November 2020

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Dear Directors,

 

Thank you for your interest in the 2021 UMEA State Jr. Orchestra Festival. This has been a trying year, and we have had to make some difficult decisions in regard to our upcoming Festival.

 

Due to varied school schedules, rotating quarantine/online students, limits to personnel in performance venues, inequitable access to ensemble rehearsal time, and uncertainty as to what the new year will look like, we have decided to cancel this year’s State Jr. Orchestra Festival. We feel the added stress of preparing for auditions and performing at the Festival adds an unnecessary burden to our teachers’ already heavy load, and would hate for all that effort to be wasted in the case of our Festival being cancelled last-minute because of circumstances out of our control. We also feel it important to maintain the purpose of the festival as established.

 

It is our hope that you will use the limited rehearsal time you have with your students to focus on the techniques, musicality, and relationships necessary to propel your kiddos forward in their musical education. We encourage you to provide meaningful performance opportunities within the guidelines of your individual school and district. 

 

Thank you for your continued support of UMEA and the State Jr. Orchestra Festival. We will miss hearing your beautiful music this year! 

 

Sincerely,

 

Ashley Braithwaite

UMEA Orchestra VP-Elect

 

Marcus Voght

State Jr. Orchestra Festival Manager