sEpteMbeR 2022 NEWSLETTER GEORGIA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
PELÉ Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.
DISTRICT 4 DISTRICT 5 DISTRICT 6 NEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER 1 GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GRANT INFORMATION FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT IN THIS ISSUE september AROUND THE STATE YEAR OF RETIREMENT MARCHING BAND PS FROM THE PRESIDENT UPCOMING DEADLINES MUSIC TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE GMEA RENEWJOBCONFERENCELISTINGSYOURMEMBERSHIPDISTRICT7DISTRICT9DISTRICT11DISTRICT 12 DISTRICT 13 DISTRICT 14
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The non-profit Peter R. Marsh Foundation has increased its annual Middle School Music Grant volume to 250 for the 2022/23 school year. The Grant has a value of $1,000.00 and is available to public middle school music teachers, nationwide. “Last year our quota of 150 Grants was depleted in less than 90 days.” said Peter Marsh, Foundation Board Chairman. “For the coming school year we’ve increased the quota to 250 to serve a larger number of teachers. This expansion will inspire some 30,000 students to be improved musicians and better citizens of their communities.”
MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSIC GRANT VOLUME INCREASE
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The Grant empowers music teachers to determine how the funds will be spent to enhance their music education curriculum and integrate student performances with local senior audiences.
“This program also nurtures empathy and compassion. It’s a terrific way to spread a positive culture and sense of community among our youth and motivate my students to be better musicians.”
Public middle school teachers, nationwide, can view the Grant Guidelines, the Music Grant Request Form and the Music Grant Reviews on the Foundation’s website: www.prmfoundation.org
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Jacob Shoener, Director of Bands at North Schuylkill Jr/Sr High School in Ashland, PA, was a 2021/22 Grant recipient. “This Grant gave us the financial means to provide much-needed supplies for our students which increased their commitment to music.” he said.
• Differentiation in the Music Classroom • Behavior
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FROM THE GADOE FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT
the Music Educator • The
Technology vs. Traditional Music Teaching Methods • Making Music Magic on a Shoestring Budget • Assessment in the Music Classroom • TKES in the Music Classroom • Ukulele 101 for the K-5 General Music Teacher • Instructional Planning for the Music Educator • Exceptional Children in the Music Classroom • Bravo Behavior! • It's A Mystery! Making Mysterious Lessons for the Elementary Music Classroom! FROM THE FINE ARTS TEAM AT THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
NEWSLETTER |SEPTEMBER 4
Did you know that the Fine Arts Department at the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) offers a wide variety of opportunities for continued professional learning as a Fine Arts educator? Our goal is to provide content-specific professional development for Fine Arts educators across the state of Georgia geared toward a whole-child education for our students. We provide a multitude of FREE, supplemental Fine Arts Instructional Resources (over 4,000+!) for Fine Arts teachers to use as supportive tools in their teaching practice. These resources include curriculum maps, unit plans, lesson plans, lesson materials, presentations, and even some student manipulatives!
There are sample resources for remote, blended, and in person teaching and learning! These resources are housed in the Teacher Resource Link (TRL) which can be found in your school district’s Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) platform or directly on our GaDOE Fine Arts Website under Instructional Resources as you scroll down the webpage. We offer FREE, content-specific, statewide professional development opportunities through live and pre-recorded webinars, self-paced online courses for music teachers, and an informative infographic on Digital Teaching and Learning in the Arts. Check out our GaDOE Fine Arts Website to register for these webinars. Some topics discussed in these webinars include: Basics: De-Escalation Strategies for Balancing Act: Rebalancing
NEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER 5
Do you often times feel lonely in your school building or district as a music educator? Do you find it hard to feel supported as a music teacher or have administrators who don’t fully understand our specialized content areas? Do you wish there was a way to seek support, encouragement, and guidance from other music teachers and administrators across the state of Georgia? Do you crave collaboration and connection with other like-minded music teachers? Then we have the perfect place for you! In addition to all of these great opportunities, the Georgia Department of Education has launched a new, innovative platform called GaDOE Community! The goal of this platform is to provide content-specific, virtual professional learning communities (PLCs) for GMEA Fine Arts teachers, administrators, and GaDOE staff the opportunity to collaborate, connect, and share thoughts, strategies, resources, and encouragement all on a virtual platform. Georgia music teachers can join PLC groups such as Band, Chorus, General Music, Orchestra, and Music Technology. Be sure to check out our introductory video about this new, collaborative platform: GaDOE Community Commercial. Georgia music teachers can join today for FREE by creating an account using your school district email account. We can’t wait to connect and collaborate with you in the future!
