Directors,
Please do not forget to have your students complete the All-State decision form. The form will remain open until Friday morning. Failure to submit will result in the decision being left to the Executive Board.
All-West Hotel Information
The All-West hotel block opens January 13, 2025, and closes January 31, 2025. All schools need to use the spreadsheets below to register in the WTSBOA All-West room block at the Sheraton Hotel. WTSBOA is financially responsible for all unsold rooms in our block, so it is important to fill our block. Staying in the hotel isn’t just convenient for you and your students, it supports our association.
The spreadsheets have been updated and will calculate your stay’s total at the bottom. Note that there is a standard spreadsheet and a tax-exempt spreadsheet. If using tax-exempt, make sure you submit your school or association’s tax-exempt form with your spreadsheet.
Email completed spreadsheets and school or association tax-exempt form (if applicable) to Alexandria Thomas at athomas@sheratonmemphisdowntown.com
Please Note!!!
Parents and friends will be able to reserve any available rooms in the All-West block beginning January 27, 2025. They can email Alexandria Thomas at athomas@sheratonmemphisdowntown.com to request getting into the All-West block. Please share this info with parents!
All-West PD Sessions
WTSBOA is proud to offer high level Professional Development sessions to its members during the All-West Convention. This year, we are excited to have presenters from the University of Memphis, UT Martin, Ole Miss, and UT Knoxville.
Please click here to download the PD schedule. You can click on the title of each session to view a complete session description and bio of the presenter(s).
Don’t forget to bring your instrument to All-West for the Band and Strings New Music Reading Sessions on Friday, February 14 in the Cannon Center! New music sponsored by JW Pepper and Randall Standridge.
Memphis Area Festival Invoice
Please click below to download the invoice for the Memphis area Concert Festival.
Memphis Area Concert Festival
Registration is now open for both middle and high school Concert Festival for the Memphis area.
Jazz Band Audition Reminders
Jazz Audition Reminders:
- Keyboard, Guitar, and Bass Amps will be provided. Bass and Guitar students must bring their own patch cords (1/4”) and instruments.
- Bass players can audition on either double bass, electric bass, or both.
- Drum Set Players must bring their own sticks, cymbals, snare drum, and kick pedal.
- Students are NOT allowed to bring a written solo into their audition room. (NEW) However, written chord changes will be provided. (if needed)
- All wind players, bassists, pianists, and guitarists will play their prepared music, sight-read, and play an improvised solo over Bb rhythm changes (one-32 bar chorus) and F Blues (2-twelve bar choruses). NEW THIS YEAR: For BOTH TRACKS, students will start improvising immediately after the count-off.
- Drum Set players will perform their prepared music, sight-read, and improv as follows (in any order):
Styles
- 8 bars of swing @ 220 bpm (play swing for 4 measures and solo for 4)
- 8 bars of funk/rock @ 100 bpm (play funk/rock for 4 measures and solo for 4)
- 8 bars of samba @ 120 bpm (play samba for 4 measures and solo for 4)
All-State Decision Form
Directors,
Please forward the link below to all high school students auditioning for multiple All-West groups. This form must be completed before auditions on the 11th.
All-West Band Audition Times
Audition times for All-West have been posted.
Memphis Wind Symphony Performance
The Memphis Wind Symphony will present “Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” in a FREE concert Sunday, December 15, 6:30pm in the Christian Brothers University Theater. You can of course expect the usual seasonal melodies, but also two world-premiers and the ensemble will be joined onstage by the amazing vocalist: Jake Drzycimiski. Come join in the Spirit of Christmas with the Memphis Wind Symphony.
Upcoming Events in the Memphis Area
Dear colleagues,
As you have hopefully seen on multiple news outlets and posted on social media, there are two great opportunities coming THIS WEEK for you and your students.
1. Grind City Brass Band. The very first British-style brass band in Memphis is having its inaugural concert Monday, December 9, 2024 at 7:00 pmat the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center. If you’ve never heard a brass band perform, you are truly missing something amazing.
Tickets are for sale at www.grindcitybrass.com/events. Educators and students receive a STEEP discount. This is something your brass players will want to hear! A flyer with details is attached.
2. TUBA CHRISTMAS. This will take place Saturday, December 14 at 1:00 pm at Crosstown Concourse. EVERYONE is invited to the performance. Tuba/euph players who want to perform have a rehearsal that morning and will need their instrument, mouthpiece, and a music stand. Music will be available to purchase. Performer registration is $10/person. Check out tubachristmas.com! A flyer with performer details is attached.
I look forward to having you all at these events!
ZC