September 2009
Volume 75, Number 1

It’s that time, a new school year, a new chance to plan and promote activities that offer the positive influence of music in the lives of our students.   Convention activities are in good hands.  Donna McCommon, Pearl High School Choirs, will guest direct our Women’s All-State Chorale.  Dr. James Jordan, Westminster Choirs, will guest direct our Mixed All-State Choir.  Dr. Laura Thompson, Louisiana Tech University, will present a clinic for directors highlighting steps in preparing choirs for excellence in festival adjudication.

Our first round audition selection is “Richte Mich, Gott”, Mendelssohn, Warner Bros. LG 70179 (Sung in German).  This is the edition in our first round cycle of songs.  However, Dr. Jordan’s edition will be included in the all-state student packet with notes of minor differences for choir members to rehearse in preparation for the all-state event. 

The second round selection is “My Flight For Heaven”, Blake R. Henson (SATB Divisi), GIA Publications, Inc. G-7189.  1-800-GIA-1358. Check with Jude Wilson, heyjude@bellsouth.net   225-567-2851, for rehearsal and audition CD’s.

Many thanks to our second round host directors, Scotty Walker, Holly Grefe, and Joyce Menard for allowing our event to be scheduled at Lafayette High, Saturday, October 10.

District Directors and District Vocal Contacts are reminded to observe the deadline for second round pre-registration:  September 30.  Be certain to identify handicapped and vision-impaired students on your second round pre-registration form.  The second round participant information and a check made payable to LMEA for the total of $12 per participant constitutes district pre-registration.  Only pre-registered students who have paid the fee will be allowed to audition.  This includes alternates.

Alternates within a district must follow this pre-registration procedure:

              District Directors or District Vocal Contacts must notify me of a vacancy by phone (337-349-6972) to pre-register the district alternate no later  than Thursday, October 8.  Email or word of mouth at second round will not constitute pre-registration.  There is no on-site registration.

 Should any district NOT fill all 40 slots of their initial student allotment, I will contact other districts equitably to fill these vacancies.  Any district accepting these open slots must pre-pay the $12 fee before the alternate enters the audition room.

 Vocal Audition Schedule

District / Sign-in   Warm-Up       Audition

2             8:15             8:50                9:25

7             8:50             9:25              10:00

6             9:25            10:00               10:35

9          10:00             10:35               11:10

8          10:35             11:10               11:45

1          11:50            12:25                 1:00

4          12:25               1:00                 1:35

5             1:00               1:35                2:10

3             1:35               2:10                2:45

REMIND students to bring a pictured ID for sign-in.  Send a director from your district to monitor an audition room for the event and a director to pick-up your district packets for both Mixed Choir and Women’s Chorale at the end of the audition day in the Lafayette High School library.  It would be helpful to include the names of these directors when you submit your district pre-registration form.  The director picking up your district packets will have a wait time of an hour or more after choir auditions conclude.  A system is in place to identify choir members who are also auditioning for an instrumental slot.  This will hopefully expedite selection into one all-state group for those who qualify for the double audition.  Choir member names should be posted on the website no later than the day after auditions:   lmeamusic.org

Thank you for an increase in the number of directors who supervise the completion of All-State packet forms.  This helps to more accurately process the material received from our 220 choir members.  I encourage all directors to gather your student packet forms/fees, then check for accuracy and completeness, and mail them together in one envelope.  Please make sure that your own conference registration form / fee payment is sent to Carolyn Herrington with a copy sent to me.  All choir member packet entries and the copy of director entries must be postmarked by the deadline of October 25:  Fran Hebert, P.O. Box 61373, Lafayette, LA 70596.  

I would also like to thank directors who extend the professional courtesy of contacting me when a student decides to drop from the all-state event before the packet deadline.  This helps secure an alternate in a timely manner. 

Be sure to reserve your conference hotel rooms early:  Crowne Plaza Hotel, 4728 Constitution Avenue, Baton Rouge, 225-930-0174 or 225-930-0130.

Thank you for your valuable input on the sight reading survey distributed this past spring.  Results have been provided to District Directors and to District Vocal Contacts for your review.  As always, I look forward to hearing from you regarding any issue of concern or just hearing your friendly voice in conversation.  Have a great beginning to the school year.