A reminder of two deadlines this week:

March 31 is the Early Bird Discount deadline for the Music for All Summer Symposium. Whether you're a director, student or instuctor you can save by enrolling by tomorrow. Start exploring the Summer Symposium online here.

Already signed up? Let us know on the event Facebook page.

April 1 we will begin the random draws for preliminary performance times for the Bands of America 2011 Championships. If you are not already enrolled, enroll your band by April one to be part of the initial prelims time scheduling. Spots are open in most BOA Championships, including limited spots in Grand Nationals. See the full schedule here.

...and finally, if you need a smile today, check out @BronxZoosCobra tweets on Twitter. It may just brighten your day, it does mine!

- Deb Asbill, Music for All

The March 31 Early Bird Discount deadline is fast approaching for the Music for All Summer Symposium and other fun camp-related stuff is coming together this week.

We've confirmed Jon McLaughlin to perform in concert at the camp in the evening concerts series. He performed last year and it was a great, energetic concert! Jon joins concerts already confirmed for the camp: Yamaha Young Performing Artists and the DCI Central Indiana show with top drum corps. We are finalizing the last couple of nights' concert acts and should be able to announce those soon...I'm hoping within the next few days.

MFA staff and our SWAG Team leadership recently paid another visit to the beautiful Ball State University campus, continuing preparations for the new site of the Summer Symposium.

By enrolling before the end of March 31, you can save $60 off the student fees and $130 off the director fees! To our band director friends: don't forget that if you bring six of your students you can attend Tuition Free, bring 12 or more and attend free...yes, free.

Directors, we also just posted links to the graduate credit information through Ball State University. MFA will verify for participation in the Directors Academy for professional development credits, however, you can also earn 1 or 2 hours of graduate credit through Ball State University for an additional fee. Check out the graduate credit details. The graduate credit fee and course requirements are different than previous years. Please carefully review the information provided at the link to the BSU website.

Until next time,

Deb Asbill

Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser has joined Music for All as Senior Educational Advisor, Music for All recently announced.

As Senior Educational Advisor, Lautzenheiser will advise and support Music for All's educational programming. He will also work closely with Music for All leadership and staff on creating and providing programs for high school and middle school bands and orchestras, teachers and students. Lautzenheiser was the Executive Director of Music for All's predecessor Marching Bands of America, and he has been a regular presenter at MFA programs. He is also a past member of the organization's Board of Directors.

For more, see the press release found here.

You can now see the 2011 spotlight video for the Music for All Summer Symposium, online on our YouTube channel. The March 31 Early Bird Discount Deadline to enroll is just a few days away. Still not sure what the MFA camp is all about? Check out the video to learn more.

Musicforalltv also has a playlist of 2010 Summer Symposium Webisodes with interviews and camp highlights. Take a look at the video, then take a look at the camp for an incredible experience this June you'll never forget.

Graduates of the Drum Major Academy have gone on to become successful drum majors at the nation's top University Bands and Drum Corps. Take a look at drummajor.org.

The DMA at the Summer Symposium gives you the complete MFA camp experience, however, if you cannot attend the MFA camp, you can still join Tim at the DMAs at UMASS and in Texas.

It's pretty quiet here at the MFA office today. A few staff are here unpacking and getting settled again, and the rest will return tomorrow. We've all had a chance to rest and reflect a bit on the past week.

I found myself thinking about festival when I had to run a lunchtime errand. There was one item I left over at the Marriott, where our Festival headquarters were located. It was beautiful and warm outside around the lunch hour today in Indianapolis so I took the opportunity to walk and get some fresh air and sunshine.

I took a short cut through the convention center to get to the Marriott, and it was eerily quiet near the Sagamore Ballroom, which just a couple days ago held so many participants at the high school banquet.

As I got to the Marriott, I realized I missed the sounds I had grown accustomed to the last couple of days - the harmonious sounds coming from the rehearsals and concerts and the laughter and chatter from festival participants. I felt sad that festival is over for this year as I walked through the quiet hotel. But, I know that's because I really enjoyed myself, and that's a great thing. I'm excited for next year's festival already, even though it's a year away.

Our entire staff sincerely hopes you had a great week at the Music for All National Festival. I hope that festival was a positively life-changing experience for you, and I hope we'll see you again soon!

Musically,
Kristin

It's the final day of the 2011 Music for All National Festival. It's hard to believe Saturday is already here - the week has flown by!

