GEORGIA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
N e ws l e t t e r
n ov e m b e r
2020
"Education is the most powerful weapon which yo u c a n u s e t o c h a n g e t h e w o rl d . "
Nelson Mandela
Inspiring Truth for Teachers
IN THIS ISSUE
NOVEMBER
REGIONAL showcase AROUND THE STATE
DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 6 DISTRICT 7 DISTRICT 10 DISTRICT 11 DISTRICT 12 DISTRICT 13 YEAR OF RETIREMENT CLASSROOM PRACTICES GMEA CONFERENCE DEPT. OF EDUCATION
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NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
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NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
A CHANCE TO SHINE BE PROFESSIONALLY RECORDED
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egional
Solo&Ensemble
SHOWCASE
MORE INFORMATION
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NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER ||NOVEMBER | NOVEMBER DECEMBER
AROUND THE STATE Events and News from GMEA's 14 Districts 4
NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
DISTRICT one • Dr. Larisa Elisha (Coordinator of Upper Strings) and Dr. Steven Elisha (Head of the Strings Area), faculty of the Department of Music at Georgia Southern University, have been awarded a Global Music Award for their MSR-Classics re-release, DUO VIRTUOSO – Works for Violin & Cello, featuring duos of Beethoven, Boccherini, Handel-Halvorsen, Haydn, Kodály and Mozart. The album’s popularity resulted in a re-release from MSR-Classics. In 2018, the Elishas’ received their first Global Music Award in the duo and new release categories for the MSR-Classics release, DUO VIRTUOSO II – Works for Violin and Cello, featuring masterpieces created between the two world wars from European composers Honegger, Ravel and Schulhoff. Both releases received critical acclaim and were featured in Gramophone (The World’s Best Music Reviews), Fanfare Magazine, Atlanta Audio Society, American Record Guide, Malcolm Tattersall’s Music & Vision, Turok’s Choice, BBC Music and other leading publications.
Chamber Music America Residency Grant. While members of the Kansas Arts Commission’s Arts on Tour Roster, they were featured artists for the Kansas – ‘As Big as You Think’ State Tourism campaign, appearing over 600 times on New York’s Times Square Building, during the World Cup Championship.
The Elaris Duo’s live broadcasts and CD recordings are frequently heard on National Public Radio. As advocates of contemporary music, the duo has premiered new works by Joel Feigin, Malcolm Solomon and other composers. The Elisha’s regularly present master classes, workshops, lectures and performances at national and international conferences, universities and conservatories that include the American String Teachers Association National Conference, the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Lithuanian International Music Theory and Composer’s Conference, College Music Society Conference, Georgia Music Educators Association Conference, National Orchestra Festival, Jerusalem Academy, University of Haifa, National Taiwan University of the Arts, Grieg Academy and Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy. The duo has been the recipient of 2008 Kansas Governor’s Arts Award and a
Established in 2011, the Global Music Awards is a renowned international music competition which celebrates independent musicians and is recognized as ‘music's golden seal of approval.’
DISTRICT six • District VI has teachers in hybrid situations with additional virtual music classes, a la carte teaching, and those teaching only total virtual classes who are now easing back into green situations. Teachers are learning to effectively use Upbeat Music App, Music Loom App, Noteflight, Zoom, and Google meets among other things. We are working on marching bands with masks, virtual concerts, virtual Solo/Ensemble, and even returning to live orchestra concerts (with many restrictions, of course).
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NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
AROUND THE STATE
CENTRAL-CARR • Clayton County Public Schools is proud to congratulate Christian Zamora, a senior at Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts, who has been selected to receive the Count Basie-Scotty Barnhart Jazz Scholarship. Named after world-renown Jazz Big Band Musician, Count Basie, and the current leader of the Basie Orchestra, Scotty Barnhart, this scholarship was created to help support students of Jazz music seek advanced degrees in music. This scholarship will provide $1,000 to be applied to Christian’s college tuition in the fall. Competing against numerous students across the United States, Christian was required to submit a recorded audition of a jazz standard on YouTube, an essay, a letter of recommendation from the Director of Bands, Derrick Jackson, and maintain a GPA of a 3.0 or higher. Christian was also the number one high school saxophonist in the Georgia All-State Jazz Band in the 2019-2020 school year. Congratulations to Christian Zamora and the Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts in Jonesboro, GA.
