jewell College. Dr. Bara was the recipient of the UNC Board of Governors Distinguished Professor for Teaching Award and the Robert L. Jones Award for Outstanding Teaching. Prior accolades include the Walter Hagen Conducting Prize given at the Eastman School of Music, and the ACDA National Student Conducting Competition (Graduate Division) awarded at the National Convention in San Antonio, TX in 2001. Dr. Bara is Past-President of NC-ACDA, has held the Artistic Directorship of the New York State Summer School of the Arts – School of Choral Studies (2007-2009), and has served as conductor of the World Youth Honor Choir at Interlochen Arts Camp (2004-2006). He is in regular demand as a guest conductor and clinician, with recent or upcoming engagements with all-state or regional honor choirs in

Arkansas, Alabama, California, Louisiana, Colorado, Massachusetts, Vermont, Virginia, New York, West Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia. Dr. Bara holds the DMA degree in conducting from the Eastman School of Music, organ and conducting degrees from the University of Michigan, and is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy. He is the Youth and Student Activities Chairman for the Southern Division Chapter of ACDA, and served as the Performing Choir Chair for the Southern Division ACDA Convention in Winston-Salem in 2012. At UGA, Dr. Bara conducts the UGA Hodgson Singers and the University Chorus.

School

U.S. military music ensemble. Dr. Palant sits on the board of directors of the Intercollegiate Men's Choruses and has served on the state board of the Michigan chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and Youth First Texas, where he was founder and conductor of Dallas PUMP!, a choir serving at-risk youth. Dr. Palant holds degrees from Michigan State University, Temple University, and the University of Michigan.

Russian-American conductor Elena Sharkova is recognized nationally and internationally as an inspirational, versatile, and effective conductor, choral clinician, music educator, and lecturer. She has conducted professional, university, youth, and community choirs and orchestras in 17 coutries across North America, Asia, Eastern and Western Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. Ms. Sharkova has served as a jury member at numerous national and international music festivals and competitions. An expert on Russian choral

Jonathan Palant is a conductor, music educator, and writer. In addition to being minister of music at Kessler Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, he is an active guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States and around the world, and has served as visiting professor of music at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and at Richland College, Dallas, Texas.

From 2007 to 2011, Dr. Palant served as artistic director of Dallas' Turtle Creek Chorale and founder of the Partners In Harmony Chorus. Under his leadership, the Turtle Creek Chorale enjoyed milestone events including the Texas premiere of Night Passage, a one-act opera by Robert Moran based on the arrest of Oscar Wilde in London, and the premiere of the Turtle Creek Chorale commissioned work Our Better Angels, composed by Andrea Clearfield, with text by Robert Espindola. Another first was the Chorale's performance with the United States Army Chorus and the Dallas Wind Symphony-marking the first GALA-affiliated chorus appearance with a

School

music, Elena has lectured extensively on its repertoire and performance practices and conducted several U.S. premiers of Russian contemporary compositions. Elena Sharkova regurlarly appears with professional artists; some of most notable conducting engagements include Symphony Silicon Valley, Kronos Quartet, and spring 2012 series of performances with Grammy Award winning “Orchestra of Voices” male choir Chanticleer as one of the ensemble’s 2011-2012 Guest Music Directors.

As a soprano, Elena Sharkova has performed and recorded with one of Russia’s finest professional choirs Lege

Jonathan Palant

Daniel Bara

Elena Sharkova

SATB Chorus

High

TTBB Chorus

High

SSA Chorus

Artis and apprears on five studio CDs on SonyClassical label.

In her fifthteenth year as Artistic Director of Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale, Elena Sharkova has prepared and conducted the chorus in over 40 major choral-orchestral works such as Ralph Vaughn Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, Serenade to Music and Five Mystical Songs, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Poulenc’s Gloria, Brahms German Requiem and Nanie, Bruckner’s Te Deum, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and many others. Under Sharkova’s direction, Chorale presented complete performances of the monumental masterpiece of Russian liturgical music –Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil in 2008, and in 2011 premiered the new edition of Ippolitov-Ivanov’s All-Night Vigil, op. 43. Artistic Director of the 300-voice strong Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley since 2004, Elena Sharkova conducts CYS’s top performing and touring choirs, Vocalise and Ensemble, and oversees all educational and performance aspects of the program. Under her direction, Cantabile made solo appearance on the legendary stages of Carnegie Hall and Chicago Orchestra Hall and toured Estonia, Finland, Russia, Canada, and England.

