Division News

Band Travis Downs

It has been another exciting year for the band division! From what our programs endured just a few short years ago, seeing all of our statewide events and our local school activities flourishing for the 2022-2023 school year has been exhilarating.

leadership and service is vital to our organization. Thank you to every director who hosted, organized, volunteered, adjudicated, or played any kind of supportive role for our students in all of the GMEA events this year. From marching contests to district and all-state auditions and the all-state event itself to performance evaluations, these experiences would not be possible without the countless people who step up to help each year. I am extremely proud of our membership for their continued support of each other, for our students, and for our profession.

It has been an honor to serve our state organization over the past three years as state band chair. Navigating mid-pandemic to the end of this current school year has been quite the ride. Challenges like helping to figure out how to hold virtual district and all-state auditions, running a virtual conference, organizing and planning two in-person conferences, updating the current all-state etudes, finding a way to incorporate and facilitate the addition of an 11/12 all-state percussion ensemble to our already incredibly packed all-state event were rewarding on many levels. The future is bright, and I look forward to seeing what’s next for our state!

Please join me in welcoming Chris Shumick, your Band Chair for the next two years. He is an incredible musician and leader, and I have no doubt the band division will continue to flourish under his leadership.

For those who will be retiring from the profession at the end of the year, thank you for your years of service. We all wish you the very best in your next endeavors. And for our new teachers who are completing their first year, congratulations! I’m sure you have learned a lot of things you wished you had learned in college. Keep going and never stop asking for help and advice.

Before I go, I would be remiss not to share my personal appreciation for the members of the executive committee, President Matt Koperniak, Past President Carl Rieke, President-Elect Neil Ruby, and our new Executive Director, Alan Fowler. Their leadership and mentorship have been unparalleled! I would also like to thank Ryan and Brandie Barbee for their amazing work in the GMEA office over the years. They are greatly missed! I’m also grateful to Mike Lynch for agreeing to serve as chair for the percussion committee and overseeing the inaugural all-state percussion ensemble, conducted by Professor Wu. A huge thank you to Aleta Womack, Laura Webb, Bernadette Scruggs, and Victoria Enloe for all that they do for GMEA.

And finally, thank you to every band director statewide for your hard work and dedication to your students and school community. Best wishes as you finish up a very busy spring semester. Have a wonderful summer!

-Travis Downs

Choral Scott Martin

As this academic year and my choral chair term are wrapping up, I reflect on the wonderful experiences our teachers and students have enjoyed. I can confidently state that choral music education in Georgia is incredible. From the northernmost part of the state to the southernmost, all points east and west, great choral music is happening in our institutions. Most of our teachers have been trained in our incredible college programs right here in Georgia, and we also have wonderful teachers who have been trained at fabulous institutions out of state and have chosen to work here in Georgia.

I am proud of the experiences our students have and equally proud of our teachers who go above and beyond daily simply because they love their students and want to share this great gift of choral music.

As previously mentioned, we have great choral music happening all over the state, and I am very proud that statewide representation was demonstrated at this year’s in-service conference. From the session presenters to the choir performances, GMEA members and their students excelled. We continue to be inspired by each other and learn from each other, which is the purpose of our great organization. I know that I was a better teacher the week after the conference. All-state chorus proved to be another exciting and wholesome experience for our students, and I want to thank everyone who had a part in making the event a success. Thank you to the audition site organizers, host schools, choir organizers, accompanists, GMEA office staff, and our teachers who spent countless hours preparing their students as well as give up priceless Saturdays and evenings to judge. They may not always express it, but our students and their families are grateful.

I am very excited that Michelle Levesque will be the next choral chair. She has been an invaluable partner these past two years helping behind the scenes in every way. Michelle will be a wonderful choral chair with fresh ideas, and I want to thank her for the help she has given me during my term.

As I close, I would like to thank Dr. Matt Koperniak and the executive committee for their leadership in guiding GMEA these past two years. Matt has led with professionalism, grace, and dignity, and has been a tremendous advocate for those in leadership roles as well as the association at large.

Enjoy your summer break!

-Scott Martin