Penny Martin-Intermediate Orchestra k8orchestra@cjmea.org Greetings from the Intermediate Orchestra Chair. We are having a successful Region Orchestra season. I would like to thank everyone who stepped up to volunteer to make it all happen. I can’t wait to see the 2016 Intermediate Orchestras in action at the concert on Saturday, March 5th at the Neptune High School PAC. The New Jersey Youth Orchestra facility in New Providence is being used for our rehearsals this year and I would like to thank the teachers and administrators at these schools for inviting the CJMEA Intermediate Orchestras to use their buildings. I would like to be prepared in advance for next year’s region rehearsals, so if anyone would like to host a rehearsal for any of the orchestra ensembles, please let me know right away. It’s a great opportunity to fundraise for your group by holding a baked goods/snack sale. Also, if you are interested in putting your name in the hat to conduct, please consider managing so you have the opportunity to work with the ensemble ahead of time. Have a wonderful Spring Concert Season! I would like to wish all students auditioning for the All-State Intermediate Orchestra to break a leg! Yale Snyder-Percussion percussion@cjmea.org I hope everyone has had a fantastic school year and holiday season! Our HS Region Percussion Ensemble had its concert on January 10th. What an honor it was to have a legend in the percussion field, Jonathan Haas from NYU come to Region 2 to work with our students. Bravo to everyone involved! Each year the bar gets set higher and higher and it is a pleasure to watch! Our Intermediate Percussion Ensemble concert will be on March 13th at Monroe Township High School. We are honored to have Peter Saleh from the Exit 9 Percussion Group as well as the director of the Rutgers Youth Percussion Ensemble as our 2016 conductor. I look forward to having him work with all our Middle School percussionists. I hope to see everyone at our general membership meeting in February. If you have any percussion questions I can assist with, I am only an email away!
NJSMA
North Jersey School Music Association njsma.com
I
hope this finds you all well and having enjoyed a successful school year thus far, full of great rehearsals, performances, and experiences with all of your students. As I sat with my Wind Ensemble working through yet another crazy Woodwind run, one of my students raised his hand and said “Although this is the toughest run I have ever seen, its till better than Physics!” It made me take pause and remember what are jobs are really about. We inspire and create an experience that most students do not get in other places of the school. It is moments like this that remind me, on a regular basis, why we do what we do. Students rely on us, to inspire their creative side, to challenge what they thought they could accomplish, and to learn what hard work and dedication to craft is all about. The reason I first got involved with Region activities as a student, was to enhance my own goals and to challenge myself to get to “the next level”. I am thrilled and humbled that I have the opportunity as an adult to keep these challenges alive. Region I has an entire host of incredible opportunities coming for our students. Every experience is designed to further their passion for music, from auditions to rehearsals to unbelievable performances. I encourage you to not only keep sending amazing students to audition, but I would love to see you at our performances. Of course it would be great if you could lend a hand and volunteer your expertise so we can keep offering amazing experiences to our students. Nothing motivates your students like you! As always, visit our website (www.NJSMA.com) to keep up to date with forms, deadlines, the calendar, audition requirements, and anything else you may need. Most importantly the Board is here to help you be successful. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to any one of us. Russ Batsch, President NJSMA www.NJSMA.com
Andy Havington, Orchestra Division We are in need of a 2nd Orchestra Chair. The job of running the Orchestra division is much easier when you have 2 people helping to delegate the work load. Please reach out if you think you can help out with this division. For anyone who is looking to become more involved with Region 1, we’re always looking for site hosts for concerts, rehearsals and festivals as well as sectional coaches for strings, winds and percussion. Let us know if you’re interested in conducting or managing an ensemble as well. We’re always happy to meet new faces in the region! Band Division Lewis Kelly and Gregory Mulford Co-Chairs Dear Colleagues, We hope your first months back to school have been rewarding and successful! I would like to take a moment to thank Matthew Spatz from the Millburn Public Schools for his many dedicated years of service to Region I as the Band Division co-chair, audition chair and program coordinator. Although the board will miss having him in an official role, we all will look forward to having his continued guidance and input as we move forward. As one doors closes another opens - please help me welcome Lewis Kelly from the West Orange Public Schools to the board as Band Division CoChair! NJSMA is pleased to announce the conductors for its 2016 honor bands. Jack Stamp, past Director of Bands at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, will conduct the Wind Ensemble, and Courtney Snyder, Associate Director of Bands at University of Michigan, will conduct the Symphonic Band. Mark Donellan, Director of Bands at Paramus High School, will conduct the Junior Band and Jeffrey Conrad, Band Director at Roxbury Middle School, will conduct the Intermediate Band. The high school band festival will be held on April 5, 6 and 7, 2016. There will again be day and evening times for participation. Please check the website for details and performance application. The junior high school band festival will take place on Thursday, April 21, 2016 at two different locations. The junior high school scale and solo requirements have been updated from past years. Please download a new copy continued on next page
JANUARY 2016
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