News from the Section Chairs

This page will include messages and updates from Section Chairs. Their names, addresses and phone numbers can be viewed on the Board of Directors page.

Band Section:

Please visit the Band Sections webpage at www.ncbandmasters.org

The North Carolina Bandmasters Association's primary purpose is to advance the cause of band education in the state of North Carolina.  The North Carolina Bandmasters will provide:

• Concert Music Festivals for Middle and High School bands
• Solo & Ensemble Festivals for ensembles and individual musicians
• North Carolina All State Honors Bands for the outstanding musicians throughout the state
• Performance opportunities for concert bands at the annual state convention
• North Carolina Bandmasters clinics and workshops to upgrade their teaching skills.

The North Carolina Bandmasters will be genuinely involved with the aesthetics of music and the appreciation of music through performance, repertoire, interpretation, trained hearing and response.  The joy of hearing young people create music of lasting beauty and watching young members of the band become leaders in their society are satisfactions worth the effort that the North Carolina Bandmasters wish to provide for all of the band students in North Carolina.

The following is the speech presented by NCMEA President Fran Page to the audience attending the 1999 North Carolina All State Band Concert on Sunday, April 25:

Good afternoon.
If you want to talk about something good happening in our schools - about what’s right with our youth in America - Look on this stage!
This is the "Cream of the Crop" from our schools!
And now I have some statistics to prove it!
This group of festival students was asked to complete a survey. Here are the impressive stats. (Fasten your seatbelts!)

All of these young people are involved in music in a variety of ways.
All of them play other instruments, such as the handbells, bass guitar, guitar, synthesizer, accordion and strings.
Forty-five play the piano.
Sixty-four take private lessons, and average 6 years of study.

These young people perform with their: bands, marching bands, jazz bands, orchestras, choral ensembles, church choirs, pit orchestras, all-county bands, all-district bands, honors orchestra percussion ensembles, rock & roll bands, handbell groups, and North Carolina Honors Band.

They have had lead roles in: Crazy for You, Fiddler on the Roof, Scrooge, Wizard of Oz, Jesus Christ Superstar, Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls, and many, many more.

Thirty-Five students are here for the second time.
Twenty-one, are here for the third time.
Eleven are here for the fourth time.

The majority of these students are in the top 10% of their high school classes academically. The average SAT score of the musicians (old enough to have taken the SAT test) is 1310. While not all schools tell their students their class rank, of just the musicians who knew theirs, 24 are in the top 5% of their class and 9 are ranked number one in their senior class!

Eighty of these students make the honor roll most marking periods.
Fifty-two are in the Honor Society.
In leadership rolls these students are: student government officers, leaders in clubs, athletic team captains, and church leaders.
Numerous students have received Honors and Awards such as:

Sixteen have been to Governors School, 31, to Boys and Girls’ State Eleven have been to All State Orchestra and 2 to the Tanglewood Music Festival. They have been guest soloists with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, the Wilmington Symphony, The Charlotte Orchestra, and the Illinois Youth Orchestra. Many, many have earned scholarships to music camps around the state Twenty-Two students are recognized in Who’s Who.

Musicians are Athletes too you know - they compete in: track, cross country, football, basketball, baseball, softball, sailing, paintball, and soccer. Many are cheerleaders and lifeguards and quite a number of members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Other activities that mean a lot to them - Besides Music: Many work in nurseries in their churches.
In school, they’re on math, quiz bowl, and history bowl teams. They’re in Oddessy of the Mind, Spanish Honor Society. They serve on yearbook staffs and student council. Five are merit scholars.

These students were asked to name the person who has been the most important musical influence.
Number One Answer: band director (19)
Other teachers were a close second.
Parents and other family members barely edged out private teachers.

They perform in Community Ensembles - including: community bands and youth orchestras, pit orchestras in musical productions, church choirs and handbell choirs.

I’M ALMOST DONE!!

Musical Accomplishments that meant the most to them:
One student plays organ at church. Another is an All State cellist, and many teacher private lessons to middle school students. I’m hoping that these young people will be our future music educators!
And My Favorite Answer: "If I had a chance, I’d play my horn, morning, noon, and night.!"

