SCVA Newsletter (on-line version) – September 2003
===================================================================================
Once again there
were many amazing performances at the SCVA Show Choir Spectacular! Our three adjudicators were still
energized at the end of the competition, even after twelve hours of
judging! In spite of the weather
not cooperating, everything seemed to run smoothly thanks to the directors,
student hosts, and back stage crew.
My students enjoy the experience of running the competition and the
chance to get behind the scenes of producing an event of this type.
Serving on the SCVA
board has been a positive experience.
My tenure comes to an end at the perfect time as my husband and I will
be having our first baby in October! I am very excited about becoming a new mom and know
that there are new challenges that come with this position!
As of this writing,
the date for the 2004 Show Choir Spectacular is not yet set. I have left the date for next year's
competition for the new Show Choir VP to choose. At our last executive board meeting I suggested that we try
to find an earlier date to avoid some scheduling conflicts with SAT's, Proms,
etc. With many competitions
falling in March, and Spring Break and state testing taking much of April,
finding a date that does not conflict with other events is a challenge!
It was fun catching
up with many of you at ECCO and the ACDA Reading Session! I hope you have had an enjoyable summer
of rest and relaxation.
===================================================================================
Mark your calendars
for Friday, October 24 - The annual SCVA Fall In-Service. RICARDO SOTO will be our keynote
presenter for the day which will take place at Orange Coast College in Costa
Mesa, beginning at 9 a.m.
The registration
form is included in this newsletter.
Next month's newsletter will contain a complete slate of events for the
day. Spread the word about this
event to others. If there are new
choral teachers in your district, offer to bring them with you! We will be offering a variety of
interest sessions on various topics, and a chance for you to network with other
choral directors.
Directors at all
levels will find the Fall In-Service informative and fun. I know the day's activities will be
inspiring to all.
===================================================================================
What a wonderful afternoon of music making for our Junior High/Middle
School Honor Choir and our finalists from the Vocal Solo Competition. It was a delight to see many of our
members in attendance.
As some of you may
know, I have accepted an out of state Graduate Assistantship and will not be
returning to the SCVA Board.
Debbie Montpas, who has served in many capacities on the Board, will
take over as coordinator of the Junior High Middle School Honor Choir. I know this valuable event will
continue to flourish under her leadership.
It has been my
pleasure to serve the members of SCVA.
My best to you all.
===================================================================================
We wish Steve
Clausen, Mike D'Spain, Besty Hanger, Jeffe Huls, and Erin Terreri all our best
as their service to the Executive Board comes to an end. I certainly appreciate the hard work
and expertise of these dedicated individuals.
Ron Soderwall, of
Woodbridge High School (and former Executive Board Member), has been appointed
to fill the unexpired term as Vice President for the Men's Clinic. Also joining us by appointment is
Debbie Montpas of Mesa Robles Middle School (and a former SCVA President.) She will head the Junior High/Middle School
Honor Choir. Sharon Galassi,
formerly of Travis Ranch Middle School, has agreed to serve as Show Choir Vice
President and will appear on our official election ballot next month.
We are now in
search of two members who are interested in serving on the SCVA Board as Vice
President for Elementary Festivals, and Vice president for Jazz Choir. Please contact me if you are
interested, or would like to recommend someone.
===================================================================================
Greetings! I am looking forward to serving a
second year as the high school festival coordinator. Last year, a total of 26 festivals were held throughout Southern
California. I hope you were able
to attend with at least one of your ensembles. Thank you to all who hosted festivals. Your hospitality, generosity, and
commitment to our organization is very much appreciated!
We are well on our
way toward completing our festival calendar. Thanks to our members' quick responses, 15 festival sites
have already been scheduled. Add
your site to the list be filling out the Festival Host Application on this page. Please be as specific as possible with
the information you provide. (You
may want to consider hosting a festival for men's or women's choirs, as we had
a great need for these types of festivals last year.)
If you have not
hosted a festival before, our board members will be happy to help you with any
question you may have. Hosting a
choral festival is fun and will be a rewarding experience for you and your
students. (And your choir attends
for FREE!)
===================================================================================
It's nice to be
back on the SCVA Board. I'd like
to thank Jeffery Huls for all his hard work on behalf of the Junior High Honor
Choir and want to extend my best wishes to him as he begins a new path on his
professional journey.
I am looking
forward to planning an exciting and rewarding choral experience for our young
singers this spring. At this
point, I would like each director at the Junior High/Middle School level to
consider the following:
§
Talk
to your students NOW about being a part of this year's Honor Choir. Setting their goals early will help us
to find the best candidates for this choir.
§
Consider
HOSTING A SITE for this year's auditions.
It only takes a few hours on one Saturday and is quite simple to
do. If you have at least ten students
who are interested in auditioning for the Honor Choir, you should volunteer to
host a site, if at all possible.
§
I am
in need of some help. Let me know
if you would make the time to assist with rehearsals, compiling and addressing
letters, etc.
§
If
you have an auditorium or church that you think would be a great place to hold
the concert, please let me know as soon as possible.
I welcome any and
all of you to get involved! The more
volunteers and help I receive, the better the Junior High Honor Choir
experience for our singers.
===================================================================================
Other Important Information
SCVA Membership Application
Festival Host Application Form