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   New England Music Festival Association, Inc.                  February 2014                                               Volume LXXVIII,  No. 2      


Latest News
NEMFA Officers 2013-14
President's Message
Secretary's Report
Future Concert Festival Dates
Hotels-Headquarters
Directions to Mt. Anthony UHS
Directions to Hotels & Reception
Ordering Concert Tickets
Ordering CDs & DVDs
Ordering T-Shirts
Other Concert Festival Info.
Chorus Re-Hearing Process
Chorus Program
Chorus Conductor
Chorus Manager
Orchestra Program
Orchestra Conductor
Orchestra Manager
Band Program
Band Conductor
Band Manager
NEMFA Archives
Lowell Mason House Project
NEMFA OFFICERS 
NEMFA Logo
2014 CONCERT HOSTS:

MARJORIE ROOEN
LYNN SWEET
Mt. Anthony Union High School
301 Park Street
Bennington, VT  05201
802.447.7511, x262
[email protected]
[email protected]


NEMFA OFFICERS 2013-2014

President
SAL CICCIARELLA
5 Jamestown Road,
Somers, CT 06071
860.749.7693 (H)
860.729.4410 (C)
[email protected] (H e-Mail)


Immediate Past-President, Librarian
FRANK A. WHITCOMB
Burlington High School
52 Institute Road,
Burlington, VT 05401
802.734.2871 (H)
802.864.8590 (O)
802.864.8408 (O Fax)
[email protected] (H e-Mail)
[email protected] (O e-Mail)


President-Elect
LAURA HILTON
Valley Regional High School
256 Kelsey Hill Road,
Deep River, CT 06417
860.526.5328, x2703 (O)
860.526.8123 (O Fax)
[email protected] (O e-Mail)


Executive Secretary-Treasurer
WILLIAM E. SITTARD
73 Beauchamp Terrace,
Chicopee, MA 01020
413.592.9197 (H)
413.594.9636 (H Fax)
413.478.7030 (O)
[email protected] (H e-Mail)


Recording Secretary
GAIL REYNOLDS
56 Harvest Hill Road,
Kensington, CT 06037
860.543.2992 (Cell)
[email protected] (O e-Mail)

Solo & Ensemble Festival Co-Coordinator
ROBERT E. GATTIE
Hartford High School
37 Highland Avenue,
White River Junction, VT 05001
603.675.5960(H)
802.295.8620x136(O)
802.295.8611 (Fax)
[email protected] (O e-Mail)

Solo & Ensemble Festival Co-Coordinator
STEFFEN PARKER
141 Butternut Road,
Williston, VT 05495
802.878.2898 (H)
802.343.6282 (O)
[email protected] (S&E e-Mail)


Band Manager
PETER ROACH
Fair Haven Union High School
33 Mechanics Street,
Fair Haven, VT 05743
802.265.4066 (O)
[email protected] (O e-Mail)


Chorus Manager
CALEB PILLSBURY
Mt. Mansfield Union High School
211 Browns' Trace Road,
Jericho, VT 05465-9700
802.999.7189 (H)
802.899.4690, x1620 (O)
802.899.2904 (O Fax)
[email protected] (O e-Mail)
[email protected] (H e-Mail)


Orchestra Manager
ANTHONY BRACKETT
8 Cottage Street
Provincetown, MA  02657
646.456.9041 (Cell)
[email protected] (H e-Mail)


Membership Services Chair
JOHN L. KUHNER
Cheshire Public Schools
525 South Main Street,
Cheshire, CT 06410
203.250.2534 (O)
203.250.2563 (O Fax)
[email protected] (O e-Mail)
[email protected] (H e-Mail))


Bulletin Editor, Archivist, Web Site Manager
THOMAS E. REYNOLDS
The Bromfield School
14 Massachusetts Avenue,
Harvard, MA 01451
617.529-9402 (H)
978-456-4152, x571 (O)
978-456-3013 (O Fax)
[email protected] (H e-Mail)

 

Web Info
www.nemfa.org

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:
[email protected].

 

NEMFA Calendar 2013-2014
March 20-22, 2014 87th Annual NEMFA Concert Festival
Mt. Anthony Union High School, Bennington, VT
June 7, 2014 Executive Board Meeting, 10:00am, Holiday Inn Express, Brattleboro, VT  
President's Message -
Sal Cicciarella
Sal Cicciarella

February, 2014

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

As 2013 becomes a faint memory we look forward to renewed goals and promises for 2014. Setting professional goals and renewing our musical spirit has always included attending musical performances and activities resulting from the hard work of many music educators from the New England area, and most importantly recognizing our students' achievements as they attain their own personal and musical goals.

 

The NEMFA Concert Festival will be held at Mount Anthony Union High School, Bennington, VT, on March 20-22, 2014. Please visit our NEMFA web site for the latest concert festival information with new registration forms and procedures for easier membership access.

 

Mount Anthony Union High School is situated on the western boarder of Vermont and New York offering a myriad of travel adventures. There are many dining establishments nearby and many area towns offer shopping for all tastes.

