AMIS International European Middle School Honor Band
February 28, 29 and March 1, 2008
Rabat American School
John Leonard, host organizer; Ed Elkins of SASDhahran, guest conductorOctober 23 Middle School Honor Band Auditions Deadline, CFH October 25-28 AMIS Middle School Honor Band Audition Panel October 30 AMIS Middle School Honor Band Results Posted ont he Internet November 7 AMIS International Middle School Band Festival Acceptances Due (Online) November 7 AMIS International Middle School Band Festival Housing Form Due December 15 AMIS Middle School Band Festival Payment Due December 15 Director's Expertise Form Due for AMIS International Middle School Band Festival January 15 Arrival Departure Forms Due for AMIS International Middle School Band Festival February 28, 29 and March 1 AMIS International European Middle School Honor Band Festival,
Rabat American School
Concert InformationAudition Information | Online Track List and Entries Form|
Arrival Information | Hotel Information | Visa Information
Membership Clarification |AMIS Policies | Financial Aid | Festival Agreement Form
Members | Fees in Euros | Fees in Sterling
Dress Code | Festival Handbooks
Draft Schedule | Contact InformationAudition Codes | Audition Instructions Reminder
Audition Results & What next? | Parent Hotel Information
Transportation in Rabat Information Reveised 25 NovemberStudents from schools that are AMIS members as of November 1, 2007 pay "member" fees. Students from schools other than those that are AMIS members as of November 1, 2007 pay "non-member" fees.
Teachers from AMIS member schools (as of November 1) pay "member" rates. Teachers who are individual members of AMIS also pay "member" rates. All others pay "non-member" rates.
Note: Only students from AMIS member schools are eligible to apply for financial aid.
All participants are requested to be at RAS with their students to meet host families on Wednesday afternoon, at the end of the school day. Participants are requested to make their travel information with this in mind If they are having trouble with this requirement, they should contact AMIS headquarters sooner rather than later. It may not be possible to accept schools with very late arrivals or very early morning departures as this is unfair to host families. There are flights into Rabat. There are also a number of flights into Casablanca from where groups can travel by train or mini-bus to Rabat.
Transportation for trips to and from airports and for sightseeing in Rabat.
The Rabat American School has a limited number of school vehicles that they are willing to allow EMSHB participants to use for transport to and from airports and for sightseeing.
You can book these on a first come, first served basis, directly through John Leonard at RAS. You will need specific flight information and exact numbers of people involved in order to do so.
If travel for more than one group can be coordinated in order to serve more groups, we will put groups together and charge accordingly.
You will need to be ready to pay in Moroccan money when you register for the festival.
The two airports are Casablanca airport and Sale airport in Rabat.
Transport prices for use of RAS vehicles.
The cost for airport runs is for each round trip. They (costs) don't take into account if that round trip takes over 5 hours (if the plane is late.)The tour of Rabat cost is for a distance of 30 Km, and is for about 5 hours of the driver's time.
Casa
Salé
tour Rabat
3-6 people
Van
510 ($65.00)
140 ($20.00)
200 ($30.00)
7-10 people
1 bus
670 ($85.00)
160 ($25.00)
210 ($30.00)
over 15 people
2 buses
1,340 ($170.00)
320 ($40.00)
420 ($55.00)
Visa InformationVISAS are needed for citizens of certain countries to visit Morocco. It is the responsibility of each teacher to determine if any students attending the festival will need visas. If any students need a letter of invitation from the festival hosts, you should do the following as soon as possible.
Send the following information to John Leonard.
- Full name of student
- the country from which they come
- which group they are in for the festival
- the school you represent, the school's address and fax number
- the name of the student's teacher.
- the FAX number for the Moroccan Consulate in the city where you are applying for the visa.
John will fax you and the Consulate a letter of invitation for your student or students.
It will only delay your request if you send it to AMIS Headquarters.
The previously posted material was incorrect. Please read the Audition Instructions Reminder below.- 2 October 2007
Audition Instructions Reminder
MIDDLE SCHOOL HONOR BAND AUDITIONS
All high school auditions are "blind" as is the Junior Orchestra whish is grades 6-9. MSHB is NOT a blind audition and the audition instructions should be followed, including having the student announce his or her name. - 1 October, 2007 topWe will be using the Ibis Hotel in Rabat. http://www.ibishotel.com
Hotel Ibis information, where teachers will be staying
Ibis Moussafir Rabat
32-34, rue Abderrahmanne El Ghafiki place de la Gare
RABAT - AGDAL - 10000 - RABAT - MOROCCO?Tel :
(+212)37/774926 Fax : (+212)37/774903
Hotel manager : Mr Jalil CHEBIHI Hotel code: 2036
Note: AMIS is booking the hotel rooms for teachers and official chaperonesIt is next to the train station, about a 2min taxi (~$2.00 one way) from school or 10 minute walk. It is very similar to what we usually enjoy - a three star with bar, nice outside patio dining overlooking large lawn/garden area and dining area. The singles and doubles only have a shower stall no tub. Not spacious, but adequate closets, sink, bidet, toilet, tv, phone.
