Statistics for the last NEMFA Web News Bulletin and NEMFA NewsFlash that was emailed to the membership indicate that only a small percentage of what is sent out is actually opened. Of the June, 2011 Web News Bulletin, only 83 out of 255 emails were opened. On the May, 2011 NewsFlash, only 79 out of 299 emails were opened. Let's see if this one fares better among the members!

 

MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING - SEPTEMBER 10, 2011. DAYVILLE, CT 

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:25 am by Sal Cicciarella. Also present were: Caleb Pillsbury, Erica Howard, Steve Marchessault, Bill Sittard, Gail Reynolds, Tom Reynolds, Pam Rodgers, Rob Gattie, Frank Whitcomb, John Kuhner, Steffen Parker, Laura Hilton and Jeff Eithier.

 

                  President Cicciarella thanked Pam and Steve for offering to host the 2012 Concert Festival. Pam distributed a spreadsheet containing the schedules for the upcoming Concert Festival.

 

                  Bill Sittard, Treasurer, offered copies of his report, noting that the current balance was $14,701 with over $50,000 in investments. He noted that the net income for the past year was $812.93 with expenses having been higher than was expected, with student meals and board figures higher due to increases in travel.

 

                  The Treasurer's report was approved.

 

                  The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.

 

                  The technical needs for the Concert Festival were discussed, as was the idea of providing open wireless for members.

 

                  Tom Reynolds requested the use of a room at the Concert Festival with an LCD projector to help members understand the Constant Contact concept and the website.

 

                  There was a request for the IT person to provide a microphone for the speakers at the Concert Festival, and also a lavelier microphone for the chorus conductor.

 

                  Erica Howard, Band Manager, reported that the chorus conductor had agreed to the suggested repertoire for the Concert Chorus and that she had confirmed the appointment of Bradley Genervo for the 2013 festival and Peter Boonshaft as conductor for the 2014 festival.

 

                  Gail Reynolds, Orchestra Manager, suggested that students not bring folding music stands and requested the use of a room for seating auditions on Thursday afternoon.

 

                  Instrumentation problems were discussed, particularly as they regarded the clarinet section, and the need for a harpist.

 

                  Caleb Pillsbury, Chorus Manager, confirmed the appointment of Daniel Gordon as the Chorus Conductor for the 2012 Concert Festival, and Sandra Snow for that of 2013 festival, with Joe Miller as probable selection for the 2014 festival, and Anton Armstrong a possibility for the 2015 festival.

 

                  Pam Rodgers, Host Chairperson, offered a list of area accommodations, and reported that the housing process was ongoing. Housing, meals and hospitality were discussed. She also reported that student meals would be $17.50, with students dining with hosts on Friday evening.

 

                  Tom Reynolds, Editor of the Bulletin, reported that the upcoming Bulletin would be printed on hard copy, and the deadline for inclusions would be September 15.

 

                  Steffen Parker, Co-coordinator of the Solo and Ensemble Festival, reported that the audition times would be altered by two minutes to facilitate the festival's effectiveness. The room assignments for pianos was discussed.

 

                  John Kuhner, Member Services Chair, distributed information sheets regarding the subject of background checks for host families.

 

                  Motion by Steffen Parker: That the Association utilize LexisNexis to perform National Criminal Record searches on all adults volunteering to house NEMFA participating Concert Festival students, at a cost of $6.50 each; increase participation fee by $5 to pay for the screening services; Host Chair to collect Social Security Number information and background check consent for each adult host and forward to Member Services Chair; said Chair will perform background checks and notify Host Chair if any individual(s) have criminal and/or sex offender records. If any individual(s) have criminal and/or sex offender records, he/she will be removed from serving as a host for the NEMFA Concert Festival. Motion passed unanimously.

 

                  John will address questions about liabilities at the December meeting.

 

                  Under old business, after discussing the question of re-auditioning of members of the Concert Band and Chorus it was agreed that Managers will inform the conductors of the possibility of re-auditions.

 

                  The meeting was adjourned at 12:32 pm.

