UIL Leaguer

At the Conference AA 2009-2010 State Marching Band Contest, Music Director Richard Floyd had the unique opportunity to honor a former high school band director, Charles Enloe of Wichita Falls, whose students participated in the first UIL Marching Band Competition in 1947.

“We had no idea that Mr. Enloe would be in attendance,” Floyd said. “When I heard he was there I immediately went to visit with him. At the conclusion of our visit I was compelled to orchestrate some kind of recognition for him.”

At the Alamodome in San Antonio where the contest was held, Floyd had the 89-year-old Enloe transported to the 50-yard line in one of the rented golf carts. On the field, drum majors from all of the Conference AA competing bands surrounded Enloe.

Then as the Recognition Ceremony began, Floyd presented Enloe a replica of the UIL 100th Anniversary Gold Medallion in appreciation of his 62 years of involvement in UIL music contest and music education in Texas.

“It worked out perfectly, and he enjoyed a standing ovation from over 7,000 band fans and contestants,” Floyd said.

We are once again well into the school year, and competitions will soon begin for bands, orchestras and choirs. As these events are set into motion, many of you will be asked to judge performances for organizations throughout the state. This will require every adjudicator to approach each event with decorum and professionalism.

TMAA is a professional organization that has made great strides in creating a cadre of adjudicators who demonstrate their dedication to the profession, and their fair approach to evaluating each adjudicated performance. We want to continue that perception and improve every year. With that in mind, I would like to provide a list of some of the things to remember when adjudicating these events.

• Re-read the rules for the event you are going to adjudicate. Rules change and we forget. It is always a good idea to re-read the rules each year and understand your role in the process. Sight-reading judges should know who gets extra time and how much. Too often, mistakes occur that could be avoided if time had been taken to review the rules and guidelines.

The UIL Music Program continues to operate in a relatively stable environment resulting in few rule changes for the 2009-2010 school year. In fact, only six rule modifications impact our music competitions. None of the rules are prohibitive and for the most part the rule changes are intended to create new options within the UIL music contest structure.

EXPANDED OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN MORE THAN ONE MUSIC CLASS. Beginning this year a student enrolled in multiple instrumental music classes may participate in the group representing each class provided the student is performing on a different instrument. For example a student who plays clarinet in the varsity band and wishes to learn to play saxophone and enrolls in a non-varsity band class to do so would be eligible to go to UIL contest with both groups. The same would be true for a string student enrolled in two string orchestra classes. [See Section 1102 (b)(1)(B)].

OPTION TO ZONE AREA MARCHING BAND CONTEST. By action of the Area Executive Committee and approval of the State Director of Music, the Area Marching Band Contest may be zoned to reduce travel for participating schools. A minimum of five bands must compete at each contest site, and one band per each five bands competing will be certified for advancement to the state contest. This accommodation has been made primarily for Area A because of the extensive travel conditions in the western part of the state. [See Section 1106 (j)(6)(A) and (B)]