Bulletin Signup
Is there anyone that you would like to suggest receive this Bulletin as a way to recruit new members from other schools and states? Please feel free to forward the Bulletin to them or send their e-mail to Editor Tom Reynolds at the following address:
treynold@worldpath.net. |
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NEMFA Calendar 2017-2018
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March 15-17, 2018 - 91st Concert Festival, Lewis S. Mills High School, Burlington, CT
June 2, 2018 - Executive Board Meeting, 10:00am, Holiday Inn Express, Brattleboro, VT
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Interim President's Message -
Sal Cicciarella
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February, 2018
Dear NEMFA Colleagues,
Greetings to the New England Music Festival Concert family of teachers, sponsors, and student musicians.
Next month our hosts from Burlington, Connecticut, Lewis Mills High School, are making final arrangements to welcome us to what will be three days of renewing friendships, meeting new colleagues and participating, will be the highlight of our festival season.
John Deeb and the Fine Arts Department have worked diligently to ensure the best performance space for all ensembles. All committees are ready to welcome you to the Burlington and Harwinton area. A special thank you to the housing committee for finding hosts families making our festival a unique experience.
Students, please prepare your music so your experience at all rehearsals and concerts present your best musical efforts. Your managers have invited outstanding nationally recognized conductors who have selected challenging repertoire for all three ensembles.
Showing appreciation to your teachers, parents, and sponsors for their dedication and support is a wonderful gesture. Their sacrifices made during your musical development allowed you to be part of New England's greatest festival celebrating our 91st year.
During the festival it is my sincere wish that each of you take a moment and extend an encouraging smile or greeting to those you meet for the first time. The person sitting next to you would likely appreciate a simple hello or friendly word thus enhancing your performance experiences together. We all come to the festival from different backgrounds and programs allowing us to learn and share from others with one thing in common: the love of music and performing together in the spirit of human compassion making the journey as one unified ensemble.
I look forward to meeting you soon and wish you continued success. You are most deserving and fortunate to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity. Absorb the atmosphere, share your gift with the world, and spread your love of music.
Congratulations on your achievements.
Musically,
Sal Cicciarella
Interim President, NEMFA
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Secretary's Report - NEMFA Executive Board
Gail Reynolds
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MINUTES OF THE NEMFA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
December 15, 2017
Comfort Suites, Southington, CT.
The meeting was called to order by Interim President, Sal Cicciarella at 8:03 P.M.
In attendance: Sal Cicciarella, Marj Rooen, Bill Sittard, Gail Reynolds, Danielle Conerty, Steffen Parker, Rob Gattie, Damon Coachman, Tom Reynolds.
Member Apologies: John Kuhner, Scott Benson, Frank Whitcomb.
Minutes
- Gail Reynolds, Recording Secretary. Ms. Reynolds reported that the minutes for the September 2017 EB meeting passed as submitted via e vote. She also reminded the board to please make sure to vote on the minutes regardless of attendance.
Board Member Reports
a. Executive Secretary/Treasurer
, Bill Sittard presented his report. He said that the Association was doing well financially. A MOTION by Rob Gattie to accept the report was approved.
b. Past President Report
, Sal Cicciarella. Presided over the meeting so there was no report specific to this agenda item.
c. President Elect Report,
Marj Rooen. Marj reported that she is still looking into creating a teacher directory and said that she would contact Steffen to discuss how feasible it is.
d. Bulletin Editor
, Tom Reynolds, reported that the Bulletin is out. He said that he recruited a company to assist with mailing out the annual hard copies to the membership. The EB agreed that he should continue to do so.
e. Solo & Ensemble Report,
Rob Gattie and Steffen Parker. It was reported that the Northern S&E went quite well with only a few complaints. Rescheduling of the southern site due to the snow cancellation created some expected problems but was relatively easy. Only two new judges were employed to accommodate the snow date. Steffen reported that on average, the percentage of cancellations is about 15% for the Northern and 20-25% for the Southern site.
f. Member Services
, John Kuhner. No report.
g. Librarian
, Frank Whitcomb. No report.
