2023 Nebraska All-State Band
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The following information will be posted at a later time:
Audition Manuals
2023 ALL-STATE BAND CONDUCTOR BIO
Dr. Alfred L. Watkins is Co-Musical Director and Conductor of the Cobb Wind Symphony. He is former Director of Bands at Lassiter High School in Marietta, Georgia for 31 years. Mr. Watkins is a 1976 graduate of Florida A & M University. In July 2022, he was conferred an Honorary Doctorate from the VanderCook College of Music. His bands have earned the Sudler Flag of Honor, Sudler Shield and the Sudler Silver Scroll. Concert bands under Watkins’ leadership have performed at 32 invitational concert band events. He has conducted All-State High School Bands in 27 states and has worked with bands in 38 states.
Ensembles under Dr. Watkins’ batons have performed Midwest Band Clinic (5x’s), MFA National Festival, G.M.E.A. Convention and the N.B.A. Convention. The Lassiter Trojan Marching Band has performed in Tournament of Roses Parades and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. They are the 2-time Bands of America Grand National Champions and winner of nine BOA Regionals. The Lassiter Winter Color Guard was named the 2-time Winter Guard International World Champions. The Lassiter Concert Percussion Ensemble performed at the GMEA Convention, MFA National Percussion Festival twice and won the P.A.S. “Call for Tapes” in 2007.
Dr. Watkins is a member of the ABA, FAMU Gallery of Distinguished Alumni, Conn Selmer Institute Hall of Fame, BOA Hall of Fame, the MBDNA Hall of Fame, and has received the Edwin Franko Goldman Award from ASBDA. He has received the KKY “Distinguished Service to Music Award” and was the PBM “International Bandmaster of the Year.” He was awarded the “2022 Outstanding Conductor Award” by the Association of Community Bands. He has received 27 Certificates of Excellence from the NBA, the Sudler Order of Merit from the John Philip Sousa Foundation, and the Band World Magazine Legion of Honor Award. Dr. Watkins is a Co-Founder of M.B.D.N.A. and is on the Advisory Boards of the Midwest Clinic and the Association of Concert Bands.
The $1.5 million Alfred L. Watkins Band Building at Lassiter High School bears his name. He and his wife for 39 years, Rita, live in Marietta, GA. They have two adult sons: Christopher, a trumpeter in the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, D.C. and Jonathan, a businessman in Atlanta. They have two grandchildren.
2023 ALL-STATE REGISTRATION AND AUDITION DATES
August 14 - September 4: All-State registration for students open ($25 application fee).
September 5 - September 11: Late registration for All-State available ($50 application fee).
September 11 @ 11:59 p.m. CST: Registration closed, no more applications accepted.
September 13 - September 23 @ 11:59 p.m. CST: Website portal opens and closes for instrumental audition uploads.
October 16 @ 8:00 a.m. CST: All-State selections announced.
2023 ALL-STATE BAND REPERTOIRE
| TITLE |
COMPOSER |
| The Governor's Own March |
Alton Adams, ed. Schissel |
| Acadiana, Mvt. 3 |
Frank Ticheli |
| Hymn For The Innocent |
Julie Giroux |
| Danson #2 |
Arturo Marquez, arr. Oliver Nickel |
2023 AUDITION MATERIALS
All-State Winds and Percussion Audition requirements and procedures changed in 2019. Please look carefully to be sure you have all of the necessary information and read all instructions and information completely. If you have any questions at that point, please contact Director of Band Affairs Dan Sodomka at [email protected]
NMEA will again utilize the services of OpusEvent to collect student auditions. Auditions will include:
- Set 1 Scales
- Set 1 Etudes
- Sight-reading
- An excerpt from the All-State Band music (which will be made available on the NMEA website in August)
All available audition materials are listed below.
1. All-State Scale Sheets (click the name of each instrument to download)
2. All-State Etude Documents
Disclaimer: There may not be a piano part available based on the repertoire selected by the conductor and approved by the board.
3. Sight Reading Documents
Sight Reading Component Guidelines
Sight Reading Sample Exercises (click the name of each instrument to download)
4. All-State Band Music Excerpts (will be posted online in August 2023)
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