 

Our hosts, Marjorie Rooen and Lynn Sweet, have done an outstanding job preparing to welcome our student musicians and colleagues. The executive board of NEMFA would like to express our deepest appreciation to those many people who have devoted endless hours to ensure a friendly and musical experience for all participants. Thank you to the entire Bennington Board of Education, Music Department, administration, staff, parents, and hosts.

 

Our Solo & Ensemble Festival held in Hartford, Vermont and in Cheshire, Connecticut was, as expected, a successful and productive weekend for all even with the challenges presented to us by mother nature. Final selections of students accepted into our festival band, chorus, and orchestra were made possible through the dedicated work of Steffen Parker and Robert Gattie and our managers and members of the executive board.

 

Director's Forum: A String Repertoire Forum is scheduled for Thursday evening, March 20 at 7:00 PM at the middle school. Topics for discussion, in particular, will be revising the S&E Violin repertoire for future consideration by our board and chaired by our Orchestra Manager, Tony Brackett. You are encouraged to attend and share your perspective and comments with other NEMFA professionals in a collegial atmosphere. Refreshments will be served too!

 

Our managers have again organized challenging programs for our student performers. Tony Brackett, Peter Roach, and Caleb Pillsbury, mangers of the orchestra, concert band, and chorus, have promised a positive musical experience for the ensembles while being conducted by outstanding directors in our profession.

 

Please be sure to read the Ensemble Manager's Comments page found later in this bulletin for further information relating to their ensembles.

 

Be sure you are familiar with our on-site hearing policy. President-Elect, Laura Hilton has continued a plan for implementation for this policy with fairness for our choral students, while insuring a positive and musical pre-festival experience. Specific time slots will be assigned to your students very soon.

 

I look forward to greeting you in Bennington, VT, and anticipate a wonderful reunion by old friends and meeting new friends. Our connections to music are strong and will continue to grow with positive experiences like NEMFA for our students and colleagues.

 

Sincerely,

 

Sal Cicciarella

 

President, NEMFA

 

 

Secretary's Report -
Gail Reynolds
Gail Reynolds

MINUTES OF THE NEMFA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

January 3, 7:00 PM

Comfort Suites, Cheshire, CT.

 

The Meeting was called to order by President Sal Cicciarella at 7:13 P.M.

 

In attendance: Sal Cicciarella, Laura Hilton, Gail Reynolds, Bill Sittard, Frank Whitcomb, Tom Reynolds, Steffen Parker, Rob Gattie, Tony Brackett, Peter Roach and Caleb Pillsbury.

 

Member Apologies: John Kuhner

 

Guests: Frank May

 

Minutes from the September 7, 2013 meeting were read by Gail Reynolds. A motion by Steffen Parker to accept as read was passed.

 

Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Bill Sittard reported that NEMFA remains in good financial standing. A motion by Steffen Parker to accept the report was passed.

 

Band Manager, Peter Roach reported that everything is in good order in preparation for the selection meeting.

 

Orchestra Manager, Tony Bracket reported that all is in good shape. After some discussion, a decision regarding the procedure for doubling of the wind assignments was agreed upon.

 

Chorus Manager, Caleb Pillsbury reported that the rehearsal tracks were completed by Kathleen Bartkowski and will be soon available to students as mp3 files on nemfa.org. He reported that he is in the process of securing pianists and teachers for the on-site hearings. Gail Reynolds reported that the violin accompaniment part was not very difficult and Caleb indicated that he would mail her the part. All remains on board with the conductor.

 

Bulletin Editor & Website Manager, Tom Reynolds, reported that he met with Lance Leifert of Conquest Consulting on Sept. 13 to discuss ongoing problems with the nemfa.org website. After experiencing two crashes while experimenting with the site, Mr. Leifert indicated that he was genuinely concerned what the site could totally fail at any moment. Mr. Leifert recommended that he draw up a proposal for a complete rewrite of the site and then move it onto a server in CT. After hearing this report, the board decided that it was vital to correct the problem as soon as possible. The board discussed the information provided by Mr. Leifert and a proposal from Mr. Steffen Parker for the work needed to remedy the problem. A motion by Rob Gattie that Steffen Parker be hired to rebuild and maintain our website was approved by eleven votes for and an abstention from Steffen Parker.

 

Solo & Ensemble Festival Co-Chairs Report, Steffen Parker & Rob Gattie. Rob Gattie reported that the rescheduling of the southern site S & E Festival affected only a few adjudicators. Steffen Parker reported a loss of 25 students due to the rescheduled adjudication date and had a few add-ons. He reported that several students indicated that they had a legitimate hardship that forced them to cancel out of the rescheduled date. Steffen recommended that the board consider accepting recorded adjudications from students who can prove legitimate hardships in lieu of an on-site performance.Following discussion, the board decided to revisit this issue at the general meeting in March.

 

Choral On-Site Hearing Policy update. Caleb Pillsbury reported that he and Laura Hilton continue to work on the on-site hearing procedure. Steffen Parker will make a schedule for the hearings with input from Caleb.