h. Concert Host Report
, John Deeb, read by Sal Cicciarella. Mr. Deeb reported that everything is going forward as planned but that housing is moving slower than anticipated. He added that as of January, his "great team" will be focusing its attention on the Festival and that he is confident that it will be a huge success. There was a question about whether the host would provide meals for conductors and ensemble managers for Thursday supper, Friday & Saturday lunch. Sal said that he would contact John Deeb to discuss this.
i. Chorus Manager
, Damon Coachman. Mr. Coachman reported that he is ready for the S&E selection. He talked about finding auxiliary instrumentalists from the membership for the chorus' performance. To that end, it was decided that Damon will send out an email to the membership. He handed out his script for onsite choral hearings. The script will be used for the upcoming hearings. A copy is on file with the EB Secretary. Damon added that finding helpers from the membership is a challenge and that he will start looking for helpers soon. The EB restated that student meals outside of those specified in the student itinerary are the responsibility of the sponsors which includes student meals prior to Thursday dinner. Mr. Damon's report also included a list of currently approved conductors and proposed conductors. Lastly, Damon submitted a detailed Chorus Manager Job Description draft that Danielle said she would incorporate into her Responsibilities of a Concert Festival Ensemble Manager Handbook draft. His report is on file with the Secretary.
j. Orchestra Manager
, Scott Benson's report was read by Sal Cicciarella and distributed to the EB electronically. The report stated that everything is going very well. He wrote that he had received a working draft of the CF Ensemble Manager Handbook from Danielle Conerty and had nothing to add at this point but recommended that each new manager receive a copy. He proffered a slate of potential conductors to be approved. Mr. Benson also included an extensive list comparing the NEMFA Solo & Ensemble literature with that of the other New England states' region and state audition lists. He added his personal opinion and suggestions about the comparison and Mr. Cicciarella decided to wait until the next meeting to discuss his ideas further. Scott's question regarding student use of public domain music at the S&E Festival was answered by Mr. Parker who said that that question is answered in the S&E website. The Orchestra report is on file with the Secretary.
Addendum to the Minutes: A motion by Marj Rooen that Brian Norcross (Franklin & Marshall College) and Kathleen Horvath (Case Western Reserve University) be added to the orchestra conductor list passed.
k.
Band Manager,
Danielle Conerty reported that everything is going well and had a few questions answered. Danielle reported that the Concert Festival Ensemble Manager Handbook is still a working draft that will be ready for further review at the March EB meeting with hopeful finalization in June. Everyone was in agreement that the Handbook should include sections with information specific to each individual ensemble. She said that she will share a Google Doc with Damon & Scott. Her Handbook draft is on file with the Secretary.
Items for Immediate Discussion.
a. Liability
Insurance. Mr. Sittard reported that the Board members are individually insured through NFHS. He said that he had not communicated with Steffen's contact to get information about insuring the Association at the Concert Festival because he had misunderstood what the Board had asked for him to do. He added that he will reach out to the contact that Steffen Parker had recommended to him previously.
b. Term Limits for Appointed Board Positions
. Interim President Ciccarelli will send his thoughts on this subject to the EB for feedback at the next meeting.
c. Data Base Access
. After discussion it was clarified that the CF ensemble managers will have view & sort access to ensemble and sponsor rosters. Mr. Sittard requested real time access to the data base for financial purposes. Mr. Parker is working on that. Tom Reynolds requested read-only access.
Unfinished Business
a. Constitution/Bylaws Project- Whitcomb/Gattie/G. Reynolds. Mr. Gattie recommended that the report be postponed.
b. Mission Statement Approval- Gail Reynolds distributed a draft of a Mission Statement that was a compilation of previous submissions made by EB members. A motion by Rob Gattie was made to accept the Mission Statement. After discussion, the following Statement was approved as amended,
"The New England Music Festival Association, a diverse community of music educators from public and private schools, youth ensembles and private studios; and parents, is dedicated to offering high school musicians from across New England the opportunity to pursue musical excellence through participation in solo and ensemble festivals and concert festivals and instill in each student a lifelong interest in music as a basic human experience."
c. Jazz Band - Damon Coachman, Steffen Parker, Bill Sittard (requested numbers from September Minutes). The EB discussed the financial aspects of adding a jazz band component. Steffen will present a report at the Members Forum at 7:30pm on Thursday, March 15th and share the results of the forum at Friday's EB meeting.
d. Instrumental Ensembles at the S&E Festivals. Mr. Parker reported that he will share the presentation that he had previously prepared with the membership at the Members Forum at 7:30pm on Thursday, March 15th. He will share the results of the Forum with the Board at the EB meeting on the following day. He added that the Forum will be posted on Constant Contact.
e. Lists of Previously Approved Conductors. Completed.
f. Auditions Made Easy: ala NEMFA format. Steffen and Parker and Tom Reynolds. It was reported that this remains a work in progress.
