PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

It’s happening for CBDA and CASMEC, too. As we celebrated (and are still paying the bills on) our time in Fresno, the CASMEC team was (and still is) diligently working on our new home in Sacramento. For CBDA’s part, I recently spent the weekend in our Capitol going through the convention center, hotels, rehearsal spaces, and sampling the restaurants (for research, of course). I’ll be returning soon with Jeff and Jeanne to do more work on sites before our June CASMEC and CBDA meetings. I want to make sure I understand every aspect of our new city in an effort to make sure that this first year is the best possible experience for our membership in what I hope will be our home for many years to come.

To Endings…and Beginnings

As we wrap up another school year with most things returning to “normal,” I think many of us find ourselves back in our traditional May routines: final concerts, festivals, and graduations. It’s good to be back in this place – as I said to a colleague recently, “we are almost there, but not quite there.” Meaning, it feels like things look like they did before March of 2020, but just missing a few pieces: one more tuba player, that second oboe player, a French Horn player who can find the right partial, etc.

While we look to the end of this year, I know many of us are already working on next year: concert programming, marching band shows, and new methods for beginners (I’m in the middle of writing one) to start. For many of us, Prop 28 is changing the landscape of the next few years as the money slowly rolls itself out. Our districts are hiring, expanding programs, and offering new opportunities for both teachers and students. My district (Stanislaus Union) has made a phenomenal commitment to our music programs by hiring three new teachers, expanding classroom music, and broadening the scope of our orchestra program. I’m finishing this year, and already planning well into the next school year. Endings and beginnings. As a teacher, they often happen simultaneously.

As I wandered downtown and midtown Sacramento last weekend exploring the area, I kept getting swept into the “feel” of the city. Around every corner was a new restaurant, “hang”, or interesting shop to look into. The hotels have restaurants and great meeting spaces (read: “bars”). The convention center feels world class, and the areas where you students will be are well lit and safe.

Our ending: Fresno. Thank you for being a great place for us to learn and grow. Thank you for being partners with us as we went from CBDA to CASMEC. As a Fresno State Grad (c/o ’96), I’m proud that our city and my alma mater were so accommodating all those years.

Our beginning: Sacramento. I’m looking forward to many years in this great city. From the membership, I ask two things: first, be patient with us this first year as we learn how to run a conference here; second, enjoy the heck out of it, and bring all of your friends.

As you work on your endings and beginnings, take a well-earned summer break. I’ll check back in this fall-- and will probably run into you at a marching band show at some point

Dan Bryan President, California Band Directors Association

13th Annual California All-State Music