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Chair: Andrew Spencer . E-mail: spenc1a@cmich.edu
The Percussion Ensemble Committee examines and addresses percussion ensemble issues and topics of concern to the PAS membership. The committee organizes and presides over the International Percussion Ensemble Competition and the New Literature Session at each PASIC. Additionally, the committee continually searches for ways to enhance, improve, and promote the percussion ensemble art form.
Committee Report and PASIC 2007 Meeting Minutes
Submitted January 15, 2008
by Percussion Ensemble Chair Andrew Spencer
The Percussion Ensemble Committee continues to advocate for more, and increasingly higher quality, percussion ensemble performances worldwide. The International Percussion Ensemble Competition continues to attract the highest quality participants from throughout the world. Winners in the 2007 high school division included: Azle High School, Azle, Texas, Darin Duff, director; Oak Mountain High School, Birmingham, Alabama, Kevin Ownby, director; and Lassiter Senior High School, Marietta, Georgia, Mike Lynch, director. College/University winners were: Florida State University, John Parks, director; The University of Kentucky, James Campbell, director; and Northwestern University, Michael Burritt, director.
In an effort to level the playing field for the International Percussion Ensemble Competition, the committee has enacted new rules governing the competition. Competition rules now require that recordings submitted must be of live performances only. No studio or recording session recordings will be accepted. Discussion of an additional requirement of video documentation of the live performance will be revisited at the next meeting along with other methods designed to insure the most qualified ensembles are invited to appear at each PASIC.
Clinician Michael Kingan, associate professor of percussion at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, presented the PASIC New Literature Session. A variety of works published within the last two years and in a range of performance levels was presented to a capacity crowd. Along with the showcase concerts, the new literature session is a great way to hear the newest works for percussion ensemble. The committee, particularly subcommittee chair David Eyler, seeks out the most qualified ensemble conductors as clinicians. During PASIC 2007, the committee sought input regarding ways to make this presentation a valuable resource for a wide range of PASIC attendees. Responses to the questionnaire that was distributed to session attendees will be compiled and discussed. During the annual meeting, it was agreed that a committee-sponsored session on conducting and/or rehearsal techniques should be proposed for PASIC 2008 and PASIC 2009.
While administration of the International Percussion Ensemble Competition and the PASIC New Literature Session continues to be a significant component of the committee's responsibilities, the committee continually searches for ways to enhance, improve, and promote the percussion ensemble art form beyond the PAS convention. To that end, discussions are underway for promoting the concept of PAS ensemble festivals nationally and worldwide. These festivals would be non-competitive and designed to provide additional performance opportunities and feedback to school, college, and university ensembles beyond the state level.
PASIC 2007 Meeting Minutes
Committee Members Present: Dan Moore, James Campbell, David Eyler, Susan Powell, and Ricky Burkhead. Guests: Brian Zator, Jim Sewrey, Scott Cameron, Jeff Moore, and John R. Beck (E.C. representative).
Committee Meeting Agenda:
Friday, November 2, 2007, 1:00 p.m.
I. Call to Order
II. Approval of 2006 Meeting Minutes
III. Unfinished Business
A. Committee Chair Report
1. Call for Committee-sponsored session proposals for PASIC 2008
B. New Literature Session
1. Coordinator Report
2. Call for nominations for 2008 clinician
C. International Percussion Ensemble Competition
1. Coordinator Report
2. Nomination of adjudicators 2008 competition
IV. New Business
A. Discussion of committee member initiated agenda items
V. Move to Adjourn
Meeting Minutes:
I. Motion: Approve minutes from November 10, 2006 (Campbell/Eyler) PASSED: Unanimous; Unfinished Business
II. CHAIR REPORT:
A. The committee and competition are in good shape. There were over 20 entries submitted for both divisions. The level of recordings was very good from all groups.
B. The last PASIC session sponsored by the committee was a panel discussion in 2004 titled “Preparation and Programming Tips for the PAS International Percussion Ensemble competition.”
1. Campbell suggested going onto the forums site seeking ideas.
2. Eyler suggested having a group and working with them in a rehearsal setting.
3. Another idea was a panel discussion of what directors do over the course of the year and talk about the factors associated with picking music and what the plan is for rehearsals. Motion (Campbell/Eyler)
a) Panel of five conductors would have a list of questions to answer w/ a round-table idea
b) “Soup to Nuts: How do you manage your percussion ensemble program and concert”
c) The first rehearsal of a new work – what do you do?
C. Committee directed chair Moore to prepare a general proposal for a panel discussion at PASIC 2008 with a topic to be determined at a later date.
III. New Literature Session
A. Session went very well. Congratulations to Michael Kingan for an excellent session. The program was very well organized and informative. The committee commends Kingan and the IUP students.
B. Eyler discussion: make sure the clinician gets more publicity and not just the ensemble. Also, make sure the showcase concerts get the recognition they deserve
C. Ideas from the committee.
1. Could there be more middle school literature?
2. Can there be an all-star percussion ensemble to play easier pieces. Also, schools could nominate students and do a rehearsal the night before the session?
IV. International Percussion Ensemble Competition.
A. Judges are chosen by the chair who tries to be as diverse as possible and have judges geographically spread out.
B. Call for nominations of adjudicators for 2008 competition should be sent to the new committee chair.
V. New Business
A. End of Dan Moore’s term as committee chair. His recommendation is to have someone from the current committee to serve as chair. Andrew Spencer has expressed interest and the committee informally endorsed his candidacy.
B. Committee wants to send a request to the executive committee to sign a contract to have the convention center stay open and allow ensembles to set-up and rehearse the night before. There have been issues getting enough rehearsal and set-up time for showcase concerts.
VI. Adjourn: 1:55 p.m. (Campbell/Eyler)
Respectfully Submitted,
Brian Zator
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