                                                                                                            Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                                        Donald L. Hermance    

                                                                                                           

Recording Secretary

     March 15-17, 2012 - Killingly HS - Dayville, CT

     March 21-23, 2013

     March 20-22, 2014

     March 19-21, 2015

Dr. Daniel Gordon currently serves as Director of Fine Arts Ministries at First Presbyterian Church in Lakeland, FL, and as Associate Professor of Music Education at Southeastern University. Dr. Gordon formerly served on the faculty of the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, where he directed the historic Crane Chorus, the Chamber Choir, and served as Chair of Music Education. Dr. Gordon's resume also included four years as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Ottawa Choral Society, where he prepared choirs for performances with world-renowned conductors including Pinchas Zukerman, Helmut Rilling, Franz Paul Decker, Joel Revzen, and Duain Wolf.

 

            As a professional conductor, Dr. Gordon's accomplishments include appearances with the English Chamber Orchestra, the Bath Philharmonic, and Ottawa Symphony Orchestra. Choirs under Gordon's baton have performed at ACDA and MENC conferences and in Canada and the United Kingdom. In 2003, Dr. Gordon received the SUNY Research Foundation Award for his work on "Teach Music in New York City," a congressionally directed grant that placed highly qualified music teachers in New York City public schools.

 

            At First Presbyterian Church, Dr. Gordon directs or supervises a wide range of activities for one of the most dynamic and increasingly diverse worship arts programs in central Florida. His Chancel Choir was recently chosen to host the worship service for the state ACDA convention that was held in Lakeland. At Southeastern University, Dr. Gordon conducts the eighty voice Concert Choir and the select Chamber Choir. In 2006, the Concert Choir joined forces with the Imperial Symphony Orchestra and the Lakeland Choral Society in a performance of Sir William Walton's masterpiece, Balshazzar's Feast.

 

            Dr. Gordon received his graduate degrees from Florida State University where he studied conducting with Rodney Eichenberger, Andre Thomas, Clayton Krehbiel, and Colleen Kirk. After twelve years teaching at universities in Virginia and New York, Dr. Gordon has returned to Florida where he continues his professional activities and remains dedicated to working with choirs of all ages. His wife, Mary Grace, is a professional singer and actress; his son, David, is a junior at Rollins College majoring in Computer Science and Music; and his son, Britt, is a sophomore at the Harrison High School of the Performing Arts where he majors in theatre.

 

2012 NEMFA Chorus Program:
Heilig...................................................................... Felix Mendelssohn
Alleluia .............................................................................. Paul Basler
Ave Maria ...................................................... Cesar Alejandro Carrillo
Cripple Creek.................................................................. arr. Ken Berg
Twa Tanbou ............................................................ Sydney Guillaume
Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal ........................................ Alice Parker
Make Our Garden Grow ..............Leonard Bernstein arr. Robert Page  

 

 

 

. 

Andrew King, is the Music Director of the Purdue Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras and Assistant Conductor of the Lafayette Symphony. At Purdue, he has also served as conductor of the Collegiate and Concert Bands. In addition to his work at Purdue, Mr. King has been a guest conductor and clinician at music festivals throughout the Midwest and the East Coast. His orchestras have performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Grand Hall of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic and Kapella Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia, and on tour throughout the United States. Previously, Mr. King held positions as Director of Orchestras at Carmel High School and Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis, and as Music Director of the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra. Mr. King has also served as the orchestra division head for the Bands of America Summer Symposium. The January 2001 issue of School Band and Orchestra Magazine focused on the Carmel High School Orchestra in its cover story titled  "Andrew King: Orchestrating Student Success."
Mr. King earned his master's degree in orchestral conducting from Butler University where he studied with Stanley DeRusha. His conducting teachers have included Gustav Meier, Daniel Hege, Rossen Milanov, and Steven Eggleston. He has also participated as a conducting fellow in International Conductor's Guild workshops with Harold Farberman, Guillermo Figeroa, and H. Robert Reynolds. Mr. King earned his bachelor's degree in music education from Illinois Wesleyan University where he graduated with honors. Also active as a horn performer, Mr. King has studied with Phillip Farkas, Laura Fairfield, Gail Lewis, and Janet Miller. He currently performs with the Windy City Brass Qunitet in Chicago and the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra in Indianapolis.

