PMEA District 8 News and Announcements
Region IV Band Music Read-Thru (1/21/08)
Sunday, February 3rd ~ 1:00pm-3:00pm
Central Columbia High School
All students participating in the Region IV Band Festival are invited to Central Columbia High School on Sunday, February 3rd for a music read-thru/rehearsal to prepare for the festival.
In case of inclement weather, please check the PMEA D8 website for possible cancellation information.
District 8 Jazz Festival Information UPDATED: (1/21/08)
For more detailed information regarding the 2008 District 8 Jazz Festival - please visit the Mansfield High School webpage dedicated to the District 8 Jazz Festival. http://www.southerntioga.org/pages/schools/DistrictJazz.htm
District Jazz Band Announced: Roster (.pdf)
Middle School Music Camp (1/21/08)
The Heights Retreat and Arts Center (Central Oak Heights - West Milton, PA)
JUNE 16 - 20, 2008
Band, Chorus & String Students (Grades 6,7,8)
5th grade students accepted as day campers
with band, chorus or orchestra teacher recommendation.
This music camp will offer opportunities to experience musicianship classes, sectional rehearsals, private lessons, piano ensemble, orff ensemble, and folk dancing. Recreation will include swimming, water balloon volleyball, basketball, tennis, plus a live performance by members of the camp staff. The week will conclude with a free public concert on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the open air tabernacle / amphitheater.
Camp Director: Dr. Kimberly Councill, Susquehanna University
Online forms: www.centraloakheights.org
Acceptance Auditions: Thank You! (11/19/07)
Thank you to the directors of District 8 for your outstanding service during this year's Instrumental Acceptance Auditions. Your attention to detail, professionalism and ability to adapt to the situtaions presented (power outages, weather, make-shift audition spaces) were excellent and appreciated.
A HUGE thank you to the Williamsport Area School District Music Department Faculty, School District Administration, and Maintanence Staff for allowing us to complete our auditions, and for working to keep the building up-and-running in spite of the weather and working conditions.
Directors: your students are also to be commended. All reports came back that the students took the obstacles in stride and were very cooperative. Thank you!
All-State Jazz Audition Information (11/18/07)
The audition information and application for this year's All-State Jazz Ensembles can now be downloaded from the PMEA site under the "Forms" section. Or you can simply click here to download the information.
District 8 President's Message (9/1/07)
Hello! …and welcome Back!
I trust that everyone’s school year is off to good start! PMEA District 8 is off and running, and looking forward to a busy, yet fulfilling year. Let me start by introducing a few new members to our board:
- Our new First Vice-President is William Ciabattari, who teaches at Lycoming College. You can read more about him on the website.
- One of our high School C/I, and Band Festival Coordinator is Brett Hosterman, who teaches Instrumental music at Milton Area High School.
- We have a new Higher Education Rep. this year, Dr. Kim Council, from Susquehanna University.
- Our PCMEA Rep this year also comes from Susquehanna, Leah Nace.
- Our Northumberland County Rep. is now Sharon Styer, at Mt. Carmel High School.
Yes, that last name should be familiar to some of you. Sharon was a member of District 8 for several years, and served as our first VP before moving to District 7. She is now back, and happy to be a member of District 8! We are glad to have her back, too!
I know that we have several new members in District 8, but at this point, I don’t have an accurate list. So, if you are in a district that has a new music teacher, at any level, please encourage them to join PMEA, and send their contact info my way so they can be included on the e-mails!
There are a few things I need to inform you about, the first of which is our District 8 general membership meeting and in-service day. It was scheduled to take place on the 23rd of this month, but unfortunately will not be held this year. We are looking for ways and times to make this most effective, so any and all input for the future would be greatly appreciated! Some of us will be together on the 15th of Oct. for the “Heartland Coalition” common in-service day at Selinsgrove! Perhaps we can talk then.
