2022 WMEA High School All-State Honor Groups

Program overviewWMEA All-State high school honor groups include Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Choir, Treble Choir, Jazz Band, Jazz Choir and Percussion Ensemble. The entire application and audition process is done online with a firm deadline of October 7th. Direct technical assistance for teachers is available throughout the process at studentevents@wmea.org. Student Housing and Covid Alert: Significant changes will be in place for 2022 high school honor group participants. Please read pages 4 and 5 very cafefully.

2022 WMEA All-State Honor Group ConductorsConcert Band—Paul Popiel, University of Kansas/ Wind Ensemble—Caroline Beatty, Texas State University/Wind Symphony—Glen Adsit, The Hartt School/ Symphonic Choir—Christopher Harris, Arkansas Tech University/Treble Choir—Gennevieve Brown-Kibble, Southern Adventist University/ Chamber Orchestra—Carolyn Watson, University of Kansas/ Symphony Orchestra—Sergio Espinosa, University of Texas-Arlington/ Jazz Band—Tanya Darby, Berklee School of Music/ Jazz Choir—Greg Jasperse, Western Michigan University / Percussion Ensemble—She-e Wu, Northwestern University.

Eligibility---Teacher

WMEA Honor Groups are organized expressly for students of classroom WMEA member educators only. Teachers must maintain current membership from the time of application through honor group performances. By using our online appli-cation/audition system, teachers attest that: 1. they are the WMEA member teacher of the applicant, and have the student under their direction in a performing group corresponding with the honor group for which the student is applying; 2. that a WMEA member teacher from the applicant’s school was present at the time the audition recording was made. Refer to https://wmea.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/All-State-GoverningPolicy.pdf for complete policy guidelines.

Eligibility---Students

Students must be in grades 9-12, and regularly participating members in the school music performing group, offered for credit, corresponding with the honor group for which they are applying. Refer to link in previous paragraph for complete policy guidelines. Regular participation in that school music group must continue through the honor group performance. Students interested in applying in more than one category will need to submit a separate application, payment, and recorded audition for each area. By applying, all students, parents and teachers agree that if selected, students are required to attend all rehearsals and remain with their honor group at all times, from check-in through their concert.

Group assignments

Female singers chosen for All-State will be assigned by management to either Symphonic Choir or Treble Choir. Those selected in “winds and percussion” will be assigned to Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra or Chamber Orchestra. Students selected using the Wind Symphony audition materials will be placed in Wind Symphony. Important: The only way to be considered for Wind Symphony is to audition on the Wind Symphony audition materials. Strings will be placed in Symphony Orchestra or Chamber Orchestra, although one or more string bassists may be placed in one of the bands. Students accepted on a jazz rhythm section instrument will be assigned to jazz band or jazz choir.

Expense

Application Fee: $20 due with application. All payments must be made by credit card, are non-refundable, and instructions are provided within the online application process. (Application fees are waived if your school is a Partner Member of WMEA.) Please note that if a student anticipates needing financial assistance to participate if ultimately selected, application to access YME funds needs to be submitted by the audition close date of October 7th. See the WMEA Young Musicians Excelling fund page for complete information.

Participation Fee: $350 large groups, $385 for Jazz and Percussion Ensemble due as instructed after notification of acceptance. Partici-pation fees cover all meals, transportataion within Yakima as needed, and administrative costs. It does not cover ho-tel lodging expense. Payment of registration fees must be processed through the student’s school. Limited financial assistance is available from the WMEA Young Musicians Excelling fund. Please see the separate application page detailing that process. Please note that if a student anticipates needing financial assistance to participate if ulti-mately selected, application to access YME funds needs to be submitted by the audition close date of October 7.

Student Housing----IMPORTANT CHANGEAll participants must stay in one of the WMEA designated hotels and must be chaperoned by a school/school district approved adult. Schools/participants must pay their own lodging expense directly to the hotel of choice within the WMEA block. WMEA will no longer provide chaperones at the hotels. Please see page 4 for full details.

Transportation Each school, in cooperation and understanding of students’ parents/guardians, are responsible for and need to arrange transportation to and from Yakima. Students are not permitted to drive to, from or during the honor group experience. All transportation needed between check-in and concert will be provided by WMEA. Please see page 4 for full details.