Do you follow GaDOE Fine Arts on Social Media? Stay up to date on all things happening with the Fine Arts from all across the state of Georgia by following and using the tag #ArtsEdGa! Be sure to follow GaDOE Fine Arts on all major platforms:
VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES ON GADOE COMMUNITY
GADOE FINE ARTS WEBSITE FOLLOW GADOE FINE ARTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
THE 4TH ANNUAL GMEA MUSIC TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE NEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER 6
We are excited to announce that we will soon be accepting submissions for the 4th Annual Music Technology Showcase. The event was established to recognize the outstanding teaching, and exemplary student work in music creation and production in our music technology classrooms. We are expanding the showcase this year to include an elementary division and a new category, Audio Production, that students can enter. The updated descriptions should soon be available on our website under the Conference tab. The submission application is available in Opus and the application deadline is November 4.
Music Technology programs in Georgia continue to grow throughout the state. Enrollment data from the GaDOE reports that there were over 10,000 students enrolled in a music technology class in grades 6-12 in the academic year 2021-2022! These programs are not all centered around the larger cities in Georgia, but also in some very rural areas as well. If you are new to music tech or are interested in starting a program in your school, do not hesitate to reach out. Music Technology Chair, Heath Jones can be contacted at arts2jones@hotmail.com.
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TECHNOLGOYMUSIC
Congratulations to Heath Jones, McConnell MS, Music Technology Chair, and author of Music Technology 101 for his invitation to present two sessions at the 2023 Texas Music Educators Association Conference in San Antonio, TX. This will be his second time presenting at TMEA. If anyone has any news to share from your music tech labs, please let us know!
EXPERIENCE SCHOOL SCHOOL HIGH HIGH MORE REGISTERINFONOW FORMERLY FMEC: FUTURE MUSIC EDUCATORS COLLOQUIUM NEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER
NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 8 NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBERNEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER SOLOALL-STATE&ENSEMBLELARGEGROUPPERFORMANCEEVALUATIONCONFERENCE ONCE YOU RENEW, PLEASE ALLOW 1 BUSINESS DAY FOR YOUR OPUS ACCOUNT TO BE UPDATED Don't get stuck wiTh panic! get it done today rEneW TodaY YOU MUST BE A CURRENT MEMBER, TO REGISTER FOR GMEA EVENTS ACCESS NOW LISTINGSJOBREADYFORACHANGE?
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AROUNDSTATE THE NEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER 10 Events and News from GMEA's 14 Districts
• Jason Smith, Newton High School Director of Bands, has been named Newton County's Secondary Content Specialist for Band, Chorus, Dance, and Theatre.
• The Stephenson High School Instrumental Music Department is dedicated to promoting a high-quality music education for our students. One of the ways that we would like to expand the educational process is through the commissioning of a new work for the wind band that contributes to the existing band repertoire as we strive to enlighten and expose our students to the many facets of the music making process. We invite your school, organization, institution, or you as an individual to join us on this journey. This will allow our students and those that join the consortium the opportunity to not only perform a new work, but to be engaged in the compositional process with a living composer. We are pleased to announce that we have commissioned William A.R. May as the composer of a new work for wind band. This new composition for band, which is an arrangement of his original work Fanfare for Six Horns, will be a Grade 4-5 Fanfare concert opener, and the projected completion date is in the Fall 2022 with initial premiere in Early If2023.you would like to learn more about this commission and how your School, Organization, Institution, or Individual can join this consortium please see the links below or scan the QR code with your smart device. We hope that you will partner with us as we Re-Imagine this piece for full Wind Band and Percussion.
• Don Roberts retired from DeKalb County Schools as the K-12 Music Coordinator on July 1, 2022.
• Dr. Calvin Morris and the Morris Trombone Institute will travel and perform at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.
DISTRICT FOUR • Elijah Clark is now the Director of Bands at the "new" Eastside High School in Covington, Georgia. Elijah served as Eastside's Drama Teacher since graduating with a Master of Music Education degree from Auburn in 2020 and he is excited to help The Pride of Eastside soar into the future. The Pride of Eastside Marching Band has been invited to march in the 2023 National Cherry Blossom Parade, next April, in Washington, D.C.