Seniors have been accepted to: Oberlin College, University of Kentucky, Duke, Indiana University, University of Georgia, Duquesne University, NC School of the Arts, Norfolk State University. One has a full scholarship to Manhattan School of Music, and one, to Northwestern University. Many will attend NCSU, UNC-G, ECU, ASU, I’m glad to say, Meredith College, and various community colleges!

They plan to major in:

25 in music education
13 in music performance
5 in education
art history
computer science
math
computer science
biomedical engineering
aerospace engineering
biostatistics
chemistry
5 prelaw
5 premed

Many of these students are driven by a personal desire to achieve and the love of music. They have stated that they have been influenced by many Music Teachers and have developed these skills and a strong work ethic from their School Music Programs!
86% of these students plan to use their musical skills after High School and Graduation! They know that…

--Music is a lifetime experience!
--Music is important to our lives!
--Music is important in our Schools!

For more information please contact:

Anne Reese
704-588-3699 W.
704-825-1383 H.

High School Choral Section:

    Click on the following links for Choral Section info in .pdf format

Collegiate MENC Section:

Elementary School Choral Section:

Elementary Honors Chorus Procedures

1. Only 4th and 5th graders may participate unless your school is K-6, K-8, or 6th grade only. In these cases, 6th graders may participate in elementary honors. NO MORE THAN 6 STUDENTS PER SCHOOL. Students must attend the school submitting the tape. Home school students may participate provided their teacher is a member of NCMEA.

2. Complete one application form per school and 1 audition form per student. Arrange the audition forms in the order the students sing on the tape.

3. Submit ONE recording per school for all students auditioning. Label the recording with the name of school and the teacher. Allow each student to introduce himself/herself BEFORE singing.

4. Use the accompaniment as written. Do not play or sing the student part. Follow the tempo markings as indicated in the score. Begin recording one measure before vocal entrance. Stop on the last measure sung. Failure to follow the these procedures will result in disqualification.

5. Applications, auditions forms, audition fees ($10 per student) and recordings should be sent to the Elementary Section Treasurer.
Christy White
317 S. Caswell St.
La Grange, NC 28551

6. APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY SEPTEMBER 15. Applications without MENC number and expiration date will be returned. See detailed instructions on application for new or renewing membership. NO CERTIFIED MAIL PLEASE.

7. ALL FEES MUST BE PAID WITH A SCHOOL CHECK OR MONEY ORDER made payable to NCMEA ELEMENTARY HONORS CHORUS. An additional registration fee of $30 per student will be required upon acceptance, which includes a rehearsal CD, T-shirt, and pennant for each Honors Chorus member.

8. Singers must participate in all rehearsals. Music must be memorized. In the unfortunate event that a student becomes ill (throwing up, fainting, fever greater than 100 degrees), the student shall be removed from the rehearsal and concert for the safety of all participants. This is for the duration of the event and will be determined at the discretion of the Elementary Honors Chorus Chair and the Executive Board.

9. Music and rehearsal CD's will be sent to you in the quantity needed. JW Pepper will bill you for the music. Rehearsal CD's for students are included in the registration fee.

10. All teachers must be present to register their students and remain on site during rehearsals. Failure to notify the Honors Chorus Committee of the decision not to participate will result in relinquishing the privilege to audition the following year.

11. ALL DECISIONS ARE FINAL!

12. Notification of results will be mailed by October 1.

13. For the performance, girls will wear red dresses and dark shoes. Boys will wear black pants with white long-sleeved dress shirts, red ties, and dark shoes.

14. Any questions: contact Barina Blackwelder bblackwelder@wcpss.net

Members present: Jami Bumgarner, Hazel Chapman, Susan Fogleman, Becky Horn, Anne Musselman, Eleanor Nesbitt, Jennifer Peek, Susan Trivette, Jeremy Tucker, Christy White

The meeting began with a moment of silence. Hazel Chapman, Elementary Section Chair, welcomed the board members. After introductions, the meeting was called to order at 9:15 a.m. The minutes were accepted as written.
The treasurer's report showed a balance of $12,184.37 plus $5000.00 sent to the NCMEA special fund. This balance shows a profit of $3200.00 for the year. Christy White, treasurer, reminded board members that everyone employed for the conference (musicians, clinicians, etc.) must have a W9 filled out in November even if they are paid less than $600.00 by the Elementary Section.