New Business
a. Proofreading Program Before Printing. Mr. Cicciarella reported that he has asked Gail Reynolds to proof the first half of the Concert Program and for Steffen Parker to proof the rest.
b. Sharing Information on Students- Rob Gattie. Mr. Gattie made the following motion- "As it relates to the Solo & Ensemble Festival and the Concert Festival, NEMFA does not share information related to sponsors or students, beyond what is necessary to facilitate the actual NEMFA S&E and Concert Festivals. This includes current or past members and adjudicators as well as other music festivals, events or organizations." The motion passed.
c. 2019 Concert Festival- Woodstock Academy, CT, March 14-16, 2019.
d. Format: Vocal and Instrumental Performance... finalization
. After discussion, the Board came to an agreement about the process for selection.
e. Format for the Chorus Performance. The Board decided that the S&E Solo/Ensemble performances will precede the Chorus performance at the Concert Festival.
Future Dates
- Thursday- Saturday, March 15-17, 2018- Concert Festival, Lewis S. Mills H.S., Burlington, CT.
- Saturday, June 2, 2018- EB meeting in Brattleboro, VT.
The meeting adjourned at 10:16 P.M.
Minutes prepared by Recording Secretary, Gail Reynolds
Minutes prepared by Gail Reynolds
Respectfully submitted,
Gail Reynolds
Recording Secretary
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91st NEMFA Headquarters Hotel
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91st NEMFA Concert Festival - March 15-17, 2018
Marriott Hartford Farmington
15 Farm Springs Road * Farmington, CT 06032
$99.00/night * SPECIAL NEMFA RATE
Cut off for special rate is
March 1, 2018 For reservations, call 860-678-1000
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Directions to 91st NEMFA Concert Festival
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91st New England Music Festival
Lewis S. Mills High School
March 15-17, 2018
Directions to
Lewis S. Mills High School
From Hartford and Eastern Connecticut
Take I-84 west to Exit 39 (Route 4, Farmington). Follow Route 4 (approximately 13 miles) to Burlington. (You will pass through Farmington center and Unionville center). Take a left at the junction of Routes 4 and 179. Go to second traffic light. Take a right onto Lyon Road. Take the second driveway for Lewis S. Mills High School.
From Waterbury and Western Connecticut
Take Route 8 to Exit 42 (Route 118, Harwinton). Follow Route 118 East for 2 Â? miles to junction of Routes 118 and 4 (first traffic light). Continue straight on Route 4 past the intersection of Route 72 and Route 4. At the
next traffic light, take a left on to Lyon Road. Take the second driveway for Lewis S. Mills High School.
From Bristol, Connecticut
Take Route 69 to Route 4. A gas station will be on your right. Take a left and go to next traffic light. This will be Lyon Road. Take a right on Lyon Road. Take the second driveway for Lewis S. Mills High School.