Elena Sharkova was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she received an undergraduate degree in music education and piano, and a graduate degree in conducting from St. Petersburg State Rimski-Korsakov Conservatory. In 1996 Ms. Sharkova received her second graduate degree in conducting from Western Michigan University where she studied with Dr. Craig Arnold.

Ms. Sharkova joined the music faculty of San Jose State University in 1998 and served as Director of Choral Activities until 2006. In demand as guest clinician, Elena has had the priviledge to conduct all-state, divisional, and national honor choirs for American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, Organization of American Kodàly Educators, Association for Music in International Schools, Manhattan Concert Productions, Music Celebrations International, Distinguished Concerts International and Heritage Festivals of Gold. Elena lives in San Jose with her wine-maker husband Tony and their nine-year old son Sasha.

Named one of the 25 Most Stylish Bostonians of 2012, Anthony Trecek-King, began his tenure as Artistic Director with the Boston Children's Chorus (BCC) in September 2007. Since that time BCC has obtained a reputation as an ensemble of high distinction. As a conductor and clinician, Mr. Trecek-King has earned recognition

presenting and conducting engagements this year in Canada, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Mississippi, Kentucky,

conducting choirs and orchestras throughout Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. He has worked with the University of Cologne Chamber Choir, the National Youth Choirs in Great Britain and members of the Schola Cantorum de Venezuela, the Juvenil Schola Cantorum, and the University Simón Bolívar. At BCC, Mr. Trecek-King has established a unique music education curriculum that fosters independent thinking among young musicians. Students develop musical skills and receive leadership and life skills training. Before joining BCC, Mr. Trecek-King was a Professor of Music at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Artistic Director of the Nebraska Choral Arts Society.

Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, Minnesota, and West Virginia. An ASCAP award-winning composer, Dr. Ramsey composes for a wide range of voices and ability levels and has over 60 works in press with publishers such as Hal Leonard, Boosey & Hawkes, Alliance, Santa Barbara, Walton, Colla Voce, and Carl Fischer. She is composer-in-residence to the Allegro Choirs of Kansas City where she has twice toured abroad with the choirs to Italy, Austria, and the Czech Republic.

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Dr. Andrea Ramsey holds an appointment in choral music education at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio where she teaches choral methods, undergraduate conducting, and conducts the University Chorus. A native Arkansan, Andrea has thirteen years of teaching experience with children’s, public school, and university choruses. She received her Ph.D. in Music Education from Michigan State University where she was a University Distinguished Fellow and her M. M. in Choral Conducting from The University of Kansas. Enjoying regular guest conducting and presenting opportunities, Dr. Ramsey looks forward to

Hall of Fame Nomination Form

Outstanding Music Educator

Nomination Form

Outstanding Young Music Educator

Nomination Form

Outstanding Administrator

Nomination Form

Barbara Odom Distinguished Service Award Nomination Form

FAME Registration Form

Call for Sessions Form

Performance Application

Young Composers Competition Application

Lobby Performance Application

AnthonyKingTrecek-

Andrea Ramsey Middle School Mixed Chorus

Middle School Treble Chorus

AMEADivision Events 2013 - 2014

Alabama Bandmasters Association

AMEA In-Service Conference/All-State Jazz Band

January 23-25, 2014 - Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center

All-State Solo Festival

April 9, 2014 - UAH, Huntsville

District I

District Fall Meeting

All-State Band Auditions

District Honor Band State MPAI State MPA II

Solo & Ensemble Festival

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District II

District Fall Meeting

All-State Band Auditions

State MPA

District Honor Band

Solo & Ensemble Festival

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District III

District Fall Meeting

All-State Band Auditions District Honor Band State MPA

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District IV

District Fall Meeting

All-State Band Auditions State MPA (Middle School)

State MPA (High School)