Report from the NCMEA Executive Board:
· President Cribbs thanked the Executive Board for their work on the conference.
· Work is being done to update website.
· All sections must have similar policies for home school students.
· President Cribbs wants a performance by the King's Singers for 2009 conference. The cost of $25,000.00 will be financed by $12,500.00 in 2008 and $12,500.00 in 2009. Efforts will be made to get businesses and others involved for financial support. Members will possibly have the opportunity buying a ticket at preregistration for $5.00-10.00.
· It was recommended and approved for NCMEA to become a member of Arts North Carolina.
· State mileage rate increased from .0485 to .505 effectively 7/1/08.
· NCMEA adopted a new money management policy.
· Sections requested equipment sparingly at the conference. Winston-Salem Schools provide much of the equipment for our conference.
· White Sound will continue to provide recording services for student events. Reta Phifer will provide the form to make an agreement with White Sound. The Event Chairs will then need to contact White Sound.
· Additional credits for CEUs will include Honors Chorus rehearsals and other student event rehearsals.
· Conference evaluation: 18% responded, 59% excellent, 22% superior
· 2008 housing confirmations will be sent by the hotel instead of the Housing Bureau.
· Connie McKoy will design a new evaluation form. NCMEA is considering doing evaluations online. If members have suggestions about how the survey can be done online, send them to Connie McKoy.
· Change of conference location- This can't be done until 2011. We also can't change the All Conference Reception or the Awards Banquet. If you have suggestion on how to make the All Conference Reception or Awards Banquet more attractive, please email Jerry Cribbs. District Presidents are also requested to solicit information about the Awards Banquet and All Conference Reception.
· Editor's report: We need to revamp the website. Send suggestions to Carla Copeland-Burns at carlacopelandburns@hotmail or cecopelan@radford.edu
· Check the website monthly to make sure the information is current.
· The Publications Committee will work on the website. Suggestions can be sent to Hazel Chapman, a member of the Publications Committee.
· The World's Largest Concert is back. DVDs are available for school use or for airing by local television stations.
· Barbara Geer, President-Elect of MENC would like to see North Carolina first in membership in the Southern Division. Currently Georgia is first, Florida is second and North Carolina is third. She is also interested in ideas for the national logo for her term.
· Southern Division Conference will be in Atlanta September 14-15. NCMEA provides a stipend of $300.00 to either the Section Chair or the Chair-Elect. This conference will be different from other conferences in that it will be more of a leadership conference.

Old Business:
Conference
· Schmid - The guitar session was wonderful but few attended since it was labeled elementary. Schmid suggested billing as an instrumental session.
· Not all clinicians got certificates
· Problems with session rooms - temperature, size
· Sessions overlapped
· Technology -Need entry level technology workshops, more hands on, bring in a representative from Smart Board
· Hotel problems
· All Conference Reception not serving its purpose
· Start the Monday night General Session at 8:00
· Sessions need to be in closer proximity
· Repeat sessions
· Most elementary sessions were multicultural
· Need more elementary exhibitors
· Good feedback from drumming, gamelan and This Works for Me
· Need hands-on special education sessions; include self contained, severe and profound
· Would like to see Elementary Honors Chorus perform at a General Session
· Need more time between events
· Post the registration times
· Brief description of session in conference program would be helpful so you are not misled by title
· More handbells
· Reading sessions on Monday
· Have an elementary new teachers' breakfast
· Need more K-3 sessions
· Suggestions for future conference sessions - gifted and talented, choral clinic with Honors Chorus conductor, recorder
· Have fewer options and return to the ballroom for large sessions
· More publicity is needed to inform the membership that sessions begin on Saturday.

