Upcoming Events

All-State

Students who have demonstrated superior technical and musical skills on their instrument may wish to audition for the Georgia All-State band in February.  The All-State band consists of the top 7th and 8th grade players in the state, and is an extremely selective group.  Students wishing to audition for this group should get the audition music from their private instructors early in the fall to begin their preparations.  Also see the GMEA All-State Band Website for information.

All-State Dates:
     Feb 28th - March 1st - All-State Band and Orchestra in Savannah, GA

District 12 Honor and Clinic Bands

The District 12 Honor and Clinic Bands are comprised of the top middle school band students in Cobb and Douglas counties.  Students are selected for the bands through an audition process.  The audition, held in February, consists of four scales and two sight-reading exercises.  The top scoring students from the District are selected to participate in a three-day clinic, held later in April.  Any student wishing to audition for the honor and clinic bands must pass-of the audition requirements for a director prior to the audition.

Honor and Clinic Band Dates:

     2009 Dates TBD
 

Solo/Ensemble Festival

Held in November, the Solo and Ensemble Festival gives students a chance to perform in small groups or individually; it is open to small chamber groups (up to 14 musicians) or solo performers. Students who elect to participate will select a piece to perform (with the help of the band director or private instructor) and work on that piece outside of class. Each group or soloist will be given a rating on the same scale as those awarded to the full band during Concert Festival. Before the actual Solo and Ensemble Festival, DMS will hold a mock festival where students will perform for the band directors and for each other.

Solo/Ensemble 2007 Festival Dates:

     Wed, Sept 5th - DEADLINE for Solo/Ensemble applications
     Sat, Nov 10th - Pine Mountain Middle School

UGA Mid-Fest

The University of Georgia sponsors a Middle School Band Festival each December for some of the top 8th grade band students in the Southeastern United States.  Students are chosen by director nominations (each school may nominate up to ten students), and are placed by ability level into six different bands.  Each group will prepare a concert in three days, and perform the concert on the last day.  The directors will use the following criteria in nominating students: ability level, classroom participation, preparation, and ensemble discipline.

Georgia State Band Performance Evaluation

Each spring, our 7th and 8th Grade Bands participate in an evaluation that is equivalent to a standardized test for band! That event is the Georgia Music Educator’s Association State Band Performance Evaluation (BPE). The two 7th grade bands will travel by bus to Palmer Middle School to compete one night and the two 8th grade bands will travel to Kell High School another night.  We will not know our exact date and times until closer to the event.  Our performances will be recorded, our pictures will be taken, and judges will score our bands and give us feedback on our performances.  This is an exciting night for our students and since this will take place at a local Cobb County high school, many of the parents may wish to volunteer as chaperones or come on their own to watch our students.

BPE Dates:

8th Grade Concert Band (8-1)
Wednesday, March 19th - 5:45 pm
Kell High School

8th Grade Symphonic Band (8-2)
Thursday, March 20th - 6:10 pm
Kell High School

7th Grade Bands
Thursday, March 27th
Palmer Middle School
7-1 Band - 5:45 pm
7-2 Band - 7:25 pm