DISTRICT VI PERFORMANCES/PRESENTATIONS
Flat Rock Middle School Symphonic Band, Matthew Price 2020 UGA Midfest Band Clinic 2021 GMEA In-Service Conference • Mindy Forehand: - 2021 GMEA-Ola High School Advanced Women Summer 2022 (originally 2021) - Ola Choirs at Carnegie Hall - Quarterfinalists for the Music Educator Award presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum • Dutchtown HS Wind Symphony, Wolson Gustama, and Jeffrey Hughley - UGA Jan-Fest High School Band Clinic - Southeastern United States Band Clinic at Troy State University - University of South Carolina Band Clinic and Conductors Symposium • Jacob Evarts, a senior at Locust Grove High School in Henry County, submitted a piece called "Legend" to the National Association of Music Education Student Composers Competition. His piece has been awarded Honorable Mention in the High School category. Out of all the submissions, 2 were selected as winners and 4 were selected as honorable mention. If you would like to hear his piece, please click the button below:
DISTRICT SEVEN • The Central-Carroll High School Symphonic Band, under the director of Neil Ruby and Courtney Zhorela, has been invited to perform at 3 events for the 2020-2021 School Year. The band received invitations to perform at JanFest at the University of Georgia, the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic at Troy University and the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference in Athens.
HEAR THE PIECE
DISTRICT Ten • The Davidson Chorale, under the direction of Phillip Streetman, will be the featured choir on NPR’s nationally syndicated show, “From the Top,” during a broadcast this season. From the Top celebrates the stories, talents, and character of young classically-trained musicians. The show invites and highlights one choral group each season. The Davidson Chorale is the elite choral group from Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School in Augusta.
CHRISTIAN ZAMORA | MARTHA ELLEN STILWELL SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 6
NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
ROLL HIGH SCHOOL SYMPHONIC BAND
DISTRICT eleven • The attendance at the District XI planning meetings has dramatically increased since moving to a virtual format. We were thrilled with the turnout and were delighted to have Alan Fowler, VP for All State, join us to discuss this challenging year. In addition, we elected the following new officers: Chair – Jay Davis Vice Chair – John Sweat Secretary – Ashley Godbee Treasurer – Christy Hursey Band Chair – Andy Hursey Choral Chair – Luke Roberson Elementary Chair – Stephanie Tyner Orchestra Chair – Rachael Smith District XI is excited to announce the following placements for the 2020-2021 school year Deanna Weber is the new choral director at Mossy Creek Middle School in Kathleen. Joe Hutcheson will be the music teacher at Parkwood Elementary in Warner Robins. Edgar Vincent Ortiz is the new band director for Miller Middle School in Macon. Benjamin Gibson will be the choral director for Oaks Hills Middle School and Baldwin High School in Milledgeville. Samuel Potts joins the Warner Robins High School faculty as the new choral director.
Molly Shaeffer is the music teacher for Lindsey Elementary. Krysta Therieau will be the music teacher for Bonaire Elementary. Salli Parker is joining the ranks for Morningside Elementary in Perry. Kyle Montgomery will be on the band podium for Tattnall Square Academy. Terrell McGowan is the new band director for Weaver Middle School in Macon and Murphy Pulliam has joined the faculty of MLK Elementary in Macon as their new music teacher. • Middle Georgia State University announces the hire of Dr. Patrick Brown, Assistant Professor of Music. Dr. Brown earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, his master's degree from Winthrop University, and his bachelor's from Appalachian State University. He comes to MGA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he was a full-time music instructor and coordinator of woodwind studies. He is a member of the Jazz Education Network and the North American Saxophone Alliance. Brown's research interests include topics related to jazz artists Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, and Ralph Moore. As a multi-woodwind performer, he has shared stages with Aretha Franklin, Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Temptations, and The Four Tops. He has also performed with the Omaha Symphony and the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, among others, and has been part of multiple musical and theatre productions.
