Eastern Division Report

EASTERN DIVISION

ANDY YOZVIAK, DIVISION CHAIR

Connecticut, Delaware, Main, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont

CONNECTICUT

MICHAEL BOWLES, CHAIR

State Bandmaster Association website: cmea.org

State Music Educators website: cmea.org

Noteworthy state news, events, and activities In the past year, all Connecticut State Events were canceled. This year we are still working with the state to get back to playing.

We had an active marching band season and are resuming honors festivals and schools concerts. The New England States continue to work on a clinic festival for high school ensembles.

Projects involving NBA Project Grant money New England continues to work on developing a concert band clinic festival for high schools. This event will utilize the United States Coast Guard Band.

NBA citations/awards given in state this past year; recruiting efforts No awards were given in the past year. This year we will present the State Champion Marching Band Directors with a Citation of Excellence, as well as the bands performing at the All-State Festival.

DELAWARE

HEIDI I SARVER, CHAIR

State Bandmaster Association website: delawaremea.org

State Music Educators website: delawaremea.org

Noteworthy state news, events, and activities Very little occurred during the 2021 academic year due to Covid-19. The state conference (which has always been a professional development day in October and not associated with All-State Festivals), did take place but as in a virtual setting via ZOOM.

In the spring most public schools were still in a virtual setting. Universities moved back to more in-person settings. The University of Delaware resumed in-person ensemble rehearsals and concerts but with the following restrictions: • no more than 50 people in the rehearsal/performance hall; • all concerts were virtual; • all Covid-19 mitigation procedures in place (masks, bell covers, 6-9 foot distances between musicians.

During the summer Delaware State University named two alumni as their new Director and Assistant Director of Bands.

Fall has brought a return to in-person music programs in most of the public and private school systems, as well as the University of Delaware. While masks are still in place, settings have returned to pre-pandemic rehearsal structures and inperson concerts. Projects involving NBA Project Grant money None

NBA citations/awards given in state this past year; recruiting efforts Zoom coffee hours were attempted for directors with little interest. I attribute this to people focusing on their programs and working to rebuild them. As this winter and spring unfolds more attempts will be made to increase NBA exposure.

MARYLAND

RACHEL ZEPHIR, CHAIR

State Bandmaster Association website: mmea-maryland.org

State Music Educators website: mmea-maryland.org

Noteworthy state news, events, and activities Spring virtual clinics on how to rehearse both middle school and high school ensembles.

Incorporating both chamber music and flex ensembles into your program.

Possible summer conducting workshop geared towards female middle and high school band directors.

MAINE

ANDREW YOZVIAK, CHAIR

State Bandmaster Association website mebda.org

Noteworthy state news, events, and activities The MBDA had a successful Fall season with the return of marching band festivals and shows. The MMEA is excited to return to in-person festivals starting with Jazz All State from January 13–15 and BOC All State from May 19–21. Currently making plans to have an NBA booth present at the All State Conference in May. MMEA is also planning a return of the Solo and Ensemble Festival in the Spring with a virtual festival with plans to return inperson in 2023.

The New England state chairs are beginning discussions for a New England Concert Band festival/clinic to take place in an effort to attract new members to the NBA.

Projects involving NBA Project Grant money None

NBA citations/awards given in state this past year; recruiting efforts Recruiting efforts are ongoing in the state of Maine. There are plans to have an NBA booth at the All State conference. In an effort to spread the word of the NBA, an email will be sent through the mailing lists of the MMEA and MBDA to attract new members. I hope to gather more information from directors across the state about what they would find valuable to them and their students, such as festivals, guest clinics, conducting symposiums, etc. These sorts of events could prove to be fruitful for recruitment in the state of Maine.

MASSACHUSETTS

IAN FLINT, CHAIR

State Bandmaster Association website: miccamusic.org

State Music Educators website: massmea.org

Noteworthy state news, events, and activities MMEA held virtual festivals and auditions this past school year and is planning a hybrid virtual and in person all state festival this year. The Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) plans to host in person concert festivals in the spring and had a successful fall marching band adjudication season. Programs in our state are returning back to in person concerts and have worked diligently to continue quality instruction during COVID.