• Also, in Newton County, the six middle school band directors recently completed hosting their Second Annual Rising 7th & 8th Grade Band-a-Rama Preschool Camp.
• Kassidy Livingston, a graduate of Eastside High School and Georgia College & State University, is now teaching elementary music at The Newton County Theme School.
DISTRICT FIVE • Dr. Marcy Thurmond Simmons is the 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year of West Manor Elementary in the Atlanta Public School system. This is her third time being named Teacher of the Year. 2005- Teacher of the Year of Grove Park Elementary 2013- Excellence in Teaching Award (Warren T. Jackson 2017-Elementary)Teacher of the Year of Beecher Hills Elementary 2022-Teacher of the Year of West Manor Elementary • The North Springs High School Tri-M chapter was named the Chapter of the Year for the state of Georgia by NAfME.
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• Todd Wilson, Band Director at Elkins Pointe Middle School, is currently writing the GADOE statewide Curriculum Bank for 8th Grade Band.
DISTRICT SIX • District 6 welcomed several teachers to the area this year: Mike Bearden – Ola High School Director of Bands Thomas Blalock – Eagles Landing MS Orchestra/ Kuie-FanChorus Chen – Woodland High School Orchestra (Henry BrendanCounty)Dunavant – Strong Rock Middle School Band DesmondDirectorTarplin – Woodland High School Band Director (Henry County) Kristen Thomas – Union Grove High School Chorus Brandon Waugh – Fayette County High School Assistant Director of Bands • We are excited that a number of ensembles from District 6 have been chosen to perform this year at the GMEA In-Service Conference: The Flat Rock Middle School Singers (Fayette County) under the direction of Ladell Fortune, will perform on at the GMEA In-service conference on Thursday, January 26 at 7pm at First Baptist Church in Athens, GA.
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• The M.D. Roberts School of the Arts Transcendence (Clayton County) under the direction of Chrystial Hudson, will perform at the 2023 GMEA In Service Conference on Saturday, January 28 at 9:30 AM at First Baptist Church in downtown Athens. GA.
• The Blake Bass Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Chorus (Coweta County), under the direction of Kelsey Armstrong, will perform at the 2023 GMEA In-service Conference on Thursday, January 26 at 7:30 PM at First Baptist Church in Athens, GA.
• Quandrell Claybrooks, Director of Choral and Theater Activities at Westlake High School, was chosen by Disney as one of only 50 educators in the nation as exhibiting innovative (including STEM) teaching.
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• The Northview High School Orchestra, under the direction of Jeremy Woolstenhulme will be performing at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL in December of 2022.
• The Johns Creek High School Chamber Orchestra and director Young Kim have once again been selected to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic – International Band & Orchestra Conference in Chicago this winter. This is the third time Johns Creek High School Orchestra has performed at this event (2012, 2017, 2022). This is Young Kim’s fourth invitation to the Midwest Clinic, as he performed one other time with his former school (Centennial High School in 2005). The Johns Creek High School Orchestra will perform on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 11:30am in the 375E room at the McCormick Place Convention Center.
Todd Wilson, Elkins Pointe Middle School Band Director, and Wendy Wilson, Autrey Mills Middle School Band Director, will be presenting a clinic for new and future teachers at the GMEA In-Service Conference in January 2023 entitled “You mean I was supposed to know that before I started teaching?”
• A sincere thank you to Evelyn Champion, Orchestra Director at Northwestern Middle School, for serving tirelessly as an outstanding All-State Orchestra Statewide Organizer. Evelyn is stepping down after serving in this role since 2009, which is an incredible length of service. We appreciate all you have done!•
• Cartersville City Schools welcomes Mr. Larue Bowman as the new General Music and Chorus Director at Cartersville Elementary School.
• Murray County Schools welcomes Dr. Scott Young as the new Director of Bands at Murray County High School.