Critical DatesWednesday, September 1 Online application and audition window opensThursday, October 7 Online application and audition window closes (11:59 PM)Monday, November 8 Notification of acceptance/registration information emailed to teachersFriday, December 3 Postmark deadline for registration forms and all fees ($10 late processing fee per

student after this date). Alert: this date will not be extended due to potential inclement weather.

Wednesday, January 5 Mailing of music to teachers/schools beginsJanuary Date TBD Jazz Band, Jazz Choir, Percussion Ensemble required rehearsal, location TBDWednesday, February 16 All-State Jazz and Percussion Ensemble members arrive in Yakima, rehearsals beginFriday, February 18 All-State Bands, Orchestras, Choirs arrive in Yakima, rehearsals beginFriday, February 18 All-State Jazz Band, Jazz Choir and Percussion Ensemble performSunday, February 20 All-State Bands, Orchestras and Choirs perform

Audition/Application Checklist And Reminders for Teachers• Ensure your NAfME/WMEA membership is current and will remain current through February 2022.

Test your online access early and often. Teachers cannot access online application forms, nor submit applications/auditions unless membership is current. Warning—NAfME does not finalize membership until checks havecleared, credit cards approved or purchase orders paid by your school/district.Renewal can be done online (www.nafme.org), by phone (1-800-828-0229), or mail. We cannot extendapplication deadlines due to membership issues.

• Distribute the “Student Application Worksheet” and audition materials to qualified students. The work-sheet is provided for your use only--please do not mail to WMEA.

• Complete/submit the online application and upload recordings at www.opuseventcom. Deadline is October7. Detailed instructions found online with the application/recording pages. Audition payments must be done on-line via credit card as part of the audition process. Audition fees are waived for WMEA Partner Member Schoolsand you will be able to submit auditions at no charge.

• If a student is applying for financial assistance through YME, postmark deadline of form is October 7. Seeapplication on separate page in this packet.

19105 36th Avenue West, Suite 203 • Lynnwood, WA 980361-800-324-WMEA • 425-712-WMEA • 425-776-1795 (FAX)office@wmea.org • www.wmea.org

Financial Assistance Application2020 High School All-State Honor Groups

Student: ________________________________________________________________________________________School/City: _____________________________________________________________________________________Home Address: __________________________________________________________________________________City/State/Zip: ___________________________________________________________________________________Phone: ________________________________________E-Mail ___________________________________________

A. Honor group participation fee:......................................... $ 385.00 or $395 (JB, JC, Perc Ens)B. Amount my school will pay (subtract):............................. $ –_________C. Balance due from me:..................................................... $ _________D. Amount I can reasonably afford (subtract): ..................... $ –_________E. Amount of assistance requested:.................................... $

Student Signature:__________________________________________________ Date: ___________Parent Signature:___________________________________________________ Date: ___________

Our signatures attest this is a true financial need for support as requested.School Music Teacher (Print) _________________________________ E-mail ________________________________School Music Teacher Signature ___________________________________________________ Date: ___________

My signature acknowledges this request for support as a reasonable need.Forms missing one or more signatures will be returned for completion.

WMEA High School All-StateFinancial Assistance

Give the GIFT of MUSIC

The WMEA Young Musicians Excelling fund is pleased to provide monies and services that provide assistance to Washington students of genuine limited financial means.

This year’s high school WMEA All-State participants’ cost is $385 ($395 for Jazz Band, Jazz Choir, Percussion Ensemble) per student. For students who TRULY need financial assistance, please follow the steps below:

1. Print out a copy of this form.2. Ask your music teacher how much your school will assist with costs, and then put that amount on line B below.3. Complete the rest of this form to the best of your ability. Be sure to fill in lines C, D and E.4. Have your parents and school music teacher sign the form and sign it yourself.5. You or your school music teacher should send it to:

WMEA –YME Assistance Program19105 36th Avenue West, Suite 203

Lynnwood, WA 98036That request must be postmarked on or before October 8, 2019. If you are accepted in a honor group, your teacher will be notified

by e-mail or US mail of how much assistance you have been granted (it may not be all you ask, as the available funds must be distrib-uted equitably). All requests are handled in confidence separately from the auditions and do not impact whether or not you are selected for honor groups.

THIS IS STRICTLY NEED-BASED ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES ONLY.IT IS ESTABLISHED ON AN HONOR SYSTEM.