 

Performance Certificates Report, Steffen Parker and Gail Reynolds. Steffen Parker reported that he continues to work on designing downloadable certificates that can be easily printed by sponsors. The EB tabled their decision to issue hardcopy certificates.

 

President-Elect, Laura Hilton, suggested that the EB consider adding a snow date for the Solo & Ensemble Festival. A motion by Steffen Parker to create a shared snow date on the third week of December to accommodate a canceled Solo & Ensemble Festival passed unanimously.

 

Old Business.

  • President Sal Cicciarella announced several upcoming dates.

                  This year's Concert Festival is March 20-22 at Mt. Anthony Union HS,  Bennington, Vermont.

 

                  The June EB meeting will be on the 7th at the Holiday Inn in Brattleboro, VT

 

                  The 2015 Concert Festival will be March 19-21 at Keene HS, Keene, New  Hampshire.

      .

  • President Cicciarella reported that the Dean of Women position remains vacant for the 2014 Concert Festival.
  • President Cicciarella reported that he has received no recent communication from the 2014 Concert Festival hosts.
  • President Cicciarella reiterated that the program draft is to be proofed by Steffen Parker and the ensemble managers before going to print.

 

New Business.

 

The EB reviewed and discussed a letter received by the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association. Following discussion, the following was agreed upon:

 

  1. Tony Brackett will organize and head a sub-committee of NEMFA string specialists. They will review the S & E violin repertoire list regarding the length of the list and degree of difficulty between the pieces. They will submit findings and make recommendations to him prior to the March concert festival.
  2. Tony Brackett, will organize and oversee a forum at the March concert festival to discuss the sub-committee's findings and recommendations regarding the violin repertoire list.
  3. Tony Brackett will invite the VYOA representatives to meet with him during the concert festival to discuss additional concerns addressed in their letter, if they so desire.
  4. Tony Brackett volunteered to communicate the Board's decisions to the VYOA representatives.

 

 

Gail Reynolds presented the final draft of the concert dedication to the memory of Bill Eriksen. The draft was accepted. She will submit the dedication to the host for inclusion in the concert festival program.

 

President Sal Cicciarella will invite Don and Maryann Hermance to the concert.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:35 P.M.

 

The next NEMFA EB meeting will be held Friday, March 21, 2014 at 10:30 A.M. at Mt. Anthony Union H.S.

 

 

                                                                     Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                        Gail Reynolds

                                                                        Recording Secretary


Future NEMFA Concert Festival Dates
NEMFA Logo
     March 20-22, 2014 - Bennington, VT

     March 19-21, 2015 - Keene, NH

     March 17-19, 2016

 

Be sure to mark these dates into your calendars. We also need host schools for these concert festivals. If you have never hosted a NEMFA Concert Festival at your school, please do consider it. 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,  

Hotels & Headquarters in Bennington, VT
NEMFA Logo

 

87th New England Music Festival

Mount Anthony Union High School,  

Bennington, VT

March 20-22, 2014

 

 

Best Western New Englander - Headquarters

220 Northside Drive

Bennington, Vermont 05201

(802) 442-6311

Please mention the New England Music Festival when making reservations

Rooms start at $65.00

 

Paradise Inn

141 Main Street

Bennington, Vermont 05201

(802) 442-8351

Assigned Code Number & Reference Name: 16 NE Fest

Rooms Start at $75.00 - $110.00

 

Other Hotels

Hampton Inn - (note there is a wrestling tournament on Saturday and half of the rooms have been reserved for the coaches and players)

51 Hannaford Square

Bennington, VT 05201

(802) 440-9862

 

Four Chimneys Inn

21 West Road

Bennington, VT

(802) 447-3500


 

Directions to Mt. Anthony Union HS
NEMFA Logo

From the North: (Burlington Area) head to Rt. 7 South all the way to Bennington. You will have a traffic light at the end of the highway and the street is Kocher Drive. Take a left at the light (there is a Burger King in the strip mall there). Go to the next light, which is Park Street, and take a right turn. Approximately .5 miles on the left hand side is Mt. Anthony Union High School. Your vehicle can pull up to the circle to drop off students then you will be directed where to park.

 

From the East: Take Rt. 9 in Vermont east to Bennington. When you get into town take a right at the first light (Henry's Market is on the southwest corner) on to Branch Street. Follow the road curving left. The next light is Park Street and the school is on the right side. Turn right on to Park Street and pull into the circle to drop students off. You will be directed where to park.

 

From the South: Take Rt. 7 to Bennington and go to the second traffic light (just past the Dunkin Donuts). Turn right on County Street. Go to the next light and turn left on to Park Street. The High School is on the right. Your vehicle can pull up to the circle to drop off students then you will be directed where to park.

 

 

Teacher cars: Please park in the center area or in the lot across from the High School. You will be directed where to park. School is in session Thursday and Friday so parking will be at a minimum until 3:00pm. Saturday will be a little congested with all the parents coming for the concert.

 

 

To the Middle School: The orchestra will be rehearsing in our new middle school. It is one mile north on Park Street from the high school on the right hand side. From the high school take a right out of the parking lot. Go through one light up the hill. The middle school is on the right where there is another light. You will be directed where to park.

