June 3, 2017
Brattleboro, VT.

           Mr. Coachman presented choral programs for approval. Following discussion, it was decided that Mr. Coachman share the Boards' concerns and questions with the conductor and send the reply to President Brackett who will in turn present it electronically to the EB for discussion.

Orchestra Manager, Scott Benson.  President Brackett read the interim Orchestra Manager, Nola Campbell's report.  The report stated the orchestra students were well prepared and that they liked the rehearsal area.  She asked that the NEMFA EB review the evening sign out procedure for students who are not staying with host families.

President's Report

a.     Concert Festival Showcase of soloists from S&E Festivals.  President Brackett suggested that we try this on a trial basis at the 2018 Concert Festival.  He shared his plan on how judges would score it and how it would work within the Concert Festival.  Following discussion, Mr. Brackett said that he would come up with a proposal to present to the Board in September.

b.     English Horn.  Tom Reynolds made a MOTION that English Horn solos be added to the S&E list.  The motion passed.

c.     Access to the NEMFA Database.  Mr. Brackett said that he does not yet have access to the database.  Bill Sittard said that he did not have access, either.  Frank Whitcomb said that he does have access.  Mr. Brackett said that he would look into it.

d.     Appointment of non-titled Board Members.  President Brackett explained why he would like to see this happen and would revisit the idea in September.

e.     Hiring a Nurse.  After discussion, the Board decided to make no changes in the current practice regarding on-site Concert Festival nurses.

f.      Centennial Celebration.  President Brackett said that it's not too early to think about the upcoming NEMFA Centennial Year.  He reported that he has been searching online for former NEMFA participants who are now professional musicians.  He said that he had located more than 30 and will keep looking.  He suggested that a subcommittee be formed to come up with suggestions on how the alumni could be used in our 100th Festival in 2028.  Tom Reynolds volunteered and Tony asked that anyone else who is interested to email Tom.

Unfinished Business

a.     Constitution/Bylaws Project- Whitcomb/Gattie/G. Reynolds.  The draft of the revised Constitution was reviewed excluding the Mission Statement. After discussion, Tom Reynolds made a MOTION to approve the Constitution draft with the condition that the Committee will amend Article VI quorum percentage at the Annual General Membership Meetings. The motion passed.

b.     Mission Statement for Constitution-President Brackett asked the Board to review the distributed list of suggested Mission Statements for the September meeting.

c.     NEMFA Business Cards- Gail Reynolds.  A copy of several business card drafts was distributed to the Board.  After review and discussion, Tom Reynolds made a MOTION to approve sample C with any tweaks to be submitted to Ms. Reynolds via email by June 30.

d.     Percussion Repertoire Lists- Tom Reynolds and Marj Rooen agreed to work together toward completion of this list.

e.     Treble Choir - Sal Cicciarella. Postponed until December EB meeting.

f.      Jazz Band - Damon Coachman, Steffen Parker.  Postponed until September.

g.     Instrumental Ensembles at the S&E Festivals- Steffen Parker.  Postponed until September.

New Business

a.     Results from on line vote regarding vocal adjudication.  A report on the results of the survey were submitted by Steffen Parker and read by Rob Gattie.  Following discussion, the Board decided to incorporate suggestions #2 and #4 for a trial for next year.

b.     Secondary Signatory - Bill Sittard.  The need for a secondary signatory was discussed.  A MOTION by Frank Whitcomb to appoint President Tony Brackett as secondary signatory to the NEMFA account passed.

c.     2018 Concert Festival- Lewis Mills HS.  It was reported that Host John Deeb is already at work and that everything is going well.

d.     Membership - John Kuhner, Gail Reynolds.  Postponed until September.

e.     Dean of Students & OTC Medications- This was addressed earlier in the President's Report (section e.).

f.      Web Directory- Marj Rooen.  President-Elect Rooen suggested a membership web directory.  After discussion, it was decided that this topic will be revisited in September.

Future Dates

·       Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 10:00 AM-  EB Meeting at Lewis S. Mills HS, Burlington, CT.

