In Maryland, students have many opportunities to audition for state-wide groups, to perform solo and ensemble events at the District and State levels, and for school bands, choruses and orchestras to perform for adjudication. Making those opportunities available for you students can help “drive” the music curriculum for you.
Take time now to note the deadline dates for All State groups for students in grades 7 through 12 and for Solo and Ensemble events for students in grades 6 through 12 (see inside front cover). Maryland is one of the few states that does not charge for student participation in these events. The nominal fee that is charged for individual students who attend private or parochial school in Maryland is to “level” the field for the chaperone expenses, rather than impose the chaperone costs on the selected students.
Take advantage of these opportunities for your students. Fill out the All State applications and get them in on time. Look over the audition requirements and assist your students in the process. It pays off for every student in your class if even a few of your students are striving for a higher level of excellence. Their dedication, and yours, will give new energy to the entire ensemble.
All State Audition Information
Students must attend an independent (private), parochial or public school in Maryland and meet the class membership and grade designations in order to be eligible to participate. Check the Student Eligibility policy on the next page if there are questions. Remember that your signature and your principal’s signature attest to the eligibility of the listed students as well as to the appropriate grade levels.
Because the events are on different weekends, a student in grades 7, 8, or 9 may audition for and participate in All State Junior Band and either the All State Junior Chorus or All State Junior Orchestra, if eligibility requirements have been met for both groups. Please indicate such nominations on the forms so that such students will be scheduled appropriately. MMEA requires a statement from both music teachers, indicating that the student is aware of the added pressure of preparing two auditions and is prepared for the possibility of being rejected twice.
Eligible students in grades 10 through 12 may audition for the All State Jazz Band in addition to the All State Senior Band or Orchestra. Teachers must complete the nomination process for Senior Band or Orchestra AND the Video Tape authentication Form that accompanies the Video Taped Jazz Audition. (See Page 10.) The deadline for the taped/DVD auditions is Friday, November 5. Copy the forms as often as needed. There is no need to tear the nomination forms out of this publication.
To make the Friday, October 1, 2010 receipt deadline for Junior Groups (Graders 7, 8 and 9), nominations should be mailed by September 28 or shipped UPS on September 30. (Normal UPS delivery within the State of Maryland is the next-day without any additional fee.)
To make the October 8 date for receipt of Senior groups (Grades 10, 11 and 12), nominations must be mailed by October 6 or shipped UPS on October 7.
Copy the forms as often as needed. There is no need to tear the nomination forms out of this publication.
List no more than 10 students per form. Send as many forms as needed. There is no limit on the number of student who may audition. Once you have completed the forms, photocopy them for your records. SEND THE FORMS WITH ORIGINAL SIGNATURES to the MMEA Office to be received by the deadline. The late fee is $35.00 per student.
• No jazz audition tapes or DVD’s will be accepted after Friday, November 5. Late fees do not apply.
• No nomination is accepted by FAX.
• If you wish acknowledgment of receipt of the forms, include a self-addressed postcard or envelope, with sufficient postage for return to you.
• All instrumental auditions (band and orchestra) are at Kenwood High School in Baltimore County.
• Choral auditions are at three sites across the state. (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Frederick Counties) Make sure you check an audition site on each choral form. Your students may audition at different sites, but please mark one site for each application.
• All Junior auditions are Saturday, November 13. All Senior auditions for are Saturday. November 20. Jazz auditions are on video tape or DVD and are due on Friday, November 5. There are no exceptions.
• Late applications must be pre-approved by the Executive Director and a fee of $35 per student must be included with the late applications
• Schedules for auditions and specific directions to the sites will be mailed to each nominating teacher.
• The rehearsal/performance schedule of groups will be:
• All State Junior Band, All State Senior Band and All State Senior Orchestra February 25-27, 2011, Hunt Valley
• All State Senior Mixed Chorus, and All State Senior Women’s Chorus, March 4-6, 2011, Hunt Valley.
• All State Jazz Band, March 10-12, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• All State Junior Chorus and All State Junior Orchestra, March 11-13, 2011, Hagerstown
• Fees for selected All State members will not exceed $345 per person. All students will be housed two persons to a room.
• Teachers note the policy concerning eligibility for the All Eastern groups in 2011 in Baltimore. The audition scores from the November, 2009 auditions determined the All Eastern nominations from Maryland.
The Maryland policy states: “Any student who is selected for an All Eastern Band, Chorus, Jazz Band or Orchestra or a national group sponsored by Music Educators National Conference MUST be a participant in the Maryland All State Band, Chorus, Jazz Band or Orchestra during the school year PRECEDING and INCLUDING the year in which the student is selected for such an organization.”
The students who were nominated in the spring of 2010 may be notified of acceptance in the 2011 All Eastern ensemble before the 2011 Maryland All State results are published. A student will be disqualified from the All Eastern Ensemble unless they participated in the Maryland ensemble in 2010 and auditioned and made the accepted list for 2011. There are no exceptions to this policy.
• All Festival Application deadlines are deadlines for RECEIPT of the forms, not a postmark date.
For District and State Band, Chorus and Orchestra Festivals/ Assessments, only the Maryland State literature lists for Band, Chorus and Orchestra may be used. For Distinct and State Wind and Percussion and String Solo and Ensemble Festivals, only the Maryland lists may be used with two exceptions: Guitar solos and harp solos may be selected from a NYSSMA Manual published within the past 10 years (2000 and forward). For District and State Vocal Solo and Ensemble Festivals, the NYSSMA Manual may continue to be used, with the Maryland supplemental list.
The Maryland lists are available at no cost on the MMEA Web page (mmea-maryland.org) Choose “Teaching Area” and the list desired.
The NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association, the New York equivalent of MMEA), is used for vocal solo and ensemble lists and guitar and harp solo lists. To order the 2009 edition of the NYSSMA Manual, send a check (or Purchase Order) for $50 plus $8 shipping payable to NYSSMA, to NYSSMA Manual c/o Kathy Struzik, 535 Rondo Lane, Webster, NY 14580-1214. Phone is 716-670-9252. Or order directly at www.NYSSMA.org. elect Manual, and enter credit card and shipping information.
Teachers who have questions may call the MMEA Office. The MMEA Office operates as a service to teachers. The phone numbers are for teachers and should NOT be given to students or parents. Teachers should be the source of information. Students are not to be given the numbers.
Best wishes for a great musical school year!