 

 

Direction to Hotels & Reception
NEMFA Logo

Directions to Best Western -

NEMFA Headquarters

 

From the High School - Take a right turn out of the parking lot and go to the light. Take a left turn at the light on to Kocher/Northside Drive and go about 1.5 miles to the Best Western. The hotel will be on your left side, across from the bowling alley and Dairy Bar.

 

From the Middle School - Take a left out of the parking lot and go to the light. Take a right on to Kocher/Northside Drive and go about 1.5 miles to the Best Western. The hotel will be on your left side, across from the bowling alley and Dairy Bar.

 

 

Directions to the Paradise Inn

(Overflow Hotel)

 

From the High School - Take a left out of the parking lot and go to the light. Take a right turn on to County Street and go all the way to the end. Take a left turn on to Benmont Avenue and follow to the light. Take a right turn on to Main Street and you should see the Paradise Inn on your left. Take a left turn in to Parking lot and park. The office is in the rear building.

 

From the Middle School - Take a left out of the parking lot and go to the light. Take a right on to Kocher/Northside Drive. . Go to the Second light and make a left hand turn (by KFC/Taco Bell) on to Northside Drive/Benmont Avenue. Go to the light (Main Street). Take a right turn on to Main Street and you should see the Paradise Inn on your left. Take a left turn in to Parking lot and park. The office is in the rear building.

 

Directions to Mount Anthony Country Club Banquet

 

From the High School - Take a left out of the driveway to County Street (the light) then take a right turn. Go all the way down County Street to Benmont Avenue and take a right turn. Take a right turn on to Benmont Avenue and go about 0.2 miles to Leonard Street. Take a left turn on to Leonard Street and go to the end which is Convent Avenue. Take a right turn on to Convent Avenue and go to the End which is Bank Street. Take a left turn on to Bank Street and go to Country Club Drive. Take a right turn on to Country Club Drive (the driveway to the Country Club) and park.

 

From the Middle School - Take a left turn out of the driveway on to Park Street. Go to the light and take a right turn on to Kocher/Northside Drive. Go to the Second light and make a left hand turn (by KFC/Taco Bell) on to Northside Drive/Benmont Avenue. Take a sharp right turn on to Hunt Street and follow it to the left where it turns into Bank Street. Follow Bank Street around to Country Club Drive. Take a right turn on to Country Club Drive (the driveway to the Country Club) and park.

 

From the Best Western - Take a right out of the parking lot on to Northside Drive. Follow Northside Drive to the right when it splits by Aldi's and KFC. Take a sharp right turn on to Hunt Street and follow it to the left where it turns into Bank Street. Follow Bank Street around to Country Club Drive. Take a right turn on to Country Club Drive (the driveway to the Country Club) and park.

 

From the Paradise Inn - Take a left turn out of the parking lot on to Main Street. Take a right turn on to Convent Avenue and go to the end of the road where it meets Bank Street. Take a left turn on to Bank Street and go to Country Club Drive. Take a right turn on to Country Club Drive (the driveway to the Country Club) and park.

 

Ordering Concert Tickets
NEMFA Logo
87th ANNUAL NEW ENGLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL
TICKET ORDER FORM
March 22nd Band/Orchestra Concert 2:00 pm MAUHS Gym
March 22nd Chorus Concert 4:30 pm MAUHS Gym
Band/Orchestra Concert Chorus Concert
#_________ #__________
Total # of tickets ___________ X $12.00 each
Total Enclosed $_________
Make check payable to MAUHS
Name:_________________________________
School:________________________________
Address:_______________________________
Town/Zip:______________________________ Phone:_________________________________
Send check, order form & self-addressed, stamped envelope to:
Christina Gabrus
MAUHS
301 Park Street
Bennington, Vermont 05201

 

Ordering Concert Festival Recordings - CD & DVD
NEMFA Logo
87th New England Music Festival
CD & DVD Order Form
March 22, 2014
Mt. Anthony UHS - Bennington, VT
To order a video or audio recording of the concerts, you may:
1) Visit the sales table on concert day
2) Purchase online at: http://www.ConcertRecordingCompany.com/NEMFA
3) By Mail: Return this order form with check payable to:
Concert Recording Company
55 Eaton Avenue
Meredith, NH 03253
Price Qty $ Total x
PHYSICAL MEDIA
CD (anticipated 2-CD set) $25 ____ __________
DVD $30 ____ __________
Combo Savings! DVD + CD $45 ____ __________
DIGITAL DOWNLOADS
MP3 Song Downloads $25 ____ __________
MP4 Hi-Def Movie Downloads $30 ____ __________
Combo Savings! MP3 Song and MP4 Movie Downloads $45 ____ __________
TOTAL ENCLOSED $ __________
NAME_____________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS__________________________________________________________________
CITY__________________________________ STATE_______ ZIP__________________
PHONE_________________________
EMAIL (print clearly)____________________________________________________________
Email address REQUIRED for mp3 and mp4 downloads. NEMFA2014
Thank you! Questions? Call 603-707-2729, or Email [email protected]
CONCERT RECORDING COMPANY, 55 Eaton Avenue, Meredith, NH 03253