Projects involving NBA Project Grant money The state of Massachusetts is looking to partner with other New England states to provide opportunities for rehearsal symposiums and conducting clinics in the future. Eastern Division, Andy Yokviak, Division Chair cont.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

CASEY GOODWIN, CHAIR

State Bandmaster Association website: nhbda.org

State Music Educators website: nhmea.org

Noteworthy state news, events, and activities The state is making a return to in-person events, including the NHBDA/NHMEA Chamber Festival at the University of New Hampshire on January 8, Jazz All-State February 3-5 at Pinkerton Academy, and All-State Music Festival in Concord April 15-17, among other events. Masks, bell covers, and other precautions will be taken to increase the safety of all participants.

NEW JERSEY

CHRIS WILHJELM, CHAIR

State Bandmaster Association website: njmea.org

State Music Educators website: njmea.org

Noteworthy state news, events, and activities ll County, Region, and All-State Activities are in motion. Covid protocols are in place. Tom McCauley recently hosted a very successful conducting workshop at Montclair State with guest clinician Craig Kirchhoff. The New Jersey Wind Symphony will be hosting a Young Artist Solo Competition in the Spring. Please visit the band’s website for details.

NEW YORK

ROBIN LINABERRY, CHAIR

State Bandmaster Association website: nysbda.org

State Music Educators website: nyssma.org

Noteworthy state news, events, and activities This year’s report represents a “phoenix” of music education, with schools reopening to offer primarily in-person instruction rather than virtual lessons, Zoom-based instruction, and performances created through edited video. I want to be careful to acknowledge the many challenges, stresses and radical changes still facing each teacher. The careful protocols that are keeping students safer have also erected barriers to music-making. Here, as everywhere, there are new difficulties with balance, blend, intonation, water-removal, and even how to fit large groups in a space with appropriate distancing. Still, music teachers are an inventive lot. After hearing from a variety of people around our large state, I’ll present several representative vignettes demonstrate examples of our progress organizationally, and from the perspective of schools, colleges, individuals, competitions, and community bands.

Organizations: Both NYSSMA (the New York State School Music Association) and NYSBDA (the NYS Band Directors Association) remained active throughout the pandemic. While focusing principally on virtual activities last year, both groups are headed back to in-person versions of their annual conferences.

The NYSSMA Winter Conference returns under the theme, “Music Is Eternal!” NYSSMA President, Dr. David Brown, writes,

“Our return to an in-person conference will include the normal variety of conference sessions, Concert Hour Performances, Statewide Recognitions, and Guest Speakers. The Composition, Electronic Music, and Piano Showcases will feature outstanding young musicians. In addition, 2021 is the premier of our new student songwriters. These student

Eastern Division, Andy Yokviak, Division Chair cont.

performers and the concert hours will feature some of the finest musicians from across New York State.

The event will be held ThursdaySunday, December 2-5 2021, using venues in downtown Rochester, NY. The acceptance was highly competitive, of course, because protocols require having fewer students (thus, fewer AllState groups) onsite. Nonetheless, the 85th Annual Conference features a full slate of guest speakers, by-invitation performances, clinics, and camaraderie. The event concludes with performances by the New York All-State groups and their conductors: Vocal Jazz Ensemble (Diane Abrahamian), Instrumental Jazz Ensemble (Jim Pugh), Mixed Chorus (J.D.Burnett), Symphonic Band (Dr. Russel Mikkelson), and Symphony Orchestra (Dr. Rachel Dirks). The theme of the 2022 NYSBDA Symposium is “Rebuilding.” The NYSBDA Middle School Honor Band, for grades 78, will be conducted by Dr. Thomas Gamboa from the University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Matthew Westgate (University of Massachusetts – Amherst) takes the podium for the High School Honor Band, and Musician/Composer/Educator/Activist Roxy Coss will lead the Jazz Ensemble Honor Band. More than two-hundred fifty of New York’s very best school Band students will be featured in three concerts, while band educators participate in a full schedule of clinics and workshops from March 4-6, 2022 in Syracuse.

The NYSFBC (New York State Field Band Conference) returned to a schedule of live competitive performances this year. It was refreshing to see – and hear! – crowds in the stadiums across the state, and on behalf of the NBA, we’d like to say a hearty congratulations to all of the participating finalists in the 2021 NYSFBC Championships, which took place in the Syracuse University Carrier Dome on Sunday, October 31st. After some four thousand students showcased their many months of work to an appreciative crowd, we say an extra congratulations to the following schools, who scored at the top of their various classes: 1 Phoenix 2 Westmoreland 3 Roslyn

Small School 1 1 Medina 2 New Hartford 3 Mineola

Large School 3 1 Hicksville 2 Greece 3 Walt Whitman

Large School 2 1 Webster 2 West Seneca 3 Huntington

National Class (Large School 1) 1 Liverpool 2 Cicero-North Syracuse 3 West Genesee

Well done, Bands! Of course, we owe special gratitude to the Directors, Staff, volunteers, and other members of those supportive school districts.

