Harris Activity Awards Deadline is April 13!!   Much excitement is in the air again this year for all students who expect to meet the minimal number of activity points required for entry into CCMTA’s 2nd annual Don H. Harris Activity Awards Competition. Cash awards totaling $500, and broken down in the manner described on page 55 of our yearbook, will be presented to winning entries at the Awards Ceremony scheduled to take place at 3:00 PM on May 2 (Sun.) at H&H Music. Once again this year, an invigorating program of original compositions by student composers will precede or follow the Awards Ceremony. All teachers and students who are interested in getting a motivation “jump start” for next school year are invited to attend!

In addition to the cash awards mentioned above, special award ribbons, medals or statues will be presented to all entering students who enroll by the April 13th deadline and have achieved the very feasible 12 minimal points necessary for enrollment. (The minimal number of necessary points for enrollment last year was 15!) To make entry even more feasible for this year, the Endowment Committee determined last spring that 5 points would be allowed for other (misc.) performances, rather than the previous 3. (These few changes enable any student who is a SA member; takes the theory test; is in at least one Festival; is in at least one annual studio recital; and can earn at least 5 more points through other performances or SA activities is eligible to enter and receive an award.)

All necessary information related to application requirements and other specifics of the awards are clearly defined on pages 55-56 in the yearbook. If there are any further questions, feel free to contact Don Harris, chairman, by phone or email.

Funding for these very special awards was made possible through an Endowment Fund set up by Pat Wickey, CCMTA’s first President. This very generous fund will provide Activity Awards for CCMTA’s more enthusiastic students for years to come. We are most appreciative and grateful to Pat and her family for enabling us to add such motivating and truly unique awards to our annual student opportunities for musical growth.

By request of the donor, the awards point system is set up in a manner that encourages our students to expose themselves to the exciting and fulfilling medium of musical composition. However, a broadness of exposure to the numerous other beneficial and noteworthy activities of our Association is strongly encouraged as well. It is the sincere desire of the donor and the Activity Awards Committee that these annual student awards may assist greatly in providing student and teacher incentive that lasts for the entire school year—even through the inevitable scattered “slump months.”