NEWSLETTER GEORGIA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
JUNE
2018
"A problem is a chance for you to do your best."
Duke Ellington
Inspiring Truth for Teachers
IN THIS ISSUE JUNE NEWSLET TER
AROUND THE STATE
DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 3 DISTRICT 4 DISTRICT 5 DISTRICT 6 DISTRICT 7 DISTRICT 8 DISTRICT 9 D I S T R I C T 11 D I S T R I C T 12 D I S T R I C T 14
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AROUND THE STATE Events and News from our 14 Districts
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DISTRICT ONE • The Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts middle school chorus, Garrison Voices, performed at the Choirs of America Nationals for top choirs at Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 23rd. As part of COA Nationals, Garrison Voices presented a solo “Spotlight Performance” at Carnegie Hall as well as performed with a mass chorus comprised of student singers from all over the United States and Canada. As part of the entire event, and before taking center stage at Midtown Manhattan’s premiere concert venue, Garrison Voices participated in a number of workshops and adjudicated performances at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. John Tisbert is the instructor of the Garrison Voices. • Georgia Southern University Department of Music faculty members, Larisa Elisha, D.M.A., and Steven Elisha, D.M.A., together composing the Elaris Duo, received the prestigious Global Music Award. They were awarded the "Outstanding Achievements - Silver Medal" in both the duo and new release categories for their recently released MSR-Classics CD Duo Virtuoso II - Works for Violin and Cello. Established in 2011, the Global Music Awards, based on the merit of the music, is one of the most prestigious international music
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competitions, which celebrates independent musicians and widely recognized by industry insiders as giving legitimacy to highly talented artists. Each year, Global Music Awards receives hundreds of entries from around the world, including over 62 countries. Steven Elisha serves as the head of the string area and director of orchestras/conductor Georgia Southern Symphony and Larisa Elisha is coordinator of upper strings studies. They both joined Georgia Southern in 2011.
DISTRICT THREE • Welcome to the inaugural year of the Schwob Summer Music Festival. This event was conceptualized by GMEA college division members Stephanie Patterson and Natalie Higgins, of Columbus State University. High school music students from Southeast Georgia will be part of a week-long immersive chamber music experience at the Schwob School of Music, including classes in musicianship, entrepreneurship, and body mapping.
AROUND THE STATE
MORGAN COUNTY
DISTRICT FOUR
ensemble received all superior ratings at LGPE after which they performed at the Southern Star Music Festival where they received the Silver Medal Award. The CHMS Symphonic Band then traveled to Williamsburg, VA where they received all superior ratings as well as first place in the National Music Fiesta-val. This group was the only middle school band to participate in this festival, receiving first place against high school competition from across the nation. Their next performance will be for Congressman Hank Johnson at the annual DeKalb Arts Scholarship Ceremony. Lastly, as a result of their many accomplishments, the 2018-19 Symphonic Band has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York representing Dekalb Co. and the state of Georgia, which will mark their 3rd appearance at Carnegie Hall and the National Band & Orchestra World-Stride Festival of Gold.
• For the first time in over 20 years, the Cedar Grove High School Stellar Winds Ensemble participated in the annual Georgia Music Educator's Large Group Performance Evaluation and received Superior Ratings. The program and their students were commended by all judges on their tremendous display of discipline and also their choice of musical selections and attire. Because of this accomplishment, the Superintendent of Dekalb County Schools sent a letter of congratulations to Cedar Grove’s Principal, Band Director, and, most importantly, the students in the ensemble. The Cedar Grove High School Band Program is under the direction of Mr. Davion Battle. • The Chamblee Middle School 8th Grade Music Department participated in the “Disney On Stage” program on March 15 - 19, 2018. The band, orchestra and chorus performed at Disney Springs, as well as participated in a workshop. The Chamblee Middle School 7th Grade Music Department performed in the Festival of Music at Carowinds on Saturday, May 5, 2018.
• Congratulations to the Dynamix Dekalb District Honor Orff Ensemble! This group, under the direction of Chelsea Cook and Emily Backus, has been invited to perform at the 2018 Midwest Conference in Chicago this December. Furthermore they are the first ensemble from DeKalb County invited to perform at the annual Midwest Convention!
• Chapel Hill Middle School Symphonic Band has had another outstanding year. This year, the 4
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• The Eastside Symphonic Band was invited to perform at the University of Alabama—Birmingham Concert Band Invitational.