District Honor Band

Solo & Ensemble Festival

Solo & Ensemble Festival District Spring Meeting

District V

District Fall Meeting

All-State Band Auditions

District Honor Band

District Spring Meeting State MPA

Solo & Ensemble Festival

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District VI

All-State Band Auditions

District Honor Band State MPA

Solo & Ensemble Festival

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District Spring Meeting

District VII

District Fall Meeting

All-State Band Auditions State MPA

Solo & Ensemble Festival

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District Spring Meeting

District VIII

District Fall Meeting

All-State Band Auditions State MPA

District Honor Band

Solo & Ensemble Festival

Solo & Ensemble Festival

All-State Band Festival

April 10-12, 2014 - Von Braun Center, Huntsville Summer In-Service Conference

June 24-26, 2014 - Hampton Inn and Suites, Orange Beach

August 26..............................................UAH Banquet Hall

January 31 & February 1...............................Sparkman 9th

February 14-15...............................Bob Jones High School

February 27-28................................................Hartselle HS

March 13-14..........................Madison, James Clemens HS

April 5..........................................................................TBA

May 3...........................................................................TBA

August 20.................................................Gadsden City HS

January 18.......................................Southside High School

February 26-28.........................................Gadsden City HS

March 14--15.................................Albertville High School

April 21...............................................Oxford High School

May 4......................................................Arab High School

August 17..........................................................Smith Lake

January 18...............................Muscle Shoals High School

February 21-22............................Hanceville, Wallace State

March 4-6....................................................................UNA

May 3 ..........................................UNA

September 19......................................Hoover High School

January 18...........................................Hoover High School

March 4-6...........................Hewitt-Trussville High School

March 11-13.................................Homewood High School

April 4-5.......................................Homewood High School

April 22........................................Homewood High School

May 3.............................................Bumpus Middle School

May 19................................................Hoover High School

August 26.........................................................Duncanville

February 1.......................................Tuscaloosa County HS

February 21-22........................University of West Alabama

February 22.............................University of West Alabama

February 25 & 26.............................University of Alabama

March 20.........................................................Prattville HS

April 22...........................................Tuscaloosa County HS

January 18.......................................Opelika Middle School

February 21-22..............................Central HS, Phenix City

March 11-12.......................Benjamin Russell High School

April 5................................................. Trinity Presbyterian

May 3.............................................Auburn Jr. High School

May 12.........................................................................TBA

August 26....................................Spanish Fort High School

January 18.......................................Davidson High School

March 4-6..............................................Baker High School

April 26..................................................Mobile Site - TBA

May 3...................................................Baldwin Site - TBA

May 5.................................................................Daphne HS

August 19.....................................................................TBA

January 18.....................................Troy Elementary School

March 4-6.......................................Enterprise High School

March 14-15...................................Enterprise High School

May 3.....................................................Excel High School

May 3............................................Troy Elementary School

Alabama Vocal Association

Fall Workshop - September 6-7, 2013 - University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

All-State Show Choir Auditions - October 10-12, 2013 - UAB, Birmingham

All-State Show Choir and AMEA Honor Choir at AMEA Conference - January 23-25, 2014 - Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Conference Center

All-State Auditions (You may register at any site)

October 31 & November 1 - Central Baptist Church, Decatur

November 2 - Florence Middle School, Florence

November 3 & 4 - Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Alexandria

November 5 & 6 - Northport Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa

November 7 - St. James School, Montgomery

November 8 - Springhill Baptist Church, Mobile

All-State Festival - April 3-5, 2014 - Samford University, Birmingham

District I

Honor Choir Screening

OA, OCS, & Music Ed Scholarship

State Choral Performance Assessment

Solo and Ensemble Festival

District II

District III

District IV

District V

District VI

District VII

Honor Choir Screening

OA, OCS, & Music Ed Scholarship

State Choral Performance Assessment

Solo and Ensemble Festival

Honor Choir Screening

OA, OCS, & Music Ed Scholarship

State Choral Performance Assessment

Solo and Ensemble Festival

Honor Choir Screening

OA, OCS, & Music Ed Scholarship

State Choral Performance AssessmentSpring

Solo and Ensemble Festival

Honor Choir Screening

OA, OCS, & Music Ed Scholarship

State Choral Performance Assessment

Solo and Ensemble Festival

Honor Choir Screening

OA, OCS, & Music Ed Scholarship Music Ed State Choral Performance Assessment

Solo and Ensemble Festival

Honor Choir Screening

OA, OCS, & Music Ed Scholarship

State Choral Performance AssessmentHonor

Fall Solo & Ensemble Festival Spring Solo & Ensemble Festival

November 14..........................................................................TBA

