ALL-STATE BAND PRELIMINARY AUDITION INFORMATION

ALL-STATE BAND PRELIMINARY AUDITION INFORMATION...

Dear Missouri Band Directors,

Thank you for all that you are doing for students in your school and community to foster their love of music.  These are still very challenging times to be in the teaching profession and even more challenging in the band world.  The point to this email is to share the Missouri Bandmasters Association’s views on the upcoming All-State Band auditions.

The All-State band auditions will take place at Hickman High School in Columbia on Saturday, December 4, 2021.  This will be an IN-PERSON audition.  We are committed to providing the opportunity for all performers to audition live for the judging panel.  As the Board of Directors for this organization, we are responsible for and must be mindful of protecting the health and safety of all participants, judges, directors, and parents involved.  A back-up plan is in place to pivot to virtual auditions in the event circumstances are deemed unsafe to hold live, in-person auditions.  A change in the format of the auditions will only be made as a last resort.


We will use the following protocols to help keep performers, judges, band directors and parents safe at the auditions.

1. In accordance with Columbia Public School Covid-19 requirements: Masks are required and must be worn at all times while inside Hickman High School.  Everyone will be required to wear a mask while indoors throughout the day. The exception to the mask rule will be for performers during their audition.  Performers will be allowed to remove their mask once in the audition room.  They will need to put it back on before leaving the audition room. Percussionists will wear masks throughout their audition.
2. We will ask for students/parents/directors to try to keep socially distanced and possibly in a different location instead of the cafeteria following their audition.  Schools with large numbers of students will need to remain on campus, but when possible, we ask that you consider a meeting place outside of the cafeteria.  We will use social media to share information regarding call backs.  We would like to keep the number of students in the commons/cafeteria to a minimum the best we can.
3. We will have call backs for flute, clarinet, trumpet, and trombone and percussion.  All other instruments can return home after their audition.  This is to help keep the crowds down in the facility.  We will post callbacks on Twitter at @MoBandmasters.
4. Results will be posted a day or two later once all chairs have been assigned.
5. A form will be made available one week prior to the auditions for directors to fill out for their student’s decision for chair placement.  A student can choose the highest chair possible regardless of ensemble, Band only, or Orchestra only. If a form is not filled out the all-state coordinator will make the decision for the student.  If a student makes the all-state band and all-state jazz band/choir, we will contact the student/director to ask the student’s choice for performing ensembles.
6. There will be a concession stand available the day of auditions.  We ask that students be mindful of others when eating.  We ask everyone to replace their mask when they finish eating or drinking.

We, as a board, understand that the protocols in every district are different when it comes to quarantining a student.  We recommend that you encourage your students to mask up for the few weeks leading into all-state auditions to keep them from a quarantine situation.  For several schools, lunch is a big part of a student being quarantined.  If this is the case, we recommend asking for a seat away from the student body or at least in a place they cannot be quarantined.  Please help your students be aware of their ability to help themselves audition for the all-state band.  In most cases, the student has control of whether they will be quarantined.

The All-State Band will perform live at the MMEA Convention in January 2022.  If a student is selected as a member of the all-state band but does not feel safe to participate in rehearsals and concert, please share this with the MBA Board In the main office on the day of auditions prior to posting the results (Or as soon as you are aware of the student’s opinion).  Please try to visit with your students in advance to discuss this topic.  We want everyone to have the opportunity to earn a seat in the all-state band!  To get to audition is a huge honor and to make the all-state band is a tremendous honor.  We want to ensure all students have access to these opportunities.

If you are not yet a member of the Missouri Bandmasters Association, please consider joining. We want to hear your voice so that we can best represent the entire state. https://missouribandmasters.org/register-2/

 
Kenny Hansen | Director of Bands
Blue Springs South High School | Blue Springs School District
Phone: 816.874.3500 
​email: khansen@bssd.net  
web: www.bssd.net/bsshs
Missouri Bandmasters Association: President

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Chris Sacco
SCMMEA HS Band Vice President
Associate Director of Bands 
Ava R-I Schools
507 North Spring St. 
Ava, MO 65608

scmmeahsband@gmail.com
School:  (417)683-5747 x1329
Cell:  (417)860-4542
csacco@avabears.net
SCMMEA HS Band Events Calendar