·       Saturday, December 2, 2017- S&E Festival - NORTH

·       Friday, December 8, 2017- 7:00PM Executive Board Meeting

·       Saturday, December 9, 2017- S&E Festival - SOUTH

·       Saturday, December 16, 2017- S&E SNOW date for both North and South

·       Thursday- Saturday, March 15-17, 2018- Concert Festival, Lewis S. Mills H.S., Burlington, CT.

Any other business that could not be brought to the President before the setting of this agenda.  Tom Reynolds reported that he is getting information on "Auditions Made Easy" site.  President Brackett asked Tom for an update in September.

The meeting adjourned at 12:39 P.M.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

An Executive Session for the purpose of discussing alleged behavior of a NEMFA Board member convened following the completion of the Board Meeting. The session commenced at 1:01 PM and concluded at 1:37 PM.

ADDENDUM TO THE JUNE 3, 2017 MINUTES.  Two motions were presented electronically for an e vote following the conclusion of the June 3, 2017 Executive Board meeting-

·       Gail Reynolds made a MOTION to accept President Tony Brackett's resignation.  The motion passed.

·       Gail Reynolds made a MOTION for the EB to appoint past president, Sal Cicciarella, as Interim President effective upon approval and to terminate at the conclusion of the 2018 Concert Festival.  The motion passed.

Minutes prepared by Gail Reynolds

 

 

                                                                           Gail Reynolds

NEMFA Chorus Report

September 2017 Bulletin

Damon Coachman 

 
Greetings colleagues,
Hope that you all had a great summer vacation and have returned ready for another successful year! During the concert festival, many of you came up to me and said you wanted to join the choral committee. Great! Please send me an email at [email protected] ASAP so we can plan for this year.  Like I mentioned at the general meeting last March, Dr. Janet Galván is on board to be the conductor for the 2018 NEMFA Honor Choir.

The program for the 2018 NEMFA Chorus is as follows:

 

Handel, George Frideric - Sing Unto God (from Judas Maccabaeus) 

Elder, Daniel - Lullaby 

Quartel, Sarah - Snow Angel, Movements 3 and 4 

Rardin, Paul - Sound Off 

Mulholland, James - A Red, Red Rose from "Four Robert Burns Ballads" 

Smallwood, Richard/arr. Doreen Rao - Total Praise  

 

Sincerely,

 

Damon Coachman 

Damon E. Coachman is the Director of Bands at Bethel High School in Bethel, CT. Even though he teaches band, he has vast amounts of vocal and choral experience.  He has been a vocal adjudicator for The New England Music Festival Association for the past 15 years. He has been a vocal adjudicator at the region and allstate levels for The Connecticut Music Educators Association for the past 25 years. He teaches a gospel choir at Laurel Music Camp on an annual basis. Also, he has presented sessions on gospel choir techniques for Connecticut Music Educators In-service Conference and the Eastern Division Music Educators Conference. He has participated in the Concora Summer Festival Chorus for the past 15 years. Currently, he is the Assistant Director of Music at The New Covenant Baptist Church in Bloomfield, CT. He has studied choral conducting with Dr. Andre Thomas and Dr. Janet Galvan.

Dr. Janet Galván, Director of Choral Activities at Ithaca College, conducts the Ithaca College Choir and Women's Chorale, and is Artistic Director for the Ithaca Children's Choir. In 2010, she founded the chorus UNYC that has performed with the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra (Lanfranco Marcelleti, conductor). Her New York colleagues recognized Dr. Galván's contribution to choral music in 1995 when she received the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) New York Outstanding Choral Director Award.
                                   
In demand as a guest conductor, Galván has conducted national, regional, and all-state choruses throughout the United States in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Washington's Constitution Hall, Minneapolis' Symphony Hall, Pittsburgh's Heinz Hall, and Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center. She has conducted her own choral ensembles in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, and Avery Fisher Hall as well as in Ireland, Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria, Canada, and Spain. Her ensembles have also appeared at national, regional, and state music conferences.  She has conducted the chamber orchestra Virtuosi Pragneses, the State Philharmonic of Bialystok, Poland, the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, the Madrid Chamber Orchestra, and the New England Symphonic Ensemble in choral/orchestral performances. Galván was the sixth national honor choir conductor for ACDA, and was the conductor of the North American Children's Choir which performed annually in Carnegie Hall from 1995-2007. She was also a guest conductor for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in 2002.