November 21..........................................................................TBA

March 17.............................................Southside Baptist, Decatur

March 18...............................................................UNA, Florence

March 18...............................................................UNA, Florence

November 14..............................Tuscaloosa County High School

November 21..............................Tuscaloosa County High School

February 20-21.....................................................UA, Tuscaloosa

February 20-21.....................................................UA, Tuscaloosa

November 12................................Bluff Park UMC, Birmingham

November 18................................Bluff Park UMC, Birmingham

February 24, 25 & 26 ...................Bluff Park UMC, Birmingham

February 26 ..................................Bluff Park UMC, Birmingham

November 21...........................................Alexandria High School

November 14...........................................Alexandria High School

March 13...............................Golden Springs Baptist, Alexandria

February 27........................................................JSU, Jacksonville

November 21..........................................................................TBA

November 14..........................................................................TBA

March 3 & 4...........................Columbia High School, Huntsville

April 28 & 29.............................Willowbrook Baptist, Huntsville

November 21.............................................Montgomery Academy

October 30.................................Tallassee High School, Tallassee

March 18.......................................First Baptist Church, Tallassee

March 18.......................................First Baptist Church, Tallassee

November 21....................................St. Paul’s Episcopal, Mobile

December 2.......................................St. Paul’s Episcopal, Mobile

February 20.............................Springhill Baptist Church, Mobile

November 14...........................Springhill Baptist Church, Mobile

February 20.............................Springhill Baptist Church, Mobile

Elementary/General Division

October 4, 2013 Elementary Music Festival, Samford University, Dr. Maribeth Yoder-White

October 5, 2013 Joint AMEA/AOSA Fall Workshop, Samford University, Dr. Maribeth Yoder-White

October 27 - 30, 2013 NAfME National In-Service Conference, Nashville, TN

November 13-16, 2013 AOSA National Professional Conference, Denver, CO

January 23 - 25, 2014 AMEA Conference, Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Convention Center

March 1, 2014 AOSA Spring Workshop with Brian Burnette

AMEA Governing Board Minutes

AMEA Governing Board Meeting

January 22, 2014

Montgomery Renaissance Hotel Montgomery, Alabama

The AMEA Governing Board met at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery, Alabama on January 22, 2014. The meeting was called to order at 6:04 p.m. by AMEA President Sara Womack. Present at the meeting: Sara Womack, Steve McLendon, Garry Taylor, Chris Walker, Carla Gallahan, Mike Holmes Lori Ardovino, Jody Powell, Ethan Lolley, Ted Hoffman, Carl Hancock, Karla Hodges, Becky Lightfoot, Lisa Caravan, and Frank Buck.

The minutes of the August 3, 2013 meeting of the AMEA Governing Board were read by Recording Secretary, Carla Gallahan. A motion was made to approve the minutes as read (Hancock, Powell). Passed.

The Financial Report was reviewed and discussed.

Officer, Representatives, and Division Reports may be viewed online by visiting our website, www.alabamamea.org

Becky Lightfoot, AMEA Industry Representative, discussed a variety of topics with the Board including advertising, creating a YouTube Channel, and suggestions for methods to increase the funds available in the Benevolence Fund.

Frank Buck, AMEA Historian, reported on the updates to the AMEA website. These include pictures and biographies of all AMEA Presidents, AMEA award recipients from previous years, Hall of Fame recipients, and Alabama Bandmasters Association State Contest ratings and programs from 1952 to the present. Currently, he is working to include a history of band in Alabama.

New Business

The Board discussed the AMEA policy on sharing member contact information. AMEA will make available school mailing addresses with the director’s name for .10 per address (Powell, Womack). Passed.