• Carroll County Schools welcomes numerous new directors to their system this year including Ms. Catherine Birdsall (Music Teacher, Ithica Elementary School), Mr. Everett Cannady (Director of Bands, Temple High School), Mr. Glen Hoying (Chorus Director, Villa Rica Middle School), Ms. Kelsey Jones (Music Teacher, Bowdon Elementary School), Ms. Riley Mitchell (Assistant Director of Bands, Central High & Middle Schools), Ms. Courtney Neidhardt (Director of Bands, Central Middle School), Mr. David Warren (Director of Bands, Central High School), and Ms. Ann Wilson (Assistant Director of Bands, Villa Rica High and Middle •Schools).GMEAPresident-Elect
• The Cass Middle School Honor Band, under the direction of Ms. Abigail Russom, has been selected to perform at the 2022 University of Georgia Middle School Honor Band Clinic on Thursday, December 8th at Hugh Hodgson Performing Arts Center. The Cass Middle School Band also received the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award for 2021-2022.
• Rome City Schools welcome Mr. Cody Goss as the new Director of Choral Activities at Rome High School.
• Douglas County Schools welcome Ms. Heather Russell as the new Chorus Director at Alexander High School.
• Dalton City Schools welcomes Mr. Michael Brodowski as the new Director of Bands at Dalton Junior High School and Mr. Taylor Mullis as the new Assistant Director of Bands at Hammond Creek Middle School.
• The Cass High School Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Sam Iddings, has been selected to perform at the 2023 Southeastern Music for All Concert Festival and the 2023 University of South Carolina Honor Band Clinic.
• The JC Booth Middle School 8th Grade orchestra (Fayette County), under the direction of Amanda Moran, will perform at the 2023 GMEA In-service Conference on Saturday, January 28th at 8:45 AM in the Oconee River •Room.Inaddition to a GMEA performance, Ladell Fortune (District Choral Chair), Quin Kearse (District VP), Velma Jenkins (Sandy Creek HS) and Ramielle Moorer (Riverdale MS) will present a class at GMEA called Planning for LGPE Success! Practical Tips and Tools for New and Veteran Choral Directors. The class will be held at the Athens Classic Center on Friday Jan 27, 2023 at 10am.
Mr. Neil Ruby has been promoted to the position of Fine Arts Coordinator for Carroll County Schools, having previously served as the Director of Bands at Central High School in Carrollton.
• Walker County Schools welcomes Dr. Timothy Ellison as the new Director of Bands and Mr. Nolan Barry as the new Director of Choral Activities and Musical Theatre at Ridgeland High School.
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Chattooga County Schools welcomes Mr. Paul Anderson as the new Director of Bands at Summerville Middle School.
• The Heritage High School Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Bill Wynn, has been selected to perform at the 2023 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Tri-State Honor Band event. The Heritage High School Band program also received the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award for 2021-2022.
DISTRICT SEVEN • Bartow County Schools welcomes Ms. Megan Moore as the new Choral Director at Woodland Middle School and Mr. Mike Bright as the new Director of Bands at Adairsville High School. Bartow County Schools also welcomes back Mr. Eric Willoughby and Ms. Sheila Smith as Interim Directors of the Woodland High School Band.
SEPTEMBER 13
• Ms. Wimberly Thomas joins the Fine Arts team at Howard High School in Macon as their new Choral, Musical Theater, and Handbell Director. Thomas earned Bachelorsherin Music from the University of recorderLoispianoDr.studiedMississippiSouthernandvoicewithClintNichols,withDr.Leventhal,withDr.
• The Carrollton Junior High School Band, under the direction of Ms. Maria Menendez, has been invited to perform at the 2022 Reinhardt University Middle School Honor Band.
DISTRICT NINE
Upcoming Clinics and Events: Sesquicentennial Cotillion, 1873 Costume Dance in honor of UNG's 150th celebration will be held on September 16th in Memorial Hall Gym 7:00 -10:30 pm Contra-English -Waltz Music Major for a Day Wednesday September 21, 2022 phphttps://ung.edu/music/music-major-for-a-day.
• Ms. Michelle Lokhorst, Choral Director at East Paulding High School, was named the East Paulding High School Teacher of the Year for •2021-2022.Mrs.Sara Webb, Director of Bands at Hammond Creek Middle School, was named the FIRST Teacher of the Year for Hammond Creek Middle School.
• The Central High School Women’s Chorus, under the direction of Ms. Ruthie Phillips, has been selected to perform at the 2023 GMEA Inservice Conference in Athens.