THE DAVIDSON CHORALE NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
AROUND THE STATE
DISTRICT TWELVE
DISTRICT THIRTEEN
• The Walton High School Chamber Orchestra conducted by Dr. Perry Holbrook has been named a 2020 Commended Winner from The Mark of Excellence. The Mark of Excellence project seeks to recognize and award outstanding achievement in performance by high school and middle school bands, choirs and orchestras. The project gathers entries from throughout the United States and provides valuable feedback for all entrants. A unique competitive environment is created which allows ensembles to compare their performance quality to other outstanding groups from across the country. The students performed the Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings on their submission. They were also selected for the 2020 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic for the sixth time from the same recording. The Walton Orchestra program, led by Dr. Perry Holbrook and Sara Grimes, has 412 students enrolled in 7 orchestra class periods.
• This past summer, Stephanie Khasayan auditioned and made it into NAfME’s All National Honor Choir. Stephanie is a senior at Peachtree Ridge High School in Gwinnett County and her choral director is Kathryn Wyatt. While the All National event had to be cancelled due to covid restrictions, the Peachtree Ridge Choral program would still like to celebrate Stephanie’s wonderful accomplishment.
THE WALTON HIGH SCHOOL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
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NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
YEAR OF RETIREMENT
Dr. Kimberly Knighton Dr. Kimberly Knighton is
retiring from the Dougherty County School System after an amazing 35 year career during which she taught middle and high school band, middle and high school chorus, elementary orchestra, and elementary music. Dr. Knighton received a B. S. in Music Education from Florida A & M University where she held various leadership roles in the fabulous Marching 100 band, served as state secretary for the Florida College MENC and completed the student teaching experience at the FAMU Laboratory School. Dr. Knighton achieved her Master’s Degree in Middle Grades Education with a Concentration in Music from Western Michigan University. Her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership was earned at Argosy University-Sarasota. Though Dr. Knighton’s principal instrument is clarinet, she found that baritone was the instrument she played most often while she taught her band classes. Throughout her career, however, she taught not just band, but everything music. Dr. Knighton said her favorite teaching time of year was during Solo and Ensemble Performance Evaluation season. She appreciated the increased opportunity Solo and Ensemble preparation afforded her to connect with her students. “They always had fun and were proud of their individual accomplishments,” she recalled when thinking back on those student/ teacher experiences. Dr. Knighton was selected for inclusion in Who’s Who Among American Teachers for twelve consecutive years and was also the 2001 Star Teacher at Randolph Clay Middle/High School. She was the 2008 Teacher of the Year at Radium Springs Middle Magnet School of the Arts. Her future plans are to serve as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for foster children. Dr. Knighton reflected briefly, when asked about her long and varied career, “Yes, I have taught everything. But I loved every minute of those 35 years.”
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NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
classroom PRACTICES LAURA STAMBAUGH | COLLEGE DIVISION One of the impacts of the pandemic is that teacher candidates have limited access to observing and participating in school-based field experiences. At Georgia Southern, our student teachers are participating in a mix of face-to-face, hybrid, and online learning situations. However, our sophomores and juniors are not going out in the field this semester. Instead, they have been participating in a variety of alternative experiences. These include creating videos for elementary music teachers to push out to their K-5 students and having Zoom sessions with teachers such as Mr. Adam Akridge (Twin City Elementary, Emanuel County), Mrs. Sydna Davidson (Sallie Zetterower Elementary, Bulloch County), Ms. Amanda Gonzales (Blandford Elementary, Effingham County), and Mr. Nick Flott (Ashford Park Elementary School, DeKalb County).