The next meeting of the AMEA Governing Board will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2014, 1:00 p.m., at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel.

The AMEA Governing Board meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Dr. Carla Gallahan

AMEA Recording Secretary

AMEA Business Meeting

January 24, 2014

Montgomery Performing Arts Center Montgomery, Alabama

President Womack welcomed the organization to the 2014 AMEA In-Service Conference.

A motion was made to dispense with the reading of the minutes from the January 22, 2014 AMEA Governing Board meeting. Passed.

Proposed AMEA Bylaw changes were read by Recording Secretary, Carla Gallahan. President Womack discussed the rationale for these changes. The organization voted to accept each of the proposed bylaw changes.

Beth Davis was introduced as chair of the Nominating Committee and presented the slate of candidates. Pictures and biographies will be in the next issue of the Ala Breve.

Carl Hancock presented the final report of the AMEA Census and encouraged members to vote in the upcoming NAfME election.

President Womack adjourned the business meeting and introduced the 2014 AMEA In-Service Conference Keynote Speaker, Nancy Ditmer.

Respectfully submitted, Dr. Carla

Gallahan

AMEA Recording Secretary

AMEA Industry/Institutional Membership

AMEA recently launched an Industry/Institutional membership drive and would like to express appreciation to the following partners who have already joined AMEA in our efforts to promote music education in Alabama. Please support these industry/institutional members who support you as music educators!

Arts Music Shop, Inc. 3030 East Blvd. Montgomery, AL 36116 www.artsmusicshop.com

Gadsden Music Company P.O. Box 132 Gadsden, AL 35902 www.gadsdenmusic.com

Marchmaster P.O. Box 73379 Newnan, GA 30271 www.marchmaster.com

AWB Apparel 206 Potomac Ct. Woodstock, GA 30188 www.awbapparel.com

Group Travel Network 410 N. Dillard St Suite 104 Winter Garden, FL 34787 www.grouptravelnetwork.com

Mouchette Enterprises, Inc. P.O. Box 394 Northport, AL 35426

Eastman Music Company 2158 Pomona Blvd. Pomona, CA 91768 www.eastmanmusiccompany.com

Macie Publishing Company 10 Astro Place Rockaway, NJ 07866 www.maciepublishing.com

Musical Destinations, Inc. P.O. Box 771060 Winter Garden, FL 34777 www.musicaldestinations.com

Musical Destinations Inc.

QuaverMusic.com 1706 Grand Ave. Nashville, TN 37212 www.quavermusic.com

Sunburst Indian River Citrus 49600 Meadow Brook Rd. Birmingham, AL 35242 www.sunburstplus.com

1946Yale H. Ellis

Southern Performances 115 Cottage Ave. Enterprise, AL 36330 www.southernperformances.com

Southern Star Music Festivals 635 Sunset Drive Norcross, GA 30071 www.starmusicfestivals.com

University of South Alabama LPAC 1072, 5751 USA Drive, S Mobile, AL 36688 www.southalabama.edu/music

AMEA Presidents - Past to Present

1948Walter A. Mason

1950Vernon Skoog

1952John J. Hoover

1954Lamar Triplett

1956Carleton K. Butler

1958Mort Glosser

1960Wilbur Hinton

1962Lacey Powell, Jr.

1964G. Truman Welch

1966Jerry Countryman

1968Floyd C. McClure

1970Jerry Bobo

1972Frances P. Moss

1974George Hammett

1975Frances P. Moss

1976S. J. Allen

1978W. Frank McArthur, Jr.

1980Paul Hall

1982Lacey Powell, Jr.

1984Johnny Jacobs

1986Merilyn Jones

1988Ronald D. Hooten

1990Ken Williams

1992Dianne Johnson

1994James K. Simpson

1996Johnnie Vinson

1998Michael Meeks

2000John McAphee, Jr.

2002Tony Pike

2004Becky Rodgers

2006John Baker

2008Pat Stegall

2010Steve McLendon

2012Sara Womack

by Joseph Pergola

Music Education in Crisis

These are trying times for music educators across the nation. Our state and local governments are suffering from severe financial shortfalls which have resulted in severe budget cuts. The brunt of these budget cuts are falling on public service institutions particularly our public schools. In some cases funding cuts are endangering the very existence of music education programs in our schools.

