Random Mandolins Christmas

Random Mandolins (Tate, Ronda, Jean, Daryl, Linda and Dave) will be playing holiday tunes at a few locations this month:

Sat., Dec. 8, 11:00 AM at Sovereign Grounds coffee shop, 48th & Chicago, Minneapolis
Sat., Dec 15, 11:00 AM at Polly's Coffeee Cove, 1382 Payne Avenue  Saint Paul
Thur., Dec 13, 6:30 PM at Stonecrop, 13728 83rd Way North, Maple Grove

Looking for a slight mando-improvement

MMO comrades: I'm looking around for a slightly better mandolin.  If any of you have a mando in the 600-1200 dollar range that is not getting enough use, I might be interested in acquiring it.  Let me know.  Thanks, see you soon  - TF

Need a shirt?

CMSA has some left over polo shirts from the 2011 convention in Baltimore.

As a Thank You to the members of the Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra, we are offering a free Baltimore shirt to anyone who wants one.

Sizes and colors (black or white) are limited.  Just let me know via personal e-mail (l_chouinard@visi.com) what you would like and I'll see what I can do. 

Lou

New music for November 5

I put "Fantasy in Five Time" on the rehearsal schedule for November 5.

Parts are here:
http://www.minnesotamandolinorchestra.org/fantasy-5-parts.pdf

Synthesized practice file is here:
http://www.minnesotamandolinorchestra.org/fantasy-in-five.mp3

"Young America" October 29

We will play "Young America" at our October 29 MMO rehearsal. You can get your part here:
http://minnesotamandolinorchestra.org/young-america-parts.pdf

Party Monday, October 22

The MMO end-of-season party will be Monday, October 22, at 4820 Elliot Avenue South in Minneapolis. Come any time after 6:00 p.m., and take a dish to share. Take an instrument, too, in case a spontaneous performance or jam breaks out.

October 15 rehearsal

These are the selections we will play on October 15:

Swimming Down the Stars
Here, There, and Everywhere
Poets in Time
Little Rock Getaway
Torna a Soriento
Benvenuto

We last played Here, There, and Everywhere in 2005. If you don't already have a part, you can get one here:
http://www.minnesotamandolinorchestra.org/here-there-parts.pdf

Poets in Time is new. You can get your part here:
http://www.minnesotamandolinorchestra.org/poets-parts.pdf

We will also be looking for a volunteer to host an end-of-season party.

A very BIG Thank You!!!!

Guys, I can't thank everyone enough for their involvement in the run up and execution of this convention.

It was a highly successful convention.  We had more people than *I* expected (Lou may have his own opinion) who would come to "flyover territory" to enjoy their mandolin buddies, the workshops and performers.

As I said at the banquet: Linda Ingham's advice based on the 1999 convention was extremely helpful.  We really tried not to load people too heavily or cause any burnout.  Hopefully those who helped, and those who attended feel inspired to be even better mandolin players and will inspire us all in the orchestra in the coming years!

Jean did a fantastic job working with Vicki to prepare and execute registration.  She contributed information about Minneapolis businesses and services for the convention program, purchased the picks, selected and purchased the badge holders and helped in the convention bag production line.

Ronda Zimmerschied and Sue Hopperstad sat down with me in a coffee shop in Columbia Heights one cold February night and came up with the concept for the convention logo.  Sue carried that forward onto the polo shirts that we sold (there's one size small left, so if you want one, let us know quick!)  Ronda and her partner Mel selected the convention bags and handled the process of negotiation with the company that produced those.  They looked GREAT and were very functional, not to mention REASONABLY PRICED (I think I recall Mel had some kind of discount we benefitted from?)

Jim Dostal did the tough job of reaching out to vendors and getting their presence at the convention and keeping them happy once here.  I think we had just the right number and right mix of vendors offering some great merchandise.

Daryl Clark helped with publicity, writing Mandolin Journal articles, which was greatly appreciated.  Myrna Mybus collected and edited artist bios for the Convention Program.

Jack Litzau excelled as our Sound Coordinator, locating Paul, our sound technician, who did a fantastic job of preparing (using the MMO as a test subject) and executing sound during the convention.  Max Dingman was their erstwhile assistant during the convention - moving equipment, placing microphones and being ALL over the place assisting in that capacity.