A High School vignette: In last year’s report, we highlighted a novel and productive project featuring a careful collaboration between Prof. Frank Battisti an early OFA Student Teacher), Dr. Dana Wilson (Composer of this commission), and the students of the Owego Free Academy Band and Chorus program, guided carefully by the OFA Band Director, Mrs. Lindsey Williams. At this time last year, the foundation was in place and the research had begun. One whirlwind year later, the community is pleased to offer this update: Throughout the 2020-21 school year members of the 7-12 bands and choruses learned about local history, composing and commissioning virtually with Professors Wilson and Battisti. The band members created this video documenting the steps of their project to share in hopes that it makes the process accessible to any band considering the commissioning process OFA Band Commission Project: https://www.youtube.com/

College/University sketches: From Dr. Andy Pease (Hartwick College):

“Like everyone else, bands in our area started 2021 either virtual or at 12-foot distance. The Hartwick College Wind Ensemble was meeting in person, recording small ensemble pieces as we could. This got a lot easier in April, when the state guidance changed to six foot spacing. Among the highlights was working with Utica-based composer JoAnne Harris on her piece Dimension for flexible ensemble with dynamic visuals. As the weather turned nicer, the Hartwick Wind Ensemble was able to put on a full band concert OUTDOORS to end their year in May, along with Hartwick’s Flute, Percussion, and Brass Ensembles. This event energized everyone involved, including our first LIVE audience in over a year!”

“The Hartwick Wind Ensemble ended up having a very exciting fall semester! We returned to a permanent full-band format, and presented two concerts on our own. We also hosted the 5th annual Hartwick Honor Band, welcoming dozens of high school instrumentalists to our campus. A highlight of the semester was the world premiere of Armando Bayolo’s Dispatches from the Anthropocene on November 16, with the composer in attendance.”

Special Note: Dr. Pease is an important contributor to the Band world, with his wonderfully resourceful sites: www.windliterature.org and www. windsymphonies.org and we’re very proud that he calls New York his home.

The Binghamton University Wind Symphony (Daniel Fabricius) presented a Concert November 13, 2021 in the Anderson Center for the Arts. “Just What We Needed” was a thematic program, with refreshing titles representing our collective relief as we begin to return to some semblance of normal, in-person musical activities. The B.U. Music Department allows full activity only from fully-vaccinated individuals. The novel program included …

• Sensus Vitae, A Fanfare and Chorale for the Good of Humanity –Daughtrey • Strange Humors – Mackey • Hymn for the Innocent – Giroux • Wild Nights! – Ticheli • Russian Sailors’ Dance, from The Red

Poppy – Glière/arr. Leidzén • Fractals – Brian Scott Story (Premier) … and may be viewed here: https://www.

youtube.com/watch?v=o_POsIiJKeI

Community Band portraits: • The Cortland Old Timers Band was able to restart rehearsals this fall, in the Cortlandville Municipal Garage, with overhead doors open. We did give a concert on Veterans Day, playing out the door to people sitting in the parking lot or in cars. Music

Director Nick Pauldine, Associate conductor Mike Poole, and Conductor

Emeritus Ed O’Rourke shared conducting duties. • The Skaneateles Community Band cancelled its Friday night summer concerts but has restarted. The

Lyncourt Community Band restarted as of September with vaccination requirement, bell covers, and social distancing. I have heard that the

Community Bands in Baldwinsville and Phoenix are restarted as well. • =The Central Winds Music Educators

Wind Ensemble has a December concert scheduled. • The volunteer adult group Catskill

Valley Wind Ensemble (Dr. Andy

Pease shared with Scott Rabeler) came back from its COVID hiatus in the Fall of 2021. Rehearsals began in

September at the wonderful Oneonta

High School band room, culminating in a Return Concert on November 14 at the Foothills Center. • The semi-professional Oneonta

Community Concert Band (Andy

Pease/Kerri Hogle) have resumed activities. The Oneonta Community

Concert Band (OCCB) put on its first concert after more than a year’s hiatus. This happened at the Foothills

