A letter from the President
of the SCBDA, Michael Foxworth.

Other Letters

March 15 , 2007

"Great Performances"

Wow!!!!! Have we had some outstanding performances in South Carolina during February and March? Do you recall our state ever having such a great two months?

February started with the outstanding groups from within our state and also groups from Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee for the MENC/SCMEA Southern Division In-Service Conference. These were great performances that were enjoyed by many of the over twelve hundred registered music teachers. Thanks to Martin Dickey for coordinating all of the events that weekend.

Next we held our Region band clinics and many directors said that they felt like these were also very good performances by our region students. Many regions now have either two Junior Bands or one or two alternate bands that have expanded the chances for participation of our students. The alternate experiences often inspire and motivate the students to work harder and we often see them in next year's region group instead of as an alternate. Thanks to the region chairman (Del Burton, David Vickery, Randy Grantham, Barry Montoya, and Mike Jones) for making these clinics a wonderful music experience.

March began with the Jazz events held at Newberry College. The two All-State Jazz groups were amazing. Our first SCBDA-sponsored jazz events were started in 1998 when barely enough students would audition to fill one band. Now we have enough students to create two outstanding bands with many other students waiting for their chance to make these select groups. Thanks to Jeff Kuntz, Bill Long and Jed Thomas for coordinating all of the events for this fantastic jazz experience.

Following the jazz weekend, everyone traveled to Furman University for our All State weekend. What a weekend for all---band members, alternates and yes even directors. The concerts on Sunday we really outstanding performances by each band. The conductors motivated the students to play some very interesting pieces that were really enjoyed by performers and listeners. Thanks to Joe Meshach, the region chairs, Les Hicken, and all the Furman Faculty that helped make this weekend a major success.

A few years ago, there were some negative comments made about our All State bands from a visiting clinician and I mentioned that to Jack Stamp. Jack's reply was "If they don't think the students in South Carolina can play well, just tell them to call me." Jack Delaney said "The students in South Carolina play as well or better than any of the other states that I have directed." Mary Land was constantly saying that our students were "the best she had worked with." But the comment that they all said to me sometime during the weekend was that our students were more than just good musicians, they were just extremely nice young people. What a great compliment to our students and the directors that have given each student the courage, support and guidance to become an All State musician and emerging leaders in our society.

Good luck to all of you as you begin Concert Festival and Winter Ensemble performances over the next two weeks and then Solo and Ensemble at the end of April and first of May.

Michael Foxworth
President
South Carolina Band Directors Association