Gary helped me a great deal in covering the workshops - getting handouts to the workshop leads and making sure that the rooms were in order and the workshops began and ended on time.  Steve Maxwell was ready and willing to serve, and I think I just didn't come up with tasks for him due to my own limited brain capacity, but I appreciate his willingness and interest.

Nancy Hendricks helped us during concerts and probably did some stuff for Vicki in the office that I wasn't aware of.  She distributed programs and helped me with photography during the big concert.

Dave Ingham helped with assessing our printer options by getting quotes from various sources.  We ended up going a different route, but no matter - his efforts were very useful in the decision making process.

And, speaking of printing, Ronda beautified a very rough version of the Convention Program and then got her employer to produce the programs FOR FREE!  Given that we had quotes of over $600 to do this, this was a huge savings for the CMSA.

On to music - I received a number of compliments about the MMO's performance.  It is very cool that we played an entire set of locally composed and arranged pieces that were warmly received by our audience.  There was a definite Minnesota flavor to our numbers and our performance.  Above Average in all respects!

Lon Hendricks did a wonderful job MC'ing the open mic performances.  People really enjoy his humor and banter.

I would say "in addition" but, this is Lon's main contribution....I really appreciate his leadership style for the orchestra.  He excels at making our orchestra a low pressure, warm and inviting place for musicians of all levels to come and build their mandolin and guitar skills and get out in front of people multiple times each year.  And, after taking Stefan Squarzina's conducting workshop in Italy and having to stand in front of people and do a VERY rudimentary attempt of conducting, I have a whole new respect for how challenging that job is!  Not to mention selecting our repertoire and arranging pieces for us!

We are a very fortunate group.  I'm sure there are mandolinists elsewhere who'd love to be a part of our group if they were near us.

If I forgot to mention someone, please pardon my lapse and remind me and I will thank you publicly in an update to this blog.

I have very much enjoyed my, I can't really recall, but, I think I'm at 7 years now, with the Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra.  What a TERRIFIC group of people dedicated to making mandolin music!

With love,

Dotty

Mikri Thalassa recording

There's a recording of Mikri Thalassa (one of the CMSA en-masse selections) on the Sydney Mandolins MySpace page:

http://www.myspace.com/sydneymandolins/music/songs/mikri-thalassa-74445986

You can listen for free on your computer or buy the mp3 from iTunes or Amazon for 99 cents.

Thanks, Steve, for finding this.

Contact information for Keith Harris

If you want to converse with Keith Harris by Skype or email, you can find him here:

skype name is keithdom and email address is keithharris@gmx.de

En-masse music practice Thursday

We'll be having an informal CMSA en-masse music rehearsal at the Inghams' house Thursday evening, September 20, starting at 7:00. The address is 4820 Elliot Avenue South. Stop by if you want to practice the music with us.

CMSA Convention Registration

As I mentioned at rehearsal, if you've not registered for the convention yet, Lou has agreed that you can still get the early registration rate ($150). But you need to let Lou/Vicki know, and sooner rather than later so we can finalize the numbers for the banquet.

If you can't make the entire convention, there is a day rate ($50) that can be had to attend workshops and events. The Teacher's and Technique workshop, which starts on Tuesday evening and runs through Wed morning is $50. Certainly, there is no charge to participate in our performance! If you wish to come the day of the banquet, I believe the cost for the banquet itself is an additional $40.

I hope you guys can get off work and take advantage of this. It really is a tremendous experience and very nice that you don't have the additional expenses of air travel and hotel to tack on to all of it, so it's a bargain when it's in town!

Lou and Vicki can be reached at l_chouinard@visi.com

 Dotty

Updated convention set list

I changed the set list for the convention. The Clairvoyant Cha-Cha sounds like it won't be ready for a performance at the convention, so I replaced it with Nail That Catfish. This is the new list:

• The X-Town Interchange Rag
• My Desire Devised Her Beauty
• Take Me Out to the Ball Game
• Nail That Catfish and Shove the Pig's Foot
• Porque Esta Allí
• Seven
• Off to Minnesota  

We're still on for "The Minnesota Polka" with Toni Nigrelli's group.

Harris en masse practice files

Thanks to Ray, I have mp3 practice files for the Keith Harris "Miniatures" to be performed by the en masse group at the CMSA convention. You can get them here:

http://www.minnesotamandolinorchestra.org/harris-1-domra.mp3
http://www.minnesotamandolinorchestra.org/harris-2-habanera.mp3
http://www.minnesotamandolinorchestra.org/harris-3-pipelined.mp3

Minnesota Polka lyrics

The Minnesota Polka Floating on the breeze,

The Minnesota Polka underneath the trees,

The Minnesota Polka the rippling waters play,

With Coffee pot and smorgasbord you'll dance the night away.