Instrumental all-state clinic Day Saturday, November 19, 2022 9:00 am-12:00 noon https://ung.edu/music/all-state-clinics.php Choral/Vocal all-state clinic Day Saturday, October 22, 2022 9:00am-12:00 •noon.Young
• The Red Top Middle School Chorus, under the direction of Ms. Michaelyn Findley, will be performing the National Anthem at Truist Park on Sunday, August 21st.
DISTRICT ELEVEN
The Young Harris College music department welcomes Dr. Hayes Bunch to the faculty as Assistant Professor of music and Director of Bands. In addition to a background in music education, Dr. Bunch holds advanced degrees in percussion performance and conducting from the University of Michigan and the University of Missouri – Kansas City. Dr. Christopher Brown joins the Young Harris College faculty as Adjunct instructor of music/ artist affiliate low brass. Dr. Brown earned the Doctorate of Music in brass performance from Florida State University.
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NEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER 14 NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER
Harris College Music Department
• Mr. Michael Kobito, Director of Bands at Woodland High School, was named the 20222023 Georgia Teacher of the Year.
• The University of North Georgia’s collegiate chapter of the National Association for Music Education received a 2022 Collegiate Chapter of Excellence award in the professional development category. The UNG CNAfME student leadership presented a workshop session on Professional Development at the 2022 Collegiate Advocacy Summit on June 25th.
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During her time in Mississippi and Wales, Thomas appeared with Southern Opera and Musical Theater Company, Mississippi Opera, the Mississippi Chorus, the Southern Chorale, Carillon Handbell Choir, the Pride of Mississippi, the Swansea Philharmonic Choir, BaroqueBangorOpera, Royal School of Church Music, and the Hattiesburg Choral Union. Thomas completed some doctoral work in musicology at the University of Georgia and seminary work at the Institute of Worship Studies, but hopes to continue future studies in music education. In Georgia, Thomas is a familiar face on the Atlanta music scene. She has sung with Atlanta Schola Cantorum, the Play of Herod with Atlanta Camerata Theater, as well as being heard on the recording Into the House and Gate of Heaven (Gothic Records) by the Choir and Schola of the Cathedral of St. Philip.
DISTRICT TWELVE • The Hightower Trail Middle School Band Program is honored to be a recipient of the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award for 2022. In addition, the 8th Grade Symphonic Band has been invited to perform at the Music For All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival at Georgia State University in March 2023. The Hightower Middle School Administration is extremely proud of the students and families who participate in our fine arts programs.
• The East Cobb Middle School Honors Band has been selected to perform at the 2023 Music for All National Festival, presented by Yamaha, in Indianapolis, March 31-April 2, 2023. The Honors Band, under the direction of Dr. Gregory Denson and Mr. Patrick |
• Director of Bands at Allatoona High School in District XII, Cecilia Clark, is excited to present with fellow members of GMEA, Elise Allen and Liz Savage, “PUMPS ON THE PODIUM”, at the NAfME National Conference in November at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland near Washington, D.C. The theme of this year’s conference is NAfME is ME! so we are proud to speak about empowering those that identify as female on the podium as well as inspiring our colleagues to elevate their female students in Inband.December, as President-Elect for the Servant Leadership Association for Music (SLAM), Cecilia Clark will present a session at The Midwest Clinic with a power-house team of educators including Bryan Christian (TX), Bobby Lambert (SC), Len Lavelle (PA) and our very own, Myra Rhoden. In this session, “Cultivating a Culture of Excellence,” we will talk about how SLAM empowers music educators to collaborate, elevate and cultivate through our community and programming. SLAM’s mission is the synergy between music making and creating a culture of excellence, where students feel loved and accepted. What makes SLAM different from other entities is that it’s about the music educator. For more information go to https://slamleadership.org
Thomas also finds her creative voice in handbells, having toured all over the world, including Prague, Vienna, and the United Kingdom. She started ringing in third grade and has been a love ever since. She is also the former Communications Chair for Handbell Musicians of America, Area 4, serving Florida, Georgia, the Bahamas, and the Virgin Islands. Thomas loves musical theater and has directed many notable shows in her career including Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Seussical!, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. She looks forward to many more years of singing, acting, and ringing as the new choral lead at Howard High.
NEWSLETTER |SEPTEMBER 15 Dana Ragsdale, opera with Dr. Maryann Kyle, and handbells as part of Carillon under Dr. Larry Smith. She earned her Masters in Musicology from the University of Wales, Bangor.
NEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER 16 NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER Walsh, was selected following a rigorous application and audition process. The Music for All National Festival will host more than 55 high school and middle school ensembles from across the country at the 30th Annual Music for All National Festival, considered the nation’s premier non-competitive festival for scholastic instrumental music ensembles. Student musicians will participate in music education workshops and perform at top venues, receiving evaluation and feedback from a panel of renowned conductors and clinicians. Ensembles include both high school and middle school concert bands, orchestras, percussion ensembles, and chamber Theensembles.Honors Band represents the most advanced students in the East Cobb band program, and has quickly established itself as a program of musical excellence. Students in the Honors Band are active participants in District Honor Band, All-State Band, Solo and Ensemble, and Honor Band Clinics that are held at Reinhardt, Auburn, and The University of Georgia. The Honors Band recently performed at The University of Georgia Midfest Honor band Clinic as a featured ensemble. In addition to this, the Honors Band will be performing at the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference in January.•OnJuly 23, 2022, during Commencement Ceremonies of the VanderCook College of Music at Symphony Center in Chicago, Illinois, Georgia director Alfred Watkins was conferred with the “Doctor of Music Education Honoris Causa” degree. According to VanderCook, the honorary doctorate degree is “conferred to individuals having made significant contribution to the music education profession as evidenced by their outstanding creative achievement, scholarship and leadership.” Dr. Watkins was further honored by being asked to deliver the Commencement Address to the VanderCook College of Music graduates. Additionally, Alfred Watkins was recently named the recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Conductor Award by the Association of Concert Bands. This award was created to acknowledge an Association of Concert Bands member conductor for their conducting skills, musicality, concert,formedCommunityThetoforesightcontributions,communityeducationalandcommitmenttheorganization.AssociationofBandswastosupportadultcommunity,and AROUNDSTATE THE
•University.KathyMason, Matt Scott, and the Buford MS Band have been selected to perform at the 2023 GMEA Inservice Conference.
• David Metrio, Lauren McCombe, and the North Gwinnett HS Chamber Orchestra have been selected to perform at the 2023 GMEA Inservice Conference.
• Josie Jimenez and Robert Davidson have been selected to present at the 2023 GMEA Inservice Conference.
• Director Carl Rieke and the Osborne MS Orchestra have been selected to perform at the 2023 GMEA In-Service Conference • William Owens has been selected to present at the 2023 GMEA Inservice Conference.
• The North Gwinnett Middle School Eighth Grade Symphonic Band, under the direction of Travis Downs and Kevin Johnson, has been invited to perform at this year's Music For All Southeastern Music Festival held at Georgia State University.
• The Parkview High School Wind Ensemble has been selected to perform at the 2023 Music for All National Festival, presented by Yamaha, in Indianapolis, March 31-April 2, 2023. The Wind Ensemble under the direction of Carlos Franco, was selected following a rigorous application and audition process. The Music for All National Festival will host more than 55 high school and middle school ensembles from across the country at the 30th Annual Music for All National Festival, considered the nation’s premier noncompetitive festival for scholastic instrumental music ensembles. Student musicians will participate in music education workshops and perform at top venues, receiving evaluation and feedback from a panel of renowned conductors and clinicians. Ensembles include both high school and middle school concert bands, orchestras, percussion ensembles, and chamber ensembles. High school musicians can audition for Music for All’s national honor ensembles: the Honor Band of America, Honor Orchestra of America, and Jazz Band of •America.Since1975, Music for All, through Bands of America, Orchestra America, and choir programs, has been a destination and set the standard for scholastic music ensemble performance and music education advocacy. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization, Music for All’s mission is to create, provide, and expand positively lifechanging experiences by providing music for •all.The purpose of this national festival offered by Music For All is to provide a noncompetitive atmosphere that fosters a place for growth amongst young musicians. Music for All advocates for the importance of music education in schools nationwide. Music for All serves more than 600,000 student musicians, teachers, families, and supporters annually through its events and programs held across America, and its webinars, podcasts, and online resources.
NEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER
DISTRICT THIRTEEN
• Phoebe Clark has received her Master of Music Education degree from Kent State
NEWSLETTER |SEPTEMBER 17 municipal bands. Members include bands, adult musicians, conductors, composers, and corporations who are dedicated and equipped to serve the needs of musicians that perform in and/or lead adult concert bands.
ourPleaseFebruary,FUMCandPiedmontHarrisconcertswillaudience.appreciativeLuxhave3otheratYoungCollege,University,ClarkesvilleinOctober,andApril.checkoutwebsiteandcome
• Congratulations to Mark Weis, the new Assistant Director of Bands at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, GA.
