memorandum

MEMO

Date: 10/24/2002

To: MTVA Mid-State and Freshman Honors Directors

From: Lewis Walling

RE: Audition Instructions, Assignments, etc.

Enclosed you will find the schedule for your students’ auditions for Freshman Honors and Mid-State choirs. Please check over your schedule carefully and verify that everything is correct. We have worked hard to be sure this is the case, but we may have missed something.

Please be sure to check the grade of each student. In many cases, grades were not supplied, so we had to make one up. However, we do need to get the correct information in the database so that the programs will be correct in the spring.

Please contact me immediately with your corrections or problems. The earlier a problem is brought to my attention, the more likely I can solve it to everyone’s satisfaction.

Review the following items carefully for your information and a successful audition process:

· All judges will need to meet at 4:45 PM at Greenbrier High School on Friday, November 15, 2002. Directions are also provided in this packet. Judging assignments are included as well; please note carefully if you are asked to provide a CD player. Please contact me as soon as possible if there is a problem with this.

· All parts are running both days. We are auditioning over 1200 students during the two days. Please make every effort to stay on schedule. Breaks have been scheduled for each room throughout the audition. A lunch break is also scheduled for Saturday. All rooms are scheduled to finish shortly after 3:00 PM. Results will be posted and packets will be available around 4:00 PM if all goes well. Any packets not picked up will be mailed to your school on the following Monday.

· Note that Saturday’s auditions do not begin until 8:30 AM. Judges will need to be at the site at 8:00 AM to ensure an efficient start.

Every attempt was made to accommodate all special requests. There were over 100 different requests this year. Please do not “reschedule” on your own as it creates problems and slows the audition process.

In order for the auditionprocess to go smoothly, students should “check in” with the registration table to ensure their scores are matched correctly with their name both at the audition room and in the scoring room. When this does not occur, it delays the scoring process.

Students need to be present on site in enough time to warm up and locate their audition room. At least 45 minutes is recommended.

Thank you for all you do in your classrooms each day. Thank you for sharing music with your students and helping them learn to share it with others. You are appreciated for your hard work and dedication. Please contact me with comments or concerns at walling97@comcast.net or 615-643-4526 (school). I can’t fix problems I don’t know about, so please don’t hesitate to share with me. I can’t promise you the moon, but I’ll at least get a rocket for us if I can.

Sincerely,

Lewis Walling

All-State Chair

Middle Tennessee Vocal Association

Directions to Greenbrier High School:

From Nashville and points south (30 minutes from downtown Nashville):

Take I-65 North to Exit 98 (Springfield/Millersville). Exit the interstate, turning left at the end of the ramp. After crossing underneath the interstate, bear right onto Highway 41 North (toward Ridgetop). Follow Hwy 41 North approximately 8 miles to Greenbrier. Turn left onto Cuniff Drive just after passing the post office and Subway. There is a sign indicating where to turn. The school is just ahead on the left. Enter at the second entrance.

***Construction note: There is ongoing construction on I-65 North. During rush hour, this can be a problem. A suitable alternate route is to exit onto Highway 41 (Dickerson Road) at Exit 90. This avoids the construction for the most part and connects to the directions given above.

From Murfreesboro, Tullahoma, Cookeville and points east of Nashville (60 minutes from Murfreesboro):

Use Briley Parkway North from I-24 West or I-40 West to avoid downtown and get to I-65 North. Note the construction there as well. You may still access Hwy 41 at Exit 90 if needed. Once on I-65, follow the directions above.

From Dickson and points west of Nashville (60 minutes from Dickson):

Use Briley Parkway East (White Bridge/Robertson Road) to avoid downtown and get to I-65 North. You may still access Hwy 41 at Exit 90 if needed. Once on I-65, follow the directions above.

From Sumner County (20 minutes from Hendersonville):

Take Vietnam Veterans Blvd to Conference Drive. Go north on Conference until you reach Long Hollow Pike. Turn left onto Long Hollow Pike. Travel until you reach Goodlettsville City Hall, turning right onto Dickerson Road (Highway 41 North). Then follow the directions above.

From Montgomery County (50 minutes to Clarksville):

Take I-24 East to Exit 24 (Springfield/Ashland City). Turn left at the end of the ramp onto Highway 49 East. Travel through Coopertown, turning right onto Highway 257 toward Ridgetop. Follow Highway 257 to the stoplight in Ridgetop, turning left onto Highway 41 North. Travel approximately 1 mile to Cuniff Drive. Follow the directions above from this point.

I think this will cover most everyone. If you have questions or (Yikes!) get lost, call 615-643-4526. The day of auditions, I will have a cell phone with me: 615-519-2263.

I look forward to seeing you all!

Duty Assignments

Soprano 1