They cut down a tall pine tree and made a floor to dance on.

With branches they made a fire and put the coffee pot on.

They tuned up the fiddle and harmonica, accordion, and old banjo,

Sittin' on a bale of hay then the band began to play. The dance was on!

The Minnesota Polka floating on the breeze,

The Minnesota Polka, underneath the trees,

The Minnesota Polka the rippling waters play,

With coffee pot and smorgasbord you'll dance the night away.

Recruiting Volunteers to Staff the Registration Table at CMSA 2012 Convention

Volunteers are needed to staff the CMSA 2012 Registration Table at these times:

Weds, Oct 3:  11:00am to 1:00 p.m.

Weds, Oct 3:  1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Thurs, Oct 4:  1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Fri, Oct 5:  1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Sat, Oct 6:  noon to 2:00 p.m.

Non-playing attendees are needed to staff the Registration Table during en masse orchestra rehearsals and sectional rehearsals at these times:

Weds, Oct 3:  3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Fri, Oct 5:  8:30 to 10:00 a.m.

Sat, Oct 6:  8:30 to 10:00 a.m.

Many, but not necessarily all, of the shifts will have 2 people working.  There will be "easy to follow" instructions regarding the registration process.

If  you can volunteer for any of these times (or you have a family member who can help out during orchestra and sectional rehearsal times), please let me know and thank you to everyone who is able to spend a little time helping out in the registration area.

Jean Marchant

August 27 rehearsal

We will have a rehearsal on Monday, August 27. These are the tunes:

Off to Minnesota
My Desire Devised Her Beauty
Children with Bad Dreams
Seven
The Clairvoyant Cha-Cha
Take Me Out to the Ball Game

We last played "Children with Bad Dreams" in 2008. I want to play it at the August 27 rehearsal to evaluate whether it is suitable for playing at the convention. If you have CWBD in your files, please take it to the rehearsal and consider making a copy for someone who doesn't have it.

I'm thinking about having our annual end-of-season party after the convention.

CMSA Convention: Welcome Party Planning

It's July and you'll be hearing more and more about the CMSA convention, with chances to get involved. We are down to about 13 weeks before the convention,and it will be here very soon! We need to make some decisions about entertainment during the Welcome Party. The CMSA funds the food for the party, and we'll negotiate some simple hors d'oeuveres and have a cash bar. Typically there is some kind of entertainment. That we'll either have to fund out of the treasury (I'll check in with Ted/Lon on that idea) or we'd need to find a way to fund it from donations from orchestra members or patrons. The party will be pool side (indoor pool). The space is congenial for that kind of gathering, but a bit challenging for musicians. What we'd want is background music as this is a meet & greet - a chance for frequent convention attendees to reconnect with one another, and for people new to the convention to chat with folks as well. Typically, the welcome party lasts for a couple of hours, and it's Wednesday, the first night of the convention (October 3rd). I'll mention this at our rehearsal tonight. If you have ideas/suggestions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me. Dotty djcoffey@mac.com

New parts for Porque

I generated new parts for Porque Esta Allí. There are three changes from the parts you already have:

1. The second word in the title is now ESTA rather than ES
2. There is an initial tempo marking of 116 bpm
3. In the second mandolin part, the first note of measure 66 is now E, not F sharp.

My mandolin is a poor substitute for a drum...

I am more than a little reluctant to knock, hit, rap, strike or whack my fragile mandolin for the otherwise most enjoyable "Porque Es Alli".  Though I play a cheap instrument, I still don't want to damage its finish.  If I played an expensive axe, I'd feel that way even more.

A strip or two of duct tape over the impact zone would make my mandolin a less-fragile "drum".  But there are some obvious drawbacks to this. 

I've been tapping the top of my (inexpensive, replaceable) bridge with my fingernails or my pick, which creates a loud-enough sound.  Hitting the mando top creates a lower thump, but again, it has the potential for damaging the finish.

If I need to play percussion, I'd much rather bring a drumstick and a wood block, or a pair of claves (which I own), and get the job done right.  You get a way bigger sound when you hit an instrument that's designed for the purpose.  All due respect to the talented composer, but if we need a percussion instrument, let's play a real one, what the heck.

