Greetings!

This email contains updated audition information for middle school honor ensembles as well as OMEA's COVID protocol for the January conference.
For more details, continue reading below.
OMEA 2022 Conference
"Cultivating Inspiration"
Eugene, Oregon
January 13 - 16
Conference & All State COVID Protocol
All conference attendees, performers, presiders, presenters, and audience members must 1) show proof of vaccination against COVID or 2) show proof of a negative antigen test dated within 48 hours prior to their arrival on site. All attendees are asked to maintain 3 feet of social distancing throughout the event when possible.

Masking: All spectators, participants, volunteers, and anyone else in attendance must remain masked at all times when at our event unless actively eating, drinking, or playing a wind instrument. The mask must cover the wearer’s mouth and nose. Masks with valves, scarves, Gator masks, and bandanas are not acceptable forms of masking. Participants are responsible for bringing their own masks (bring more than one!). All wind instruments will be required to bring their own bell covers (flutes excluded). Wearing a mask is required regardless of whether you are indoors or outdoors. Wind musicians may only remove their mask when they are actively playing. Percussionists, string musicians, singers, and conductors will wear a mask throughout the event. Students will not be required to wear a mask while they are in their hotel rooms.
 
Cohorts: To the extent possible, All State students will be grouped in cohorts for rooming. A second cohort will be developed inside the ensemble for eating and traveling purposes. Seating charts for each ensemble will be determined prior to the start of the conference and students will remain in the same spot during all rehearsal blocks at 3 feet spacing. Any changes or alterations to the seating chart will take place outside or indoors when 6 feet of spacing can be maintained.
 
Hygiene: All participating students are encouraged to bring unscented hand and surface sanitizer for use by the student and on equipment. All attendees will practice common sense hygiene before and after eating, after using the restroom, and after any contact with others.

Symptomatic cases: If an attendee is exposed to COVID, begins feeling unwell or develops symptoms of illness, they should not attend the conference. If an attendee becomes ill or symptomatic during the conference, that individual will be isolated and arrangements will be made for that person to be collected and picked up by a parent or family member.

People with COVID have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.  Please reference the Oregon Health Authority for COVID symptoms

These precautionary measures are subject to change in response to the sometimes rapidly evolving circumstances. OMEA will continue to consult CDC, NFHS, OHA, and local health authorities. Please continue to read updates from OMEA as they are released.
2022 All State Audition Materials and Information
Our All-State audition materials and application information page is updated for the 2022 event.

There are changes for almost every ensemble - please read our information page carefully. Below is a quick snapshot of what to expect in the fall.

High School directors, please check that your students are using the correct materials for 2022.
  • For Wind Ensemble and Orchestra - we are using Set A.
  • For choir - it will be a Mixed Choir, and for auditions there is an updated Chorale.
  • For Symphonic Band - No changes to the audition materials.
2022 All State Middle School Changes!
There are no changes to elementary choir nominations or high school auditions. The below changes are ONLY for middle school All-State auditions.

Due to the challenges of the past 18 months, we understand that instructional time has been lost and have pivoted our middle school auditions this year to allow students to demonstrate their musical abilities in a more succinct audition as well as adding the ability for teacher recommendations based on your knowledge of the student. In response to concerns expressed by middle school directors across the state, the following changes have been made to the middle school All-State audition process for the 2022 Conference:

·       The middle school audition deadline will be pushed back one week to October 11th

·       Music teachers will be required to rank their applicants and encouraged to provide detailed comments explaining the merits of the applicants and any extenuating circumstances, especially as pertains to COVID and lost rehearsal time.

·       Middle school students are now only required to submit ONE audition track, with the exception of percussionists. The required audition track for each ensemble is listed below:

o  MS Band will record and submit only:
  • MS Wind Players: Track 1 – Scale Etude
  • MS Percussionists: Track 4 – Rhythmic Etude on snare and Track 3 – Song Etude on mallets (no timpani track); please submit as two separate tracks

o  MS Orchestra will record and submit only:
  • MS Violin: Track 1 – D Major Scale
  • MS Viola and Cell: Track 1 – G Major Scale
  • MS Bass: Track 1 – D and F Major Scale (please submit both scales in one track)

o  MS Choir will record and submit only Track 1 – Scale
Although we are pushing the audition deadline back, all other deadlines (acceptance notification, registration, etc.) will remain the same. These changes are only in place for the 2022 All-State Conference.
We apologize for the late change but feel these alternations better accommodate and match the needs and challenges facing our middle school programs across the State at this time. If you have any questions, please reach out to the All-State Chair at allstatechair@gmail.com
Advocacy and Online Resources
Advocacy and Music Education Supports

We all know that music is an essential part of our students’ academic and social-emotional learning. As the music education expert in your building and district, we strongly encourage you to reach out to your leadership, be involved, and advocate for your students, your music colleagues, and yourself. Remind your administrators that music is part of a well-rounded education, as defined at the federal level by the Every Student Succeeds Act. Here are a number of resources for you:
 
 
  • National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Music Directors & Adjudicatorshttps://www.nfhs.org/activities-sports/music/
  • Articles on Performing Arts COVID-19 Guidance, COVID-19 Instrument Cleaning, Online Learning, Publishers Allowing Educational Use of Copyrighted Music, etc.
 
 

Oregon Music Education Association
560 NE F ST STE A PMB 732
Grants Pass, OR 97526
541-291-1149