The double rooms overlook the nice garden/lawn area and are located on the interior, quieter side of the hotel. Myself, I’d rather have a quiet double. The singles are on the perimeter and overlook a busy street and the hotel/train station parking lots. There would be enough doubles if folks wanted them. There is a breakfast buffet that includes pastries, eggs, sliced meats, fruits, juice, breads and coffee/tea. Looked nice.
Below are the rates. $1.00 = ~8 Dirhams These are rates for a room per night.
I am in the process of booking the following on the dates noted. We will also ask for a discount, so it may be less, but for now, this is what it is:
double without breakfast: Dhs482 ($61.00) Double with breakfast Dhs576 ($72.00) single without breakfast: Dhs471 ($59.00), Single with breakfast: 518 Dhs ($65.00)The sites below will be helpful for those who may be wanting to come before the festival or stay afterwards.
http://www.moroccosavvy.com
http://www.ibishotel.com
http://www.mtds.com/royalhotelOur family stayed in the Royal Hotel downtown for a week during a spring time “look-see” before arriving in Rabat. It is an older style, but comfortable and has a good staff and dining area. It is 2 blocks from McDonald’s, a couple of pizza joints, other good restaurants, main boulevard/shopping of Rabat city and 3 blocks from the old medina/shopping and other tourist sites. There are also others in the downtown area.
EMSHB parents who are coming may want to stay at one of the following hotels in Rabat:
Hilton ($210 USD double rm -rack rate) 15 minute walk downhill to the school-or 5 minute taxi to school or downtown/medina/main tourist sites.
Villa Mandarin ($240. USD dble rm-rack rate) 20-30 minute walk to the school-or 10 minute taxi to school or 15/20 minute taxi to downtown/medina/main tourist sites.
The Golden Tulip ($171.00 USD dbl rm - rack rate) 15-20 minute taxi to school or 10 minute walk to downtown/medina/main tourist sites.
Sofitel Diwan Hotel-downtown Rabat (Euro 320-dble rm) 15-20 minute taxi to school. 10 minute walk to downtown/medina/main tourist sites.
Petite taxis cost about Dhs15-20 ($1= ~Dhs 8) from school to downtown/medina/main tourist sites.
Audition Results and What next?
The listening team has worked throughout this past weekend carefully selecting the band that is to meet at Rabat American School on February 28 and 29 and March 1 (with travel days on February 27 and March 2).
There are 21 schools represented in this year’s European festival.
As always there were many worthy candidates who could not be accepted. It was necessary to try to keep a balanced instrumentation as well as keeping in mind a general ability level throughout the band. Flutes (as always) represented almost one quarter of all auditionees.
The committee carefully considered teacher ratings and listened to each recording.We sincerely hope that the process of audition has been a learning experience for all those who participated, even if they were not selected for this year’s band. The level of playing was generally high and we know that it represents much work by both students and teachers.
You will find below a list of students who were selected for the EMSHB in Rabat.
AMIS European Middle School Honor Band Results
Each student has one of the following designations:
means they were selected for the festival followed by a number means they were selected as an alternate for their instrument the alt 1 means first alternate and so forth. If there is simply alt listed, it means there is only 1 alternate for that instrument If a student’s name is incorrectly spelled, please make sure it is correctly entered on the acceptance/registration online form. This is the time to correct spellings, not at the festival itself.
What do you need to do now?
Because the EMSHB is so early, we will start preparing packs of music on Monday, October 29th. You have until November 7th to send in your online registration/ acceptances form for all Y and ALT students. As soon as we received your acceptance we will prepare your invoice which will be sent to you as a .pdf file. Please list ALL students whether or not they are accepting.
Alternates must also decide whether or not to accept their alternate positions.
It is your responsibility to find out whether or not any of your students require a Moroccan visa.At this time we will also need to know the number of official chaperones and teachers who are coming with your group. The housing requests for all adults and students must be submitted on the online housing form no later than November 7th.
You should copy the Acceptance Agreement for each student who is accepting as either a full or alternate member of the group. You should make a copy of each of these acceptance agreement. One copy is for your records. The other should be sent to AMIS headquarters at Church Farm House to arrive as soon as possible.
Also due on or before January 15th is your arrival and departure form for the festival.
It is your responsibility to find out whether or not any of your students require a Moroccan visa.Any questions? Please contact AMIS headquarters sooner rather than later. (30 October, 2007)
Mailing Address:
John Leonard, Band Director
Rabat American School
c/o American Embassy
BP 120
Agdal, 10000 Rabat
MOROCCOPhysical Location Address:
Rabat American School
1 Bis, Rue El Amir Ibn Abdelkader
Agdal, 10000, Rabat
MOROCCORAS School Phone: +212-37.671.476 (Band Office - Extention #324)
RAS School Fax: +212-37.670.963John Leonard, school email address: [email protected]
Concert venue across the street from the school.
Concert starting time 19:00 ( 7:00 p.m.) on SaturdayThe fees for MSHB 2008 both Asia and Europe are as follows:
Fees in Euros
€ 22 for music per student, including alternates
€ 111 for student registration (member); € 155 student (non-member);
€ 155 for teacher registration (member); € 200 student (non-member);Fees in Sterling:
£15 for music per student, including alternates
£ 70 for student registration (member); £100 (non-member)
£ 100 for teacher registration (member); £130 (non-member)