Pre-auditions for the District Festivals are coming up quickly! We are fortunate this year to have ALL host responsibilities taken care of, and festival preparations are coming along very well. Chorus auditions are Sunday, October 28 at Williamsport High School. Registration will be from 12:15 – 1:00, with the director’s meeting beginning at 1:00. Please make every effort to be on time, so that we can start the auditions at 2:00! Instrumental auditions will be held Sunday, November 18th at Williamsport High. More info. should be coming soon from Denny Carpenter. All solos and audition pieces can be found on the District 8 website, www.pmeadistrict8.net. Thanks again to all our hosts this year!
MIDDLE SCHOOL CHORAL TEACHERS: I know there has been a lot of discussion, (both publicly and privately) about the middle school songfests. The plan this year is That the MS Songfest will be held as scheduled, on May 2nd, with Warrior Run as a potential host. This will be for both the northern and southern schools. We have scheduled a meeting of all middle school music teachers to be held on Sunday Oct. 28th at Williamsport High School at 2:00. This may or may not be an ideal time, but the Exec. Comm. is very concerned about this fest, and would like to have everyone have input into the future of it. Please try to be there, or get your comments and thoughts to Lynn or Andrea.
Our Elementary songfest hosts this year are Judy Smithgall, Wellsboro, for the northern schools, and Jennifer DiLossi, Benton, for the Southern schools. Thanks!!!
Our website is up and running! If there is something you would like included, or something you see missing on the website, please contact Justin Hill. He is our local webmaster! (hill_j@dragon.k12.pa.us) Please send him everything “print ready”. So that he does not have to create lay-outs and design! Also, on the website, there are message boards for your use. They are there to help us communicate what we are doing, and to make others aware of what is going on in our district. (Who knows…maybe one of these days you’ll have a few minutes to get to a concert that a colleague is doing!)
Finally…Please try to keep me informed of any problems or issues that you see arising in our district. It’s a lot easier to address an issue at the beginning before it gets out of control! I will do everything in my best efforts to maintain the status of District 8, (which, is pretty darn high!) but I need your help. We have a wonderful exec. Comm.., but we need everyone’s involvement to keep us on top of things. Thank you in advance for everything you do for PMEA, District 8, your school districts, and most importantly, the kids!
Let me know if I can be of help to you in any way.
Viva la PMEA!
Russ
District 8 Secretary's Message (9/1/07)
Welcome back to all you old, veterans and welcome aboard to all new teachers joining us this year.
There are a few things I need to let you all know:
1. My new address Vina E. Miller
PMEA D8 Sec/Treasurer
PO Box 112
Ulster, PA 18850
2. Phone numbers
Home - 570.265.2402
School - 570.888.7766
Cell - 607.738.5919
3. Email – vina@epix.net
4. It was voted on at all festival meetings last year that NO CHECKS will be held. Please do not ask anyone to hold your check. All checks will be processed upon arrival.
5. Just a reminder – DO NOT send cash
If you have any questions feel free to contact me. I will do my best to help you.
Have a great year and I look forward to see you all.
Vina
Meet Our New First Vice-President: William Ciabattari (9/1/07)
Dr. William Ciabattari was appointed Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Lycoming College in 2006. He is the conductor of the concert band, jazz ensemble, and pep band; and he teaches courses in instrumental conducting, music theory, applied low brass, and music education. Previously, he was on the faculty of Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, where he was the director of the Heidelberg Brass Band, the Heidelberg Athletic band, and the Instructor of Low Brass. He was also the Assistant Director of the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, touring internationally in Ireland, Scotland, England, France, New Zealand, and Australia. In addition to teaching and conducting, Dr. Ciabattari is an active freelance musician. He has performed with many professional orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra, Canton Symphony, Charleston Symphony (SC), and the North Arkansas Symphony. He currently performs with the Blossom Festival Band and NEOTUBA, a Cleveland based tuba quartet. He has been a featured soloist with the North Arkansas Symphony, the Case Symphonic Winds, the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, the Brass Band of the Western Reserve, the Billtown Brass, and the University of Arkansas Wind Ensemble. Dr. Ciabattari received a B.S.E. in music education from the University of Arkansas, M.M. in tuba from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Ph. D. in music education from Case Western Reserve University.
Learn more about Dr. Ciabattari by visiting the Lycoming College Music Faculty Page.
You can contact Dr. Ciabattari at: ciabatta@lycoming.edu.
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