The largest source of funding for public schools comes from property taxes. In the current recession people find themselves in financial crisis. People are not buying homes and in too many cases, they are abandoning or losing their homes to foreclosure. In this type of fiscal environment, state and local governments do not collect the revenue necessary to properly fund local public schools.

The unfortunate reality is this; state and federal money to schools continues to decrease. Yet the cost of operating schools continues to rise.

Sad but True:

If a school does not recognize the value of music education, the risk of music suffering serious budget cuts is heightened. Too often school leaders and parents lack a true understanding of the importance of music education in a child’s development. Music education provides private and public benefits.

Private Benefits:

Enriches the quality of children’s lives

Promotes cultural awareness

Creates social bonds

Makes schools better places to learn

Promotes pride of accomplishment

Public Benefits:

Promotes responsibility

Raises student achievement

Develops self-discipline

Develops greater tolerance

Provides constructive entertainment

In the current state of economic recession, public schools are loosing a significant portion of their funding. This forces school districts to make serious choices about program funding. A loss in funding too often translates into less money to support elective courses in music. Program cuts of this nature are usually accompanied by lay-offs and job cuts. Its' sad but true that students attending wealthier school districts have a greater opportunity for a well rounded balanced education then lower income school districts. Recent legislation with it's obsessive focus on testing in reading and

math has disqualified some students from participation in elective music programs and has left little time in an already overcrowded school day for music.

According to The National Assessment of Educational Programs in the Arts, student exposure to the arts education in schools has steadily declined since 1997. It is not uncommon today to see the elimination of elementary instrumental programs, district wide string orchestra programs, grade level choruses and theory classes. It is estimated that a majority of Fine Arts Departments in public schools have adopted funding and/or program cuts since 2010. Everything except core academic subjects is starting to be considered a perk. In spite of all the concern and outrage over increasing taxes and proposed program cuts, public response has not stopped the erosion of music education programs. We as music educators have miscalculated public response. There has been no universal public outcry about defunding music education. We must not mistake concern and sympathy for advocacy.

Result:

Whenever school budgets need to be cut music programs and music teachers are the first to go!

Question:

Why is it so difficult for so many individuals in decision- making positions to understand the importance of maintaining a strong music program?

The answer is simple! We must face the fact that we collectively and as individuals, have not done a good enough job communicating the value of music education for our children's future and for our nation. We have not effectively communicated and convinced the academic world, society in general, the people who control the levers of influence and the people who make the critical decisions regarding educational funding for the arts.

Lessons from the Past: Unfortunately, the facts show that we have learned little from past problems. Although educational music associations have unveiled broad based advocacy plans, most are nothing more than glorified public relations programs placed in the hands of an organized leadership as opposed to an inspired grass-roots movement emphasizing prevention. Music educators must learn to be proactive. Too often we don't see the threat to music education until it's to late!

Too many school boards believe that cutting or eliminating music programs will ease budget restraints with little or no detrimental effect on students. It is the responsibility of

every music education advocate to be able to effectively dispute this claim.

Whenever program or funding cuts are made to music programs, school boards always claim that the arts are not being unfairly targeted. They will site cuts to other programs beside music. But the truth is that cut backs in the arts have never been proportionately fair when compared to cut backs in other programs.

Example: *(based on 5 period teacher load of 5 teaching periods @ 25 students per class)

If a school with one thousand students proposes cuts equaling one teacher in each subject area, they can easily make the case for fairness. But in reality, cutting one math teacher when every student must take math means one of eight math teachers will be eliminated or 12.5% of math staff.* But one music teacher in a typical school with a band, orchestra, chorus and classroom music teacher results in one of five music teachers eliminated or 20% of the staff. I ask, is that fairness?

The time to act is now! You can't afford to wait. It takes years to build a quality music program, but it only takes minutes for an uneducated school board and a subservient administration to destroy a quality comprehensive program. Once an education program is lost, it rarely if ever returns. We must remind everyone that the cost of education is far less than the cost of ignorance.

