1979 – 1989

The fifth decade started with the following statistics on the contests held in the spring of 1979. Forty-eight thousand four hundred medals were used in all district and state contests, and at the state organization contest, 87 band and orchestra plaques were awarded plus 15 stage band plaques. This was a new record! A change of location for the fall Executive Board meeting and the general meeting occurred: Starved Rock Lodge, Starved Rock State Park, in Utica was selected. The meetings were still scheduled for Sunday and Monday at 10:00 a.m. The new chairperson for District 2 was introduced: Edward Winkler, Peoria Heights. Directors were consistently late with their membership fee, so we voted a late membership fee of an additional $25 starting with the school year of 1979-80. The judge’s fees would be set at $50 for five hours of actual judging at the state contest and $10 for each hour or a fraction beyond five hours, and the traveling expense was raised to 20 cents a mile. Districts set their own adjudication fees on an individual basis. District 8 was given permission to give an award for a I+ rating, a perfect score of 7 points, to both soloists and ensemble members. A motion was made by Dorothy Kunkel that no smoking would be allowed at the state meeting, and it was passed. The system used as a pilot program, starting in 1976 by District 8 (in which a required list of music for organizations would determine the classification of the group as chosen by the director) did not meet with too much success, so it was abandoned. Barbara Buehlman wrote a very fine book: “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Hosting a Contest”. This book was made available to all contest hosts, and has encouraged directors to accept hosting a contest. The 1980 contest saw another new record of medals established. Fifty-one thousand eight hundred medals were distributed. The fall meeting was once again held at the Starved Rock Lodge. District 4 had a new Chairperson on the Board, Tim Burrs, Franklin Grove. The President will set the date of the state organization contests, preferably the fourth Saturday of April, with the state stage band contest on the first Saturday of May.

It was passed by the members that each school must have an adult chaperone in their homeroom at all times at the contest site, unless the room is locked. Each school must provide their own reel-to-reel tape for the tape judge at all state contests. A motion that there be one state contest site for each classification, as was done years ago, was defeated. Also voted down was the suggestion of having only one organization contest.

A great deal of credit should be given to all the people who have served as Secretary-Treasurer of the association for all the work that was involved in getting out the minutes of all meetings to the membership and seeing to it that all entry cards arrived on time for the director to fill in, the collection of all fees, the paying of the judges, etc.

The general meeting returned again to Starved Rock Lodge in 1981. A cassette tape recorder would replace the reel-to-reel tape at all state organization sites in the spring of 1982. Several significant motions were defeated eliminating rudiments from the snare drum solo, and the style of clothing or student attire shall not be considered in the contest category “Stage Presentation and Appearance.” The meeting on Monday adjourned at 2:30 p.m., unusually early!

The year 1982 saw the meeting return to the Holiday Inn at LaSalle with the usual schedule. The Vice-President reported at the meeting that 57,000 medals were used in the spring of 1982, another new record! The constitution was revised and would be printed again in three years. The state adjudication fee was raised to $60. The two state stage band sites should still exist, but one should be secured in the northern section of the association and one in the southern section. A full or condensed score-must be presented to the judge for all ensemble performances, and not individual parts. All snare drum rudiments must be memorized.

The 1983 meeting held in LaSalle saw W. C. Edwards retiring as Vice-President of the Illinois Grade School Music Association after 25 years of service in the office. He was made advisor to the association. In his annual report, he stated that 57,000 medals were once again used in the spring contest, and felt the group had reached a peak in the amount of medals used. George Yingst, Rolling Meadows, was elected the new Vice-President. Rowland Pitts, retired from many years of teaching, would remain as District 7 Chairperson. The President was requested to obtain a legal opinion concerning the latest changes in the copyright law and the use of photocopied music in the contests.

The state adjudicator evaluation form was eliminated because of the lack of interest. The final business was that the name Chairperson was dropped from all stationery, etc., and the title of Chairman will be used.