Please note our phone numbers:
Lewis S. Mills High School: (860) 673-0423
John A. Deeb, Coordinator of Fine Arts/Director of Bands (15419)
David Miller, Choral Director/Classroom Music Instructor (15179)
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Directions from NEMFA Hotel to Lewis S. Mills HS
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91st New England Music Festival
Lewis S. Mills High School
March 15-17, 2018
DIRECTIONS FROM HEADQUARTERS HOTEL MARRIOTT HARTFORD-FARMINGTON
TO LEWIS S. MILLS HIGH SCHOOL
Start out going south on Farm Springs Rd toward Fienemann Rd. (0.06 mi)
Take the 1st left onto Fienemann Rd. (0.2 mi)
If you reach I-84 W you've gone about 0.3 miles too far
Merge onto I-84 E toward CT-9 S/Hartford. (1.3 mi)
If you reach Alexander Rd you've gone about 0.2 miles too far
Merge onto CT-4 W/Farmington Ave via EXIT 39 on the left toward Farmington. (5.8 mi)
Turn slight right onto Main St/CT-4. Continue to follow CT-4. (2.6 mi) CT-4 is 0.2 miles past Park Pond Pl
If you are on School St and reach Maple Ave you've gone about 0.1 miles too far
Turn left onto Spielman Hwy/CT-4. (4.0 mi)
If you reach Ford Rd you've gone about 0.3 miles too far
Turn right onto Lyon Rd. ((0.3 mi)
Lyon Rd is 0.5 miles past Upson Rd
If you reach Charolais Way you've gone about 0.1 miles too far
26 LYON RD is on the right.
Your destination is just past Nepaug Rd
If you reach Myra Ln you've gone about 0.4 miles too far
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91st NEMFA Concert Festival Reminders
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New England Concert Festival Reminders
To help make this whole process smoother for all involved, here are some reminders for you (sorry it's long):
Online Acceptance (deadline for all aspects is January 19th):
* PRINT OUT your Student Contract (button on your main screen) and distribute to your students so they can complete that portion of their acceptance by the January deadline.
* Please indicate whether or not each of your selected musicians is participating in their Concert Festival ensemble or not, indicate whether or not they need housing (see below) and if in Chorus, how tall they are in the concert dress shoes (in inches, please).
* After you have entered all of your acceptance info, you can then print your invoice. Please sign it and have your principal (if you are representing a school) sign it. If you are a parent or private teacher sponsor, no principal signature is required. Mail the invoice with payment to the address provided, postmarked by the January 22nd deadline.
* Print out the Student Contract Letter for each student (links on the bottom of two of your Main Menu tabs) now and distribute so they can complete that process promptly. Their site will indicate when they have completed their contract (on the bottom of the front page) and your listing will also show whether or not they have done so. Please make sure they complete this task. This must be done by the same January 19th deadline. Students who miss this deadline may be replaced by alternates starting on the 21st.
Alternates and Music:
* As soon as we receive all of the acceptance information, the managers will review which seats were not filled and what alternates or reseating is possible. Not all unused seats will be filled, with those decisions being made based on the number and ability of the students to be considered and the overall needs of the respective ensemble. You will be notified if one of your students has had their seat changed (moved because of non-??accepting students in their section) or if one of your alternates has been selected. A new Online Acceptance site will be posted for you to complete the same process for any alternates. Alternates will need to follow the same acceptance, invoice, and student contract process as any others. That deadline will be February 1st.
* Band & Orchestra Music: Downloads of the parts for your musicians will be made available as soon as all of your and their information is complete and payment has been received (hopefully before the January 20th deadline). Folders with the originals will be provided to each student at the Concert Festival for their rehearsals and performance there. They will have the opportunity to copy any practice marks from their copies to the originals (in pencil) during the first rehearsal. The copies will be recycled.
* Chorus Music: You should have already received your Chorus folders. If you have a student not accept their Chorus selection, please return their folder at the Concert Festival to the Chorus Manager, Damon Coachman. You will receive the Chorus folders for any accepting alternates as soon as possible in the mail.
Housing & Meals:
* The festival provides dinner on Thursday and lunch on Friday & Saturday to all participating students. We do not provide lunch on Thursday, so plan ahead based on your students' arrival schedule at the Choral Rehearings and Registration.
* Our co-hosts from Lewis S. Mills will provide local families to house your students for Thursday & Friday evenings, provide breakfast on Friday & Saturday as well as dinner on Friday night. We believe that this is one of the more memorable aspects of the festival and know that your students will enjoy this experience. As is prudent, we perform a background check on all of our host families, families known to our co-hosts.
* You may provide your own housing for your student, either at home (if you are within a 30 minutes drive from Burlington, CT) or in a local hotel, at your own expense. Should you opt for this, their student schedule remains the same as all others. They must attend all aspects of the Concert Festival, including rehearsals, meals, dress rehearsals, etc. Like all other housing, you would pick up your student at the same time they connect with their local hosts at the end of the rehearsal day and bring them back on time each day. Please indicate this on your students' online acceptance.
