AMEF Student Recognition Award Program
​
About the SRA AwardsCategory A: Junior/Senior High:
Music Performance* | Community Service* | People’s Choice*
Category B: Completed Senior High up to and including age 25:
Music Performance* | Community Service* | People’s Choice*
AMEF Student Recognition Awards seek to recognize and assist deserving Alberta music students for excellence in music performance, and for utilizing their musical talents in active volunteer community service. The awards assist these students in their musical studies. Applicants compete in either the Music Performance or Community Service categories that showcase their skills both within and outside the music curriculum using video media.
Each award is $500 in the form of an AMEF certificate which is to be spent toward either music lessons, music school tuition, or for music equipment and/or music books from their local music retailer. Only one award per person, per year will be awarded in each category.
*Prior year recipients of the AMEF Student Recognition Awards in any category including People's Choice are not eligible to reapply for the category in which they have previously won.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE   |  APPLICATION DEADLINE: is March 31, 2020

General InformationPurpose

• To assist and recognize young, outstanding Alberta music students with music performance potential and excellence
• To assist and commend outstanding Alberta music students who are actively involved in community service (specifically when they use their musical gifts and education), demonstrating excellence in volunteerism, leadership and who are committed to making a difference in their community
• To encourage creativity, innovation and promote excellence in music education
• To strengthen the collaboration among music students, music educators, and the fine arts community in Alberta

Judging

1. Judging will be conducted by a panel of music teachers with expertise in a variety of musical genres, as well as professionals from the community involved with volunteerism.
2. The judging committees, at their discretion, may decide not to grant an award in any given year.
3. The decisions of the judging committees are final.

Awards

1. One award will be presented in each category, excluding the People's Choice Award. Each is an award in the form of a $500 AMEF certificate which is to be spent towards music lessons, music school tuition, or for music equipment and/or music books from their local music retailer in order to further their music development.
2. The names of the winners will be widely disseminated. Winners may be asked to perform at a future AMEF event which may include the prestigious Gala Concert Music Conference Alberta tentatively on October 22-24, 2020, location TBA.

Music PerformanceEligibility

• CATEGORY A: open to music students in junior/senior high, minimum 10 years of age (as of application deadline of March 31, 2020)
• CATEGORY B: open to music students who have completed high school, up to and including 25 years of age (as of application deadline of March 31, 2020)
• Applicants must be a resident of Alberta and/or studying in Alberta.
• Open to students of Winds, Percussion, Strings, Piano, Organ, and Voice

Requirements

1. COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM (deadline for applications is March 31, 2020)
2. COMPLETED VIDEO RECORDING: 
   • A video performance of one song, any style (classical, contemporary, opera, musical theatre, jazz, rock, country, etc.) demonstrating the student’s musical abilities, stage presence and stylistic strength
   • Video projects cannot exceed 5 minutes in length and must be appropriate for an educational setting. In the case of performances where the musical integrity cannot be maintained within the stipulated 5 minutes, leeway will be granted for up to 30 additional seconds. After that, the application will be disqualified.
   • Performance can be a cappella or accompanied, as long as the applicant is the featured soloist.
   • Students may submit only one video, completed within the last 12 months.
   • Video must be submitted online by posting it to a YouTube account and changing the privacy setting to Public.
   • Once uploaded, include the link to your video URL on your application form.
   • The title of the YouTube video should read: “20__ (current year) AMEF SRA Application in Music Performance Category A (or Category B) – (your name).”
   • In the notes, please include your full name, your instrument, and the title and composer of the piece featured in your video recording. (Submitted video must be significantly different if this is a category that has previously been entered.)
3. LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION: (deadline for receipt of letter of recommendation is March 31, 2020)
   One letter of recommendation (maximum one page), from someone outside of the student’s family who knows him/her as a person and a musician. The recommendation should include the length of time that they have known the student; notes about his/her character, commitment to music, or other relevant information as to why this student should receive this award. Please email letter to: [email protected].

Community ServiceEligibility

• CATEGORY A: open to music students in junior/senior high, minimum 10 years of age (as of application deadline of March 31, 2020)
• CATEGORY B: open to music students who have completed high school, up to and including 25 years of age (as of application deadline of March 31, 2020)
• Applicants must be a resident of Alberta and/or studying in Alberta.
• Open to students of Winds, Percussion, Strings, Piano, Organ, and Voice

Requirements

1. COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM (deadline for applications is March 31, 2020)
2. COMPLETED VIDEO RECORDING:
   • Video of the student demonstrating his/her volunteer services at his/her organization, clearly exhibiting how the student incorporates musical abilities in accomplishing his/her volunteer service.
   • Video projects cannot exceed 5 minutes in length and must be appropriate for an educational setting. In the case of performances where the the musical integrity cannot be maintained within the stipulated 5 minutes, leeway will be granted for up to 30 additional seconds. After that, the application will be disqualified.
   • Video must be submitted online by posting it to a YouTube account and changing the privacy setting to Public.
   • Once uploaded, include the link to your video URL on your application form.
   • The title of the YouTube video should read : “20 (current year) AMEF SRA Application in Community Service Category A (or Category B) – (your name).”
   • In the notes, please include your full name, your instrument, and the title and composer of the piece featured in your video recording. (Submitted video must be significantly different if this is a category that has previously been entered.)
3. LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION: (deadline for receipt of letter of recommendation is March 31, 2020)
   One letter of recommendation (maximum one page), is required from someone outside of the student’s family (a program coordinator or supervisor: i.e., care centre director, church volunteer coordinator, etc.). The letter should state the length of time that they have known the student, the student’s length of service, and any other relevant information about the applicant’s character and volunteerism. The letter could also state why they think the student should receive this award. Please email letter to: [email protected].

