Drought is a word with which we are all too familiar. Drought-like conditions is a phrase weather announcers seem to love using along with "Tune in at ten and find out when the rain will appear." That little tease doesn't make the rain appear does it? It is out of our control and, of course, out of the weather announcer's control. Do you ever feel like you are suffering drought-like conditions in your choir sometimes caused by things that are out of your control? And, sometimes caused by things completely in your control? Hopefully, you were able to use this past summer to find some relief from those drought-like conditions. Did you attend a conference or two, a reading session, sleep in, rejuvenate, and/or re-focus? In other words: Did you network and re-invest in you?!

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is attributed with the phrase: "We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden." These words are highly applicable for educators because ours is a job of intrinsic satisfaction. As you are reaching out to your students this year, building their character, stretching their imaginations, and providing them with wonderful experiences be sure to remember von Goethe's words. You have the tools and the skills; if you consistently change, renew, and rejuvenate, you will also have the heart.

KMEA has a made a change this year in the audition process which we believe will make your life much easier. Trips to the post office to make the postmark deadline are a thing of the past! This year, you can submit your auditions online from the comfort of your own classroom. When you visit www.ksmea.org/mlchoir you will find a link to the Middle Level Choir Manager, this new and simple process allows you to upload your singer's audition and submit it online.

Accessing the KMEA All-State Middle Level Choir Manager at:
www.ksmea.org/mlchoir/auditions/teachers/

1. Create an account by clicking on Account Help.
2. PLEASE NOTE: Especially those of you who teach both middle level and high school, that the user accounts for the Middle Level Choir Manager are separate from the existing All-State Manager system. The user accounts for the HS All-State Manager (aka "Director ID") will not work in the ML Choir Manager, and likewise the ML Choir Manager accounts will not work in the All-State Manager. That said, it is possible for a teacher to select an identical username/password for both systems if someone else doesn't beat you to it.
3. Click on My Students in the menu, then click Add Student.
4. Follow the directions provided. Click on Contact Info in the menu if you have any problems.

Consider having your students submit an audition for the All-State Middle Level Choir either as a change to, or a renewal of, your routine. Kansas' own Janeal Krehbiel is our conductor/clinician for the 2013 choir and you don't want to miss this opportunity for your students or yourself. The repertoire she has selected includes:

O Had I Jubal's Lyre

G.F. Handel, arr. Michael Mauldin
Santa Barbara Music Publishing #476 SATB $1.95

Come Again, Sweet Love

John Dowland
ECS Publishing #1110 SATB $1.55

Wake Me a Song

Andrea Ramsey
Santa Barbara Music Publishing #1027 SSA $1.95

The Whaler's Rhyme

Arr. Louis Erikson
Heritage Music Press #15/1714H TB $1.85

Lover's Love the Spring

Arthur Frackenpohl
Hal Leonard Corporation #00007758 SATB $1.80

The Bells

Frank Ahrold
Alfred Publishing # 00-FEC09729X SATB $1.75

Please incorporate the Dona Nobis audition piece into your daily warm up in order to help your singer be as prepared as possible. The audition keys are different this year, so use care to record your singer in the proper key:

• Soprano: A-flat
• Alto: F
• Tenor: C
• Bass: E

All guidelines for submission, as well as audition scores, are available on the KMEA website. Carefully read and follow the guidelines provided on the website and check back frequently for updates and pertinent information related to this choir.

The deadline for audition material submission and online application submission is Friday, October 5, 2012. The audition fee remains at $5.00 per student and needs to be submitted in a timely manner. When paying by check, please combine all student fees into one check or if you are paying with a P.O. and be sure to meet the October 5 fee payment deadline. Take a moment to read through the information found on www.ksmea.org/mlchoir/auditions.php to help answer questions regarding expectations for recordings and how to avoid disqualification of your singer.

The following policy will continue to be enforced this year: "Auditions submitted to BOTH KCDA Treble Choir and KMEA All-State Middle Level Choir will be disqualified. Students choosing to audition must select, with assistance from their teachers, only one choir for which they will audition." Students submitting to both choirs will not be adjudicated.

Celebrate change and growth with your singers. Remember to change, renew, and rejuvenate, it's all good!