Please ask ONLY for assistance based on true need.THIS IS NOT A “SCHOLARSHIP.”

Please attempt to provide a portion of the cost yourself

(line D).

19105 36th Avenue West, Suite 213 • Lynnwood, WA 98036 1-800-324-WMEA • 425-712-WMEA • 425-776-1795 (FAX)office@wmea.org • www.wmea.org

Financial Assistance Application2022 High School All-State Honor Groups

Student: ________________________________________________________________________________________ School/City: _____________________________________________________________________________________ Home Address: __________________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________________E-Mail ___________________________________________

A. Honor group participation fee: ......................................... $ 350.00 or $385 (JB, JC, Perc Ens)B. Amount my school will pay (subtract):............................. $ – _________C. Balance due from me: ..................................................... $ _________D. Amount I can reasonably afford (subtract): ..................... $ – _________E. Amount of assistance requested: .................................... $

Student Signature:__________________ ________________________________ Date: ___________Parent Signature: ___________________________________________________ Date: ___________

Our signatures attest this is a true financial need for support as requested.School Music Teacher (Print) _________________________________ E-mail ________________________________School Music Teacher Signature ___________________________________________________ Date: ___________

My signature acknowledges this request for support as a reasonable need.Forms missing one or more signatures will be returned for completion.

WMEA High School All-StateFinancial Assistance

Give the GIFT of MUSIC

The WMEA Young Musicians Excelling fund is pleased to provide monies and services that provide assistance to Washington students of genuine limited financial means.

This year’s high school WMEA All-State participants’ cost is $350 ($385 for Jazz Band, Jazz Choir, Percussion Ensemble) per student. For students who TRULY need financial assistance, please follow the steps below:

1. Print out a copy of this form.2. Ask your music teacher how much your school will assist with costs, and then put that amount on line B below.3. Complete the rest of this form to the best of your ability. Be sure to fill in lines C, D and E.4. Have your parents and school music teacher sign the form and sign it yourself.5. You or your school music teacher should send it to:

WMEA –YME Assistance Program19105 36th Avenue West, Suite 213

Lynnwood, WA 98036That request must be postmarked on or before October 7, 2021. If you are accepted in a honor group, your teacher will be

notified by e-mail or US mail of how much assistance you have been granted (it may not be all you ask, as the available funds must be distributed equitably). All requests are handled in confidence separately from the auditions and do not impact whether or not you are selected for honor groups.

THIS IS STRICTLY NEED-BASED ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES ONLY.IT IS ESTABLISHED ON AN HONOR SYSTEM.

Please ask ONLY for assistance based on true need.THIS IS NOT A “SCHOLARSHIP.”

Please attempt to provide a portion of the cost yourself

(line D).

2022 WMEA High School All-State New Housing Process and Policy Division of Responsibilities:

Teacher Reserve hotel rooms in WMEA designated blocks to accommodate student(s) and chaperone(s.)

Provide chaperone(s) staying at hotel per school district guidelines.

Safe, school district approved transport to and from Yakima.

Chaperone ensures students get on WMEA bus each morning. Chaperone takes responsibility for student supervision upon drop at hotel each evening.

All transport of student luggage.

WMEA All local transportation.

All meals starting with breakfast day two.

Adult supervision between pick up at hotel each morning through drop at hotel each evening.

Chronological Logistics:

Friday (Wednesday for Jazz/Percussion Ensemble): Under school/district supervision, students check in to hotel, drop personal luggage, are fed dinner and then delivered to their rehearsal site. No meal provided by WMEA day one.

Upon conclusion of rehearsal, WMEA will transport all students to their hotel where they are released to school approved supervision until the following morning.

Saturday morning (Thursday for Jazz/P/E), WMEA will pick up students from their hotel and transport to breakfast and then to rehearsal site. Lunch and Dinner also provided by WMEA.

Upon conclusion of rehearsal, WMEA will transport all students to their hotel where they are released to school approved supervision until the following morning.

Sunday morning (Friday for Jazz/PE), all students check out of hotels, chaperones take possession of luggage. WMEA will pick up students from their hotel and transport to breakfast and then to rehearsal site. Lunch provided by WMEA.