 

Ordering Concert Festival T-Shirts
NEMFA Logo
2014 New England Music Festival 2014
Mount Anthony Union High School - Bennington
T-SHIRT ORDER FORM
Additional t-shirts will be available to purchase at the
Festival for $15.00 each ($17.00 for XXL)
Complete order form below and mail to:
Christina Gabrus
Mount Anthony High School
301 Park Street
Bennington, Vt. 05201
(Make checks payable to: MAUHS)
................................................................................................................
2014 New England Music Festival Order Form
#________ Size - S M L XL $12.00 each $__________
(circle)
#________ Size - XXL $14.00 each $__________
#________ Size - S M L XL $16.00 each $__________
(circle)
Long Sleeve (PRE ORDER ONLY)
#________ Size - XXL $18.00 each $__________
Long Sleeve (PRE ORDER ONLY)
Total Amount Enclosed $__________
Student's Name (please print) _________________________________________________________
School Name______________________________ Ensemble___________________________
Mailing Address ________________________________________________________________________
City, State and Zip ______________________________________________________________________
Telephone # ( )____________________ or e-mail ______________________________________

 

Other 87th NEMFA Concert Festival Info
NEMFA Logo
For all NEMFA Concert Festival Forms, along with
a complete rehearsal and meeting schedule for the
event, please go to www.nemfa.org and click on
"Concert Festival".
PLEASE REVIEW:
NEMFA Chorus On-Site Hearing Policy/Process-  Robert Gattie & Caleb Pillsbury

Chorus Onsite Hearing Policy & Process

Adopted December 7, 2012

Revised December 13, 2013

 

Purpose: To verify that all students attending the Festival Chorus are adequately prepared so as to provide for the optimum musical experience for all students collectively, and to support our member's desires to provide a quality musical experience for all students.

 

Process:

Who- All students will sing sections from three or more pieces in the program to demonstrate preparation.

 

How- The Onsite Hearing will be done in a double quartet with live keyboard accompaniment provided as needed.

 

What- Music selections will not necessarily represent the most difficult passages that a group of students coming together for the first time would struggle with. They should however be passages that will be able to represent an acceptable level of preparation rather than some good sight-reading. These passages will be selected by the Chorus Manager and approved by at least 2 others, either Chorus Committee members or Executive Board members.

 

When- The Onsite Hearing process will start when students first arrive and will be completed prior to the start of the first rehearsal. The hearing times will be scheduled and all directors/sponsors will be notified.

 

Where- The host school will work with the Chorus Manager to provide the necessary rooms for the time needed. There will be approximately 30 groups of 8 students, each needing 10 minutes. Using three rooms, that would mean taking a bit less than 2 hours to complete the process.

 

Who listens- The Chorus Manager will solicit the help of NEMFA members to hear the double quartets. There will be two members in each room to help assure a balanced decision.

 

Results- Students:

Prepared students

All students who are adequately prepared will take their places in the Festival Chorus.

 

Unprepared students

Unprepared students will work with their own teacher/sponsor or a NEMFA provided instructor, in spaces provided by the host school, attempting to raise their level of preparation to an acceptable minimum. Students may miss no more than 1 hour of the first rehearsal to accomplish this at which time they will join the full rehearsal. The association will at this time take in good faith the preparation level of the student to be adequate.

 

2014 NEMFA Chorus Program

Hallelujah from Mount of Olives -Beethoven

Bogorodiste Devo- Rachmaninoff

La Danza- Rossini/ arr. Mulholland

Ave Maris Stella- Thomas

I Carry your Heart- Dickau

El Vito- arr. Wilberg

John The Revelator- arr. Caldwell/Ivory
2014 NEMFA Chorus Conductor -
Dr. Pearl Shangkuan
Pearl Shangkuan

A sought after conductor and clinician all across the United States and internationally, Dr. Pearl Shangkuan is a professor of Music at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan where she directs choirs and teaches choral conducting and choral literature. She is also the chorus master (endowed Covenant Chair) of the Grammy-nominated Grand Rapids Symphony. Her performances and preparation of choruses consistently receive outstanding reviews for their combination of precision, artistry and passion. In addition to her Mosaic: the Pearl Shangkuan choral series for earthsongs, she serves as the music editor of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship choral series, published by GIA.

 

Her choirs have performed at national, division and state conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and other professional music conferences in the United States. Recent conducting engagements took her to Austria, South Africa, Hong Kong, and all across the United States. She has conducted honor choirs for several ACDA divisions and has been a headliner for various ACDA state conferences. She has led performances and given workshops all across the US and in Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and the Philippines), as well as in Austria, Australia, and Canada.

 

Dr. Shangkuan has served as guest faculty in prominent professional programs in the US including the Chorus America national conference conducting masterclass and its A Capella Conducting Masterclass, the University of Michigan Choral Conducting Symposium, the Westminster Choir College Summer Session among many others. She has conducted all-state, honor choirs and festivals in numerous states.

