Alabama Vocal Association Jane Powell, President
and bright eyed students during this weekend and they each were an encouragement to me to renew my own commitments.
On behalf of the Alabama Vocal Association I would like to thank the many directors, students, clinicians, board members and parent volunteers who came together to produce a very successful AMEA conference. The conference was well attended by our choral directors. Thank you for your positive and encouraging support of the clinicians that came to us to present some great sessions. Our new teachers were inspired by Paul Gulsvig’s intuitive approach to creating memories for our students as well as his “Ours Is A Calling” session that left us begging for more. Greg Gilpin and Rollo Dilworth were such positive, encouraging, interactive clinicians for teachers of all levels. We were truly visited by some of the best for this conference. The All- State Show Choir students had a fabulous experience with Paul Gulsvig and Santana Shelton from start to finish. They once again, worked very hard for 2 full days to produce a great show and gave the very best they had. Dr. Rosephanye Powell charmed and inspired and challenged the Honor Choir students and gave them an experience they will long remember. We just can’t thank these clinicians enough for what they brought to our students.
I spoke in my last article about the difference between commitment and involvement and I am once again drawn to that topic. When I watched these clinicians work and spoke with them it was clear that they were each committed to helping us improve our classrooms and helping the students reach new heights. I saw so many happy teachers
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To our performing groups from UAB, UAH & Bottenfield Middle School I offer a low bow in your direction. Thank you to Brian Kittredge, Erin Colwitz, and Sherrell Huggins for your commitment to offering your students such an opportunity to excel. To our accompanists, Terry Moore, Karen Cantrell, Lana Cornutt and Cathy Shelton, thank you so much for the extra miles you went in preparing for such a responsibility.
I am blessed to be surrounded by so many people who love their students and their classrooms and that display a commitment to them and it inspires me daily. I am inspired by Lis Donaldson who once again stepped up with her choral boosters and provided food and sound equipment and anything else we needed behind the scenes. Never looking for or expecting any praise but just out of a committed desire to make all of the logistical aspects easier. To the AVA Governing Board and the AMEA Board for working together for a common purpose. I appreciate so much the demonstrates.
servitude that this
As we move away from AMEA and look forward to the All-State Choir Festival we have many people committed to making this event the best it can be. We are indebted to the Samford University staff and faculty that are working to make our festival run smoothly for us. We are looking forward to meeting and working with our wonderful clinicians, Simon Carrington, Yale Emeritus, co- founder of the King’s Singers and now travels the globe conducting clinics and
All-State choirs; Sandra Snow & Jonathan Reed from Michigan State; Keith Hampton, church and community choir director from Chicago, IL; Joy Hirokawa, Bel Canto Children’s Chorus, Philadelphia, PA.
Many AVA choral directors are also preparing students for the State Choral Performance Assessment and Solo & Ensemble Assessment.
So much
commitment is involved in these preparations. Guiding these students to this level of performance is no small task and I admire each and every one who places their choirs on stage for this assessment process. This will be our inaugural flight with the new assessment forms and we are all anxious to see how this affects the adjudication process. By this publication several districts will have this experience behind them and we will have begun to analyze the effectiveness of the forms. I once again thank Carl Davis, Ginny White & Marvin Latimer for working to complete the process that was begun more than 18 months ago.
We remain committed to our advocacy campaign and bringing as much awareness as possible to the importance of music in the total education of those students who desire the opportunity. We are pleased to support the newly formed AMEA advocacy committee and are committed to working together to keep this campaign alive for the future of all programs.
Once again, thank you for your commitment to excellence in your individual programs and for your support of AVA events. I always look forward to seeing you and working with you for the good of choral music education in Alabama.
February/March 2012
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