The year 1984 gave the Executive Board three new chairmen. District 5: Hal Hokensen, Sterling, replacing Louis DiIulio, Moline, upon his retirement after many years of service to the association; District 7: Roman Palmer, Addison, replacing Rowland F. Pitts who passed away in December, 1983; and District 8: Sandra Thompson, Wheeling, who replaced George Yingst because of his promotion to Vice-President. A six-year state contest date schedule was developed. W. C. Edwards was presented with a plaque in appreciation for his many years of service to the Illinois Grade School Music Association. President Myers eulogized the passing of Rowland P. Pitts, and a plaque was sent to Mrs. Pitts in his memory. Percussion judges should judge snare drum solos by the Straight or Rudimental system as marked on the comment sheet. Ensembles must perform a minimum of 32 measures without repeats, and no electronic equipment may be used in orchestras, bands, or choruses unless required by the score. The state judges’ fee was raised to $60 for 6 hours, $80 for 7 hours, $90 for 8 hours, and $100 for 9 hours.

In 1985 the organization had a new Chairman in District 1: Richard Lask, Mendon. All of Chicago was voted to be included in the boundaries of District 6. A plaque was presented to Don Langellier for his 26 years of service to the Illinois Grade School Music Association. Districts 7 and a would be allowed a one year pilot program in the 1986 contest in order to use the required solo list as a recommended solo list, thus eliminating the group level on the comment sheet, but including the student’s year in school and the number of years playing experience. The state judge’s fees were raised once again to $75 for 6 hours, $90 for 7 hours, $100 for 8 hours, and $20 for each additional hour. A one-half day fee for judging would be $50.

In 1986 the meeting was held in LaSalle at the Holiday Inn, and there was a new chairman in District 4, Warren G. Reckemeyer, Mt. Morris. W. C. Edwards presented a eulogy for Haskell W. Harr, premier percussionist and father of percussion of our association, who passed away on September 24, 1986. Students would now be able to perform solos in the contest from the association’s recommended list or a selection of his or instructor’s choice. The soloist will now be identified by grade level and number of years played, and not by the group method of I, II, or III.

No new Board members were introduced in 1987 at the fall meeting in LaSalle. The wording of the constitution and other related forms applying to Stage Band was voted to be changed to Jazz Band. A comment sheet was created for the Bass Drum solo. Swing Choirs shall consist of a minimum of 12 members and a maximum of 36 members for the 1988 contest. Students performing a drum set solo will be required to play one Latin, one rock, and one jazz rudiment. The level of difficulty of the rudiments shall be selected by the student. Photocopied music may be provided to judges only in an “emergency” when music is out of print or backordered, otherwise the penalty for the violation would be the reduction of the rating by one step. This rule would apply to all solo, ensemble and organization contests. The newly suggested solo list would be printed and adopted for use in the 1988 solo contests. No more required Solo List! In anticipation of Cloyd Myers’ retirement as President, George Yingst will act as an assistant to the President for the 1987-88 school year.

A special Executive Board meeting was held at Morris in the Holiday Inn on November 15, 1987, at 1:45 p.m. George Yingst was acting President at the Board’s meeting. It was determined that the 50th anniversary of the Illinois Grade School Music Association would be held at our annual state fall meeting in September, 1988, at the Holiday Inn in Morris. W. C. Edwards would write a commemorative book of the history of the organization. Cloyd Myers would be named President Emeritus and be given a lifetime membership on the Executive Board of the Illinois Grade School Music Association. A plaque would also be presented to him for his 50 years of service to the association. John Paynter of Northwestern University would be the guest speaker at the luncheon. Roman Palmer would serve as the official photographer for the 50th meeting celebration. It was voted by the Board for recommendation to the general meeting in the fall of 1988 that the President and Vice-President would be limited to a maximum of 10 years of service with the office of Secretary-Treasurer being an annual appointment made by the Executive Board of the Association. The advisors would have voting privileges. Roman Palmer will serve as an understudy to the office of Vice-President, succeeding George Yingst at the conclusion of the current school year.

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