All-District Audition Update

Directors,

First, let me say thank you for the overwhelming support you have shown in the past few days as we work to transition our All-District Band events. It speaks volumes knowing what can be done when motivated professionals come together in service of our students.


Please forward this email to anyone you believe needs this information.

Virtual Auditions
Preparation is finishing up for the event and the Auditions Chairs will be sending information today. Here is our confirmed timeline:

Upload Window for Video Submissions - Jan 18th-26th (11:59 pm)
Judges Meeting - Jan 27th 7:00 PM (virtual) 
Judging Window - Jan 29th-30th
Verified Results Released by Feb 2nd

In-Person All-District Clinic
At this point in time, I feel comfortable releasing the information we are working on as actionable information for you to begin making plans, but I must stress that this is our current plan and it is subject to change. As one can imagine, the logistics of rescheduling the clinic requires many moving parts and approvals from different sources. As things are finalized and contracts signed, we will once again update the membership and release more detailed information and schedules.

Dates: Feb 18th - 19th
Locations: 
UNCW Kenan Auditorium
UNCW Cultural Arts Building
UNCW Main Campus
601 College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403

First Baptist Church Activities Center (Friday Only - Middle School Ensembles)
1939 Independence Blvd
Wilmington, NC 28403

Ashley High School and Minnie Evans Arts Center (Saturday Only - High School Ensembles)
555 Halyburton Memorial Parkway
Wilmington, NC 28412

The Clinic should be able to closely follow our typical schedule, but require slightly earlier concerts on Saturday at Kenan Auditorium.
Middle School Concert - 12:30 PM
High School Concert - 2:30 PM

Additionally, the Wilmington Symphonic Winds (a regional wind band led by Dr. Dominic Talanca and made up of more than a few NCBA Eastern District Members) is holding a concert at 4:30 PM following our concerts. They are investigating the possibility of adding an additional concert on Friday evening for our students which currently looks very promising and would serve as an opportunity for a Friday night event similar to the traditional ECU Wind Ensemble Concert.  You can find more information about the Wilmington Symphonic Winds here:
https://www.wilmingtonsymphonicwinds.org/

Lunches on each campus are in the planning stages and will likely be organized through UNCW and their food services. More information to come.

UNCW will require that all personnel be masked while on campus, as will FBC and NHCS Schools. 
UNCW also requires that students rehearse and perform in a musician’s mask. Fuller’s Music has offered assistance and will have masks available but asks that you pre-order if possible. Please contact Perry Ditch (pditch@fullersmusic.com) to pre-order the musician's mask at $11.97 + tax each. Fuller’s will have some additional masks on site at registration to ensure students can be in compliance. Students are encouraged to bring their own musician’s mask (purpose built for playing a wind instrument), if able. Bell Covers may be used by members, but are not required.

Music and Arts and Fuller’s Music has offered assistance and will have masks available but asks that you pre-order if possible. Please contact your Ed Rep to pre-order the musician's mask. Both companies will have some additional masks on site at registration to ensure students can be in compliance. Students are encouraged to bring their own musician’s mask (purpose built for playing a wind instrument), if able. Bell Covers may be used by members, but are not required. Music and Arts
 
Music and Arts
 
Conn-Selmer Adjustable Face Mask
Item #1542394
$9.35 + .65 tax = $10.00
Please Contact
Garth Haas (ghaas@musicarts.com)
Stuart Freeman (sfreeman@musicarts.com)
Chris Reid (chris.reid@musicarts.com)


This change was made possible due to the NCMEA Eastern Region Jazz, under the leadership of Matt Howard, who we were able to pivot and swap clinic dates and locations with. Thank you Matt and everyone who is participating in that Eastern Region Jazz for being so flexible with All-District and allowing us to make this work, we simply could not have done this without your support.

Below you will find a letter written by Kim Barclift to administrators in your county explaining our current position and plans to help you advocate for your students and the changes coming. We strongly recommend that you share this with your superintendent, principals, and any county administrators that you feel would benefit from this information.  Here is a link to the letter.

Finally, I ask that you send me any concerns you may have from your counties. Many of us will be traveling further than normal and with the current landscape dealing with Covid-19 concerns, we want to try to accommodate as many folks as possible. Please touch base with your administration soon and inquire about the changes, any updates in transportation and overnight trip policies, and Covid guidance/protocols.
robert.parker@nhcs.net
910-409-4788 - cell phone

Thank you again. The auditions email will follow immediately after this email. Happy planning and recording!

Robert A. Parker

Director of Bands | President NCBA Eastern District
Eugene Ashley High School
P: 910-790-2360 ext. 70XXX