Round the Regions

NJSMA

North Jersey School Music Association njsma.com

This will be my last opportunity to write to you in this capacity as your President. I would like to thank Past President Peter Bauer and President Elect Joe Spina for helping to be my sounding board for the duration of my Presidency. I Could not have done it without both of your expertise. Also, I want to take the time to thank the region board, who I think are some of the best educators, and people with the biggest hearts that I have ever met. Your time and passion is a huge reason for the success of the region. Finally, I want to thank all of the Music Educators in Region 1. The jobs that you do each day to give our kids the tools to be successful is truely inspirational. In this position, I have had the opportunity to work with many of you and have forged lifelong friendships as a result. I hope I have served all of you in good faith, and I am excited to still contribute as much as I can to support the continued success of Region 1. I would also like to take a moment to remind all of you to attend our general meeting scheduled for May 1st at the Sheraton in Parsippany. We will elect a new President Elect, as well as listen to the scholarship award winners. Please take as moment and join us. Thanks again for all that you do each day. It truely has been an honor to serve. Russ Batsch

The North Jersey band division has had an exciting 2016-2017 year. We have had two wonderful All North Jersey concerts featuring 4 fantastic bands from students in grades 7-12. The high school and junior high school concert band festivals continue to be annual celebrations of the education through ensemble performance.

Our sixth Elementary Band Festival will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2017 at South Orange Middle School. 185 sixth grade students will perform in two ensembles conducted by Janell Kallimanis from Sussex Middle School and Dan Halpern from H.B. Whitehorne Middle School. Forty sponsoring directors will help run the one-day festival concluding with the concert at 2:00 pm.

These successful region events do not happen by themselves. It takes many individuals and school districts working in cooperation to make region events work. Thank you to all of our conductors, adjudicators, managers, hosts, audition chairs and coordinators who make all these fantastic events happen. Anyone interested in conducting any region ensemble should log on to the region website and complete an application. If you would like to get involved as a host, manager, or assist in any way please contact Lewis Kelly or Gregory Mulford at band@njsma.com. We look forward to working with you again next year!

NJSMA Elementary Music Division Lisa Wichman, Chair Carol Richardi, Co-Chair

Professional Development opportunity for Preschool - 6th grade music educators and music educations majors

Monday, October 9, 2017; 9:30 - 3:30 pm.

Columbus Day Elementary Workshop featuring leading authority in Elementary Music Education: Artie Almeida! http:// www.artiealmeida.com/

Check our website for details and registration information: http://www.njsma. com/

Forty-Five different schools from around the region participated in the Junior High Region Chorus Concert which took place on March 19, 2017 at Bloomfield High School. Over 800 people attended the concert which featured a Treble Choir under the direction of LIsa Bagley (Westwood Regional Schools) and Mixed Ensemble conducted by Laura Kosmich (Leonia Public Schools). There were about 240 singers singing in the combined choir for the finale. It was truly a wonderful concert enjoyed by all who ate’d like to thank all of the Region I directors who helped make this concert so successful.

SJBODA

South Jersey Band And Orchestra Directors Association sjboda.org

Congratulations to all who were involved with the 40th Annual All South Jersey Junior High School Band Concert. The performances were outstanding. The conductors this year were Shannon Hughes (Northern Burlington County MS) and Andrew Seigel (William Davies MS). Dominic Scalfaro (Alder Avenue MS) and Scott McCarron (Delsea Regional HS) provided excellent assistance as managers for these ensembles.

This concert would not be possible without the commitment and dedication of our colleagues. Joe Brausam (Lacey Township HS), our Junior High Band Coordinator, was responsible for organizing a wonderful event that our students will cherish for many years. Special thanks to Derek Rohaly (Mainland Regional HS) and Mark Kadetsky (Fernwood Avenue MS) who offered their facilities and percussion equipment for the rehearsals and the performance.