SALEM MIDDLE SCHOOL
SYMPHONIC BAND
• Kristin Markiton has the female lead in Aurora Theatre's production of MAMMA MIA. The Aurora run, which closed on April 22nd, was sold out, but the production will be re-mounted at the Ferst Center for Performing Arts from June 9-24. • The Martin Luther King, Jr. High School Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Travis Kimball, travelled to Dallas, TX from April 13th through 15th to perform at the Dallas Winds Invitational Wind Band Festival. The festival was held in the Meyerson Symphony Center. Not only was the ensemble adjudicated by world class conductors, they received sectional commentary from members of the Dallas Wind Symphony. The MLK Wind Ensemble was the only band from outside the state of Texas to perform at this event.
directors, Garry Fryar and Harold Riley. • James Seda, Director of Bands at Southwest Dekalb High School, was recently elected to membership in the esteemed American Bandmasters Association.
• On April 3, 2018, the Morgan County Fine Art Departments performed an extravaganza that featured all learning levels from Pre-K to 12th grade. The purpose of this performance was to bring One Morgan together for a spectacular showcase of talent. There was representation from dance, drama, band, chorus, step team, art, and color guard. Our multicultural theme demonstrated how fine arts unite us all across the lines of language barriers, ethnicities, and cultures. In addition, the performances highlighted the connectivity and beauty of performing arts. The passion our students and teachers share for the arts and the value it has in our school system was obvious throughout this unique performance. The One Morgan Extravaganza brought together one outstanding community, with one heart and one mind for our deserving students. (picture below
• The Stephenson HS Trombone Choir is enjoying great acclaim, having performed at the GMEA In-service and the Music for All National Invitational in Indianapolis. • The Titans Band of Towers High School set the standards by being the first traveling organization in the school’s history to travel internationally. The students of Towers Band traveled both to London, England and to Paris, France. While in Europe, the students collaborated with the Regents Brass Band for an extensive master class in sight reading. After the master class, students had the opportunity to engage in musical dialogue with these professional band members.
PERFORM FOR THE
• The Salem Middle School Mighty Lions Symphonic Band, with director, Harold Monte’, performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 26, 2018. Nearly 50 young people graced the stage for almost 30 minutes as band director H. T. Monte, and guest conductors Antonio McPhearson and Travis Kimber, guided them in performance. The band dedicated one song, Ancient Moon, to deceased DeKalb County band
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RYAN COLLER
FOR MORE INFORMATION
AROUND THE STATE • On March 10, 2018, the Autrey Mill Middle School 8th Grade Orchestra, under the direction of Timothy Anderson, won third place in the middle school division of the National Orchestra Festival at the National ASTA conference in Atlanta, GA.
DISTRICT FIVE • Kevin A. Oliver Jr. (Westlake High School Senior) and Joshua Williams (Tri-cities High School Senior) have both been accepted to attend the prestigious Juilliard School starting Fall of 2018. Josh Williams is a classic tuba player and Kevin Oliver Jr. is a jazz alto saxophone player. Josh is under the direction of Tarik H. Rowland, Sr., Director of Bands at Tri-Cities Visual & Performing Arts High School while Kevin is the student of Cedric Young, Director of Westlake High School Bands. Both young men were under the direction of Sarkino Walker while at Sandtown Middle School.
• Marilyn Bailey is completing her Master’s Degree in Technology and Curriculum Instruction from Grand Canyon University. • Deerwood Academy, Bunche Middle School, Benjamin Mays High School and Springdale Park Elementary Schools attended a live Simulcast of Cendrillon on Saturday, April 28, 2018. • Deerwood Academy students shared facts about music as well provide musical demonstrations at a “Music Matters” presentation on Tuesday, May 15th.
KEVIN A. OLIVER & JOSHUA WILLIAMS
• James Landreau was promoted to an Assistant Administrator as Magnet Coordinator for the Dual Magnet Program (Visual & Performing Arts and Math/Science Magnets) at North Springs Charter High School. • Garnetta Penn conducted an Opera Workshop on Thursday, April 26, 2018 from 4 PM to 5 PM at Deerwood Academy.
JULIARD BOUND
• The River Trail MS Orchestra, under the direction of Amos Liu, performed at Carnegie Hall on April 7, 2018. This is their second performance at Carnegie Hall. Their first performance occurred in 2012. pictures available on 2nd email.