* Students may not drive to or from any aspect of the New England Concert Festival nor may they ride with another student. Adult drivers only.
* HOUSING INFO will be emailed to you overnight on Monday, March 12th.
Chaperoning:
* An adult chaperone (usually the Teacher / Sponsor) responsible for each student is required within the host community for the duration of the Concert Festival. Again, a 30 minute drive away is as far as a chaperone may be while their student is involved in the festival, including overnight. Chaperones, of course, may be responsible for more than one student (music educators responsible for all of their school's participating students, for example). If you are chaperoning students other than your own (to help out someone else), please indicate that to us during registration.
* Chaperones are responsible for their own lodging and meals.
* If you only have one or two students and your being in Burlington, CT for three days is not possible or feasible, please consider contacting a local participating music educator who might be willing to chaperone your students for the festival. You would still be responsible for transporting them there and registering them on Thursday and making sure that they have are picked up after the concert on Saturday.
* If you are unable to provide a chaperone for your students, please contact Steffen Parker ASAP.
Concert Festival minutia:
* Schedule: A tri-fold of the schedule and our festival policies will be provided to each student and teacher at registration. If possible, a PDF of that will be posted on the website when available.
* Registration: Teachers / Sponsors should register their students on Thursday morning as soon as they arrive. Check-in involves providing your local lodging information and your cellphone numbers, letting us know of any students who are ill and not attending, and picking up your registration packet (program, schedules, pencils, name tags, map of the facility, etc.). If you are chaperoning another's students, let us know then as well.
* Choral Rehearings: A Choral Rehearing Schedule will be posted online. Teachers / Sponsors should register their students PRIOR to their Choral Rehearing time. Students will be asked to perform a portion of the Chorus program in double quartets.
* Band & Orchestra Students: If you do not have any Chorus students, your other students do not need to register until after Noon. Everyone needs to be there and registered by the 1:30 PM General Meeting.
* Thursday Lunch: Lunch for students will NOT be provided onsite on Thursday. Teachers / Sponsors should plan on having students bring lunch with them or plan time between their Choral Rehearing and the General Meeting to take them out to eat.
* General Meeting at 1:30 PM: All participants and all teachers / sponsors must attend this meeting.
* Rehearsal Dress: Appropriate clothing for high school music activities is required.
* Concert Dress Code: Please make sure your student(s) bring the proper clothing for the concerts on Saturday
* Tickets: A ticket order form will be available for download. Remind your students and parents to mail their order in promptly to be able to receive their tickets prior to the festival. Tickets will also be available during the rehearsal breaks for students to purchase tickets to be held for their parents. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Tickets may be purchased for the Chorus Concert, the Band & Orchestra Concert or for both.
* Concert Recordings & Group Photos: Order forms for recordings of the concert and photos taken of each group will be available online soon.
* Concerts: The Chorus Concert will start at 2:00 PM and should be done by 3:30. Those students may leave at that time. The Band & Orchestra Concert will start at 4:00 PM and should be done by 5:30 PM.
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91st NEMFA Ticket Ordering
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91st New England Music Festival
2018 Concert Tickets
March 17, 2018
To purchase online using a credit or debit card, please go to: www.lsmbb.org and look for the tab titled "New England Music Festival 2018" and select "2018 NEMFA Ticket Sales & Information". Click on the "Order Tickets Online" link, or scan the QR code below to navigate directly to the online order page. Please remember that there will be a service charge of $0.50 per ticket if purchased online. PLEASE FIND THE ACTUAL FORM ON OUR WEBSITE
www.nemfa.org UNDER "2018 Concert Festival Information".
You may mail this form completed with check now to:
NEMFA Ticket Order
c/o LSMBB
P.O. Box 1909 Burlington, CT 06013
Advance orders will be taken online or by mail if received by Monday, March 12, 2018. After that, orders (by check or cash only) will be taken from students on March 15 & 16 at the festival. Tickets will be available at the door on the day of the performance depending upon availability.