Performing Arts Center and was streamed via Facebook. • The Ithaca Concert Band (Arthur

Carichner/Rick Eleck) rehearsed and performed outdoors in the summer, and at the time of this writing is set to perform a Holiday Concert indoors in a church in Ithaca. • The Vestal Community Band (Gail

Markstein) rehearses weekly in the

Vestal High School Bandroom, and has given several concerts in recent months. • The Southern Tier Concert Band (Robin Linaberry/Barry Peters) rehearsed in the end of September for the first time in over nineteen months. Masks, Bell covers/bags, social distancing, puppy-pads for water, temperature-checks, and other strict protocols have allowed the group to regain its outstanding music-making with full attendance.

Now 65-strong, the STCB will perform a Concert Monday, December 6th featuring a The Music-Makers (Reed),

The Cowboys (Williams), An Original

Suite (Jacob), Gandalf (de Meij) and other great titles. • Across the state, these and other community music-makers are happy, fortunate, and proud to be back together.

Individual illustrations: Gregory Clark (Whitesboro Central Schools Elementary Band Teacher), is a wonderful example of optimism and versatility through the pandemic and beyond. While Mr. Clark reports that they experienced significant drops in participation during COVID, he describes an effervescent attitude that will bring the young students back to the program, including a lot of onsite improvising, composing and other special activities beyond ‘just’ rehearsing for concerts. In addition, he has maintained a full schedule of activities outside of school. He is well-known as a high-quality clinician, and was selected to present three sessions at the upcoming NYSSMA Conference, including “Unlocking Creativity in Beginning Band” Parts 1 and 2, and “Composition for Instrumentalists: How to start AND finish”. Mr. Clark offered this link (https://youtu.be/ rNGG_fTFL8Q) to share strategies to help students in band or orchestra begin to see themselves as composers. Greg also teaches Middle School Jazz Band, serves as a Tuba Instructor for LeMoyne College, and has just completed a commissioned composition for the Paradigm High School Band in Utah. A busy individual, Greg is just one example of the kinds of professionals we find in New York.

Eastern Division, Andy Yokviak, Division Chair cont.

And I’m so pleased to include a brief communication from “the pride of New York”, and NBA Past-President, Ed Lisk, who reminds us that

“Performing in an instrumental ensemble requires an intricate combination of visual, intellectual, physical, and auditory control coupled with a perceptive decision making process…..intelligence in action!” We’re moving in the right direction in this regard. I investigated using the NBA Booth at this year’s NYSSMA Winter Conference. Thanks to Matt Temple’s expert guidance, I’ll work carefully through the next few months to create a detailed plan to feature the booth in a membership campaign in Dec. 2022.

NBA citations/awards given in state this past year; recruiting efforts We presented NBA Awards to several outstanding and highly-recommended recipients this year. Scott Canaan, from the Rush-Henrietta Schools near Rochester NY, was nominated by Bill Tiberio: “Scott put together nearly a dozen virtual videos of the Educators Wind Ensemble that I direct during Covid. It’s been a monumental task, and he has such great technical skills!” Also, Tim Savage (Canton, NY, in the “North Country”) asked to “recognize two in particular who are going above and beyond to help us all do the best we can through this pandemic. hard-working:

“Jonathan Hunkins is the High School Band Director and Music Department Chairperson at Massena Central School. He is currently serving as NYSSMA Zone 5 Representative to include participation on the Future of Ensembles Ad Hoc Committee. “Jill Roberts is the Grade 5 through 12 Band Director at Madrid-Waddington Central School, serving also as Instructor of Woodwinds at St. Lawrence University. As Region 5 Representative for NYSBDA, Jill is working hard to determine how things are going in our North Country band programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In a nice surprise, Mr. Savage was able to invite me into a virtual executive meeting, where I interrupted the agenda to surprise these two recipients.

In addition, several band directors responded to my reminder by seeking award certificates for their outstanding students. On behalf of New York, I’d like to recognize and thank Mr. Heath Nails, NBA Awards Chair, for his prompt and courteous work with generating these awards.

RECRUITING EFFORTS: I sent several notes to New York’s NBA members, giving them the task of

Eastern Division, Andy Yokviak, Division Chair cont.

encouraging colleagues and especially the young, upcoming Band Directors to consider joining the largest professional organization for Bands in the world. Again, this year I made contact with the Presidents of New York’s 62 counties, asking them specifically to share NBA information with the band colleagues in their regions.