AROUNDSTATE THE NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER
• Renee Wilson-Wicker will be one of the featured conductors for MidAmerica Productions 40th Season for a performance of Alan A. Craig’s “A Diminished Mass,” taking place at Carnegie Hall, June 18, 2023. The performance will feature Ms. Wilson-Wicker’s alumni and current choral students from the past 30 years, accompanied by the New England Symphonic Ensemble. This will be the first time that Mountain View High School students will participate in a performance of this magnitude! A group of her alumni performed at Carnegie Hall in 2006, but this will be first time they will perform under her baton at this prestigious venue. Renee is in her 30th year of education and this performance will be her last as an educator because she will be retiring at the end of the school year! for Schiffman’s Variations on Branchwater and Food TV star Alton Brown Narrarating Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf” • Dr. Ashley Conway and Mrs. Emily Allison are proud to announce the successful start of our professional treble choir, Lux! We auditioned singers throughout the spring and had a performance retreat in July. Our first concert, accompanied by Dr. Benji Stegner, was held at Brenau University on July 30th to a large, to one (or more!) of our upcoming concerts. www.luxsings.org. These are pictures of the creative team, (Conway, Allison, and Stegner) and some of the members of Lux after a great performance.
• In Walton County, Caitlin Merck is the new Director of Bands at Walnut Grove HS and Donny Allen has taken over at Monroe Area High School as the Director of Bands. Taking the helm of the Social Circle High School Bands is Olin Aultman, a recent graduate of the University of Georgia.
• The Peachtree Ridge Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Victoria Enloe and Bill Scruggs, has been selected to perform at the 2023 GMEA In-Service Conference.
DISTRICT FOURTEEN • The SnyderandOvertureLeonardprogram2023podiumBradappointed(ASO)SymphonyAthensOrchestrawelcomesnewlyconductorMaffetttothefortheir2022-season.ThefirstwillopenwithBernstein’stoCandidewillfeaturePhiliponguitar
• Stephens County has two new band directors for the 2022-2023 school year. The Stephens County High School band is now under the direction of Zach Towery, and the Stephens County fMiddle School band is currently led by Jacob Wood. Mr. Towery was previously the director of bands at Tattnall County High School in District 1, while Mr. Wood is entering his first year of teaching after earning music degrees from Young Harris College and Valdosta State.
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During his 30 year career, Ricky Williams served as band director at Dean Rusk Middle School, Bennett’s Mill Middle School, Fayette Middle School, Warner Robins Middle School, and Tattnall Square Academy. He holds the degrees of Bachelor of Music Education from Mercer University and Masters of Conducting from Reinhardt University. Professional affiliations include the Georgia Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, Phi Beta Mu, and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators. Mr. Williams was very active in the Georgia Music Educators Association having served on the Music Selection Committee and organized All-State auditions, District Honor Band, and Large Group Performance Evaluations in Districts Eleven and Six. He was the 2001 Teacher of the Year at Warner Robins Middle School and a 2005, 2010, and 2012 recipient of the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence. In 2010, Mr. Williams was the first band director to receive the Woodruff Salutes the Arts in Education award. Bands under his direction consistently received Superior ratings at GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluations as well as festivals held in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia. Invitational performances include the Southeastern United States Middle School Clinic held at Troy University, University of Georgia’s Midfest, Reinhardt University’s Middle School Honor Band event, and the Georgia Music Educators Association’s In-Service Conference in 2005 and 2010. Under his direction, the Bennett’s Mill Symphonic Band was awarded the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award in 2011. In addition to his teaching duties, Mr. Williams founded the Fayette County Sixth Grade Honor Band, the Villages Jazz Festival, and the Fayette Area Band Camp.
YEAR RETIREMENTOF RICKY WILLIAMS
In May of 2020, Ricky Williams retired from Dean Rusk Middle School after a 30 year career as a middle school band director. Mr. Williams’ illustrious career was marked by many professional accomplishments, including invitational performances at the Troy State University SEUS Clinic, University of Georgia MidFest Clinic, and the GMEA conference. Because his retirement occurred during the COVID shutdown, Mr. Williams was not able to have a “grand finale” concert to mark the end of his career.