 

She has served on the National Board of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) as the president of the Central Division (2007-09), and as Michigan ACDA state president (2003-05). Prior to her appointment at Calvin College, Dr. Shangkuan taught at Rutgers University and at the Westminster Conservatory of Music of Rider University in New Jersey.

 

Recipient of the Grand Rapids YWCA's Tribute! Award for outstanding professional women, she is also a past recipient of its Woman of Achievement award. Dr. Shangkuan has also served on the national board of the Choristers Guild and the board of the New Jersey Music Teachers Association and the New Jersey ACDA. She is a member of the ACDA (American Choral Directors Association), Chorus America, IFCM (International Federation for Choral Music), and is a member of the Phi Kappa Lambda and Mu Phi Epsilon Music Honor Societies.

 

A student of pre-eminent American choral conductor and New York Philharmonic chorusmaster Dr. Joseph Flummerfelt, she received a Bachelor of Music in Church Music summa cum laude and Master of Music in Choral Conducting with distinction from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and a DMA in Choral Conducting from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

 

2014 NEMFA Chorus Manager
Caleb Pillsbury
Caleb Pillsbury

Hello to all as we look forward meeting again in Bennington, Vermont!

 

Our conductor is Dr. Pearl Shangkuan and you can find her bio below with the program for the 2014 New England Music Festival Chorus.

 

Chorus Re-Hearing Policy

This was included with all students in the folders. You can find it in the bulletin above as well.

 

There are rehearsal tracks and a Church Slavonic pronunciation guide for the students at

https://sites.google.com/a/cesuvt.org/mmu-music/nemfa-tracks 

 

Downloadable MP3 files at

https://sites.google.com/a/cesuvt.org/mmu-music/nemfa-tracks/nemfa-music-files 

 

For the students to have a superior musical experience preparation is the key. Although they are stressful, we will strive to make the Re-Hearing Process as nurturing and supportive as possible for all Chorus Members. Please take some time to sing through the music with your students and help them with any difficult rhythmic or melodic passage. The work done ahead of time will reap tremendous rewards for the students in the performance!

 

I am confident this will be a spectacular musical experience for your students.

 

Most Sincerely,

 

Caleb Pillsbury

 

2014 NEMFA Orchestra Program

Rossini - Overture to la Gazza Ladra
Berlioz - Hungarian March from  The Damnation of Faust
Tchaikovsky - Marche Slave
2014 NEMFA Orchestra Conductor -
Dr. Adam Glaser
Adam Glaser
With a growing reputation for his innovative programming and charismatic personality on and off the podium, Adam Glaser is
one of the most promising young conductors on the music scene today. Now in his 14th season on the conducting faculty of the Juilliard School Pre-College Division, Mr. Glaser conducts the esteemed Juilliard Pre-College Orchestra, a professional-caliber ensemble he leads in regular concerts at New York's Lincoln Center, and serves as Chair of the division's Conducting Department.

Mr. Glaser is the Resident Principal Conductor of the Usdan Center for the Arts on Long Island, NY, where he recently directed Usdan's orchestra, chorus and dance company in a gala performance of selections from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. Building on his profound commitment to arts education and community engagement, Mr. Glaser is the creator and host of a new series recently premiered at New York's prestigious Morgan Library & Museum, The Composer's Paintbrush, in which he explores the creative techniques behind music's most inspiring masterworks.

Mr. Glaser has received awards from the Hermitage Artist Retreat and the American-Austrian Foundation, whose Karajan Fellowship for Young Conductors sponsored his residence at the Salzburg Festival and the Vienna Philharmonic's Attergau Orchestra Institute. Guest conducting appearances include performances with the Victoria Symphony (BC), the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, along with the orchestras of the Curtis Institute of Music, the University of Michigan, the New York Summer Music Festival, the New England Music Festival, and the Connecticut All-State Music Festival. Passionate about opera and vocal music, Mr. Glaser served as Music Director for the Curtis Opera Theater's production of La Trag�die de Carmen (Bizet/Constant), earning critical praise for leading the orchestra in "a sinewy and carefully balanced sound" (Philadelphia City Paper).

An established composer, Mr. Glaser has enjoyed performances of his works by over 20 major orchestras throughout the U.S. and Canada, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, along with the orchestras of Toronto, Phoenix, Utah, New Mexico, Long Island, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Illinois, Victoria (BC), Richmond, South Bend, Toledo, Regina (SK), Naples, the University of Michigan, Central Washington University, Cornell University,
William and Mary, and Stanford University.

A former marketing executive and consultant to Fortune 500 companies, Mr. Glaser maintains a keen interest in commercial music, audio branding and the use of music and sound throughout the business world. He is the founder of Glaser Music, Inc. (GMI), which specializes in the creation of original music for film, television, advertising, corporate/retail and new media.