Galván has been a guest conductor and clinician in the United Kingdom, Canada, Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, and Brazil, as well as for national and regional choral and music education conferences, and at the World Symposium on Choral Music.  She was on the conducting faculty for the Carnegie Hall Choral Institute, the Transient Glory Symposium in February of 2012 and the Oberlin Conducting Institute in 2014.

Galván has two choral music series with the Roger Dean Publishing Company and is the author of chapters in two books, Teaching Music through Performance in Choir, Volume 2 and The School Choral Program: Philosophy, Planning, Organizing and Teaching. She is also the series advisor to Latin Accents, a series with Boosey & Hawkes. Her article on the changing voice was published in the International Federation of Choral Music Journal in August of 2007 and was reprinted in La Circulare del Secretariat de Corals Infantils de Catalunga.

Galván has been recognized as one of the country's leading conducting teachers, and her students have received first place awards and have been finalists in both the graduate and undergraduate divisions of the American Choral Directors biennial National Choral Conducting Competition. In addition, she has been an artist in residence at many universities, leading masterclasses, working with the university choirs, and presenting sessions.

Dr. Galván was a member of the Grammy Award-winning Robert Shaw Festival Singers (Telarc Recordings).

Galván is the founder and faculty advisor of the Ithaca College ACDA Student Chapter.  This chapter has won Outstanding Student Chapter at the last five national conventions of ACDA.  She is past president of NYACDA.

Ah, September - the last few weeks of summer warmth, the first overnight hints of the crisp air to come, and in rehearsal rooms all over: the promise of a new year full of possibilities. The choir directors are reminding their singers how to use solfege, the band directors are reminding their players how to play a Bb scale (in orchestra, it's D), and the theory teachers are opening up their students' eyes to the wonderful world of the grand staff. We all know how basic the beginning of the year can feel - just as we know how quickly the grind of competitions, concerts, and auditions will set in. Add to the list a seemingly-endless calendar of faculty meetings, maybe a NEASC visitation, and who knows what new life-changing, student-saving initiative decreed from on high, and it won't be long before we're once again counting how many days until graduation!

As music educators, we each face challenges unique to our situation, on top of the struggles common to all contemporary educators. An NPR report states that 8% of teachers leave the profession every year, and only a third of those are retiring. As a Psychology Today article said, "Teaching is harder than it looks, the schedule is more demanding than it sounds, the number of demands that must be met simultaneously is crushing, and the stakes of having a major impact on so many young lives are sky high." On the list of contenders for "Understatement of the Year," this ranks right up there with "trombones, you're too loud!" Knowing this, how do we recharge ourselves to provide the best possible experience for our students?

Maybe I'm a little bit biased, but...can I suggest participation in NEMFA? There are any number of festival experiences offered to you and your students, but NEMFA is truly one of the finest. The musical experience is equal to just about any other festival your students might attend, and the feeling of community is unmatched. What a joy it is to work in concert with so many other directors who know a festival can be high-level, demanding, even a little competitive, but also friendly and welcoming! If you're reading this, I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir, but consider whether you can bring a new school or two into the fold. I know that many NEMFA directors were once participants themselves, but for those like me who never got the chance - remember, somebody once reached out to you and invited you to come along. Why not do the same for the colleagues you know who would benefit from being a part of this organization?

Now, climbing down from my soapbox, I'll remind you that the upcoming 2018 Concert Festival Orchestra will be under the baton of Miriam Burns, whose biography is below. Active around the world and fluent in genres from chamber music to opera to pops, highlights include guest conducting the NAfME All-National Orchestra and eight years as an Assistant Conductor of the New York Philharmonic, having been appointed by none other than Kurt Masur. She is truly one of the finest conductors to grace the NEMFA stage, and I eagerly anticipate the work she does with our students. The program is exciting and challenging for every section: Aaron Copland's "Outdoor Overture," Frederick Delius' "Summer Evening," and the finale of Dmitri Shostakovich's "Symphony No. 5." I hope you will share this repertoire with your students, and get them excited about taking part. It won't be long before the temperatures drop, the leaves fall, and we all pull in to the S&E Festival. Until then - best wishes to all for your school year, and if you have any comments, questions, complaints, or suggestions regarding the NEMFA orchestra, please do not hesitate to be in touch.

