Spring Quarter February 28 - May 29, 2005

Welcome To the Board

The Board of Directors of Music Arts is enlarging its membership and takes great pleasure in announcing the addition of Senator Randy McNally and Dr. Adolph King, as well as Rita Anderson, whose daughter studies flute with Lois White, who takes on the job of Chairperson for Recitals.

As Music Arts grows in its scope, we will be adding new board members to help with other aspects of our operation.

Contest Deadline Extended

A special request from some of our instructors has allotted more time for students to finish their compositions. The new deadline is now March 15 (yes, the Ides of March!). This will also be an opportunity for those students who hasve “been meaning to” to get busy and Do It!

YOUR Summer opportunity

The Tennessee Arts Commission has awarded our music school a grant to help us expand our Summer Intern Program.

Each Summer Quarter, we offer an opportunity for some of our more mature school-age students to get some paid ($16 an hour) teaching experience under the guidance of our faculty.

If you are interested in acquiring some teaching experience in a controlled setting, talk with your instructor about nominating you. Our Advisory Board will choose a minimum of six Interns in various instruments, including piano and voice. One of the requirements is that the Intern be available to teach every Wednesday, around noon, for about two hours. The program runs from June 1 to August 3.

Emily Backus and Tom Huston look on as their percussion instructor Doug Farmer demonstrates winning technique.

One of our newest vocal instructors, Virginia Nelson Vowell, got her introduction to teaching music as one of our Summer Interns while she was in high school.

Top Chair Winners

Emily Backus, daughter of Anne and Jeff Backus, has won the top honor in recent auditions for East Tennessee’s Junior Clinic. Although only in 7th grade, Emily has been named first chair of the Gold Band, the top band for East Tennessee’s students in grades 6, 7, 8 and 9. A total of 68 area percussion students made the lists as participants or alternates.

Tom Huston, in 8th grade, was named first chair of the Silver Band, which, along with the Bronze Band, round out the three band levels for that age group. Tom is the son of Mary Ann and Michael Huston.

A number of other Music Arts students auditioned and were given seats in the three bands, including students of Marcay Dickens, Lois White, Jim Mann and Warren Clark.

In addition, both Emily and Tom recently won "Superior" ratings in the East Tennessee Band and Orchestra Solo and Ensemble Festival. Both are students at Robertsville Middle School.

The Recital
by Cathy Bridges