• Joshua Williams, the Tri-Cities HS STAR Student, has been informed that he is additionally a JUILLIARD KOVNER FELLOW. The Kovner Fellowship is granted to students who exhibit the highest level of artistic achievement, and who also demonstrate great potential to be future leaders in the arts. As a fellow, he will receive a full-tuition scholarship, room and board, and additional living expenses for the entire duration of the Bachelor of Music program. This is amazing accomplishment given that The Julliard School receives applications worldwide and its acceptance rate is lower than Harvard's acceptance rate. Though they attended different high schools, Josh and Kevin have been best friends since their time at Sandtown Middle school. According to Kevin’s father, these young musicians have spent their high school years pushing each other to be the best that they could become.
• The Therrell Cluster Concert took place on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at Therrell High School.
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DISTRICT SIX
with over 400 students from all over the United States. The Red Devil Band was one of only two bands selected from the state of Georgia to participate in the Mass Band Performance. The Bowdon Band was also awarded a first place trophy as the Best Parade Band. Congratulations to the Red Devil Band of Pride for their great performance at the Chick-Fil-A Bowl!
• Bennett's Mill Middle School String Symphony, under the direction of Kevin Anderson, performed in the 2018 ASTA National Orchestra Festival in Atlanta. • Josh Brandon recently received his doctorate from the University of Georgia. After this summer, Dr. Brandon will be relocating from Union Grove Middle School in District VI to Loganville High School in District XIV.
• Dr. Cody Goss, Director of Choral Activities at Ridgeland High School in Rossville received a full-tuition scholarship to attend the Bassi Brugnatelli International Conducting and Singing Symposium in Robbiate, Italy.
• Rex Mill Middle School Orchestra Director, Brenda Kelly, will be retiring in June, 2018 after serving thirty years as an orchestra teacher.
• The North Paulding High School Wind Symphony, under the direction of band director Mike Bearden, and assistant directors Stan Phillips and Joseph Stephens, performed at the 2018 University of Georgia JanFest Honor Band.
DISTRICT SEVEN
• The Ridgeland High School Chorale performed at Festival Disney on April 6. The Chorale won Best in Class and the Disney Bronze award given to the third best choir overall.
• The Bowdon High School Red Devil Band of Pride, under the direction of Matthew Bass and Cynthia Videtto, began 2018 with a performance at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Game in the new Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Bowdon Band participated in the annual Bowl Game Parade and in a Mass Band Performance
BOWDON HIGH SCHOOL
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RED DEVIL BAND OF PRIDE
AROUND THE STATE
APPLING APPLAUSE
APPLING COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT EIGHT
• Appling Applause from Appling County High School was named Grand Champions of the Georgia Vocal Invitational this year in Evans, GA on Feb 24. Appling Applause was also the first runner-up at the Peach State Invitational in Tifton, Ga. • The Glynn Middle Symphonic Band, from Brunswick in District 8, recently competed in the Southern Star Music Festival hosted by Six Flags. The band received all Gold ratings from adjudicators Dr. David Gregory and Benjamin Diden and was named the overall Grand Champion of the festival. The Glynn Middle Symphonic Band is an auditioned group of 7th and 8th grade students directed by Alan F. Wendel.
GLYNN MIDDLE SCHOOL SYMPHONIC BAND
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JOYFUL NOISE FESTIVAL
DR. K AREN KENNEDY + DR. MARTHA SHAW
UNIVERSIT Y OF NORTH GEORGIA LOW BRASS COLLECTIVE
DISTRICT NINE
• Joyful Noise Festival Honor Choir has been resurrected and will take place on November 2-3, 2018 at our new home, the beautiful Jekyll Island Club Resort. We are also pleased to announce that the festival will now host both a senior high and middle school honor choir. We are honored to be joined Dr. Karen Kennedy from University of Miami Frost School of Music for the high school choir and renowned clinician and conductor, Dr. Martha Shaw (Reinhardt University), for our middle school ensemble. We would love to have you and your top-flight students join us this fall for an amazing musical experience on beautiful Jekyll Island.
• The University of North Georgia Low Brass Collective has been active performing this spring. They were invited to perform at the MidAtlantic Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference in Greensboro, NC and also presented a special concert at the District 8 Honor Band Clinic. The group will also be appearing in the future at the US Army Band Tuba Euphonium Workshop in Washington, DC. • The University of North Georgia has hired 3 new adjunct brass instructors: Dr. Katy Ray teaches Horn and Brass Techniques, Alex Rodiek as Instructor of Trumpet on the Dahlonega campus, and Phillip Truex. Mr. Truex teaches low brass in addition to Dr. Adam Frey as the low brass area has grown from 3 to 20 students in the past 2 years. High School (Oconee County Schools) whose responsibilities include instruction of Concert Choir, musical theater and music history, is Teacher of the Year at Oconee County High School.