Note:

• Student must have volunteered his/her services and not have received compensation for services performed. Examples of volunteer areas and organizations include community work with various city offices such as recreation departments, libraries, police departments or senior citizen groups, hospital/health care agencies, churches, or assisting with scout groups.
• Volunteer activity must be current or retroactive to one year while attending school.
• Judgment will be made on the basis of the amount of responsibility assumed by student, quality of service and importance to the community and amount of initiative exhibited by the student in organizing and/or accomplishing the service.

The AMEF “People’s Choice”The judges will select, at their discretion, the top five video entries in each category that will then be presented on AMEF’s website. The recipient may be asked to perform at a future AMEF event which may include the prestigious Gala Concert at Music Conference Alberta on October 22-24, 2020, location TBA.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE 2019 RECIPIENTS
Category A
Shannon Wong | Calgary
view her presentation
Category B
Amy Chau | Edmonton
view her presentation

ApplicationsThe deadline to complete application including letter of recommendation is March 31, 2020
APPLY ONLINE
PROGRAM COORDINATORS: Rolf Bertsch and Robert George
For more information, contact Crystal Krips, Executive Director: [email protected].

Good morning families, 

It has been a busy start back with students preparing for festivals and exams. Best of luck to all students writing - I hope you are successful in your endeavours! 

In preparation for our upcoming festival (dates posted below) we have booked clinics for the first week back in February. Students are asked to keep up a consistent practice schedule throughout the break so that we can achieve our ensemble goals once we return. 

Practice can be playing through short excerpts of music, using air and fingers to 'play' through music, counting rhythms, singing through parts, annotating your music, listening to different recordings, playing along to recordings, etc.

For more on practicing:

10 Tips to Help You Practice More Effectively 
https://www.classicfm.com/lifestyle/wellbeing/musician-practice-tips/

8 Ways to Practice Effectively Without Your Instrument 
https://www.joleneharju.com/practiceroomrevelations/2017/5/15/okbz32qj05wq0bab4x37gvaau3ncnw

Hello band families!

Welcome to the New Year - I hope you had a wonderful holiday and were able to spend time together making memories. 
I'm excited to be back and I'm looking forward to what this next chunk of time will usher forward for our band students. 
As some of you may know, I attended the Midwest Clinic in Chicago at the end of December, which is a large music conference bringing people together from all over the US and Canada. I'm excited about all the PD I had the opportunity to take in and hope I can bring some fresh ideas into the classroom. 
*Important Note: Gr. 10-12 J-Block courses will be running this week. 
The next few months will be fairly busy as students take part in exams, start Semester 2, and start preparing for our next festivals and concerts. Here are some of the anticipated upcoming important dates:

January:

• Tuesday, January 21st - Last Day of Classes for Gr. 10-12
• Friday, January 31st - PL Day (No Classes)

February:

• Monday, February 3rd - Semester 2 Begins
• Tuesday, February 4th - Professional Concert in Theatre @ Conn3ct
• Friday, February 7th - Pep Rally
• Monday, February 17th - 21st - Family Day, Vacation, Teacher's Convention (No Classes)
• Monday, February 24th or 25th  (TBD) - Alberta International Band Festival (Band 9/ Symph)

March:

• Tuesday, March 3-6th (TBD) - Alberta International Jazz Band Festival (Jazz 1, 2, 3) 
• Wednesday, March 11-14th - "Matilda" Show Performances (Pit, Tech, Theatre)
• Monday, March 16th - PL Day (No Classes)

Additional Opportunities:

• Students will have clinics and guest conductors leading up to AIBF - Dates TBD
• Up-Coming Auditions for Dancers and Actors at Calaway Park
  • Auditions are being held on Saturday, February 8, 2020, dancers at 8:30 am and actors at 11:00 am. Minimum age to audition is 16. All the detailed information is at www.calawaypark.com in the Employment section. 
• Alberta Winds Concert - Sunday, February 9, 2020 - "Pushing Boundaries"
  • 7 pm at Christ Church, Calgary 
  • $5/10 for Student tickets and $10/15 for adults when purchased in Advance!! Ask your teachers
  • www.albertawinds.ca
• Foothills Brass Concert - Sunday, February 9, 2020 - "Salute to New Orleans"
  • ​2-4 pm at Scarboro United Church, Calgary 
  • ​https://www.foothillsbrass.ca/itinerary
• Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra - Multiple Dates
  • https://calgaryphil.com/events/tag/19-20/
• The Heebee-Jeebee's - Multiple Dates
  • https://www.heebee-jeebees.com/upcoming-shows