District President's Spring Newsletter 2010

Kim Webster, President

A-C Central High School, P.O. Box 260, Ashland, IL  62612

School: (217) 476-3313 Home: (217) 452-3979

Cell: (217) 473-4923 Fax: (217) 458-2223

E-Mail:  frecklesrusty1@yahoo.com

Click Here for PDF Version of This Newsletter

GENERAL INFORMATION ITEMS

District IV school participation numbers have begun to decline due to consolidations or non-participating schools.  At the state level, that means fewer students selected to the All-State groups.  Please encourage any schools not participating to do so.  This will benefit their students as well as yours for All-State participation numbers.

You are encouraged to nominate deserving individuals for the Presidential Award, the Administrator Award, and the Service Recognition Award.  More information on these awards is in the IME Journal and on this website (Projects – Awards).  You also need to nominate yourself for the 25 year Recognition Award.  Deadline is Oct. 16, 2010.

 

Younger teachers who would like to get information or help through the IMEA mentoring program can contact me.  Also, experienced teachers who would like to lend their expertise to this program can do the same.

 

All IMEA District Festival concerts will again charge an admission fee of $3 for adults and $2 for students and senior citizens.  Participating students and teachers will be admitted free.

 

As always, read through this information carefully.  If you have any questions, contact either the respective chairperson or me.

 

If you are leaving your school, please leave this letter for your successor.  If you are the contact person - please leave your password to make things easier for the following director.  Give the new person and your former students a chance for continued participation.

 

Please make sure to update your information on the web.  Please include a cell phone number just in case we have problems on audition day or festival day and we need to get a hold of you.

You need to update your school information in the online Registration/Nomination/Selection (RNS) System before entering students.  If you need to delete a contact person please contact Kim Webster.

Have a great rest of the year!  I hope all of your concerts are melodious!!!!  Have a great summer because you deserve it!

 

DATES TO REMEMBER

September 10, 2010	Deadline for School Participation (Junior/Senior) Form (To State Office)
October 1, 2010	Deadline for Student Nominations for Auditions (RNS Online System)
October 5, 2010	Deadline for Summary Sheet and Audition Fees (To District President)
October 11, 2010	District Auditions - PORTA High School for Instrumentalists / PORTA Central for Vocalists
November 6, 2010	District Concert Festival (Western Illinois University, Macomb)
November 20, 2010	District Jazz Festival (PORTA High School, Petersburg)
January 26-29, 2011	IMEA All-State Music Conference (Peoria)

AUDITION INFORMATION

Please make sure you complete your on-line entry before OCTOBER 1.  Deadlines cannot be extended!

Make sure to update all of your school information before you attempt to enter students!  If your primary contact needs to be changed - please contact Kim Webster.

Make sure to enter your students correctly – they will not be allowed to change voice or instruments.  Please read and enter the names in the correct order.  There were plenty of problems last year because directors plugged last name into the slot for first names – and this could be avoided!!!

All auditions will cost $5 per audition again this year.

Instrumental scale sheets for all winds must be tongued. MAKE SURE YOUR STUDENTS ARE AWARE.

JUNIOR BAND – MAKE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE SCALE SHEET FROM THE WEB SITE. THERE ARE ALSO NEW PERCUSSION ETUDES THIS YEAR - MAKE SURE TO CHECK IT OUT!

Junior Strings need to be nominated on line.  These students do not audition.

Elementary Chorus will nominate on line again this year.  Make sure to add your school if you need to and nominate.  The paper form will not be accepted.

There is a Senior Chorus scale requirement.   If you have any questions please contact Nathan Edwards  (njedward@gmail.com).

Please make sure to enter your student's grade level accurately.  We had a few problems here last year.  This is a serious problem when we get to the All-State Selection Meeting.  Please check it over!

Electronic Devices:  The student use of all electronic and/or mechanical devices, to include, but not be limited to, metronomes, tuners, cell phone and audio and video recording devices is prohibited in all IMEA audition rooms.

Gender Policy:  The IMEA strives to provide equal opportunity for and create positive experiences for all students.  Considering historical choral traditions, and the fact that contemporary composers continue to create new compositions for traditional voicing, vocal range and timbre, the choral reps maintain the belief that part assignments are best suited for students as follows:  Soprano/Alt – female voices and Tenor/Bass – male voices.  No students will be allowed to audition on a part other than their own gender specific part.

Audition Results:  Audition scores, including final rankings are not to be posted, distributed to and/or discussed with individual students, directors, private teachers, or parents.  Notification of acceptance to an IMEA festival, as well as specific chair and part assignments, is the responsibility of the District President and the IMEA State Office.  Judges are strongly discouraged from providing any written or verbal critique on a student’s performance beyond a “pat on the back” thank you.  In addition, judges should refrain from discussing private lesson teachers, past performance experiences, or future college/university plans with any student at any time during the audition process.

REMINDER:  STUDENTS MAY NOT AUDITION FOR TWO CONCERT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PERFORM ON THE SAME DAY.  THEY MAY AUDITION FOR A CONCERT GROUP AND A JAZZ GROUP.   The online process will not allow you to enter a student in the wrong combinations of organizations.

STUDENTS WHO AUDITION MUST BE A MEMBER OF A SCHOOL PROGRAM IF THEIR SCHOOL OFFERS ONE.  (For Example:  To audition for Jazz Band a student must be a member of their school’s Jazz Band if their school has one.)

ALL AUDITIONS: Monday, October 11, 2010

PORTA High School, Petersburg, IL

8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

***** Special Note: This is Columbus Day, plan accordingly *****

CONCERT FESTIVAL: Saturday, November 6, 2010

Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL

Elementary/Junior High Concert:  2:00 p.m.

Senior High Concert:  4:30 p.m.

             

JAZZ FESTIVAL: Saturday, November 20, 2010

PORTA High School, Petersburg, IL

Junior Jazz Band / Senior Jazz Bands III and IV Concert:  2:00 p.m.

Sr. Vocal Jazz Ensemble / Senior Jazz Bands I and II Concert:  3:30 p.m.

 

PLEASE VISIT THE OTHER DISTRICT 4 WEB PAGES

FOR ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC SENIOR LEVEL, JUNIOR LEVEL,

and JEM (ELEMENTARY) DIVISION INFORMATION