Update from the PMEA Executive Office

It's so hard to believe October is coming to a close! Here are just a few things that are rapidly approaching which we would like to highlight:

Screeners Urgently Needed for MENC National Honors Band - Deadline Nov. 2nd
We are in need of music teachers, specifically band directors, to help audition submissions for MENC's first National Honors Concert Band Ensemble. The auditions will come in an MP3 format and those that volunteer will be asked to listen to and judge the files. The auditions will be blind and consist of some exercises from the Rubank Advanced book. Auditions must be completed between Dec.1-10. Those interested should email Chuck Neidhardt at pmea.neidhardt@verizon.net by this coming Monday, November 2nd.

2010 National Honor Ensemble Audition Deadline Approaches
Submissions for the 2010 MENC National Honors Band, Choir, Jazz and Orchestra ensembles are due on Monday, November 16. The MENC National Honor Ensembles will rehearse and perform June 24-28, 2010 during MENC's Music Education Week in Washington, DC. 10th and 11th grade students of current PMEA/MENC members are eligible to audition. Conductors for the 2010 National Honor Ensembles will be: Concert Band - Anthony Maiello, Choir - Andre Thomas, Orchestra - TBA, Jazz Band - Maria Schneider. Complete information, audition music and application forms are online at www.mencevents.org. Contact Chris Meeker at chrism@mencevents.org or 800-479-8247 with questions.

**Note: current high school seniors are not eligible to apply because most high school graduations take place before the event dates of June 24-28, 2010 and only students associated with a high school may participate.

Harp Audition Deadline Approaching
All-State Harp audition tapes/cds are due to your PMEA District President by Wednesday, November 10. District contact information can be found in the Districts section of the PMEA website under the About menu option at www.pmea.net

Pen-Pals Wanted to Support Musicians/Soldiers in Afghanistan
PMEA is looking for any K-6 music teachers who would be interested in having their students write letters to members of the 82^nd Airborne Division Band, currently stationed in Afghanistan. Please email Abi Young at abiyoung@pmea.net if you are interested in pursuing involvement in this project.

District 1 E-mail Alerts

If you have news that you would like to share with the District 1 membership (job opportunities, special events outside of regular concerts, calls for help/materials/resources, etc.), please e-mail Kevin McElheny and he will pass the information along to anyone subscribed to D1 e-mail alerts.   Information that is not intended for D1 members only and is available to the public is also published online in the section below.

Sent to Membership 10/30/09
Pittsburgh Youth Pops Orchestra

Please see the attached PDF file for information on the Pittsburgh Youth Pops Orchestra, Junior Brass Ensemble.  Auditions at Nov. 21, 2009

        PYPO Junior Brass Audition Brochure.pdf‎ (944KB)‎

Sent to Membership 10/28/09
Barrage

Sent to Membership 10/26/09
Conducting Worksho/Tuba Christmas

Sent to Membership 10/2/09
Female Tenor Waiver

By law, PMEA will now allow females to audition as a tenor and males as an alto at all district festivals.  Please be aware that in order for a student to audition in this situation, proper release forms must be signed and provided to the host director upon arrival at the audition site, or the student will not be permitted to audition for that voice part. 

The two forms are attached (or linked), or found on the STATE PMEA webpage under "Members Only Information".

Currently, there is some discrepancy on where the forms instruct you to send them (the female form says to send to the state, the male form says to bring to the host director).  Members in both cases should 1) send a copy to the state office AND 2) bring a copy to the auditions.  This will assure no hang-ups or delays for the student's eligibility for audition.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email president Lee Rickard (724.625.4444 ext 1898 or lrickard@pinerichland.org)