Joseph Pergola is the retired Director of Fine Arts from the William Floyd School District on Eastern Long Island, New York. A graduate of the New York College of Music, he received his undergraduate degree and teacher certification from Dowling College, a Masters Degree from SUNY Stony Brook and his Administrative Degree from C.W. Post University. During his tenure at William Floyd, he taught elementary, middle school and high school band. His performance ensembles received the highest rating at New York State Ensemble Adjudication for 21 consecutive years. After being named Director of Fine Arts, the William Floyd Music Department was named a MENC Model Music Program. The New York State Theater Association and the National Theater Association also named Mr. Pergola, Administrator of Year. He serves as a member of the New York State Council of School Music Administrators and a member of the Advisory Board of the New York State Band Directors Association. Mr. Pergola is a published author with four (4) books to his credit and serves as a frequent clinician at MENC Conferences throughout the United States. He currently works for the National Education Service Company as Director of Education and Arts Dvelopment and is a member of the adjunct faculty at C.W.Post / Long Island University.

U.S. Army All-American Marching Band

The U.S. Army All-American Marching Band has been a fixture at the U.S Army All-American Bowl since 2008. Selected by the National Association for Music Education in cooperation with All American Games and Drum Corps International, the band features the 125 top marching band members from across the United States. Members receive a selection tour stop at their school during the fall of their senior year and an all-expenses paid trip to bowl week in San Antonio, TX during January of the their senior year.

During bowl week, the band members receive instruction from top collegiate, high school and drum and bugle corps instructors from across the country as well as educational sessions with members of the U.S. Army Field Band.

National sponsors of the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band include: the U.S. Army; DeMoulin; Jupiter Winds; Mapex Drums; Majestic Percussion; National Association for Music Education (NAfME); Drum Corps International (DCI); Zildjian; ChopSaver; Dinkles; GuardCloset.com; Halftime Magazine; Pyware; REMO, and Vic Firth.

Madison Smith and Alexander Chung from St. James School in Montgomery participated in the U.S. Army All-Amercian Marching Band at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

Lori Ardovino - President, Higher Education Division

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2014 AMEA Conference! I was so impressed with the quality of the performing groups, clinicians and exhibits. A huge thanks to Garry Taylor for all his hard work and dedication to making it such a success!

Thank you to all who attended the first of what I hope will be many Higher Education Division luncheons. New officers for the 2014-2016 term were elected; Dr. Jim Zingara, University of Alabama, Birmingham, will serve as President, Dr. Becky Halliday, University of Montevallo, will serve as PresidentElect, Ms. Valerie Lanier, Jefferson State Community College, will serve as Treasurer and Dr. Jane Kuehne, Auburn University will serve again as Research Chair. I am confident that this team will serve the Division well for the next two years.

Sharon August (2007)

Curtis Hollinger - (2013)

Billy R. (Rip) Reagan - (2012)

Joseph C. Riemer, Jr. - (2010)

Roland Lister - (2009)

Pat Morrow - (2009)

David Walters - (2009)

Gerald Welker - (2009)

Gene Black - (2008)

Colonel Carleton Butler - (2008)

Ed Cleino - (2008)

William Dawson - (2008)

William Denison - (2008)

Gene Gooch -(2008)

Wilbur (Bodie) Hinton -(2008)

Johnny Jacobs - (2008)

Dianne Johnson - (2008)

John M. Long - (2008)

Floyd McClure - (2008)

Frances Moss - (2008)

Eleanor Nation - (2008)

Lacey Powell - (2008)

James Simpson - (2008)

Thomas Smith - (2008)

Hugh Thomas - (2008)

Orland Thomas - (2008)

Johnnie Vinson - (2008)

Truman Welch - (2008)

David Allinder (2008)

Keith Anderson (2011)

Kim Bain (2010)

Deanna Bell (2010)

Kristi Bowers (2011)

Laura Butler (2007)

Jeff Calvert (2007)

Brian Cocke (2008)

Ben Cook (2012)

John Cooper (2007)

Beth Davis (2006)

Kate Donaldson (2009)

Donald Dowdy (2005)

Mark Foster (2007)

Hunter Goff (2011)

Carlee Green (2012)

Greg Gumina (2010)

Margaret Heron (2009)

Sandra Hill (2010)

Daniel Hornstein (2007)

Jerell Horton (2010)

John Kincaid (2010)

Tiffani Little (2010)

I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as President for the past two years. It has been a pleasure working with a governing board that is as committed as these individuals are for the promotion and advancement of music education in the State of Alabama.

