Elementary Teacher Info

The Elementary All-State Choir will rehearse and perform in conjunction with the LA-ACDA October Vocal Conference in Ba­ton Rouge, LA on October 16, 18, 2008. The most gifted fourth, fifth and sixth graders from across the state of Louisiana will be chosen to participate in this choir, which will maintain a relatively demanding rehearsal schedule throughout the conference and culminate with a final concert on Saturday, October 18. Our clinician will be Dr. Juan-Tony Guzman, Professor of Jazz Studies and Music Education at Luther College. We are extremely fortunate to have him as our Guest Conductor.

You are urged to generate enthusiasm for this project within your schools, churches, voice studios, and choral situations. The entire effort can serve to build your choral program and teach young singers valuable skills and information that will enhance their personal musicianship and provide a positive focus for their many energies. While it is hoped that many singers in your various situations and programs become involved with this project at some level, only your best and brightest choral musicians should be represented in the audition materials you submit.

Dates: The Elementary All-State Chorus will rehearse and perform in Baton Rouge on October 16 and 17th. Chorus members must register at 5 PM on October 16 and must report to their first rehearsal at 9 AM on October 17. Rehearsals will be held throughout the day on October 16 and 17, and the concert will be presented on the afternoon of October 18 at the conference site (the Holiday Inn Select in Baton Rouge).

Audition Procedure: The audition procedure requires preparation of an audiotape, and a written application. Students must be entered by a teacher who is a member of ACDA. If you would like to enter a student, but you are not a member of ACDA, you may join by completing the application in this newsletter.  Please do not send your membership application with your tapes.  You must send it to ACDA in Oklahoma City, OK. Specific information regarding the audition procedure follows. The deadline for submitting tapes or CD's and applications is Friday, AUGUST 29th, 2008, however, you are urged to prepare your tapes as soon as possible and not wait for the beginning of school next fall. Do not send your applications in a manner that requires a sig­nature for delivery. When no one is available to sign, they will be sent to the post office, Fed Ex or UPS, requiring some­one to retrieve them. THEY WILL NOT BE RETRIEVED.

Third, the selection procedure: A panel of ACDA teachers will listen to the tapes on Saturday, September 6, 2008. The best singers will be selected to sing in the Elementary All-State Chorus. Students will be notified of their selection and they will be sent the music for the concert. Students and teachers must thoroughly prepare all music for the concert before they arrive in Baton Rouge.

Please do not submit tapes for students who will be discipline problems, who have conflicts with the rehearsals and performance, who cannot handle the rehearsal schedule or musical demands of all-state repertoire, or do not desire to accept the financial con­ditions of participation in the choir.

Fourth, the cost: THERE WILL BE A $7.00 FEE PER STUDENT TO AUDITION. This fee will cover the cost of initial mailings, and the cost of the audition process. Each student will be responsible for providing his/her own chaperone, who will be responsible for the student outside of rehearsals at all times. A chaperone may assume responsibility for up to 3 students, who must all stay in the same hotel room. The participation fee for the students chosen will be $65. This figure will cover the student's tuition, music, and insurance. Hotel costs and meals must be paid for individually by the partici­pants and chaperones. Please note that the deadline for reserving rooms at the special rate is September 19, 2008. Please  also note that the hotel allows us a limited block of rooms, and singers are not guaranteed space in the conference hotel.  However, there are many nearby hotels, so rooms should not be a problem..

IMPORTANT NOTE: TEACHERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF RESULTS BY EMAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE A WORKING EMAIL ADDRESS. IF YOUR SCHOOL INTERNET PROVIDER BLOCKS MASS EMAILS OR CERTAIN SERVERS, PLEASE SET YOUR SERVER TO RECEIVE SPAM OR DO NOT SEND YOUR SCHOOL EMAIL ADDRESS. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR EMAILS WHICH CANNOT BE DELIVERED. PLEASE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR BUDGET DOES NOT ALLOW FOR RETURNING LONG-DISTANCE PHONE CALLS.

In case of hurricane evacuation: Please email Cheryl Dupont if you have to evacuate and will be unable to observe the tape deadline. Do not just send the tapes late.
A practice audition/accompaniment CD is available from Jude Wilson. You are encouraged to purchase this helpful tool and use it for the audition if a competent accompanist is not available.

Dates and Deadlines
Audition tapes/CDs postmarked by August 29, 2008.
Audition tapes/CDs received by September 5, 2008.
Audition tapes/CDs judged on September 6, 2008.
Results to teachers via e-mail by September 6, 2008.
Registration and music packets mailed to directors on September 8, 2008.
All registration forms and fees MUST BE POSTMARKED by September 15, 2008 ( all reg. forms/ fees must be mailed in by the respective TEACHER in a packet. Failure to do this will result in the removal of your students from All- State. Please adhere to the procedures and deadlines!