SOMETHING SPECIAL
Mr. Williams remains active as a clinician, performer, and adjudicator while enjoying retirement with his wife, Vicky.
“Living Legacy,” composed by Mekel Rogers, was commissioned by the Dean Rusk Middle School Band in recognition of Ricky Williams’ outstanding career and contributions to music education. The premiere performance of “Living Legacy” was held at the 2022 Spring Concert of the Dean Rusk Middle School Band under the direction of C. Lloyd McDonald, who followed Mr. Williams as the Band Director of DRMS. “Living Legacy” is a fitting tribute to a director who inspired musical excellence for generations of young musicians.
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P.S. from the President
What if we could separate our memories at work from our memories outside of work? That is the premise behind Severance, an award-winning series on Apple TV+. Regardless of whether you have seen the program, it is a fascinating thought, especially for music teachers! What if we could go home each evening and not think about the least successful aspects of our rehearsal that day? What if we had no memory of a stressful parent email or student who quit our class? What if we didn’t wake up at 3:00 a.m. thinking about an upcoming performance?Ofcourse,we can’t separate our professional and personal identities as cleanly as the premise in Severance. It is science fiction! Nevertheless, the professional and personal lives of music teachers would not separate easily. They became intertwined long ago when each of us started as music students. For many of us, music was our personal life, especially in middle and high school. It wasn’t just something we did at school. We fell in love with music as a student and through our college music experiences. Passion for music is integral to being a music teacher, but it can also cause us to react emotionally to the highs and lows of our jobs. This emotional roller coaster ride does not always stop when the bell rings at the end of the day. We might not be able to shut off our brains outside of school, but we can deliberately strengthen our selfesteem and self-worth as teachers. This allows us to shake off the moments we wish we could take back, instead of fixating on them. We can also strengthen our skills as teachers to see those moments coming ahead of time, so that we can take preventative actions to avoid making a situation worse. This evolution of music teacher identity is purposeful, and it happens in collaboration with other music teachers. We all know the importance of having mentors, colleagues, and friends who are music teachers. It is common for music teachers to apply the acronym PLC, or professional learning community, whenever we gather, share ideas, and learn from each other. In education today, the term PLC suggests certain actions focused on student growth and achievement, often relating to standardized test scores. Reviewing data. Setting SMART goals. Measuring progress. These actions don’t always align with our shared discipline of music. Yes, we have data. Yes, we have curriculum. And, yes, we often equate LGPE as our standardized test. But the PLC term may not be the most accurate reflection of our collaborative environments. Perhaps instead, music teachers are often engaging in Communities of Practice. Communities of Practice are groups of people who share a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly (Wenger-Traynor, 2015). It is our passion for music education that unifies all of us. As teachers, we strive to impart our love of music to students through the many opportunities and experiences that music can provide. Through collaboration with our colleagues, NEWSLETTER |
SEPTEMBER
President NEWSLETTER | SEPTEMBER 23 we can improve teaching practices, recruiting, retention, program offerings, and more. A growth mindset is crucial to participating in a Community of Practice. We are excited to share and accept new ideas from colleagues. We find inspiration in the success of our peers. We embrace challenges related to student learning and persevere. And, we have a sounding board and support system so that we are not problem-solving alone. Like PLCs, the term Communities of Practice is also centered in research. Instead of a focus on numerical data, Communities of Practice are based in social learning theory. Teacher identity is formed and informed through participation in a Community of Practice. Over time, music teacher identity can be strengthened as we build competence within a community, a shared language, resources, and a history together. Through this process, we develop thicker skin. We become more resilient. We still care deeply about music education, but we focus on students and successes, rather than obsessing over challenges and disappointments. During this busy time of year, find time to pick up the phone and call a music teacher friend or two. Gather and grow from each other. Support each other and build community. Best wishes for a wonderful Fall!
Matt Koperniak GMEA PRESIDENT
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"death with dignity" from Carrieandlowell Amethyst and flowers on the table, is it real or a fable? Well I suppose a friend is a friend And we all know how this will end Your apparition passes through me, in the willows and five red hens You'll never see us again
Sufjan Stevens
Somewhere in the desert there's a forest, and an acre before us But I don't know where to begin Again I lost my strength completely, oh be near me tired old mare With the wind in your hair