MMO June 4th Performance - The Rivers in Burnsville

Ted dropped us all an email a while back about a performance on June 4th in Burnsville. As we had light attendance last night, and no rehearsal on Memorial Day, I had this shaky feeling that not everyone may have realized that this gig is for real and happening. So, in case you might not realize: It is at The Rivers in Burnsville at 7:00 PM on Monday June 4th. Address and set list can be found here: http://www.minnesotamandolinorchestra.org/therivers2012.html Hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! Dotty

1915 mandolin orchestra recording

Here is a recording of a mandolin orchestra, done in 1915.  The uploader used too much digital noise reduction, in my view, but it gives you an idea.

http://archive.org/details/Alessios-deFilippisMandolinOrchestra-HungarianSerenade1915

Kaufman workshops postponed

If any of you are thinking about going to the Steve Kaufman workshops at the Homestead, you will have to wait until April 2013. I got this from the Homestead today:

It is with deep regret that we must announce the re-scheduling of this weekend’s workshops and concert by Steve Kaufman.  As you recall, the workshops and concert were originally scheduled for March at a time of year that they have been held for many years.  We chose to re-schedule to this weekend in deference to the Bluegrass Festival which was held in River Falls, WI.  At the time we could not imagine any conflicts in May.  But Murphy’s law prevails and a situation which could not have been foreseen back then, makes it necessary to move once again. 

 

The only problem is that Steve is an extremely busy person and the next available weekend he has is

April 4-7, 2013.  There will be no moving of that date for any reason so the 2013 Steve Kaufman Minnesota visit will unfold as follows:

 

Rhythm Mandolin Workshop

Thursday, April 4, 2013 - 7:00 PM

Steve will go over chords from basic to intermediate forms and show you how they move along the fretboard.  Chops, Timing and Notes will be covered.  Some basic knowledge of the Mandolin is helpful but not required.  Interest in the Mandolin is recommended.   20 Students Maximum

Lead Mandolin Workshop

Friday, April 5, 2013 - 7:00 PM

Work on fingerings, new songs and how to learn them.  How to use tab most effectively and how to learn by ear will be covered.  20 Students Maximum

All-Level Flatpicking Guitar Workshop

Saturday, April 6, 2013 - 9:30 AM

Steve’s award winning workshop will teach you right and left hand techniques to gain better control.  Learn how to effectively introduce new tunes and new chords to your repertoires most effectively.

20 Students Maximum

Upper Intermediate/Advanced Flatpicking Workshop

Sunday, April 7, 2013, - 12:00 Noon

Steve incorporated this workshop into his Minnesota visit at the request of many previous students.  Developed for the experienced picker, it will offer additional right and left hand techniques to perfect your control and introduce yet more chords and tunes.  20 Students Maximum.

 

Steve Kaufman In Concert Saturday, April 6, 2013 - 8:00 PM  with featured guest Mike Cramer. 

Armatage Elementary School Auditorium, 2501 West 56^th Street, Minneapolis, $ 17.00 Advance           $20.00 Day of Show.  Mike Cramer, while he was looking forward to appearing with Steve this weekend has reserved the new date on his calendar.  The show will go on.

 

Thanks for your understanding.  All workshop fees that have been paid and all concert tickets that have been purchased will be fully refunded.

"Swimming" measures 89-92

The problem with measures 89-92 of "Swimming Down the Stars" seems to be that the instruments that are holding the four-measure long note aren't sure when to cut it off. I'll solve that problem by giving a cut-off gesture on the downbeat of measure 93.

I don't think arguing about conducting technique is a good use of rehearsal time. If you have an issue with my conducting, please talk to me before the rehearsal starts or after it ends.

Rocky Rococo

Creekside Gables: 7601 Zane Ave in Brooklyn Park.
Rocky Rococo: 7540 Brooklyn Blvd, less than a half mile away.
I'll be eating pizza and bread sticks at Rocky's before the gig, arriving 5:15 or so. Any Rocky's-craving MMO members are welcome to join me there.

Another MMO related blog

Hello everyone - I wrote another blog post that mentions the MMO and our concert tonight. I wrote the post on Saturday but didn't get around to posting it here on MMO until just now. I decided I'd better practice a few concert songs last night instead of spending more time on the computer.

