CBDA Update

by Jeff Detlefsen, CBDA President

It was great to see so many groups out performing and touring again last spring and summer. It made me realize how much live music was missed during the shutdown. Watching groups from California travel all over the state, country, and even across the globe was a wonderful step back to “normalcy”. Although there are still a number of challenges with travel, sickness, and supplies, I hope to continue to see groups getting back to their regularly scheduled trips and performances and continue to make memories for the music students of California. Our 2023 Social Impact Consortium is underway, and it is great to see the excitement continue behind this new topic. Marie Douglass has joined us to write a three-movement, grade 2.5 piece focused on the topic of mental health. The “You Are Enough” consortium is now open for members to join. You can join this movement and have your organization name added to the printed publication which will again include a curriculum on how to speak on such a delicate topic. Join at www.cbda.og for just $150. Physical copies of the music will be available for pick up at CASMEC 2023.

This wonderful new piece of music will be premiered by the inaugural CBDA All-State Small Schools Band. This band will be open to all California Band students that attend a school with enrollment under 1200 and meet one of three criteria that can be found on the CBDA website. Dr. Peter Boonshaft is joining us as the conductor for this amazing group and they will join the CBDA HS Wind Symphony and CODA HS Symphony Orchestra on the Saturday night concert to premiere the consortium piece this year. Information on this band can also be found on the CBDA website. If you teach at a small school, as I do, you don’t want to allow your students to miss out on this amazing opportunity. World class conductor, a world premiere performance, and a wonderful all-state experience for these students! Spread the word to other small schools to encourage all students to apply!

As CBDA grows, we are continually striving to find ways to better serve the band directors and students of this great state. As we work on new and exciting projects our board will grow and flux with the changes. CBDA maintains wonderful partnerships with our CASMEC partner organizations, CAJ, CCDA, CMEA, and CODA and continues to work together with them to provide the best experiences for our membership.

We are very excited to have four spectacular guest ensembles perform at CASMEC this year. With so many high caliber groups applying, our panel had a tough job in narrowing it down. Please join me in congratulating the following groups: South Point Middle School Wind Ensemble, Amador Valley Wind Ensemble I, San Francisco Brass Band, and CSU Fullerton Wind Symphony. I am looking forward to listening to these groups perform in Fresno at CASMEC in February. I hope many of you are able to attend their performances, you definitely won’t want to miss out.

With exciting new support coming from the governor’s office in the June budget revision, I hope many of you are finding more funds funneling into your districts and programs specifically for music and arts. Advocate for yourself, and music education. What we do is important to a well-rounded education for all. Plan to attend CASMEC 2023 in Fresno. We have some amazing performances and informative clinics we are excited to share!