ALL TICKET ORDERS (by mail or online) WILL BE HELD AT THE DOOR FOR PICK-UP PRIOR TO THE PERFORMANCE
Name
Home phone ( )
Cell Phone:
Email:
Name of Sponsor School or Private Teacher
Tickets for Chorus (2:00 p.m.)
tickets @ $10.00 each =
Tickets for Band/Orchestra (4:00 p.m.)
tickets @ $10.00 each =
COMBINED Tickets (for both concerts)
tickets @ $15.00 each =
Total Enclosed $
Please make checks payable to "Lewis S. Mills Band Boosters".
For additional information
please contact Mrs. Jennifer Minery
by email at: publicrelations@lsmbb.org
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91st NEMFA T-Shirt Ordering
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91st New England Music Festival
March 15-17, 2018
T-Shirt Order Form
To purchase online using a credit or debit card please go to: www.lsmbb.org and click the tab for "New England Music Festival 2018" and select Ticket & T-Shirt Sales. Or, simply scan the QR code below to be directed to the order site. PLEASE FIND THE ACTUAL FORM ON OUR WEBSITE
www.nemfa.org UNDER "2018 Concert Festival Information".
You may mail the completed form below with check now to:
NEMFA T-Shirt Order
c/o LSMBB
P.O. Box 1909 Burlington, CT 06013
In addition, orders (by check or cash) will be taken the evening of the performance, however a $4.00 shipping charge will added.
Name
Home phone ( )
Cell Phone: ( )
Email:
Name of Sponsor School or Private Teacher:
Adult - Small @ $15.00 =
Adult - Medium @ $15.00 =
Adult - Large @ $15.00 =
Adult - X Large @ $15.00 =
Adult - 2X Large @ $15.00 =
Total T-Shirts?
@ $15.00 =
Anyone who orders and pays for his/her T-Shirt by March 5, 2018 will receive it at the festival with their registration materials.
Please make all checks payable to "Lewis S. Mills Band Boosters".
For additional information please
publicrelations@lsmbb.org
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91st NEMFA Local Restaurants
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91st New England Music Festival
Lewis S. Mills High School
March 15-17, 2018
Restaurants Local to Lewis S. Mills High School
Burlington
Dunkin Donuts
296 Spielman Highway (Rt. 4)
Finnegans
292 Spielman Highway (Rt. 4)
860-673-6881
Subway
292 Spielman Highway (Rt. 4)
Sabrina's
258 Spielman Highway (Rt. 4)
860-673-0767
Sorrento's Pizza
292 Spielman Highway (Rt. 4)
860-675-8872
Harwinton
Countryside
519 Burlington Road
860-485-1462
The Landing Zone 525 Burlington Road
860-485-2733
Harwinton Pizza 122 Litchfield Road
860-485-0535
Hometown Pizza 157 Litchfield Road
860-485-2786
Unionville/Farmington
Wood 'n Tap
1274 Farmington Ave, Farmington 860-773-6736
Apricot's
1593 Farmington Ave, Farmington 860-673-5405
Canton/Simsbury/Avon
LaSalle Market and Deli 104 Main St., Collinsville 860-693-8010
Joe Pizza
140 Albany Tpk. (Rt. 44), Canton
860-693-1265
Panera Bread
110 Albany Tpk. (Rt. 44), Canton
860-693-9513
La Trattoria
Rt. 44, Canton
860-673-5000
Unionville Family Resaurant
1835 Farmington Ave., Unionville 860-658-1334
Amici's
401 West Main St. (Rt. 44), Avon 860-677-7089
Bertucci's
380 West Main St. (Rt. 44), Avon 860-676-1177
Restaurants near the Marriott
Five Guys Burgers
278 Scott Swamp Rd. (Rt. 6), Farmington 860-677-7600
Joey Garlic's
372 Scott Swamp Rd. (Rt. 6), Farmington 860-678-7231
Ruby Tuesday's
1444 Farmington Ave. (Rt. 6), Bristol
860-589-7050
Chili's
1425 Farmington Ave, Bristol 860-585-8415
Olive Garden
1441 New Britain Ave, W. Hartford Near WestFarms Mall
860-521-9049
Red Robin
1509 New Britain Ave, W. Hartford Near WestFarms Mall
860-561-8594
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Future NEMFA Concert Festival Dates
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March 15-17, 2018-Lewis S. Mills HS, Burlington,CT
March 21-23, 2019 - Woodstock Academy,
Woodstock, CT
Be sure to mark these dates into your calendars. We are always in need of host schools for our concert festivals. If you have never hosted a NEMFA Concert Festival at your school, please consider doing so. It is a very rewarding experience for any school to be a host, and most every NEMFA Concert Festival has had a positive effect on the host school's music program for a long time after the festival is over. It is also a great way to raise funds for your local school program. Please contact President Sal Cicciarella if you have any further questions about hosting a NEMFA Concert Festival. |
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2018 NEMFA Chorus Manager
Damon Coachman
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NEMFA Chorus Report
February 2018 Bulletin
Damon Coachman
Greetings colleagues,
We are just about ready to get the 2018 NEMFA Chorus underway. Thank you to the people who have offered eo help with the Chorus details, and especially the re-hearings as the festival begins. 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
I look forward to seeing you all again!