Here's a link if you would like to read it:
http://myrnacgmibus.blogspot.com/2012/03/big-day-no-fooling.html

Also a friend of mine is selling his Hohner A style mandolin along with gig bag. It's in almost new condition and he's asking $175 for it - or make him an offer.

Here's his contact information:
John Hanson

jfhanson@gmail.com

507-663-7290 (home)

952-210-7793 (cell)

And here's a picture of the mandolin.

See most of you at the concert tonight and at rehearsal tomorrow!

Myrna

De-damping (break-in) service

How about this?

http://www.siminoff.net/pages/siminoff_parts13-dedamping.html

Maybe we can apply for a grant, and have the whole orchestra processed.

March 5 rehearsal comments

Monday night we had some communication failures. I would like to clarity a few points.

In Please Please Me, I should have explained sooner and more clearly what I was hearing in the fourth measure of B that needed to be fixed. I was hearing that the eighth notes in that measure were played late. Thanks to Linda for asking for more explanation, and to Dotty for suggesting that we try tapping. We'll let that piece rest for a week and then work on it again. Meanwhile, I have two suggestions for everyone who plays eighth notes in that measure: (1) Make sure you're using alternating down (on the beat) and up (between the beats) pick strokes. For the mandolas, if you end the tremolo of the preceding half note with a down stroke on the down beat, your pick can go down up down up down up down up down to take you through the troublesome measure. (2) Play along with the Beatles and listen for when your playing is locked in with the rhythm of the record. If you don't have the Beatles recording, you can get it from youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vZLVJwXP-U

I didn't explain the counting and silence exercises very well, either. I got those exercises from "The Creative Director: Alternative Rehearsal Techniques" by Edward Lisk. The book explains the "off on 7 and rest for 5" exercise like this: "Count mentally from 1 through 7. The moment your mind thinks of 7, release into silence, followed by silently saying rest 2 3 4 5 (in tempo). Then proceed to the next pitch in the circle (in tempo). The next pitch entrance will start the moment your mind thinks of 1." Maybe that's clearer than the way I said it.

I would also like to address a conducting issue. I sometimes receive criticism for using a small conducting pattern on pieces with a rhythmic groove and no tempo changes or fermatas, such as Please Please Me and Bethlehem on the Ohio. On those pieces, I think my job is starting the piece with the proper tempo and dynamics, giving cues, giving gestures to shape the music, and generally being supportive. I don't try to control the placement of every beat with the stick, and I don't think it's possible to do so. Those pieces do not need continuous, large, time beating. They need to have every player listen and keep the music in the groove.

2012 MMO photo

People asked that I make the MMO photo available (the one that was used in this past edition of the Mandolin Journal.

You can find the best (Ted's shots - good thing there were two of us taking photos, mine were not great) online in Google Docs here:

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B53T_3tGEFPMY29RSFY0cnVTdVc5UTdSODlBd0pidw

Edinborough Park set list

This is the set list for our concert at Edinborough Park, Sunday, April 1, 7 p.m.

Benvenuto
Please Please Me
Earth Song
Prelude and Fugue
Canzonetta
The Talisman
Ashokan Farewell
Seven
Off to Minnesota
My Desire
Swimming Down the Stars
That Banjo Rag
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Palladio

Gordon Neidinger

Here is the URL for Gordon Neidinger's performance of Carlo Monti's "Csardas" on From the Top on NPR on February 25, 2012. Gordon was a scholarship student at the 2011 Baltimore CMSA convention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlECjYfEjLc&feature=youtu.be

1) Martin Backpacker 2) Mandolin?

If any MMO folks are interested in acquiring my mid-1990s Martin Backpacker travel guitar with gig bag and strap, I will let it go for somewhere slightly south of a hundred bucks.

Also, anybody got a low-three-figures mandolin they wish to offload, I might be interested in hearing about it.

Thanks - TF

Notes from February 13 rehearsal

Benvenuto

First and second mandolins, measure 72, beat 4, use tremolo on the E note.

Swimming Down the Stars

We will go slower in the last four bars before E, then "a tempo" at E (measure 69).

Please Please Me

Mandolas, play measure 8 as divisi, not double stops.

Little Rock Getaway

We sometimes lose the swing (or bounce). In a series of swung eighth notes, think of giving the off-beat notes less stress than the on-the-beat notes.

In measures 77-80, the first of each group of six triplets gets a slight accent, and the other five should be as smooth, connected, and even as possible. Try DUDUDU pick strokes.