The National Concert Band Festival, Orchestra America National Festival, and Middle School National Music Festival performances continued this morning and are wrapping up now. Preparations are already under way for both the High School and Middle School Gala Awards Banquets for festival participants.

The High School Banquet is at 5 p.m. at the Indiana Convention Center, and the Middle School Banquet is at 5:30 p.m. at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. These banquets are a really nice way for participants to gather as a group one last time before heading to this evening's concerts. (And, there's some great food at the banquets as well!)

The evening, and the festival, will conclude tonight with the Honor Orchestra of America concert at 7 p.m. at Hilbert Circle Theatre and the Honor Band of America concert at 8 p.m. at Clowes Memorial Hall. If you missed last night's Honor Orchestra concert, you can still see the ensemble tonight. Some photos from last night's concert are available here.

The Honor Band of America concert will feature Richard Clary, conductor, and Allen Vizzutti, guest artist.

Can't be here in person? Check out some photos on Music for All's facebook page. I'm looking forward to this evening's concerts - hope to see you there!

-Kristin

Friday is in full swing at the MFA National Festival. Ensembles have been performing in three venues today (Clowes Memorial Hall, Hilbert Circle Theatre and Warren Performing Arts Center), and the Honor Ensemble students have been in rehearsals and master classes as well. The sounds emanating from the rehearsals are wonderful!

Jazz Band of America students have been busy today preparing for their concert this evening at 8:30 p.m. at Clowes Memorial Hall. Their sound check is in just a few hours. The Jazz Band has been working with conductor Shelly Berg, Dean of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. He maintains a busy schedule of jazz performances and has performed and/or recorded with a "Who's Who" of jazz legends, including Ray Brown, Louie Bellson, Eddie Daniels, Peter Erskine, Jon Faddis, Woody Herman, James Moody, Arturo Sandoval, Tom Scott, Clark Terry and Bill Watrous, to name a few. In addition, guest artist Allen Vizzutti will perform with the Jazz Band of America as part of this evening's concert.

The Honor Orchestra of America has a concert this evening as well. They'll perform both tonight and tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Hilbert Circle Theatre in a shared concert with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble has been working with conductor and music director Larry J. Livingston and guest artist Mark O'Connor, violin. Mr. Livingston is the Music Director of Thornton Orchestras at the Thornton School of Music. Reviews of Mr. Livingston have said his concerts feature, "long, unending applause, enthusiastic cheers, like at a rock concert." Check out the concert this evening, and you can also see renowned violinist Mark O'Connor perform as guest artist.

You can also see what's been going on this week at festival by viewing photos on Music for All's facebook page, found here. All of us at Music for All are looking forward to the concerts this evening as well as the concerts tomorrow.

-Kristin

It was an exciting day at the Music for All National Festival. Honor ensemble students kept busy with sectionals and rehearsals starting early this morning, and ensembles checked in throughout the day.

The opening sessions for both high school and middle school students took place this afternoon. Students heard from Eric Martin, President and CEO of Music for All; David Starnes, Music for All Educational Consultant and Honor Band of America Coordinator; and Gary Markham, Music for All's Senior Educational Consultant.

Students also listened to keynote speaker and Music for All Senior Educational Advisor Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser. He gave students great advice about how to truly get the most out of the musical experience ahead of them. Students were also introduced to the clinicians and evaluators they'll work with throughout the weekend.

National Concert Band Festival concerts started this evening at Clowes Memorial Hall, and performances continue tomorrow. Additionally, the middle school social is already under way this evening, and the high school social is about to start. Tomorrow will be another busy day with performances happening at Warren Performing Arts Center, Clowes Memorial Hall and Hilbert Circle Theatre. And the Honor Orchestra of America and Jazz Band of America perform tomorrow evening as well. It's been a music-filled day, and we can't wait to hear more tomorrow.

Musically,
Kristin

The 2011 Music for All National Festival began today, and we're off to a great start. Yesterday, the Music for All staff spent the day setting up our headquarters on site and getting everything ready to go in the venues we're using throughout the festival.

The Honor Orchestra of America and the Jazz Band of America have met for orientation meetings and are off and running with rehearsals. The Honor Band of America students will have their orientation meeting this evening so many students have been checking in throughout the day.

Our entire staff is excited that festival is now under way. We'll continue to update this blog throughout festival so check back often for updates.

Musically,
Kristin Conrad