Honor Band Committee Update The Honor Band Review Committee met on July 19, 2016 (after this issue went to press). You will receive an update at your fall Region meeting. Please give your Region Band Chair any feedback on the items discussed. You can also contact me directly to provide feedback on the Honor Band process. TMEA Membership Renewal and Convention Updates It’s time once again to renew your TMEA membership at www.tmea.org/ renew. You must be a current TMEA member to enter your students into the TMEA All-State audition process. You can also preregister now to attend the 2017 TMEA Clinic/Convention held in San Antonio, February 8–11. Remember that your previous membership expired at the end of June and liability insurance purchased through TMEA expires on August 20. At $30 annually, this is insurance you don’t want to neglect. And, like any insurance, you can’t buy it after an event causes you to need it, so don’t put it off! All-State Conductors and Clinicians Conductors for the 2017 TMEA Clinic/ Convention All-State Bands and Jazz Ensembles are: Kevin Sedatole, Michigan State University (All-State Symphonic Band); Cynthia Turner Johnston, University of Georgia (All-State Concert
Band); Rodney Dorsey, University of Oregon (5A All-State Symphonic Band); Denis DiBlasio, Rowan University (AllState Jazz Ensemble I); David Caffey, University of Northern Colorado (AllState Jazz Ensemble II). Our featured clinician will be Alan McMurray, Distinguished Professor and Professor of Conducting Emeritus at the University of Colorado. More detailed information about these outstanding musicians and educators will be in future editions of SOUTHWESTERN MUSICIAN. Give Back Please also consider serving TMEA in two important ways. Serve as a one-onone mentor in your area for young band directors or directors new to the state. You can provide valuable professional support for your colleagues and help ensure their continued development and longevity by enrolling online to serve as a part of the TMEA Mentoring Network (www.tmea.org/mentor). Also, please consider serving as a convention volunteer for 2017. It truly takes a cast of thousands to produce a successful convention experience for our membership. There are many critical roles available through which you can give back to the organization during the convention. To submit your information and availability, go to www.tmea.org/ bandvolunteer.
Band Division Updates Please make plans to attend your fall Region meeting (see page 2 for the schedule). In addition to important local business and UIL updates, each Region will be charged with nominating candidates for TMEA President-Elect. Elections for these posts will be held in February in conjunction with the 2017 TMEA Clinic/ Convention. The TMEA All-State audition etudes are posted on the website along with performance guides and errata. The website is the only official posting of these items and September 1 is the deadline for errata submissions to the State Band Chair. Please monitor the website frequently for updates. Thanks go to this year’s etude selectors for their musical expertise and presentations at the TBA convention. Thanks also to the Board of Directors of the Texas Bandmasters Association for preparing and presenting an exciting, educational, and rewarding lineup of clinics and events at the recent TBA Convention in San Antonio. Congratulations to these Texas ensembles invited to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. If you attend the Midwest Clinic be sure to support our Texas ensembles with your presence: • Hebron HS Wind Ensemble – Andy Sealy, director • Spring HS Wind Ensemble – Gabe Musella, director • Creek Valley Honors Winds – Kimberly Cooley, director • Artie Henry MS Honors Band – Robert Herrings III, director • Roma MS Symphonic Winds – Corey Graves, director • Cockrill MS Honors Band – Gary Williams, director • Round Rock HS Trombone Choir – David Mobley, director • Ridgeview MS Percussion Ensemble – Megan Wike, director Finally, a sincere thanks goes to those dedicated educators who served as judges, Area Chairs, contest hosts, and room monitors for the TMEA Honor Band process. We’ll recognize finalists and highlight those ensembles presenting honor concerts during our convention in upcoming issues of this magazine.
20 Southwestern Musician | August 2016