In The Breakers

My brother-in-law Jon Pinnow, who lives in Denver, came up with this nice little uke-based tune. I play mandolin on it, my brother John plays slide guitar, and my son Andrew laid down some bass & drum tracks.
http://jonpinnow.com/track/in-the-breakers

Concert sponsored by the Society for the Doctrinal Affectation of Baroque Music :

David Jenkins, organ and harpsichord, and Christopher Kachian, guitar, will present a faculty recital from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, in St. Mary’s Chapel, located on the School of Divinity campus at Summit Avenue and Mississippi River Boulevard. Here's a map: http://www.stthomas.edu/campusmaps/stpaul/stpaul2D.pdf

The recital is free and open to the public.

Jenkins and Kachian will perform works by Bach, Couperin and Lully. Joining them will be Thomas Schonberg (Dean, Lidigo School of Music, Sweden), violoncello, and art historian Michelle Nordtorp-Madsen.

I went to last year's concert featuring Chris (head, guitar program at STU), David, and Michelle, and it was great -- a very non-stuffy approach to classical music performed by excellent classical musicians. If it is like last year's concert, Michelle will provide commentary and visual aids to put the music in historical and cultural perspective.

For a change of pace after the show, you might want to head to the Minnesota Music Cafe (449 Payne Ave., St. Paul) to listen to Power of Ten, a ten-piece R&B band: http://www.powerof10.com/full.htm . The show starts at 9:30. My son Andy is now their drummer, but his picture is not yet on their website. Here's a link to the MMC website http://minnesotamusiccafe.com/ .

-Ray Artz

Sensibility Aside blog post

Thanks again to all of you for welcoming me into the MMO. I wrote about joining the MMO on my personal blog, Idyllwild. The blog title is "Sensibility Aside - Joining the Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra."

Here's a link if you would like to read it:
http://myrnacgmibus.blogspot.com/2012/01/sensibility-aside-joining-minnesota.html

See you at rehearsal on Monday!

Overhaul of mandocello

This link shows a highly competent technician taking apart and repairing the body of an old Gibson mandocello. Interesting!

http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Blogs/K2Collapse/k2collapse.html

frets.com is an excellent resource.

Tunes for January 30 rehearsal

The January 30 tune list is on the MMO rehearsal schedule page. In case you didn't see it there, here's the list:

The Talisman
Joropo de Lara
Berceuse
My Desire
Off to Minnesota
Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Tune list update

I just updated the "current tunes" list. I added Torna a Surriento and deleted Ave Maria, Corale, Pavane, and Romanian Lullabye. Ave Maria will come back. I'm waiting for updates from the arranger.

http://www.minnesotamandolinorchestra.org/1112tunes.html

Tunes for January 23 rehearsal

Benvenuto
Berceuse
Bethlehem on the Ohio
My Desire Devised Her Beauty
Little Rock Getaway
That Banjo Rag

Torna a Surriento lyrics

I found the lyrics to "Torna a Surriento," as sung by Allan Sherman, here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACZHFkVV4dA

updates

The blog lists 2010-2011 Tune List but seems to have the tunes updated. Maybe it should read 2011-2012.
Also, the last group pic on the website was Dec. 2009. Time for an update? I'd love to be in one last picture before leaving the group. :-)

CMSA 2012 Update

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Survey Monkey survey and replying to my query about composer recommendations. This information has been passed along to the CMSA (Lou) for next steps.

As you may have seen, the convention dates have moved to October 2-7. Please mark your calendars and consider in your vacation planning for the year.

There are a few more roles to fill in the Host Committee. By the way, energetic people/people with some free time are certainly invited to step up for more than one role on the Host Committee.

We need the following: Registration Coordinator, Workshop Coordinator, Raffle Coordinator, Open Mic Coordinator, Stage Coordinator.

If you have interest in any of the above roles, please let me know. We'll begin having meetings of the Host Committee within the next few weeks. Such meetings will be teleconferences, to make things easier on people's schedules.

So far, we have the following:
Treasurer - Vicki Chouinard
Volunteer Coordinator - Ann Yust
Art Director, Convention and Concert Program Coordinator - Ronda Zimmerschied
Sound Coordinator - Jack Litzau
Vendor Coordinator - Jim Dostal

Thanks again for your interest in and support for the 2012 CMSA Convention in the Twin Cities!

Dotty