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NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
GABRIELLE HASTON | CHORAL DIVISION This year I have felt like a first year teacher all over again as I have to rethink best practices for rehearsal and classroom management that are currently deemed unsafe. I actually have a student teacher this semester and I can not imagine what it would be like to begin my teaching career in the middle of a year like this. Fall 2019 seems like a different world from Fall 2020. Never in my wildest imaginations could I have dreamt up the way we are conducting school this year. Our singers wear masks whenever they are using their voices inside. Both classrooms include a new True HEPA H13 medical grade air purifier. Our rehearsals include a lot of movement to ensure good air flow and ventilation. We start inside for announcements and attendance, then outside to the parking lot for warm-ups, back inside for music literacy activities, and then we move either to the commons, auditorium or parking lot for rehearsal and sectionals. At our middle school, we rehearse under a large tent over a concrete slab in the afternoons. We’ve had our share of “opportunities” to work on our focus due to butterflies, weed whackers, and even the occasional baby squirrel. :) Even in the midst of it all, we are singing. To say I was nervous about this year would be an understatement. However, 2020 is turning out to be the year that surprised me. Not because one more unthinkable thing happened, but because I am inspired as I see music educators surprising themselves with their creativity and inventiveness and sharing these new ways to continue making music with each other. Because our kids are surprising us with their resilience and their determination to continue to make music despite masks, distance, and the new acoustical issues which arise from rehearsing outdoors. I have definitely been surprised at how this year has ended up, but I’m even more surprised at the new opportunities and bright spots of joy and gratitude I have found along the way. We’re experiencing the growing pains of a new way to teach and learn, but we will be stronger and better teachers and musicians on the other side.
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NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER || NOVEMBER DECEMBER
classroom PRACTICES LAURIE ORTH | ELEMENTARY DIVISION During these last several months of the pandemic and virtual everything, I have tried to see the opportunities and the silver linings among all of the uncertainties, chaos, change, disappointments and loss we are all experiencing. Sometimes it is easier to do than others. My first online musical activity during the shutdown was participating in an international, intergenerational virtual choir, led by British Choirmaster Gareth Malone. My son and I showed up for daily YouTube live stream rehearsals for weeks, and submitted our own videos that were part of the 11,000+ entries used to create the video “You are my Sunshine.” Joining in on those rehearsals made me realize just how important music is and how it can unite us, no matter the circumstances or distance. It was healing to ME to sing and participate during this unprecedented time of global stress and anxiety. Here is a link to that video: https://youtu.be/EWSXD2HGuwA We are one of the tiny pixelated images at the end. What a thrill to see that the London Symphony Orchestra provided the accompaniment. In April, I was able to present at a state conference, because they didn’t cancel it. They chose to go to a virtual format instead. They even provided lots of hand-holding and practice sessions, as Zoom Webinars were still new to so many of us during those early days. I was grateful to participate, and to be the only music educator presenting at Georgia Tech’s CEISMC (Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing) STEAM conference. Later that month, in between sitting on my couch eating too many salty carbs to curb my rising level of anxiety, zoning out to the tv, I received some happy news. On a whim and a long shot, I sent my new music workbook, Rocket Recorder, to JW Pepper, to see if they would be interested in carrying it in their catalog. Their elementary editor emailed me to say that yes, they would like to add my book to their catalog. He also suggested I create more digital content for their catalog. That one suggestion kept me very busy the rest of the summer and made me a FIRM believer in “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” My motto is “how far can I go with an email?” I emailed a lot of people over the summer and that led to writing a blog post for the Education Matters section of Georgia Public Broadcasting’s website and writing an article for NAfME’s Teaching Music Magazine’s October 2020 issue.
