Alabama Music Educators Association

Wow! In this business there is hardly any time to even come up for air. The world of choral music is a fast paced, exciting, grueling profession that we were all called to be a part. As this year starts to wind down, we are scrambling to finish our Spring Concerts, Musicals, Baccalaureate, Graduation, etc., etc… With all of this going on, I would like to take a moment and reflect on the past year in AVA.

AVA has had a great year. We started last May with the Summer Board meeting and progressed to Fall Workshop, ASSC Auditions, Fall Solo/Ensemble, All-State Auditions, AMEA, ASSC, All-State and SCPA. It was a busy, but very productive year. We had wonderful Clinicians, Presenters, Choral Performances, and outstanding All-State Choirs and Show Choir. I would like to thank all of our membership for supporting all of the AVA events. If it were not for the individual teachers with the individual students striving to make the choral music experience the best it can be, we would not have had such an outstanding year.

This next year will be just as active. Our Fall Workshop will be held at the University of Alabama September 6-7, 2013. We have some great things in store for that event. All-State Show Choir auditions are in Montgomery on October 10th and in Hanceville at Wallace State October 11-12, 2013. Your District Chairs will set any Fall Solo/Ensemble dates. Honor Choir Screenings will be set by the District Chairs to fall within the dates of November 11 through December 5, 2013. AMEA is January 23-25, 2014 at the Renaissance in Montgomery. The 2013-14 year is an Honor Choir year. Remember , this takes place at AMEA along with All-State Show Choir. Go ahead and look at the requirements, music, and process for the screenings. All-State Choral Festival will be held April 3-5, 2014 at Samford University in Birmingham. The Spring SCPA will be set by your District Chairs at Summer Board.

The AVA Board will meet in Mobile June 3-6, 2013 and iron-out several items that are pending. This is the year we review SCPA, as it has been in existence for two years now. If you would like to add agenda items for the Summer Board meeting, please submit those to your District Chair or to me at jody@alavocal.org by May 31st. If you ever need information or need to bring something before the Board for discussion, please contact your District Chair.

If you have not completed the Technology survey for AVA, please take 5 minutes and do this. Your District Chair will follow up with those who have not completed this. Please don’t cause them to do more work. They work very hard as it is. You can do this on our website, www.alavocal.org . The link is on the home page. Thank you.

We need more of the membership to submit presentation sessions at AMEA and/ or submit recordings and forms to AMEA for consideration to perform at this prestigious conference. The deadline for the Performance Hall (Stage) concerts is June 1st, 2013. Please submit your info, which may be found on the AMEA website, to Garry Taylor, Executive Director.His email is amea@bellsouth.net . If you would like to perform a Lobby Concert, the forms and submission material are also found on the AMEA website. That deadline is October 1, 2013. We have a tremendous amount of talented people within our ranks. Be willing to share what you do or have learned with others in our organization.

I would like to express my gratitude to the AVA Board and Executive Board. These are some of the best folks from all across our state. They are always willing to go the extra mile to make things better for you as a membership. You could help all of our chairs and the executive board by striving to get all of your registrations in on time. This would alleviate late fees and confusion of scheduling. I know that sometimes things can slip up on you, but let’s all try to stay ahead of the game.

I want you to know what an honor it is to serve as your President. It is through the camaraderie of the established teachers down to the very newest directors, who have chosen this profession to impart the essence of choral music to each student that makes our organization so successful. It is our responsibility to our students to create the best atmosphere to yield the best experience to each individual. You have to Give to Get! I know I’ve said it before, but…You only get out of something what you are willing to put into it. Work hard, get involved, give more to your students, learn more, and most of all…Have Fun! Hope you have a great rest of the year and a great summer. Jody