The 10th Annual Chamber Ensemble Concert was held on February 8th at Cedar Creek HS. The ensemble coaches were Brass: Mike Lynch (Cherokee HS); Percussion: Don Simpson (Crockett MS); Sax: Nick DiSalvio (Westampton MS); Woodwind: Beth Rohaly (R.M. Bacon ES); Clarinet: Joe Midiri (Private

Teacher); Flute: Sam Brooks (Glen Landing MS); and Tuba/Euphonium: Tim Trout (Jackson Township School District). Jon Porco (Absegami HS) coordinated this successful event.

Our 24th Annual High School Concert Band Festival showcased 17 ensembles this year. The performances by these groups are evidence of the many excellent instrumental music programs in South Jersey. Our festival coordinators were Mike Armstrong (Deptford HS) and Jon Porco (Absegami HS). Rick Dammers (Rowan University) was our host and members of the Rowan Collegiate NAfME assisted in creating a positive experience for all of the participants.

Sue Moore (Mansion Ave. School) and William Trimble (Wenonah ES) did a wonderful job in coordinating our 25th Annual Elementary Honors Band Festival, which was hosted by Patrick O’Keefe at Shawnee High School on Saturday, April 29th. Our conductors this year were Marc Spatz (Atlantic City School District), Ed Cooke (Cinnaminson HS), and Lori Ludlum (Oaklyn Public Schools, retired). The managers for the festival were Dave Seals (Emma C. Attales MS), Christopher Carl (Lumberton MS), and Lori Ludewig (Oaklyn Public Schools).

The 2nd Annual Elementary String Festival will take place on Saturday, May 6th at Fernwood Avenue Rhea Fernandes (Eastern Regional HS) will coordinate this event and Jocelyn Moore (Egg Harbor Township Schools) will be our host. Our conductors will be Jacob Weber (Johnson ES) and Mitchell Stowman (Cherokee HS). Dave Dunlap (Sandman Consolidated School) and Jayne Weiner (Evesham Township School District) will be our managers.

Our Spring Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 31st at Seven Star Diner beginning at 9:00 am. Please call 609-457-0590 or email Patrick O’Keefe at patrickaokeefe@ gmail.com if you are able to attend. Please continue to check the website, maintained by Derek Rohaly (Mainland Regional High School), for the latest SJBODA updates. www. sjboda.org

Joseph Jacobs Secretary, SJBODA

SJCDA

South Jersey Choral Directors Association sjcda.net

On March 4th, the South Jersey Elementary Chorus performed, under the direction of conductor, Laura Harmon, of Cherry Hill Schools. A wonderful and educational time was had by all. Special thanks to Patty Allen and Shaun Brauer, co-managers; as well as Joseph Zachowski, Washington Twp, who served as host of the festival. The Concerto Philadelphia Girls Choir performed as our guest group, which was a great way to show the elementary singers a glimpse of their future as a singer in their later school years. Congratulations to all involved in this fun day!

The membership met for their annual Breakfast meeting on April 28th, at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill. Founder’s Scholarship winner, Wes Hopkins performed, as well as Jenna Camacho, the first recipient of the Richard M. Smith Scholarship for Music Education. We were pleased to offer a reading session to our members, presented by Christopher Thomas, of Rowan University.

The Board congratulates its members on another successful and musical school year. Best wishes for a relaxing summer!

Nancy Dickinson, SJCDA President

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The 2017 All-National Honor Ensembles will take place at

November 26-29, 2017

Apply today: nafme.org/ANHE Application deadline: May 12, 2017 • Recommend your students in grades 9, 10, or 11 during the 2016-2017 school year to apply

• The All-National Honor Ensembles represent the top performing high school musicians in each state across the country

• So much more than a musical ensemble, it is a comprehensive, musical, and educational experience

• Students will learn under the baton of leading conductors who are sure to inspire

• This year’s event will feature one of the nation’s only college music showcases