Mr. Glaser earned a diploma in orchestral conducting from the Curtis Institute of Music, a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School Pre-College Division in composition, and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.
2014 NEMFA Orchestra Manager -
Anthony Brackett
Tony Brackett
The NEMFA Orchestra welcomes Adam Glaser back to the podium. Mr. Glaser is the conductor of The Juilliard School's Pre-College Orchestra, has conducted Regional Festivals in NY and CT, CT All-State Orchestra and most recently the 2013 All-Eastern Honors Orchestra. He has selected a very challenging program. Refer to the following links on YouTube to assist you in your preparation of the music:

 

Rossini La Gazza Ladra Overture - Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezt0R12pEQg 

 

Berlioz Hungarian March from The Damnation of Faust - Vienna Philharmonic, Sir George Solti

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yFU8SikrKA 

 

Tchaikovsky Marche Slave - Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBJjT2jF6Gk 

 

Please be sure to bring these with you to the festival: Folding music stand, reeds, strings, mutes, music, sharpened pencils, end pin rests for celli

 

String Seating Policy

All string students are invited to audition for principal chair within their section. These short auditions will take place at the beginning of Thursday's rehearsal. You will be asked to play small excerpts from the orchestra music. While not mandatory for section players, this audition IS MANDATORY for those assigned principal as per the Solo & Ensemble Festival. We encourage everyone interested to participate. The Conductor and Orchestra Manager reserve the right to reseat a section should they feel this would help the ensemble. Their decisions are final.   

Concert Dress

Men: Dark suit (black preferred), dark shoes, dark socks, four-in-hand tie and collared white shirt. No athletic shoes or sandals. Black Tuxedos (with above accessories) are also acceptable.

Women: Black, long-sleeved top (no bare midriff, shoulders or low neckline) and a solid bottom (below the knees black skirt or black dress pants), black hose and dark shoes. No athletic shoes or sandals. Long (below-the-knees) black gowns/dresses (with the above accessories) are also acceptable. All Concert dress shall be in conservative good taste.

 

Clarinets - Please note that you will need use of an A clarinet.

Horns and Trumpets - Please be sure to work out the transpositions in your music.

 

Please join me in a String Repertoire Forum on Thursday, March 20 from 7:00-8:30 in the Middle School. A committee has been established to assess all string solo repertoire currently existing on the NEMFA Solo & Ensemble lists. Various string teachers, orchestra directors, private teachers and Executive Board members will meet to discuss string repertoire and try to narrow down the lists to make them more manageable.  

 

I look forward to meeting all of you in March.

 

Tony Brackett


Orchestra Manager

 

2014 NEMFA Band Program

Celebration Fanfare                                  Steven Reineke           

 

Rest                                                           Frank Ticheli                  

 

Istvan from "Sinfonia Hungarica"              Jan Van der Roost
2014 NEMFA Band Conductor
Dr. Peter Boonshaft
Peter Boonshaft

Called one of the most exciting and exhilarating voices in music education today, Peter Loel Boonshaft has been invited to speak or conduct in every state in the nation and around the world.  He holds Bachelor of Music (Summa Cum Laude), Master of Music Education in Conducting, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees.  Dr. Boonshaft was also awarded a Connecticut General Fellowship for study at the Kod�ly Musical Training Institute, from which he holds a Certificate.  He is currently on the faculty of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, where he is Professor of Music and Director of Bands.  He is Conductor of the Hofstra University Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, professor of conducting and music education, and Director of the graduate wind conducting program.  Prior to this appointment, Dr. Boonshaft was on the faculty of Moravian College and the University of Hartford.  He was Founder and Music Director of the Pennsylvania Youth Honors Concert Band and the Connecticut Valley Youth Wind Ensemble.  In addition, he held the post of Music Director and Conductor of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony of Boston.

 

Dr. Boonshaft is the author of the critically acclaimed best-selling books Teaching Music with Passion, Teaching Music with Purpose, and Teaching Music with Promise, as well as his first book for all educators, Teaching with Passion, Purpose and Promise.  He is also co-author of Alfred Music Publishing's new beginning method book series, Sound Innovations for Band and Sound Innovations for Strings, as well as Sound Innovations: Ensemble Development for Intermediate Concert Band and Sound Innovations: Ensemble Development for Advanced Concert Band.  In addition, he is the author of Vaclav Nelhybel: His Life and Works, the only authorized biography of the composer, a contributing author of The Music Director's Cookbook: Creative Recipes for a Successful Program, and author of articles for Instrumentalist Magazine, the National Band Association Journal, Teaching Music, and Band Director's Guide.  Dr. Boonshaft also holds the post of Band/Wind Ensemble Editor for the School Music News.  Active as a proponent of new literature for concert band, he has commissioned and conducted over forty world premieres by such notable composers as Eric Ewazen, W. Francis McBeth, Johan de Meij, Fisher Tull, H. Owen Reed, Vaclav Nelhybel, David Gillingham, Philip Sparke, Satoshi Yagisawa, Rossano Galante, Sam Hazo, Andrew Boysen, Brian Hogg, Robert W. Smith, David Holsinger, Stephen Melillo, Roland Barrett, and Jared Spears.  Among the soloists who have appeared in performance with Dr. Boonshaft are John Marcellus, Maynard Ferguson, Harvey Phillips, Marianne Gedigian, Ed Shaughnessy, Lynn Klock, Don Butterfield, Dave Steinmeyer and the United States Air Force "Airmen of Note," Chester Schmitz, and the Vienna Schubert Trio.

