Things are taking shape for another eventful and enjoyable conference in Garmisch- Partenkirchen. Our dates this year had to be moved ahead because of the late start of school and late Easter. It should be even more pleasant weather than last year, if that is possible! The dates for the conference are set for 23-25 April. Come on down on Thursday, 22 April, and we will have a pre-conference party somewhere! 

     I have confirmed some stateside big names for us and I am excited to see what new sounds and ideas they will bring. Yamaha and Duquesne University are sponsoring Mike Tomara who will be working in a concert/lab band setup with the Kaiserslautern Jazz Band under the direction of Sam Alexander and possibly the Baumholder Jazz Band under the direction of Bob Hartline. The president of MENC Eastern Division is coming to be our headliner and open the conference. Her expertise lies in movement in the classroom and the Dalcroze/Eurhythmics concept. 

     I have a strong feeling that we should head more towards performance orientated sessions. I am contacting various German schools for performances and am in the process of setting up performances to inspire us all! I hope to have a chorus and a band for people to play in. Please e-mail me the part you sing or the instrument you play. 

     Some of our current members have offered to help conduct sessions. If you’re interested in presenting, let me know. Performing groups so far include the two jazz bands mentioned before and a string quartet doing the Mozart Clarinet Quintet, Mozart trio, clarinet trio doing assorted numbers and a clinic session. There will be lots of performances, technology and teaching sessions­so come join us!

"Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they? Think not of them, thou hast thy music, too."   John Keats, Ode To Autumn (1819)