November 2009
Volume 75, Number 2

     Let me start with a huge Thank You to everyone that gave up your Saturday to make our all-state 2^nd round go as smooth as it did.  I look forward to being even more prepared for next years audition.  I was blown away by the number of directors that volunteer their time to help out the cause.  Please feel free to give suggestions on how we can make 2^nd round auditions more successful.  Our goal should be to constantly improve everything we do.

     Thank you to the monitors, judges, registration and tabulation workers and especially to Fred Roeder for all of his efforts to make the registration process and auditions run efficiently.  Thank you Scotty Walker, Lafayette High Administrators, and their people for volunteering their facilities.  Thanks to Alison’s World of Music for the donation of music folders.  Thanks to Joey Nassar, Sheily Bell, Patty Roussel, Richard Bresowar, David Holland, Wayne Winner, Scotty Walker, Shana Sampia, Ronnie Gleason, Neil Simon, Eddie Hirst, John Phelan,  Daphne Richardson, and many others for all of your assistance.

     I encourage all directors of All State students to send in their pre-registration forms for the conference.  Please make sure your students send in all of their forms on time!  This years Symphonic Band director is Colonel Thomas Rotondi, Jr.  He is the eighth Leader and Commander of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” The Concert Band director is Dr.Frank Tracz.  Dr. Frank Tracz is Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Both of these fine conductors will be great teachers for our kids.  They will also be giving clinics that you will not want to miss.  The best way to make improvement in your teaching is to observe others so please come by and sit in on some rehearsals.  See you there!

Craig Millet
St. Amant High School
Director of Bands
www.staband.com