A subscription to E-Notz is free to SMEA members. Contact SMEA@sasktel.net for membership info. Contact Graeme Steen if you have submitted an email address but are not receiving ENOTZ regularly (approximately every 3 weeks.) We have some trouble with some email addresses inside school nets with this newsletter. Let us know.
Contact Lauren Campbell, E-NOTZ EDITOR (lauren_c5@hotmail.com) if you have something to highlight that we can help with. Our new ENOTZ format for 2012 will be plugged in to our newsletters!
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February 15th, 2012: U OF R MUSIC OPEN HOUSE
What: U of R Music Open House
When: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 – 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Spend the day with us. Our open houses offer:
• Introduction of our faculty.
• Question and answer session (registration, audition, and scholarship information).
• Tour of our facilities in the state-of-the-art Riddell Centre
• UR music students in concert.
• Chance to attend a class, lesson, or rehearsal.
• Lunch with current music students.

There is no registration fee. Parents are welcome. Please RSVP by February 1, 2011 to music.dept@uregina.ca or call 585-5532.

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Feb 11th, 2012: COMING UP AT THE BASSMENT

BOB KLASSEN’S BOB-A-THON Saturday, February 11
Known as the Jazz Jeweler, Bob Klassen is the elder statesman of Saskatoon jazz musicians. Bob will lead three great bands in a mighty musical marathon: Dixieplus, The Hobby Band, and The Bob Klassen Octet. Joining Bob are: Dave Anderson - trumpet, Sarah Anderson - trombone, Sheldon Corbett - tenor sax, Kathie Gallenger - alto sax, Bruce Wilkinson - bass, Kirk Fong - drums, D’arce McMillan - drums, Doug Gilmour - bass, Patric Byrns - guitar, David Kaplan - piano, Don Griffith - sax/ piano, Grant Currie - sax/vocals, and Donna Hay - vocals.
$14/18 GC

THE SULTANS OF STRING CD RELEASE - (Toronto) Sunday, February 12, 8:00pm
Led by 6-string violinist Chris McKhool, world-jazz string wizards The Sultans of String are Canada’s ambassadors of musical diversity. This show will feature the release of their new CD, Move, a spicy stew of Gypsy jazz, Spanish flamenco, Middle Eastern roots, and Cuban rhythms. The other Sultans are Kevin Laliberte - guitar, Drew Birston - bass, and Chendy Leon - percussion.

SELL OUT ALERT! $14/18 GC Sponsored by CFCR
This performance is made possible in part by a grant from the Ontario Arts Council’s National and International Touring program.

MARDI GRAS FEST 2012 ABSOFUNKINLUTELY
Friday, February 17
Randy Wood’s Absofunkinlutely starts off our Mardi Gras Fest with a big funky bang. AFL’s sunny melodies and crafty lyrics keep dance-floors moving and the vibe fun. Absofunkinlutely features Randy Woods - guitar/vocals, Geoff Assman - keyboards, Shaun Dyck - Bass, Mike Pierce - drums, Sheldon Corbett - sax, and Adam Streisel - trumpet.
SELL OUT ALERT! $12/15 GC

MARDI GRAS FEST 2012 THE CRAWDADDIOS/ZYDE-GOGO/DR. DON & THE BLACK MAMBAS Saturday, February 18
Day 2 of Mardi Gras Fest features Don Griffith’s New Orleans Revue. The Crawdaddios play the raucous street music of New Orleans. Zyde-GoGo specializes in the swampy Cajun and Zydeco music of rural Louisiansa featuring the lovely and talented Heather LaRue on washboard and her unruly man Blackie LaRue on accordion. Dr. Don & The Black Mambas pound out the music of Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, and Dr. John. Musical guests Include: Sheldon Corbett - sax, Sarah Anderson - trombone, Dave Anderson - trumpet, Rich McFarlane - guitar, Lloyd Tomczak - bass, Glenn Ens - drums, and Brent Longstaff - tuba. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
SELL OUT ALERT! $16/20 GC
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March 9th, 2012: SSO “SGI COLLEGE CHALLENGE”
On March 9th, 2012 the Saskatoon Symphony presents an incredible orchestral concert entitled “SGI College Challenge”. It will be held at TCU Place – Saskatoon’s Arts and Convention Centre located in the downtown of Saskatoon. This concert has been designed for students in Grades 6 to 12, especially for those with an interest in band and music. We have partnered with the University of Saskatchewan Music Department to bring a mentoring component to this concert. Music students from the U of S will be selected through an audition process to play in this concert. The challenge? – To play select pieces of the music with the professionals of the Saskatoon Symphony.
In addition to the 45-minute on-stage concert, the U of S Music Dept will have information in the venue lobby about their university music programs. As well, new technology will also be used as we encourage the audience to download a free software program onto their personal cell phones and play a piece of music using the cell phone as a musical instrument. Tweeting from audience to select onstage musicians will also be on display on an overhead screen to enhance the onstage experience. General admission is $14, which includes all taxes and service charges. Group rates will be available along with complimentary chaperone tickets for every 10 students that attend.
We will be distributing email announcements, posters, and other invitations, and we ask that you encourage your band teachers and general classroom educators to arrange for their students to attend. Tickets are available through the TCU Place Box Office (975-7799) or at www.tcutickets.ca, and purchase orders for group sales may be arranged with the office of the Saskatoon Symphony.
We look forward to hosting your students at this Friday morning event on March 9th.
Sincerely,
Jill Reid, General Manager

