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Dear Music Teacher:
Welcome to Westchester County and the Westchester County
School Music Association (WCSMA).
Our membership is comprised of instrumental, vocal and general
music teachers in public and private schools, universities and colleges in
Westchester County. Administrators, school district music directors or
chairpersons, principals, private teachers (i.e. studio or conservatory), NYSSMA
Executive Board members, and persons involved in music industry are also
members. In recent years our membership has exceeded 400. In
general, our purpose is to foster and encourage the improvement of music
programs in the schools of Westchester County.
WCSMA was formed in 1954 with the merger of the Westchester
Instrumental Music Educators Association and the Westchester Vocal Music
Teachers Association. In January, 1972, the Association was granted
corporate status by the Department of State of the State of New York, and
received its Certificate of Incorporation as WESTCHESTER COUNTY SCHOOL MUSIC
ASSOCIATION, INC. With incorporation, the Association became a non-profit
tax-exempt educational organization. WCSMA is a county unit of the New
York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) and is designated as ZONE 11
of NYSSMA’s fifteen geographical zones.
Throughout the school year, a monthly Newsletter is
mailed to WCSMA members. Please be sure to read the Newsletter, for it is
the source of all information, announcements, calendar dates and deadlines, and
other WCSMA/NYSSMA news and items of interest.
WCSMA designates a member as an EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
COORDINATOR. Members may wish to contact this person and inquire
about available positions in the county.
In affiliation with NYSSMA, WCSMA sponsors annual SPRING
EVALUATION FESTIVALS. Vocal and Instrumental major groups, small ensembles
and soloists perform and receive a rating. Students currently in grades 10
& 11 may qualify for participation in the NYSSMA CONFERENCE ALL-STATE
performing groups, students in grades 9-11 may audition for Area All-State, and
students
in grades 6-8 may audition for Intermediate All-County Band/Orchestra through
this evaluation process. The Evaluation Festivals are held from
April-June; the NYSSMA Conference, Area All-State and Intermediate
All-County Festival take place the following November/December.
WCSMA sponsors four ALL-COUNTY MUSIC FESTIVALS:
Elementary Festival - grades 4,5,6
Intermediate Festival - grades 7,8,9
High School (Area All-State) Festival - grades 10,11,12
High School (Area All-State) Jazz Festival - grades 10,11,12
All of the Festivals, with the exception of the Jazz Festival,
feature a Band, Orchestra and Chorus. Each has a Festival Coordinator, who
is assisted by a Chairperson for each performing group. As a member of
WCSMA, your vocal and instrumental students are eligible to audition and
participate in the annual festivals.
In every school district or private school WCSMA has a
designated “Primary Contact Person”. The Primary Contact Person is
cognizant of the activities of WCSMA and is there to help new teachers get
involved in the organization.
The first general membership meeting is held in the “fall”
season of the school year and is WCSMA’s annual “Open House”. This
meeting is open to all music teachers in the county.
The WCSMA Executive Board welcomes your active participation
in your county organization.
Mail a copy of the membership application,
with your dues check to:
Alan Lounsbury
WCSMA Membership
Alan Lounsbury
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