 

Dr. Boonshaft was honored by the National Association for Music Education and Music For All as the first recipient of the "George M. Parks Award for Leadership in Music Education," and has been awarded membership in Pi Kappa Lambda and Alpha Chi, as well as twice receiving the University of Hartford Regent's Award and that University's Outstanding Music Educator Award.  He has received official proclamations from the Governors of five states and a Certificate of Appreciation from former President Ronald Reagan, as well as performing for former President and Mrs. George H. W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton, and for Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.  His honors also include being selected three times as a National Endowment for the Arts "Artist in Residence," three times awarded Honorary Life Membership in the Tri-M Music Honor Society, and being selected for the Center for Scholarly Research and Academic Excellence at Hofstra University. 

Extremely active as a guest conductor, clinician and speaker for conferences, festivals, concerts and workshops nationally and internationally, he has guest conducted the NAfME (The National Association for Music Education) All-Eastern Band, NAfME All-Northwest Band, NAfME All-Eastern Directors Band, Goldman Memorial Band, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band, U.S. Marine Band New Orleans, Western International Band Clinic, Prague Castle Guard/Czech Police Symphonic Band, and was named conductor of the NAfME National High School Honors Band.  In addition, he has been an adjudicator and clinician for the Music For All/Bands of America National Concert Band Festival.  He has served as a speaker for the Canadian Music Educators Association National Convention, NAfME National Conference, American Band College, Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, Music For All/Bands and Orchestras of America Symposium, Samuel Barber Institute for Music Educators, Music Education Center of America, East Asia Regional Council of Schools in China, Singapore Ministry of Education Band Conference, Conn-Selmer Institute, KIPP National School Summit, NESA Council of Overseas Schools Conference in Thailand, and as keynote speaker for the NAfME Northwest Division Conference, NAfME Southern Division Conference, European Music Educators Convention, National Convention of the American String Teachers Association, National Convention of the American School Band Directors Association, ACDA Western Division Conference, Maryborough Music Conference of Australia, National Conference of the Organization of American Kod�ly Educators, and numerous international, national, state and regional music education conferences.
2014 NEMFA Band Manager
Peter Roach
Peter Roach

 We are excited to welcome Dr. Peter Boonshaft as the guest conductor for the New England Music Festival Band. He comes to us from Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, where he is Professor of Music and Director of the Graduate Conducting Program.  Dr. Boonshaft was honored by the National Association for Music Education and Music For All as the first recipient of the "George M. Parks Award for Leadership in Music Education," has received official proclamations from the Governors of five states and a Certificate of Appreciation from former President Ronald Reagan, as well as performing for former President and Mrs. George H. W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton, and for Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.  His honors also include being selected three times as a National Endowment for the Arts "Artist in Residence," three times awarded Honorary Life Membership in the Tri-M Music Honor Society, and being selected for the Center for Scholarly Research and Academic Excellence at Hofstra University.  He has selected a wonderful program to include: "Istvan" the third movement from Jan Van Der Roost's "Sinfonia Hungarica" Steven Reineke's "Celebration Fanfare" and Frank Ticheli's "Rest". We are anxiously awaiting this year's festival in March at Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington VT.  



Peter Roach, NEMFA Band Manager, is the Band Director at Fair Haven Union High School in Fair Haven, Vermont.
NEMFA Archives -
Thomas Reynolds
Tom Reynolds
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 each and 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 [email protected] or via snail mail at NEMFA News-Bulletin, PO Box 102, Templeton, MA 01468.

Cordially,

Thomas E. Reynolds

 

Editor, NEMFA News-Bulletin


 

Lowell Mason House Project
Lowell Mason Poster

by Thomas E. Reynolds

 

LOWELL MASON HOUSE REPORT

 

June 15, 2013

 

The Lowell Mason Foundation has been brainstorming ways of raising the necessary $250,000.00 to complete the restoration of the house, to turn it into a museum and a meeting place. Now that the house has been saved and moved, the next step is to restore the interior and exterior of the house and equip it with services, such as electricity, and water.

 

One major fund-raising project for the Lowell Mason Foundation which also may be used to support music education initiatives in local schools is the Lowell Mason Music Education poster, shown at the top of this article. A beautiful, full color poster designed by Mrs. Barbara Bose, Foundation members are hoping that music educators around New England would be interested in having  the poster prominently displayed in music rooms throughout the region. The poster sells for $15.00 each and directly supports the restoration of the Lowell Mason House...however, the Lowell Mason Foundation is open to have student music groups at various schools sell the poster for $15.00, with $10.00 going to the restoration of the Lowell Mason House and $5.00 going to the local music student group as a way of supporting student music education initiatives. We are hopeful that a number of schools will want to take part in this fund-raising project.

 

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

 

 

Once again, we hope that you enjoy this new format of the bulletin. Please feel free to drop me a line at [email protected] for any comments or suggestions to improve the Bulletin. It will also have a direct link on our website, www.nemfa.org.

Hope that you are having a great school year!

 

Thomas Reynolds

New England Music Festival Association, Inc.