Fellow Directors;

Here are some final instructions regarding State Solo.  I hope the information below will be helpful.

SCHEDULE:    The schedule has been posted to the IMEA Website.  You will find it sorted by school/time and also by category/time.  As changes occur, the schedule will be updated.  There will be no changes made unless all parties concerned agree and are notified.  If you see any conflicts, please contact me immediately.

PAYMENTS:  Hopefully, your payments are postmarked by April 25th so that you can take advantage of the Early Bird Rate.  Remember the fee structure:  Early Bird Rate (postmarked before April 25th) for IMEA members = $50.00, regular IMEA member rate = $75.00.  Non-IMEA member Early Bird Rate = $135.00; Non-IMEA member regular rate = $160.00.  These rates are per event, so if a student is in two events, the rate is doubled.  Make the check payable to:  IMEA State Solo Contest and send them to:  Ralph Bennett; 117 West 400 North; Malad City; Idaho; 82352.  I would greatly appreciate all payments made by the 25th, even alternates as it makes life at State Solo easier for everyone concerned.

SITE:  Remember the site this year is again Mountain View High School.  There are directions to the site on the IMEA Website.  Look under Events/State Solo/Directions to site.  Wayne, our Webmaster, has even put a wonderful map site you can click on to see exactly how to get there.

IMEA MEMBERSHIPS:  If your membership has recently lapsed, please call me immediately so we can solve this little problem which would greatly increase your student’s participation fees.  We are in the process of rechecking all memberships.

PERFORMANCE PASS:  All students must register at the front desk and pick up their Performance Pass before they go to the warm up/performance areas.  No one will be allowed to perform without the pass.  The registration disk will be in the front lobby as you enter the building from the front doors. All fees must be paid before the Pass will be issued.

SMART MUSIC ACCOMPANIMENTS:  Smart Music Accompaniments are allowed, but participants wishing to use them must furnish their own computer/sound systems.  The system must be set up, the solo performed and the system taken down in the allotted time, there will be no time extensions allowed.

SCHEDULE:  Again, let me impress upon you all that the schedule must be adhered to very strictly.  Do not change the schedule in any way.  The judge’s forms are in the correct order in their packets and will be instructed that they must not change the order.  We have had, in the past, students try to “bump” the schedule so they could get finished earlier and it created a major problem because there are no names on the forms, only numbers.  Also, please tell your students to stay with the assigned times.  Parents, directors and friends that want to see the performance will arrive at the appropriate time and it would be a shame if they missed the event.  If there is a scheduling problem, please contact me in the tabulation room and we will try to solve the conflict.

STAFF HELP:  If you need assistance, please look for our staff help, they will be wearing Red shirts this year so you should be able to spot them quickly.

AWARDS CEREMONY:  The awards ceremony will be held at 5:00pm again this year in the Auditorium.  For anyone that can’t wait until that time and must leave, if you will pick up a “Calling Card” from at the registration desk or the tabulation room, it will list both my wife, Lamona’s, and my cell phone numbers.  Feel free to call us after about 6:00, when the ceremony is over, and we will be glad to fill you in on all of your students.  Remember, the packets with the adjudication forms, certificates of participation and any winner certificates will be given out at the end of the awards ceremony.  Those that are not picked up will be mailed, with any medals that weren’t collected at the ceremony.

I hope all of you are having a GREAT year!  Please congratulate your participating students for me and wish them all the best of luck.  If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at any of the numbers listed below.  The surest way is via my school e-mail.  I look forward to meeting with many of you in Boise - - -

Ralph L. Bennett, (The Music Man)
School:
     Phone:  (208) 766-4728 ext. 20
     Fax:  (208) 766-4538
     E-Mail:  bennralp@sd351.k12.id.us
Home:
     Phone:  (208) 766-4609
     Cell:  (208) 317-5491
     Fax:  (208) 766-2955
     E-Mail:  bennralp3@aol.com