Just this morning, I sent a note to more than two-hundred band directors, reminding them to take advantage of the $5 student-membership fee, and even to personally give the gift of NBA membership to their students.

Last year I couldn’t avoid mentioning the *losses* in professional development terms during the most stringent COVIDrestricted periods. Now, with cautious optimism (this is being written 11-232021), we also can observe • Young band directors had lost the podium-time required to learn, shape, refine, and apply the traditional pedagogical strategies that will yield successes for band students. And the good news is that daily in-person instruction is gradually returning toward more normalcy. • Similarly, some of the most effective and influential learning experiences (where we can ‘borrow’ from stellar

Clinicians, Guest Conductors and

Presenters) were, in most cases, simply not available. As noted above, in-person Honor Bands of all kinds are reemerging, so Band Directors will once again be able to observe the pedagogical magic of the masters. • For college seniors, the Student

Teaching experience was drastically disrupted. With continued luck and careful protocols, Student Teachers will begin to reclaim the same experience-based training that band directors have had for decades. • And for college juniors and sophomores, the integrated

“observation/participation” practicum experiences – which were greatly altered, disrupted, delayed or eliminated altogether last year – are beginning to bloom once again.

Throughout, NBA Membership has assisted the professional development trajectory for the next generation of outstanding band educators. Here, I’ll note again what a remarkable opportunity lies in the $5(!!) student membership fee. With regard to student memberships, I’d like to offer thanks and congratulations to the following Colleges/Universities in New York. These institutions show up in large numbers on our Membership List, so it follows that the professors are committed to actively encouraging NBA membership from their students. Thank you to:

The College of St. Rose Columbia University Eastman School of Music Five Towns College Hartwick College Long Island University (C.W.Post) Nazareth College SUNY Fredonia SUNY Potsdam Syracuse University University of Buffalo

The College of St. Rose and LIU Post currently have the largest number of Student Members among New York’s colleges and universities. As we notice student membership numbers continue to grow, I’ll look forward to reporting the list of colleges showing outstanding growth.

Our current NYS Membership report: On the date of this writing, New York has 65 Active NBA members, up 14% since last year, and more than double the membership number of three years ago. We now can see a steady increase, but I’ll continue working to increase membership. I’d like to ask Executives to look into the feasibility of pairing NBA membership with that of our sister organization in New York (NYSBDA). I’m proud of this state and its Band programs in schools, colleges and communities. Also, a search of the membership roster tells me that NY has 113 members when the “inactive” descriptor is clicked. I contacted those inactive members to jog their memories about renewing membership, and I’ll follow up with another contact after allowing some time for this year’s renewal numbers to flatten out.

A note to our colleagues from other places: the NYSSMA website (www. nyssma.org) also includes a “Latest Jobs” list on its main page. We invite you to consider joining us in a wonderful place for Bands.

PENNSYLVANIA

FRED DAVID ROMINES, CHAIR

State Bandmaster Association website: pmea.net

State Music Educators website: pmea.net

Noteworthy state news, events, and activities West Chester University West Chester University will host its eighth annual National Band Association Wind Band Symposium February 4 and 5, 2022. Alfred Watkins will join host directors Andrew Yozviak, M. Gregory Martin and Adam Gumble in this two-day festival.

Marywood University On Sunday, November 14th, the Marywood University Wind Symphony premiered Fairest Morning by Patrick J. Burns with Professor Burns conducting. Fairest Morning is available for purchase at: bandworkspublications.com

Blue Ridge High School, New Milford, PA The Blue Ridge High School Concert Band (New Milford, PA) under the direction of Vincent LoRusso is part of an international consortium of High School and Collegiate Ensembles who will premiering a new work for Wind Band by Australian composer, Catherine Likhuta. The piece, entitled Planet B, (Grade 4) is described by the composer as “A musical journey towards a planet without violence, racism, greed, ecological emergencies and global pandemics” composed to instill optimism for the future. The work was premiered by the Queensland Conservatorium Wind Orchestra and selected students from Grace Lutheran College (Rachel Howley, conductor) on April 30, 2021. Blue Ridge plans to give the Pennsylvania state premiere in March 2022.

Justin A. McAdams, Band Director & Performing Arts Coordinator at Phoenixville Area High School has been appointed to the Dr. William P. Foster Project Eastern Division Committee.