What a fun rehearsal this morning – playing “We Are the World” and “Sing” with an elementary special chorus group called “Music Makers” joining forces with the jazz choir at a local high school who will be performing at the Martin Luther King Day assembly at the local college for all the elementary schools. Energy. Movement. Voices. Focus. Attention. Yes, they did it all!
Add some fab professional local talent on saxophone, guitars, and percussion and it will be a statement! All seems well when they sing “We Are the World; We Are the Children!”
In our world as Washington State Music Teachers, we are preparing students for many events and it will soon be our “March Madness of Music.” Between our exemplary performers moving on to the national MTNA competition in Minneapolis in March and the many, many students performing and receiving educational feedback from Visiting Artists in MAP events in chapters across the state from February to April, we are in a season of focus, attention, and drill. We hope to add the touch of energy, movement, style, and finesse just in time, if even sooner! The compositional juices are flowing as students write out their new works for the Young Composers Project for evaluation in the next couple of months.
WSMTA’s version of celebrating “We Are the World” will be to hear our very own WSMTA students perform at our June conference: Honors Recitals (piano and instrumental), Young Composers Project Recital, Washington State Winners Recital (our MTNA and OAPC winners, including the winners of the new BIPOC prize). I have been a part of the conference planning committee, meeting weekly, and it is shaping into an exciting two and a half days of fabulous presentations, performances, and fantastic connecting. Check out the updated website for all conference information and registration. (Thank you, Kirsten Carlson, our Administration Coordinator.) And check out important and relevant information from our program and event chairs in our Clarion, at wsmta.org. (Thank you, Samantha Yeung, our Communications Coordinator.)
Together we make a difference and we give voice to good in a world that can be messy and difficult. Right now, fires burn in CA and we say a prayer and offer help to our California colleagues and friends. May the music we offer this season bring joy, solace, and inspiration.
Wishing you courage and endurance,
Colleen Hunter, NCTM
WSMTA President