In my last article, I compared the school year to a marathon. I have never run in a marathon. I don’t run unless something life-threatening is chasing me. However, I do know a thing or two about pacing and January is most often the biggest hill to climb for the year. If you are reading this, then you made it! Congratulations! Now, let’s catch our breath and sprint to the end knowing all our hard work has paid off.
AMEA Conference
The AMEA conference was the perfect place to catch your breath this year. I was encouraged and re-invigorated by every session and concert I attended and have heard similar sentiments from many of you. From Dr. Francis Cathlina’s mini-course in vocal pedagogy to Dr. Morgan Luttig’s(University of Alabama) session on thematic concert programming; there was something for everyone to glean and apply to their everyday teaching. Bravo to all session presenters and conductors for making AMEA a huge success!
I’d like to extend a special thank you to several AVA members for their service at AMEA this year. Thank you to Harris Gessner(James Clemens HS) and the Jet Choir for serving as the demo choir for two sessions. What a wonderful group of students! Thank you to Brent Coleman(Pizitz MS), Zoe Griffin(Northside MS and HS), Stacey Owens(Athens MS), and Judy Ransom(The Alberta School of Performing Arts) for volunteering to participate in the conducting masterclass. Thank you to Harrison Hornsby(Springville MS and HS) for serving as our session accompanist. Thank you to Dr. Megan Rudolph for collaborating with AVA to organize and execute the first AVA Adjudicator Training session. We are grateful for her perspective and expertise as we start to integrate this training into our organization. Lastly, thank you to the AVA Governing Board for their continued work and to all members who attended the AMEA conference this year. It is easy to forget that we are part of a large network of music educators “rowing the boat” of music education in our state. AMEA is a great time to remember that you do not “row” alone. It takes all of us and we are stronger together.
Next year’s conference will be held January 22-24, 2026 at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex(BJCC). Add it to your calendar now and make plans to attend. If you have suggestions for clinicians or topics you would like to see presented at future AMEA conferences, please be in contact with me or your District Chair to share your ideas. In addition, consider submitting your choir to perform at AMEA. The deadline for concert performance submissions will be June 1st. You can also look for more details in future AMEA eNewsletters and the AMEA website.
Sight-Singing and the All-State Audition Process
Last year a committee, led by Heather Cantwell (Liberty Park MS), gathered information to aid in addressing two important topics, shortening the All-State audition process and the addition of a sight-singing component. The goals of this committee were as follows:
- Shorten the amount of time students are in the room for the audition
- Explore adding a sight-reading component to the audition
- Shorten the number of days judges are away from their own classes for auditions
- Keep the integrity and rigor of the audition at a high level
- Keep auditions consistent throughout the state
In addition to consulting the AVA Bylaws and Standing Rules and All-State schedules from previous years, a survey was sent to the AVA membership called, “All-State Audition Restructuring”. This survey sought feedback and suggestions to address the aforementioned goals. By reducing the number of songs students are expected to sing in the audition room, this committee, combined with the AVA Governing Board, has successfully addressed the issue of shortening the time students spend in the audition room.
The AVA Governing Board intends to develop a detailed plan for the implementation of a sight-singing component to the All-State audition process. The board will take up this task during our annual Summer Board meeting in June. We will present this plan to the membership at the Fall Workshop in September to be discussed and subsequently voted on at AMEA 2026.
What do we need now? YOU! Only 11 members filled out the survey that was sent last year in regards to the addition of sight-singing to the All-State audition. Your suggestions and experience are crucial to the development of this component and we cannot do it without the voices of our membership. The same survey will be sent this year to all members. Please take the time to give us your feedback. This is a topic we are all rightly very passionate about. By listening to one another we will create a process that is efficient and equitable and enhances learning experiences for all students. In the midst of an endeavor like this one, we must be driven by the mission of our organization. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas.
Finish Strong!
I wish you all good luck and godspeed as you execute Spring trips, show choir competitions, State Choral Performance Assessments, Spring musicals, and end-of-year concerts. Be intentional. Be present. Be rested, clear of mind, and focused for it all. The last day of school will be here in the blink of an eye. Please reach out if you need assistance or have questions.
Amanda Slay, AVA President
amanda.slay.ava@gmail.com