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AROUND THE STATE
DISTRICT ELEVEN
DISTRICT TWELVE
• The Feagin Mill Middle School Symphonic Band, under the direction of Lloyd McDonald, performed at the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival held at Georgia State University on March 21, 2018. The group performed at the Rialto Center, with an on-stage clinic with Richard and Cheryl Floyd, masterclasses with GSU faculty, and performances by other bands.
• Mabry Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Band, with director Jill Barnocki, performed at the Music For All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival.
• Howard High School's advanced mixed group, Ensemble, commissioned and performed the world premiere of Daniel Elder's 'October Sun' in February. The piece was commissioned last year in honor of the class of 2018 Ensemble members.
• James Palmer, orchestra director at Altoona High School, was awarded the prestigious Elizabeth A.H. Green Award, at the ASTA National Convention in Atlanta this March.
• This summer, Selina Madison and Licia Murrell will be hosting Dr. Carol Kruger's Developing Independent Musicians workshop at McCleskey Middle School.
• The Pope High School Wind Symphony, under the direction of Gary Gribble and Josh Rudolph, performed at Carnegie Hall on March 30th in New York as a part of the Worldstrides Festival of Music. Evaluators were H. Robert Reynolds, Frank Battisti, Craig Kirchoff, and Charles Peltz.
• The Mercer University Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble toured Washington D.C. on March 611, 2018. Both ensembles performed at Southpointe High School in Rock Hill, SC and Atlee High School in Richmond, VA as part of a tour to Washington D.C. as invited guests of the United State Air Force Band. The students in both ensembles were invited to masterclasses held on the Joint AFB Anacostia-Bolling in D.C. presented by members of the US Air Force Band and Airmen of Note Jazz Ensemble. The instruction provided by these talented musicians was outstanding and provided a great culmination to a wonderful tour to our nation’s capital! The Wind Ensemble is conducted by Dr. Douglas Hill and the Jazz Ensemble is directed by Dr. Monty Cole.
• Upbeat! String Camp is celebrating their nineteenth year in operation. Upbeat! is for advanced elementary through high school string players. Last year, Upbeat! served over 300 campers at their 3 locations - East Cobb at Dodgen Middle School, West Cobb at Allatoona High School, and North Fulton at Taylor Road Middle School.
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DISTRICT FOURTEEN • Kristen Donaldson completed her Ed.D. in Music Education from the University of Georgia in December 2017. Dr. Donaldson is Director of Choirs at Oconee County Middle School.
and Chance are both students of Dr. Jonathan Pilkington and will be submitting videos to be considered for competing at the NATS National Conference, which will be held in Las Vegas, NV in June.
• The Fourth Annual Oconee County Elementary Honor Chorus was held on March 3rd. Clinician Heather Potter, director of Charlotte Children's Chorus, led a group of 125 fourth and fifth graders through rehearsals and their concert at North Oconee High School in Watkinsville.
• A Piedmont College Choir reunion was held in early April, with more than 75 former music students attending from as far away as Washington state. They sang three songs together, directed by Dr. Wally Hinson, celebrating his twenty-fifth year as choral director at the college.
• Ernie Phillips was recognized by GMEA at the 2018 In-Service Conference for 35 years of service to Music Education. Phillips retired in May 2016 after serving at the University of Georgia, East Hall High School, and West Hall High Schools. He is currently serving as a paraprofessional to the Chestatee High School Bands in Hall County.
BOOK YOUR
• Piedmont College students competed at the Southeast Regional Auditions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing at Auburn University in March. Chance Passmore won first place in Third Year College Men-Musical Theater and second place in Third Year College Men-Classical. Tyler Vandiver was a finalist in the category of Second Year College Men-Classical. Tyler
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CALL FOR BOOK REVIEWS Summer is a great time to reflect on teaching practices and do some professional reading. It's also an opportune time to discover that next perspective changing, "must read" that every music educator should own. When you come across such a book, Georgia Music News readers want to know! Submit your review of a recently published book at GMEA.org to help other music educators build their learning libraries. There is no length requirement and submissions will be accepted throughout the year. Questions?
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