Red Cedar Festival
of Community Bands

Pre-Festival Checklist:

For the concert program (due Thursday, January 31, 2008)

• your organization’s roster of members
• a brief history of your organization
• the listing of selections (with composer/arrangers) that you will be performing
• Since the layout of the concert program involves hours of work, we would like to be able to start on it as soon as possible. Changes in concert order and amended rosters can be accommodated up to February 4th.
• The preferred method of sending this information is by email as an MS Word document attachment. Plain-text email is also welcome. This greatly reduces the amount of time spent retyping rosters and programs for the concert programs.
• Please include the performance time for each piece so that we can ensure that each band will be able to complete their performance on time. Each band is limited to a maximum of 45 minutes on stage. This includes set up, tuning, announcements, performance, applause, and exiting the stage. A concert program of approximately thirty minutes of music should be your upper limit.

Prior to the Festival: (by February 17, 2008)

For the purpose of planning for food and beverages, etc....

• How many of your group will be attending the Festival?

  The Meridian Community Band will be offering fruits, pastries, sandwiches and beverages throughout the day and will being using your responses as a planning tool.

• Will your organization be travelling to Okemos by bus?
• A seating chart for your band. This does not have to be exact. We understand that there are often last minute changes and adjustments. Any help you can provide in this area will aid our stage crew in getting your band set-up on stage as quickly as possible.

On the day of the Festival

• Two (2) copies of conductor’s scores of your performance selections (for the clinicians), these will be returned to you at the end of your clinic.
• A script for the Festival announcer (not necessary if you will be using your own announcer). Scripts should be concise so that we can keep the festival events on schedule.

The high school commons area will be the crossroads of Festival activity featuring:

• Food court
• T-shirt and souvenir table
• Meeting area for band networking and roundtable sessions
• Exhibit table for your organization (optional)

To make this Festival an enlightening experience for all members of participating organizations, you are strongly urged to plan your day to allow time to:

• Drop off your instrument and coat at your band’s "home room"
• Peruse the commons area and meet with band members from other organizations
• Attend one of our Master Class sessions
• Attend the performance of another band’s concert (everyone likes to play before a large audience, your participation in this will be a great morale booster. It is also a great way to expand your musical horizons)

E-mail can be addressed to the Red Cedar Festival email address ( redcedarfestival@meridiancommunityband.org ) or either RCF Project Co-Chairs

Carolyn Sherrill redcedarfestival@meridiancommunityband.org

Bob Copeland redcedarfestival@meridiancommunityband.org

Festival information, including this letter, will be posted on the Meridian Community Band website. Please share this URL address with your band members:

www.meridiancommunityband.org