In other old business stipends for the Section Chair were discussed. If NCMEA gives a stipend to the Elementary Section Chair for Southern Division, Hazel Chapman will pass this on to Jami Bumgarner, Chair-elect. The Elementary Section votes annually on a stipend for the Section Chair for conferences.
Hazel Chapman referred board members to the Elementary Section Bylaws, Article V - Government. These bylaws define the Executive Committee as the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and two members-at-large. These elected officers serve a two year term. The Elementary Section Board consists of the Executive Committee and one appointed representative from each district. Vacancies in elective offices are filled by recommendation of the Executive Committee until an election can be held in November. Vacancies in appointed offices are filled by the Executive Committee.
The Elementary Section would like to honor an Elementary Teacher of the Year. Hazel Chapman will contact Althea Wright to see if she has received any information from Middle School and High School sections concerning their requirements.
Honors Chorus
Barina Blackwelder, Honors Chorus Chair, distributed comment sheets from the 2007 Honors Chorus. The 2008 clinician will be Russell Robinson from the University of Florida. He would like to write a piece for the concert. Barina has not discussed payment for this. A motion (Nesbitt/Tucker) authorized Barina to commission Russell Robinson to compose a piece for the 2008 Elementary Honors Chorus. He is to be paid his standard rate not to exceed $2000. The motion was approved unanimously. Barina will contact Dr. Robinson and/or Reta Phifer for a contract.
The audition piece is "The Laughing Song" from Two Songs for Youth by Paul Baslar. The audition section is the soprano part mm 1-13.
Fees for Honors Chorus clinicians were discussed. A motion was made (Blackwelder, Horn) to pay clinicians $1000 Honors Chorus clinician fee, $300 for preparation of rehearsal CD and $200 for an extra session. An amended motion (Blackwelder/Chapman) proposed $1000 Honors Chorus clinician fee, $500 for preparation of rehearsal CD and $200 for an extra session. The vote to amend was defeated 1-9. The original motion was approved 9-1.
There is a conflict with using the ballroom for Honors Chorus rehearsals in 2008. The rehearsals will be held in the Pavilion at Benton Convention Center.
The lack of male participants was discussed. The audition application does not specify gender or race. No special consideration is given to male participants. Teachers will be asked to encourage male singers to audition.
There will be a sign-in/sign-out sheet for teachers at Honors Chorus rehearsals. Teachers leaving the area will leave a destination and cell phone number.
The Executive Committee recommended Beth Ulffers as Honors Chorus Co-chair. The motion was approved.

New Business
The Executive Committee recommended Danny Yancey as Share Fair coordinator. The motion was approved. Contact information: Danny Yancey, WB Person Gifted and Talented Elementary, 3501 Fayetteville St., Durham, NC 27707, 919-560-3988, danny.yancey@dpsnc.net

The World's Largest Concert music is available on the MENC website. Most of the selections are also in the current state adopted textbooks. This will not be televised on PBS as in the past but a DVD may be ordered from MENC to use at the school level or to air on a local cable television channel.

Committee assignments will be forthcoming. Description of the committees may be found in the Elementary Section bylaws, Article III.
Nominating - Executive Committee
Membership - Tucker (Chair)
Publications - Horn (Chair)
Constitution - Nesbitt (Chair)
Elections-Fogleman (Chair), Peek
Program-
Legislative -Musselman (Chair), Peek
Honors Chorus - Blackwelder, Ulffers, Tucker, Nesbit, White
Parliamentarian - White

Concerns
Board members requested Treasurer Christy White to check with the Executive Director to see if Elementary Section board members could be paid mileage for board meetings since we have a large profit this year. Board members are asked to email personal mileage figures to Christie White to assess whether this is feasible.
The next meeting will be May 3, 2008 at UNC-G if facilities are available. The Executive Committee will meet at 9:00 and full board at 10:00.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Trivette
NCMEA Elementary Section Recording Secretary

Middle School Choral Section:

Click the following links for further information and forms - all items in .pdf format.

Middle School Festival Music List

Middle School Honors Chorus Workshop Flyer

Middle School Choral Section Newsletter - Revised 9/25/07

In-Service Conference Application for Ensemble Performance

Middle School Honors Chorus Audition Form

2007 Honors Chorus Sightsinging Example

Middle School Solo and Ensemble Form

Middle School All-State Application Form

Middle School Large Choral Festival Application Form

If you have further questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at
dobbind@gcsnc.com

David Dobbins

Orchestra Section:

Welcome to the Orchestra Section of NCMEA! As Chairman of the Orchestra Section, I will try to provide the support you need so that you and your students may benefit fully from your membership in NCMEA. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can help. My contact information is below.

For news about our regional and state events, please check out our official section website at the link below. There, you will find the forms and information you need to participate in our competitions and festivals, as well as other important information about our section.

Visit our section website at: www.ncorchestra.org

Have a great school year!

Sincerely,

Scott Laird
NCMEA Orchestra Section Chair

Contact me at:

laird@ncssm.edu
Office: 919 416-2732
Instructor of Music
North Carolina School of Science and Math
Durham, NC