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May/June 2012: SASKATOON CHILDREN’S CHOIR AUDITIONS
The auditions for the Saskatoon Children’s Choir 2012-2013 performing season will take place on May 4, June 1 and June 2, 2012. The auditions are open to all children who love to sing or would like to learn more about singing through the SCC experience.
Under the direction of its founding Artistic Director, Phoebe Voigts, the choir has earned an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative performance practices that are focused on initiatives promoting global understanding. The choir has performed on choral stages in Europe, Asia, the United States, South Africa, and across Canada.
The Saskatoon Children’s Choir has three choirs: Preparatory Choir for children aged 7-9, Apprentice Choir for children aged 8-13 and Concert Choir for children aged 10-16.
There is no fee for auditions.
Please call (306) 249-3927 to book an audition or for more information.
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Summer 2012: SASKATCHEWAN EXPRESS: LIVE YOUR DREAM!
Do you dream of performing for adoring crowds? Do you love having “harmony” in your life? Does your heart sing at the thought of a standing ovation? We can give you all this and more!

For more than thirty years, Saskatchewan Express has been putting Saskatchewan’s talented young performers front and centre through excellent training and performance opportunities. Thanks to Saskatchewan Express, many of the performers have gained the skills and confidence to pursue careers in the performing arts. They have cruised through the Panama Canal, to the Hawaiian Islands and the Greek Islands; they have sung and danced at Tokyo Disney and Florida’s Disney World. They have toured North America, played Broadway, Los Angeles, Toronto and Germany in theatrical productions. They have made movies and recordings and have been featured in television series. And they came from every small town and large centre in Saskatchewan and all received the same fabulous training and performance opportunities. Last winter, and closest to “home”, Globe Theatre’s production of HONK! in Regina featured former performers Danny Balkwill, Leora Godden, Cailin Stadnyk and Tahirih Vesdani of Regina and Scott Freethy of Rosetown. This year, Toronto’s production of Jesus Christ, Superstar will premiere on Broadway and features former Saskatchewan Express dancer, Matt Alfano along several other Regina performers. International fame has found former Saskatchewan Express dancer, JT Papandreos as he won gold in Mikolajki, Poland at the IDO World Dance Championship in December 2011.

Performers in Saskatchewan Express have the opportunity to enhance their performing skills, travel the province meeting new people and seeing new places. Through the years, the troupe has travelled from coast to coast in Canada, from Vancouver to Cape Breton and it has represented the City of Regina, the province of Saskatchewan and Canada at national and international events.
Saskatchewan Express offers the opportunity to spend an amazing summer touring the province to young performers wherever they live in Saskatchewan. Auditions for the 2012 Summer Tour will be held in Regina on February 4 and 5. Vocalists and dancers, female and male, are encouraged to audition and can book an audition time by phoning Saskatchewan Express at 306-522-3402 or e-mail michele@saskatchewanexpress.com. So, no matter if you hail from a village that’s barely visible on the provincial map or the largest of our cities, you are all invited to experience the summer of a lifetime!

Saskatchewan Express currently is accepting bookings for the summer of 2012. Space is filling quickly for the upcoming season so make your booking soon! Please call 306-522-3402 or e-mail michele@saskatchewanexpress.com.

For further information:
Carol Gay Bell Artistic Director 306-522-3405 carol@sasktchewanexpress.com
Michele Glaze Auditions Co-ordinator 306-522-3402 michele@saskatchewanexpress.com
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July 2012: TENTATIVE SBA BAND CAMP DATES FOR 2012
July 15-20, 2012 - Saskatoon Junior Band Camp - U of S Saskatoon
July 22-27, 2012 - Saskatoon Senior Band Camp - U of S Saskatoon
July 29-August 3, 2012 - Regina Summer Band Camp - U of R Regina
July 29-August 3, 2012 - North Battleford Junior Band Camp - North Battleford Comp.
August 19-24, 2012 - Kenosee Junior Band Camp - Kenosee Lake
August 19-24, 2012 - Yorkton Junior Band Camp - Yorkdale Central School Yorkton

November 1-2, 2012 - Saskatchewan Music Conference - Saskatoon Inn

March 19-22, 2013 - Downtowners Optimist Band Festival – Regina

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January 24th: YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Watch this, and then go home and practice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN2SQ4m7M04

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Stay in Touch!
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The Saskatchewan Music Educators Association receives significant funding from:
Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation
and
With the assistance of SaskCulture Saskatchewan Arts Board