2012 NEMFA Orchestra Program
Danzas Fantásticas, Op. 22 (mvt. III. Orgia)................Joaquin Turina  

Symphony No. 1 "Afro American" (mvt. 4, Lento).....William Grant Still

Symphony No. 4 in F min. Op. 36(mvt.IV.)....Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky  

NEMFA STRING SEATING POLICY (approved 9/12/2009)

String students' Solo & Ensemble Festival scores will be used for initial seating placement, but seating may be reassigned at the Festival.

Students, sponsors and/or directors are responsible for acquainting themselves with this policy and preparing accordingly.  *


FIRST CHAIR SELECTION POLICY & PROCEDURE:

Section leaders will be decided at the festival through an audition process.  At the first rehearsal, all strings will be seated in score order within their assigned sections.  The first chairs will be vacant.  During the first rehearsal, players who wish to audition for first chair will submit their names to the Orchestra Manager.  Auditions will be held as soon as possible, probably commencing during the first hour of rehearsal. Excerpts from the concert music will be used for the audition.  First chairs will be announced after all auditions are complete.  After the first chair is assigned, the section will fill in the remaining seats in score order.

In the event that no student(s) auditions for first chair, the seating based upon score will be used.

NON-FIRST CHAIR SEATING POLICY

Students may be moved within their section for any of the following reasons:
1. Reseating resulting from the adjustment made to accommodate the student who wins first chair. Students may be reseated by chair or by stand (depending on divisi requirements).
2. If a student is found to be noticeably less prepared than surrounding students, and demonstrates little progress within the first rehearsal, the student may be reseated further back in the section at the discretion of the Conductor and/or the NEMFA Orchestra Manager.  This will be done without an audition.
3. Absenteeism may result in students being reassigned further up either by chair or by stand (depending on divisi requirements).
* Students, directors, sponsors or parents may not dispute seating changes or request seating re-auditions. No student may request to audition for a higher seat within their section, other than first chair.  There are no challenges.

You might remember that at the beginning of June I was working on the NEMFA archives collection that is being stored at the Harvard, Massachusetts Public Library. Old programs back to 1937 with more years ever since are being filed along with old Bulletins. The collection, known as the John R. Hansen Memorial Archives of the New England Music Festival Association, has been organized by member of the staff of the Harvard Public Library. Programs and Bulletins are stored chronologically in boxes in a climate-controlled historical room in the Harvard Public Library. The hours of operation of the Harvard Public Library, Route 111, Harvard, Massachusetts 01451 are as follows:

Library Hours - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - 10:00 - 9:00
Friday Saturday - 10:00 - 5:00 10:00 - 4:00
(Sat. 10:00 - 2:00 in June, July & August)
Sunday closed

Directions to the Harvard Public Library - From Route 2, take Exit 38 (Rts. 110/111) toward Harvard Common. Continue through the red blinking light on 111S. Past the school zone, take a right onto Pond Rd. The Library is on the right with parking available in front of the entrance to the building.
From Route 495, take Exit 28 (Rte. 111) and go toward Harvard. Continue on Route 111 toward the center of Harvard. Upon entering the school zone, take a left onto Pond Road. The Library is on the right with parking available in front of the entrance to the building.

I am still in search of any printed materials regarding any NEMFA concerts or related activities from 1928 to 1939, although I would welcome other materials that you, our membership, might come up with that you would deem to be worthy of saving in our archives.

As of 1 September 2008, the following Concert Festival Programs are not in our possession in the archives at the Harvard Public Library: 1928-1935, 1937, 1939, 1940, and 1941. The following Major Organizations Festival programs are not in our possession as well: 1939, 1940, 1941, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957. Additionally, I would welcome the donation of any recordings of past NEMFA concerts. Right now, our collection only includes concerts from the late 1990's to the present.