WMEA provides transportation to concert sites. Upon conclusion of concert, all students released to parents/school personnel for safe transport home.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The new housing policy is as follows: In light of liability and safety concerns, WMEA will discontinue housing and chaperoning for participants in high school honor ensembles, including All-State and All-Northwest. Under the new protocol, WMEA will take responsibility for supervising students from the time they report for the first rehearsal of the first day until the conclusion of the evening rehearsal or event, at which point they will be released to the supervision of their school director or chaperone. School directors are responsible for following all guidelines established by their schools and districts to ensure that their students are appropriately supervised at all WMEA events.

Rationale: A number of concerns have been raised regarding WMEA’s practice of housing unacquainted students from different schools in rooms together, often sharing beds. There is no appropriate vetting process for juvenile participants that would guarantee students will not intentionally or unintentionally cause harm to one another in this situation. Transferring control of which students are rooming together to the local director minimizes the risk of impropriety. Any incidents of misconduct that do arise during hotel stays can be managed according to school protocols, as they would be for any other school trip. The new procedures will allow students in different performance groups but from the same school potentially to share rooms, and schools with low honor group enrollment would have the opportunity to coordinate lodging and supervision with participants from neighboring schools within their district and/or region.

What This Means: Schools will now be responsible for arranging lodging for their participating students, and provide a school/district approved adult chaperone(s) to supervise their students while they are at their hotel. WMEA will offer a block of hotel rooms for schools to choose from and all students must stay in one of the hotels within that block. WMEA will provide transportation from those designated hotels to rehearsal sites each morning and return transportation to hotels at the conclusion of each evening’s activities. WMEA will continue to assume full responsibility for high school participants during rehearsals and all all-state related activities.

Are there any exceptions? There will be no exceptions for the following reasons:

1. It creates/provides all participants with the same student experience.2. The participation expense is equal for all selected students.3. It strengthens WMEA’s ability to ensure student safety and that all students will be where they need to be, on time, and in the most

efficient manner.

High School Housing Process and Policy: FAQs and What We Hope

Question: As a teacher with accepted participants, do I personally have to serve as my school’s chaperone?

Answer: Not necessarily. You just need to arrange for, and ensure that a school/district approved adult serves in that role.

Question: Does the chaperone have to supervise kids during the day?

Answer: Absolutely not. They simply must get kids up and on the WMEA supplied bus to rehearsal each morning, and supervise them overnight once WMEA drops them off at the hotel each evening. Chaperones are totally free to spend each day as they wish.

What we hope: WMEA understands and appreciates that this is a significant change to past practice and will represent additional work and responsibility on the part of teachers, schools and families. Our hope is that teachers will network with one another, help each other within their building, school district and region.

Statement Regarding COVID-19

WMEA is carefully monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in Washington State, and the guidelines for group activities provided by CDC and DOH. We will adhere to school protocols for music activities in place at the time of the event. At this point we are planning an All-State event that is comparable in size and scope to previous years, however, we will make adjustments if necessary to prioritize the health and safety of participants. If significant changes are expected, we will provide an update when students are notified of their acceptance. Applicants and their families are advised that the scope, logistics, timeline and cost of the All-State event are subject to change, and participants may be asked to provide documentation of vaccination or a negative COVID test just prior to the event. In the worst-case scenario that we have to cancel an in person event, we are committed to recognizing those accepted for their accomplishment. Thank you for your patience during this extraordinary time.

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All honor group applications and auditions must be submitted using OpusEvent accessed via www.wmea.org.

Unless recording “live” to your computer, you must record all audition tracks and upload them using one of the following supported audio file types:

aac Advanced Audio Coding mp3 mp3 audio fileac3 Audio Coding 3 oga Ogg Vorbis Compressed Audio Fileaif Audio Interchange File Format ogg Ogg Vorbis Compressed Audio Fileamr Adaptive Multi-Rate Codec File sf2 Soundfontau Audio File sfark sfArk Compressed SoundFontcaf Core Audio Format voc Creative Labs Audio Fileflac Free Lossless Audio Codec wav Wave Audio Filem4a MPEG-4 Audio Layer weba WebA Audio Filem4b MPEG-4Audio Book wma Windows Media File

Submitting Your AuditionYou have a choice of two ways to submit audition recordings. One is to upload using one of the above supported audio file types you have recorded. The other is to record “live” directly into the computer using the built in microphone, or by attaching an external microphone.

Please refer to the 2022 OpusEvent Tutorial posted online for detailed step-by-step instructions.