Scott Benson

.

MIRIAM BURNS was on staff with the New York Philharmonic as one of their Cover Conductors from 1999-2007, having been appointed by Kurt Masur as a result of a competitive audition by-invitation-only. In this capacity, she accompanied the orchestra on tour to the Far East as the tour Assistant Conductor to then new Music Director, Lorin Maazel, and for eight years was entrusted as an assistant conductor on call for countless specific, fully prepared programs under many guest conductors of international repute.

Ms. Burns begins her fifth season as Music Director and Conductor of The McLean Orchestra (VA), continuing as the Music Director of The Orchestra of the Redeemer in New York City since 1995. Recent prior Music Directorships include the Tallahassee Symphony, where she was designated a Paul Harris Fellow for six years of outstanding contribution to the cultural life of Tallahassee, the Kenosha Symphony and the Lawton Philharmonic. Additionally, she has been appointed to the role of Principal Conductor and Music Advisor for the popular multimedia orchestral show RePLAY: Symphony of Heroes, based on the symphonic music of video games. As such, she recently conducted the world premiere with the Sydney Symphony at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, followed by performances with the Houston Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, members of the Toronto Symphony at the Sony Centre, and will conduct ensuing performances with other major orchestras as the show is booked.

Last season, Ms. Burns debuted as guest conductor in two performances with the Magdeburg Philharmonic in Germany and with the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra (NY). Prior international engagements have included conducting the Bournemouth Symphony (ENG); in Germany at the Stadthalle in Wuppertal: the First Ladies Symphony Orchestra of Poland, and the YinQi Symphony Orchestra in Taiwan. Highlights of prior guest conducting within the US include appearances with orchestras such as the Memphis Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Syracuse Symphony, South Carolina Philharmonic, Mansfield Symphony, Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Woodstock Chamber Orchestra, MasterWorks Festival, Sewanee Music Festival, C.W. Post Music Festival and the Skaneateles Festival.

Versatile in all genres, she is active on operatic stages as well, having conducted opera at the MasterWorks Festival and having been Associate Music Director of the Bronx Opera Company - conducting opening nights - for nine years. Ms. Burns has performed with two-time Grammy winner Sylvia McNair, and is on the conducting roster of Broadway Pops International, Inc. through which she guest conducted two performances of an Elvis Tribute with the Memphis Symphony. Equally fluent in choral/orchestral repertoire, Ms. Burns has conducted major oratorio with prominent Metropolitan Opera soloists such as Ben Heppner, Heidi Grant Murphy, Angela Brown, Mark Delavan, Mark Oswald and others. Committed to the furthering of musical education of all generations, she recently guest conducted the NAfME All-National Youth Orchestra, is sought-after as an All-State conductor, has guest conducted at CelloSpeak and has twice served as a private coach / specialist on the faculty of Chorus America's Choral/Orchestral Masterclasses for the orchestral conducting training of choral conductors.

Ms. Burns has received conducting awards from the Aspen Music Festival, studying with Paul Vermel, and the Conductors Guild, where she was unanimously presented with their prestigious biennial prize, the Thelma Robinson Scholarship, while still a student at Mannes College of Music (NY). Ms. Burns also received an Artist Diploma in Yale University's eminent Conductor Apprentice Program on full scholarship and upon special invitation of Yale faculty. In this capacity, she regularly worked with noted mentor conductors such as Gunther Herbig, Lawrence Leighton Smith and Eleazar de Carvallho. She also participated in master classes under the tutelage of prominent guests such as Kurt Masur, Leopold Hager and Zdenek Macal. Ms. Burns completed her Masters degree and Professional Studies in Orchestral Conducting on full scholarship at the Mannes College, where she studied with Yakov Kreizberg and Michael Charry. Previously active as a violinist, she holds both Bachelors and Masters degrees in violin performance from Mannes, during which time she began preliminary conducting studies with Semyon Bychkov. Ms. Burns is an alumna of both the New York String Orchestra Seminar under Alexander Schneider, and The Quartet Program. An avid chamber musician, Ms. Burns was an original member of what is now the Chester String Quartet.