Another area that we have very little on records is that of old photographs. Certainly, photographs tell a million stories about our past festivals, as well as providing some insight into the daily life going on around those festivals at the time the photographs were taken.

The NEMFA Heritage Book published in 2007 will be updated with current officers and festival locations added as a short addenda to the present book. I am presently working on these addenda and hope to have it completed shortly. If you haven't yet seen the NEMFA Heritage Book, there are still plenty available. Remember, that each book is only $10.00 eachand may be obtained by sending a check of $10.00 (payable to "NEMFA") plus $2.50 shipping and handling to the following address:

New England Music Festival - Heritage Book, PO Box 102, Templeton, Massachusetts 01468

If you would like to submit an article for this Bulletin regarding NEMFA-related or music education-related topics, please feel free to send it to me via e-mail at treynold@worldpath.net or via snail mail at NEMFA News-Bulletin, PO Box 102, Templeton, MA 01468.

Cordially,

Thomas E. Reynolds

 

Editor, NEMFA News-Bulletin

Every September, the NEMFA Web News Bulletin is also produced as a hard copy, sent to the entire membership via the United States Postal Service. In the hard copy version, you will also find a comprehensive mailing list of the entire membership of NEMFA. Please look over the membership list and let us know if you see areas where changes need to be made, especially where there might be new people teaching in schools because of retirements, etc. Also, it is a good opportunity for you to notice who is NOT on this list...perhaps this would be a good time to invite the new teacher in the school district next door to join NEMFA. To remain a vibrant organization, NEMFA needs to recruit new teachers who will carry the torch of the organization forward in the years and decades ahead. Please help us to broaden our membership to every corner of the six New England states! Please drop me a line at treynold@worldpath.net if you would like to have this hard copy version of the Bulletin sent to prospective new members!

 

Don't forget! The annual NEMFA Solo and Ensemble Festival Online Registration for the December S/E performances in White River Jct., VT and Cheshire, CT opens up on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2011 and REMAINS OPEN until OCTOBER 20, 2011. For further info., checkout the website at www.nemfa.org or contact Steffen Parker or Rob Gattie.

 

by Thomas E. Reynolds, Chair, Lowell Mason House Subcommittee

(Reprinted from the Massachusetts Music News, Fall 2011, Vol. 60, No. 1, pps. 51-53)

 

On March 14, 2010, Ms. Cynthia Grammer, President of the Massachusetts Music Educators' Association, asked me to take on a project that surfaced in late February/early March in the Town of Medfield. It seemed that a house on 25 Adams Street was in danger of being demolished.

 

On the surface, it would not appear to be a particularly special dwelling... that is, until it was discovered that this house, built after 1694 and sometime in the mid 1700's, was the birthplace of Lowell Mason, the first person to introduce music education to the public schools of the United States through his work in the Boston Public Schools. The music of Lowell Mason can still be heard in churches and schools across the country. In addition to his role introducing music education to American public schools, the prolific 19th-century American composer is famous for many hymns, including "Nearer My God to Thee. He is also the founder of the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston. But while Mason's musical legacy still endures almost two centuries after his death, the future of a historic landmark associated with his early life in Medfield remains uncertain.

 

On March 3, 2010 the Medfield Historical Commission unanimously voted to impose a one-year demolition delay on Nauset Construction Corp., the potential buyer of Mason's birthplace at 25 Adams Street, during a public hearing on the matter. A large turnout at the meeting provided the first signal that there was great interest in the Town of Medfield over this project. During the standing-room only hearing at Medfield Town Hall, the Historical Commission heard passionate testimony about the historical significance of Lowell Mason and his place of birth. While the condition of the house has deteriorated in recent years, outside consultants have agreed that the house is basically structurally sound and that restoration is worth exploring.

