Alabama Music Educators Association

All-State 2012 is now behind us. Hopefully, most of us have recovered from all the work we left behind to attend All-State, we have caught our breath, and now we are ready for the final few days of school!

As I reflect on All-State and the year behind us and look to the future year, I have so many people to thank. Our All-State clinicians (Gregg Gausline, Scott Hanna, David Ragsdale, and Patricia Garren) did a fantastic job. I think all our students benefited from both their knowledge of and enthusiasm for music. Our band hosts (James Ed Champion, Damon McAllister, Jacob Souder, and Connie Hammond) did a wonderful job. They took care of so many small details in the final hours leading up to All-State and then throughout the festival itself. Again this year, the Mobile and Baldwin Counties band directors did a wonderful job. And finally, the convention center and hotel staff did a great job of making us all feel welcome.

I must say thank you again to all the District Chairmen. The position of District Chairman is much like that of a Sergeant in the Army. They do much of the “grunt” work for our organization and their work probably has the greatest impact on individual band directors throughout the state. I want to thank everyone who has served in this capacity, but I especially want to thank those whose time of service has now ended and will be rotating off the board (Jeff Gossett, Ryan Fitchpatrick, and Marc McLendon).

Perhaps some districts have already met to select replacements. I would urge you to carefully consider the importance of the District Chairmen in guiding our organization.

In my first article as President this year I urged you, despite whatever obstacles are inherent in your location, to try to deliver a high quality musical experience to our students. Were you successful? There is no doubt that each of us can say that in some ways we were, but in other ways we wish we had done something different. As we close the curtains on this year and enjoy some well deserved time-off, let each one of us reflect on our successes and failures and begin planning for a better year next year!

Our Summer Convention will be on June 27-28 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Orange Beach, Alabama. The board meeting and music selection committee will meet on June 26. Please remember to make your reservations before May 25 or you will loose your convention rate and you might not get a room!

Enjoy the summer and I hope to see you in Orange Beach!