Sincerely,
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.
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2018 NEMFA Chorus Conductor
Dr. Janet Galván
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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.
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2018 NEMFA Orchestra Manager -
Scott Benson
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Dear Colleagues,
Spring is just about upon us, and with the end of the winter comes the Annual New England Music Festival. The Orchestra details have been completed and we are looking forward to get the 2018 NEMFA Festival underway.
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. If you have any comments, questions, complaints, or suggestions regarding the NEMFA orchestra, please do not hesitate to be in touch.
I look forward to seeing you all shortly!
Sincerely,
Scott Benson
NEMFA Orchestra Manager
Director of Orchestras, Brien McMahon High School
Norwalk, CT
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2018 NEMFA Orchestra Conductor -
Miriam Burns
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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.
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2018 NEMFA Band Manager
Danielle Conerty
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Dear Colleagues,
The 2018 NEMFA Band preparations are now completed 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.
I look forward to seeing you at the Concert Festival!
Sincerely,
NEMFA Band Manager
NEMFA Band Manager
Band Director, Hartford High School
White River Jct., Vermont.
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2018 NEMFA Band Conductor
Dr. Mark Fonder
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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.
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Lowell Mason House Project
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by Thomas E. Reynolds
LOWELL MASON HOUSE REPORT
February, 2018
At this time of publication, the Lowell Mason House is receiving a makeover in its next construction phase, with new siding, windows and doors to be completed before February 28th.
The Lowell Mason House has raised over $330,000.00 now towards the necessary $500,000.00 to complete the restoration of the house, to turn it into a museum and a meeting place. We are grateful to the 15 music educators associations around the United States that have made contributions towards its restoration, including the New England Music Festival Association. The NEMFA Executive Board recently voted to sponsor a window installation at the house, and this donation helped the Lowell Mason House meet a $25,000.00 Challenge Match that a local anonymous resident made, essentially doubling the amount of money that we raised in the last two months.
Construction work continues to progress. The first phase of construction that has been completed included the installation of new steel girder support beams, a new basement floor and windows in it, and a new roof. Upgrades to all windows and doors have been installed. New siding around the entire exterior of the house will be completed by the time of our concert festival. We are now bringing some utilities into the house including electricity, water, and gas.
It became my honor to assume being the President of the Lowell Mason House Executive Board in September, 2016 for the next two years.
We have also recently entered into a new partnership with the Mason & Hamlin Piano Company. Mason & Hamlin pianos are being built by hand at its factory in Haverhill, Massachusetts. For more information about Mason & Hamlin, founded by Lowell Mason's son Henry and Emmons Hamlin, with financial support from Lowell Mason, please contact me directly. For that matter, if you are in need of a new piano, please contact me directly as well and I can get you linked up with Mason & Hamlin.
The mission of the Lowell Mason House is to preserve, restore, and promote Lowell Mason's birthplace as a significant historical and educational resource.
- 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
All cultivated within the home of the Father of Music Education, and fueled by a living endowment, fulfilling Lowell Mason's dream that
"Children must be taught music as they are taught to read."
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
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Please feel free to drop me a line at treynold@worldpath.net for any suggestions to improve the Bulletin. Find it also on
www.nemfa.org.
Hope that you are having a great school year!
Thomas Reynolds New England Music Festival Association, Inc. |
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