 

The Meetings Begin

Thirty-five people were present at the first organizational meeting, including neighbors of the Mason House property, two selectmen, the developer (buyer), the seller, numerous interested citizens, and three persons representing the Music Education constituency (Jerry Kazanjian of MMEA Retired, and a resident of Medfield; Thomas Reynolds MMEA Central District Chairperson and Chair of the MMEA Lowell Mason House Subcommittee, and Tim McGee, music educator and MMEA member of Sharon High School). Everyone, including the developer, was united in their desire to see all parties-the developer, the seller, and, what we later dubbed ourselves, The Friends of the Lowell Mason House-reach a win-win outcome. The most viable option for the house was for it to be moved, at a preliminary price tag of $40-$50,000.

 

Ideas were presented regarding the possible uses for the house. One suggestion was renting space in the Lowell Mason House for the offices of an organization such as MMEA. Another idea considered was renting first floor space to a music teacher for studio lessons or small recitals. Still another suggestion was to present chamber music concerts indoors and band concerts outdoors, with the possibility of student band groups touring and performing at the facility. A small museum could be a part of the house. Yale University and the University of Maryland have works of Lowell Mason in their collections that are affiliated with MENC. Perhaps some contents could be lent or given to the Lowell Mason House to become part of the museum collection. It could also serve as a local art gallery with art shows and concerts as part of rotating programs at the house. It would enable local artists to display and sell their work, an economically viable alternative. After the meeting, things began moving very quickly in a positive way. An e-mail news list was developed, along with website: www.lowellmasonhouse.com. The group voted to be known as the Lowell Mason Foundation and initiated plans to become a 501c(3) nonprofit organization. An aggressive fund raising campaign was begun, and within a year, we had raised $60,000.00...enough to move the building to a new site. The preparation of the new site, construction of a foundation with a full basement, and the actual movement of the building to its new site came to be known as the "Phase I" of the project. An informational brochure was printed and made available to interested parties. The web site was modified to accommodate online fundraising capabilities. A promotion video for Medfield TV (Cable 8) was made and shown extensively.

 

After looking at a number of different options, the Lowell Mason Foundation decided to accept a piece of land offered by the town of Medfield at 60 Green Street, adjacent to the Stephen Hinkley Memorial Park, with the Medfield Historical Society acting as fiscal agent until the new Lowell Mason Foundation could obtain its own 501c(3) non-profit status. Consultants provided guidance on structural engineering, architecture, and historical restorations, and determined costs to move the house to its new location.

 

 

The Movement of the House: Apr. 19,2011

On April 19, just 13 months after the project began, the Lowell Mason House was moved from Adams Road to its new home on Green Street in Medfield. It took an entire day to move the house a distance of just over one mile. Utility crews accompanied every foot of the move, making certain that utility lines were properly cleared as the house made its way to its new foundation with a full basement on town-owned land near the Stephen Hinkley Park on Green Street. The move has not been without its share of difficulties. While the building is structurally sound, the external cosmetic appearance of the Lowell Mason House is, at present, poor. The Lowell Mason House, in its present form, looks far less attractive than it does on the artist-rendition of it on the Lowell Mason Foundation Fund-Raising Brochure, and some families in the neighborhood have not been particularly enthused. Restoring the cosmetic appearance of the building in its new neighborhood is Phase II. Significantly more money is needed now, so that work on the internal and external restoration of the building may begin.

 

The Momentum Continues to Build

The Lowell Mason Foundation, Inc. is now certified as a 501-c3 organization and is in a continuous fundraising campaign to raise enough funds to bring the house to the next phase of restoration at a level that will be museum-quality when finished. With continued financial support and encouragement, the Foundation will have the backing it needs to complete this important task of preserving this historical property so significant to the history of music education and church music here in the United States. The members of the Foundation look forward to developing a closer partnership with MMEA as the project moves forward in the next phase of its completion.

 

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. Make checks payable to: The Lowell Mason Foundation, 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 is music director at The Bromfield School in Harvard, Massachusetts, is a member of the Lowell Mason Foundation, Inc. Executive Board, and presently serves as Past District Chairperson of the Massachusetts Music Educators' Association Executive Board. He also serves as a member of the Executive Boards of the New England Music Festival Association and the John Philip Sousa Foundation.