Our 2008 Bay Section Conference that was held at San Jose State University was terrific! I thoroughly enjoyed attending such a wonderful collection of educational and refreshing sessions. It is so much fun running into old friends, being introduced to “new friends”, chatting with fresh faced teachers of veteran status, as well as newbie status while learning something new too. This is my favorite Conference of the year. I’d like to thank our Conference Committee, our host Dr. Ed Harris and his crew, our Special Reps, and Best Music for putting the energy into creating such a great vibe!

Jazz Festivals are behind us, it is appropriate to shout a hoorah to our hosts: Jazz West / Solo/Combo and Vocal Jazz host, Steve Hendee; Jazz East / Valley host, Larry Colon; Jazz South host, Julie Bounds, and Jazz North host, Kevin Klemenok. You and your volunteers all did a fantastic job, congratulations to you and your communities.

All participating directors need to know the importance of filling out and sending in a festival evaluation; without your feedback we can not change what might have been less than satisfactory. If you are not interested in responding the old fashioned way via paper, envelope and stamp, you can email me ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) with your observations, and/or reflections, based on your experience(s). I will be sure to share these comments with our hosts while maintaining confidentiality.

Believe it or not, this is a perfect time to start considering whether you’d like to host a festival at your school site, or local college site. Area Reps are currently in possession of new host contracts, so please contact your Area Rep, or Special Rep (Band, Choir, Orchestra, or Jazz) as early as now and get yourself signed up. I can also email you a contract, and put you in touch with your Area Rep or Special Rep, as it is within their domain to secure hosts. Hosting a festival is such a productive way of bringing your musical community together for a common cause. Your students benefit from the responsibility, your “parents” learn an amazing amount of what they never knew you do (!), colleagues appreciate your efforts, and you can make some money for your program via a snack shack; breakfast items in the morning, BBQ offerings for lunch or dinner.

Good luck to all of you at your upcoming Band, Choral, Band/Orchestra and Orchestra Festivals! Please send in your festival evaluations while your experience is still fresh in your minds.