Theresa McKibben (2004)

Alicia Mulloy(2013)

Michael Myrick (2011)

Chris Neugent (2010)

Janet Nelson (2009)

Vicki Portis (2002)

Melinda Pruitt (2006)

Regina Yates Raney (2005)

Kimberly Scott (2010)

Joy Smith (2009)

Elizabeth Stephenson (2003)

Renee Thomas (2007)

Jennifer Thompson (2007)

Adam Truesdale (2013)

Theo Vernon (2003)

Chris Walker (2008)

Jennifer Walsh (2012)

Megan Wicks Rudolph (2003)

Phil Wilson (2010)

Sara Womack (2007)

Lonnie Gene Black - 55 years

James Champion - 45 years

William Denison - 40 years

James Knight - 40 years

Lynda Ladd - 40 years

Ted Mann - 40 years

Harry McAfee - 40 years

Christopher Rowe - 40 years

Sarah Weeks - 40 years

Dane Lawley - 35 years

Bonnie Lipscomb - 35 years

James Merriweather - 35 years

Frederick Stroup - 35 years

Rebecca Walker - 35 years

Donnie Abercrombie 30 years

John Clarke - 30 years

Connie Hammond - 30 years

Tony Pike - 30 years

Erwin Reynolds - 30 years

Larry Batchelor - 25 years

Jeff Burnside - 25 years

Allen Gillespie - 25 years

Jeff Gossett - 25 years

Ginny Hughes - 25 years

Millie McDonald - 25 years

Paula Segrest - 25 years

James Simpson - 25 years

Doyle Thornton - 25 years

AMEA H AMEA H ALL ALL OF OF F F AME AME

AMEA’ AMEA’ SS NBCT NBCT IN IN M M USIC USIC

AMEA H AMEA H ONOR ONOR R R OLL OLL

2015 In-Service Conference

January 22-24

Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Convention Center

Division (please check all that apply):

Conditions:

Submissions must include completed performance application, high quality unedited recording of the ensemble (no more than two years old), programs from recent concerts, biography of the conductor and performing group, picture of the performing group, and two letters of recommendation. (A current photograph of the group and conductor will be requested should the ensemble be selected to perform.

Unedited recordings must include two varied selections of high-quality literature.

Performing groups will be selected using the following guidelines:

Diversity of school demographics, geography, and age level

Quality and variety of music performed on recordings

Conference scheduling and planning

Directors must be current members of NAfME/AMEA and register for the conference.

Directors will be notified by July 31, 2014

Final decisions will rest with the Division Presidents.

Please attach a black and white photograph of the performing group, biography of the group and conductor (100 words or less each), recent concert programs, and two letters of recommendation. Submit to:

Deadline: June 1, 2014

Garry Taylor AMEA

1600 Manor Drive NE Cullman, AL 35055

2015 In-Service Conference

January 22-24

Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Convention Center

Name ____________________________________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________ City ____________________State ______Zip ___________

Phone __________________________________ Email_____________________________________________

Proposed Session Title _______________________________________________________________________

Session Description _________________________________________________________________________

Division (please check all that apply):

_____Band_____Collegiate _____Elem/Gen_____HED _____Orchestra _____Vocal

Conditions:

Session proposals must be submitted by the individual who will be presenting the session as the primary clinician.

All Alabama clinicians who are music educators must be members of NAfME/AMEA and must register for the conference in order to present a session.

AMEA does not pay honoraria or expenses to its members.

Individual requests for particular times cannot be granted. Submission of a proposal assumes acceptance of the scheduled times.

If a session is accepted, the primary clinician will be responsible for informing all other participants of all the specifics relating to the session.

Please attach a black and white photograph and clinician biography (100 words or less), Submit to:

Garry Taylor AMEA

Deadline: June 1, 2014

1600 Manor Drive NE Cullman, AL 35055