May 2010
Volume 75, Number 4

I trust that your 2009-2010 school year was a success professionally and personally.  Our efforts in LMEA activities proved fruitful with the rewards of numerous individual and group successes. 

Our current First Round Audition cycle of songs is as follows:

            2010 – Crucifixus – Lotti (SSAATTBB – Walton Music 6066-11)

2011 – Helig – Mendelssohn

2012 – O Vos Omnes – Casals

2013 – Let All The Nations Praise The Lord – Leisring

2014 -  Richte Mich, Gott – Mendelssohn

In preparation for all-state choir membership, students must learn the entire first round selection even though the district chooses only a portion of the song to audition.   Audition Chairmen must submit all district entries for Second Round to me no later than September 30.  The entry is valid upon payment of the fee of $12 per student.   Ideally, your entry form and check should be sent together.   However, I must receive the entry form by September 30 and your fee must be paid no later than October 2, the LMEA board meeting date.

Second round auditions will be held at Pineville Sr. HIgh on Saturday, October 9.  The second round audition selection is “Shenandoah”, Howard Helvey, SATB divisi, Roger Dean 15/1642R.   The audition begins at measure 19 with an introduction. Sopranos enter on the 4^th beat of measure 21 – ‘Tis.  All other voices start on measure 22, 2^nd beat – ‘Tis’.  The tempo will not slow down as much as indicated but remain basically steady for audition purposes at about Q=70-74.   We will leave out the note(s) in parenthesis for Soprano (measure 38) and Bass 2 (measure 40).  Although we cut the selection for audition, please make certain that your students learn the entire selection.  CD’s for both first and second round are available from Jude Wilson – heyjude@bellsouth.net    

Giving credit where it is due:  Jude’s contribution to LMEA activities is immense.  LMEA pays a fee for his work on choral sight reading, second round CD production, and all-state rehearsal CD production.  But, he goes beyond expectations to make certain that  his work is top quality and that we are served with this material in a timely fashion.  

Looking ahead, our clinicians for 2010 All-State Choirs are as follows:  Joanne Edwards from Gulfport, MS will direct our Women’s Chorale; Dr. Barbara W. Baker, retired from Eleanor Roosevelt High School and publisher for Alliance Music, will direct our Mixed Choir. 

District Directors and Festival Chairmen received the contact information for each district’s panel of judges.  This is the third year this information has been circulated with the expectation of increasing communication, expanding the list of prospective judges, and keeping districts connected. 

I would like to extend appreciation to District 5 for hosting state choir festival in the Lake Charles Civic Center.  Assistance from current and retired directors helped to make this event a smooth process for all.  And, to all of you, thank you for your participation in LMEA activities and for your consistent support and unending dedication to our efforts to promote quality music education.  Our 2011 State Festival plans are being reviewed and will be finalized at the May board meeting.  Changes of date and location may be considered due to spring break occurring during the final week of April 2011 statewide.

“Premier Année en Louisiane”, our handbook for choral directors who are new to the profession or new to the state, will be submitted for approval at the LMEA May board meeting.  If approved, the document will be posted on the website:  www.lmeamusic.org

The document will remain open for periodic revisions and for added information current to our activities.  Your ideas are always welcome.  

 Have a wonderful respite from work this summer. .  I am looking forward to rest, renewal, and lots of travel.  The new school year will offer opportunities and challenges, but for now, my thoughts are on vacation time.