MMEA - WD Meeting

February 7, 2006

Peck Middle School

Holyoke, MA 

Present: Scott Thomson, Beth Guertin, Rebecca Phelps, Steve Damon, Lynn Rubin, Kayla Werlin, Holly Joy Pearson, Aldonna Girouard, Liz Dominick, Denise Gendron, Dan Albert, Grace Rice, Vera Baker, Claire Williams, Christine Davis-Pedilla 

Call to order: 4:05PM

Correspondence: The state board has approved the forming of a new district which will be called Eastern District. The new district will consist of the city of Boston and it's immediate environs. Massachusetts will now have 5 districts: Southeastern, Northeastern, Eastern, Central and Western. 

Secretary's Report: Rebecca - M/S/P to accept report. 

Treasurer's Report: Scott - Current report does not include the outstanding expense of the UMass facilities fee. Things are in good shape overall. Ticket sales were up. Next year we will try and get the ticket forms up on the website. M/S/P to accept report. 

Senior Festival

Festival report: Carol - see attached.

Chorus: Aldonna - see attached report. Aldonna particularly pointed out that the Rand   Theater is a very problematic space for rehearsal. Students seemed especially unprepared,  several didn't even have their music with them. An on-line discussion is being planned to   discuss problems of lack of preparedness on the part of the chorus participants.

Jazz: Pat - absent. See attached report.

Orchestra: Steve - see attached report.

Band: Megan - see attached report. 

Junior Festival

Program: Christine - Congrats on the new baby! Christine needs program info for all   groups at this point.

Site Host: Absent, no report. Carol will be going over for a look at W. Springfield.

Male Chorus: Holly Joy and Liz - Still waiting for music to come in to Blodgett's.

Treble Chorus: Mike and Staci - Absent - no report. Still missing a piece before the   music can be sent out, not enough copies in the library. The goal is to have al music out   before Feb. vacation.

Many problems getting music sent out this year.

Jazz: Grace - All set to go. Percussion needs need to be discussed as the UMass    equipment will not be available.

Band: Andy - absent, no report. Everything seems set to go.

Elementary: The sharing session was a big success - 17 people showed up. Thanks   Diane and Carol for setting this up! 

Coordinator Reports

Strings: Denise - Ongoing discussion is in progress regarding the viola audition piece. 

Jazz: Brian - absent. Report e-mailed regarding some suggestions Brian has for auditions.   See attached. A discussion is planned around these suggestions at the general meeting   taking place at Jr. District. Anyone interested in this should attend the meeting on   Saturday.

B/WW/P: Claire - A mass e-mail is going around regarding a PVPA flute master class with  Albert Brower, the first flutist from SSO to be held on April 8 from 10-12:30. Send in an   audition tape or teacher recommendation to participate.

Publicity: Tony - absent. Tony will be sending out press releases regarding Sr. and Jr.   District. So far no-one has seen anything in print.

Chorus: Kayla - no report. 

General Announcement: We need assistants for next year's managers. 

New Business: Spring dinner meeting has been moved to May. The scholarship committee needs to meet earlier in order to have their decision made in time for the spring meeting. Denise encourages us all to make our WD voices heard at All-State meetings. 

Adjourn: 5:22 

Respectfully submitted 

Rebecca Phelps, secretary