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NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
LAURIE ORTH | ELEMENTARY DIVISION (CONTINUED)
I sent an email to one of the educators I met at a conference in Atlanta last year. She lives in Nigeria and we have been emailing ever since. She invited me to present at a STEM conference she organized, and in June I was able to ZOOM over to Lagos, Nigeria to teach African educators how I use space exploration and rockets to teach music. Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be teaching virtually in Africa because of this pandemic. Later in the summer, my church choir did a virtual choir project, and although it took me 19 tries, I submitted my part for the following video: What Sweeter Music: https://youtu.be/Oseci0AGzFM It gets me right in the feels to watch this video and see my church choir friends that I have missed. Music has carried me these last several months on an amazing journey to some far flung places. It has been a bright spot, something to look forward to, and it has ministered to me. To all of my music educator friends and colleagues; music is the silver lining. Email a friend or colleague if you need help and support. We are here for each
ANDREW GEOCARIS | ELEMENTARY DIVISION In lieu of being able to host a traditional after school chorus program for my 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders, I have decided to undertake a virtual choir season. I was thrilled to see over 40 students signed up to be a part of this experience and even more so when all of them logged in for the first rehearsal. Each week we have a 30-minute practice on one song. Students submit a recording on FlipGrid performing what we worked on following each rehearsal. I, in turn, provide feedback and vocal coaching through FlipGrid to each student. Over the course of 3-4 weeks, students will make several practice recordings before their final video, which will then be compiled into our virtual performance. Once completed, we will begin work on a new song. My hope is to complete 3 virtual choir videos this year. Amongst all the uncertainty our students find themselves in, it is clear they are clamoring to be a part of something exciting, creative, and beautiful. It gives me great joy to be able to provide this experience for my students.
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NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER ||NOVEMBER NOVEMBER
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NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
JAN // 28-30 // 2021
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NEWSLETTER |NOVEMBER
While nothing beats attending conference in-person, we're making the most out of the current season. We keep moving forward.
BENEFITS
+ ONLY $85 TO ATTEND! + LIVE SESSIONS + ON-DEMAND SESSIONS + EXTRA CREDIT HOURS Interact virtually with clinicians.
Afraid you're going to miss a session? Check it out later at your own covenience.
Sign up for 2 OR 3 credit hours with Georgia State University when you come to the conference this year. Since we now have a virtual conference you have the option to attend more sessions than ever before. You can earn an extra credit hour for that.
+ VIRTUAL EXHIBIT HALL + CONFERENCE VIA SWEAT PANTS Interact with exhibitors LIVE!
Enjoy the conference from home! So grab a cup of hot chocolate, sit in your favorite chair, and log-on!
CONFERENCE INFO R E G I S T E R T O D AY
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NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
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NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
FROM THE FINE ARTS TEAM AT THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION *THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FOR ALL GEORGIA MUSIC EDUCATORS, NOT DISTRICT SPECIFIC.*
JOIN MUSIC-SPECIFIC VIRTUAL PLCS ON GADOE COMMUNITY! The Georgia Department of Education has launched a new, virtual and innovative platform to provide Fine Arts teachers, administrators, and GaDOE staff the opportunity to collaborate, connect, and share thoughts, resources, strategies, and encouragement throughout the school year! On GaDOE Community, Georgia Music Educators can join content-specific professional learning communities (PLCs) including General Music (K-8), Band (MS/HS), Chorus (MS/HS), Orchestra (MS/HS), and Music Technology (MS/HS) to collaborate and learn from one another all on one virtual platform! Create an account using your district email and join a virtual Music PLC today!
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NEWSLETTER |NOVEMBER
MUSIC-SPECIFIC, VIRTUAL FINE ARTS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AVAILABLE! The Fine Arts Team at the Georgia Department of Education is continuing to provide free, online professional development for Georgia Music Educators. Our goal is to provide content-specific staff development for Georgia Music Educators geared toward a whole-child education for our students. Be sure to check out the GaDOE Fine Arts Website and follow us on Facebook (GaDOE Fine Arts) and Twitter (@jesbooth, @mrhallpass) to see all of the awesome content-specific professional development opportunities available to you for free! Here’s a preview of what you find: • GaDOE Fine Arts Updates • Upcoming and previously recorded webinars • Updated instructional resources for Music (K-12) including supplemental resources such as SEL + Life Skills in General Music (K-5) and sample Distance/Digital Learning Plans • Self-paced online courses for music teachers • Interactive and informative infographic on Digital Teaching and Learning in the Arts Direct Link: GaDOE Fine Arts Website (https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Fine-Arts.aspx)
GADOE FINE ARTS WEBSITE
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NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
upcoming deadlines 12/1
All-State Band Statewide Elementary Honor Chorus 20
NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER
2/9
Large Group Performance Evaluation
HAPPY HOLIDAYS