 Dear Colleagues,

I hope that you have all found time to relax and enjoy the summer, and that you are having a wonderful start to your school year. The 2018 NEMFA Band preparations are well underway and it is looking to be a great experience for your students.

The conductor this year is Dr. Mark Fonder. Please see below for his full biography. Dr. Fonder brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his conducting, and he has selected an ambitious and diverse musical program with features for every instrument family. The program selections are: "Vanity Fair" by Percy Fletcher/Karrick, "Fantasies on a Theme by Haydn" by Norman Dello Joio, "Nil Sounkoro" by Thierry Muller, and "By the Light of the Polar Star" by John Philip Sousa. Take a listen to these great selections, and please share them with your students as well.

This program has plenty of  percussion opportunities, so please do encourage your percussionists to perform in the Solo and Ensemble Festival along with your wind players! If you have an interest in serving on the NEMFA Band Committee during the festival, please contact me to get involved. I look forward to working with all of you and the band students at the upcoming festivals. Here's to a great year!

 

NEMFA Band Manager

Band Director, Hartford High School  

White River Jct., Vermont.   

 

. 

Dr. Mark Fonder, professor of music, is the conductor of the Ithaca College Concert Band and has been teaching conducting and instrumental music education courses at Ithaca College since 1989.  From 1994 to 2003, he was the Chairman of the Music Education Department.  He is active as a guest conductor, adjudicator, school music consultant, and clinician and has served in these capacities throughout the United States.  Internationally, he has guest conducted, given research presentations or adjudicated bands in Australia, Austria, Germany, Japan, Canada, China, Italy, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. 

Dr. Fonder, a graduate of and twice a fellowship recipient at the University of Illinois, was director of bands at Park Falls (Wisconsin) High School and was on the faculties of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and University of Texas-San Antonio prior to coming to New York.  He has also served on the faculties of The University of Washington, VanderCook College and the Eastman School of Music.  Dr. Fonder authored a book, Patrick Conway and his Famous Band (Meredith Publications, 2012) and his research (over 30 articles) has been published in various journals including the Music Educators Journal, Band Directors Guide, Instrumentalist, Journal of Band Research, Council for Research in Music Education and the Journal of Research in Music Education.  He was chair of the Music Educators Journal Editorial Committee from 1998-2002 and for the past 10 years has edited the Journal of Historical Research in Music Education. 

Dr. Fonder has played principal trombone with the Green Bay (Wisconsin) Symphony, the Green Bay Packer Band, and the San Antonio Brass, and for such entertainers as Robert Goulet, Rich Little, and Rita Moreno.  In 1987, Dr. Fonder was awarded the National Band Association-Wisconsin Chapter Citation of Excellence, in 1998, the Ithaca College President's Recognition Award and has been the recipient of a University of Wisconsin teaching fellowship.  He has been elected to Phi Delta Kappa, an honorary education fraternity, Phi Kappa Phi, an honorary scholars fraternity, Pi Kappa Lambda, an honorary music fraternity and the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.

by Thomas E. Reynolds

 

LOWELL MASON HOUSE REPORT

 

September, 2017

• Partnering with local arts organizations by providing office and meeting space to support the arts and the importance of arts education in our schools
• Building an up-to-date rehearsal and performance space which will include music technology and recording facilities
• Restoring and preserving the house to include a Lowell Mason museum

 

Thank you so much for your interest and support in this project. As you can see, we are making great progress towards the full restoration of the house. Donations are always welcomed and we can now see the house moving closer to completion. Thank you for considering making a tax-deductible donation today. Please make checks payable to: The Lowell Mason House, P. O. Box 913 Medfield, MA 02052. Your contribution is tax-deductible as a charitable contribution to the extent provided by U.S. tax law. ·

 

- Thomas E. Reynolds