Years ago, I returned to my university alma mater to celebrate my former band director's 25th year as the Director. We marched close to 800 in the alumni band, so it was quite the aesthetic experience for me. I met up with a good friend of mine that weekend who is a neurosurgeon and specializes in brain surgery for young children. During lunch, I asked him about the most rewarding aspect of his job. His response was that he really enjoyed having the talent and ability to cut into a young brain and fix the problem, so that a child can live a successful long life. He asked me the same question, and my response was - same thing! I just use music as my scalpel. Imagine that!! Now if we could just get our salaries a bit more comparable.
It is my pleasure to welcome all new music educators to the North Central District and to wish the veteran teachers a great school year. The North Central District Board has been busy planning for auditions as well as preparing for our upcoming clinics and mini-conventions. Our website at: ksmea.org/nc has been updated and now includes all information regarding North Central District auditions, as well as web-based entry forms and schedules.
We will return to Junction City High School for this year's District High School Honor Groups auditions on Saturday, November 3, 2012. Our district's best high school musicians will gather at Manhattan High School on Saturday, December 1, 2012, for the annual North Central District High School Music Mini-Convention. The Middle Level Clinic/Concert will be held at Junction City Middle School on Saturday, January 19, 2013. Our final event will be the Elementary Choir Clinic/Concert on Saturday, February 2, 2013, also at Junction City Middle School.
Special thanks to the Manhattan High School, Junction City High School, and Junction City Middle School music departments for preparing the facilities to host the auditions, rehearsals, and performances of our honor groups. Directors are needed from the North Central District to serve as judges. Please contact Stuart Roegge, Nate McClendon, or Chad Pape if you are interested in adjudicating these auditions. As President, I am truly blessed with outstanding chairpersons at every level. These people need a well-deserved thank you if you get the chance to meet them. I would like to welcome Nancy Monical (Manhattan/Ogden Schools) as our new North Central District Mentor Chair. I know Nancy will do a tremendous job in this position.
Fees for this year's events are:
High School Audition Fee - $6.00 (per audition)
High School Participation Fee - $5.00
Middle School Fee - $6.00
Elementary Fee - $6.00
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Junction City High School - Junction City, Kansas
8:00 a.m. - Music Teacher Meeting
8:30 a.m. - Auditions begin
Procedures for auditions can be found on the district website.
North Central District Directors will be needed to judge auditions.
District audition results will be posted after the auditions.
State festival choir results will be released at a later date by the state chair.
Saturday, December 1, 2012 @ Manhattan High School - Manhattan, Kansas
High School Honor Choir - Clinician: Tom Wine, Wichita State University
High School Honor Band - Clinician: Jeff Hinton, Missouri Western State University
High School Honor Jazz Band - Clinician: TBA
Tentative Schedule:
- 8:00 a.m. Registration - Meet in Instrumental Rehearsal Rooms
Band rehearses in room D-117 (Band Room)
Orchestra rehearses in room D-118 (Orchestra Room)
Jazz Band rehearses in room D-114 (Choir Room)
Choir rehearses in Auditorium - 8:15 a.m. - Rehearsals begin in Music Rehearsal Rooms
- 8:30 a.m. - Choir Directors Meeting , location TBA
- 9:00 a.m. - Orchestra Directors Meeting, location TBA
- 9:30 a.m. - Band & Jazz Directors Meeting, location TBA
- 10:00 a.m. - General Business Meeting, location TBA
- 11:30 a.m. - Lunch (on your own)
- 1:00 p.m. - Afternoon Rehearsals of the Honor Groups
- 2:30 p.m. - Concert - Admission: $1.00 Donation accepted
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Junction City Middle School - Junction City, Kansas
Middle Level Honor Band - Clinician: TBA
Tentative Schedule:
- 8:00 a.m. - Registration
- 8:15 a.m. - Rehearsals begin
- 9:00 a.m. - Midde School Band Directors Meeting
- 10:30 a.m. - Middle School Choir Directors Meeting
- 11:45 a.m. - Lunch
- 1:00 p.m. - Final Warm-up Rehearsal
- 2:30 p.m. - Concert
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Junction City Middle School - Junction City, Kansas
Tentative Schedule:
- 8:00 a.m. - Registration
- 8:30 a.m. - Rehearsals begin
- 12:00 p.m. - Concert
KMEA North Central District Calendar of Events
District information at: http://www.ksmea.org/nc
November 3, 2012
District High School Honor Groups Auditions at Junction City High School
8:00 a.m. - Music Teacher Meeting
8:30 a.m. - Auditions begin
November 17, 2012
Elementary Honor Choir Entries & Fees Due
December 1, 2012
High School Mini-Convention at Manhattan High School
8:00 a.m. - Registration
8:15 a.m. - Rehearsals begin
2:30 p.m. - Concert
December 1, 2012
Middle Level & High School Participation Fees Due
January 19, 2013
Middle Level Band & Choir at Junction City Middle School
8:00 a.m. - Registration
8:15 a.m. - Rehearsals begin
2:30 p.m. - Concert
February 2, 2013
Elementary Honor Choir at Junction City Middle School
8:00 a.m. - Registration
8:30 a.m. - Rehearsals begin
12:00 p.m. - Concert
2012 Outstanding Music Educators
Elementary Greg Gooden Geary County Schools General Music 32 years |
Middle School Toby Weishaar Abilene Middle School Instrumental Music - Band 18 years |
High School Kevin Johnson Concordia High School Vocal 19 years |