This year, the Southeastern Kentucky Music Association added an SSA Choir during its All-Festival event in November.  Deborah Kidd was the director.  She invited the SSA Choir to participate in an Irish Festival held in Richmond in March.  19 girls performed for an enthusiastic audience.  They arrived early to practice and eat supper before their performance.  2 or 3 schools arrived earlier in the day for a tour of the EKU campus.

The Southeastern Kentucky Music Association hosted the Middle School All Festival Bands at Corbin High School on February 18-19, 2011.  Schools participating were Northern Middle School, North Laurel Middle School, Corbin Middle School, Harlan Middle School, McCreary County Middle School, Pineville Middle School and Middlesboro Middle School.

The Northern Middle School Choir recently hosted a dinner theatre event with the theme “My Old Kentucky Home”  Several special guests attended, including Judge Katie Wood and UK Football coach Joker Phillips.  The choir took a trip over Spring Break touring New Orleans, Atlanta, Savannah, and the Biltmore estate.

The Pulaski County High School Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Scott Sexton had their Spring Concert and Band Banquet on Sunday, May 22, 2011.  The Pulaski County High School Band will be making their first appearance at the Bands of America Grand National Championships on November 10-12, 2011.  The band recently got new uniforms that they will be debuting during the 2011 marching season.  The Pulaski County High School Winter guard finished 7th at the 2011 Tri State Championships.  The Pulaski County High School Winter Drumline finished 10th at the 2011 Tri State Championships. 

The Northern Middle School Winter Guard was named the 2011 TriState Circuit Gold medalists with a score of 89.8.  This was the first year of existence for the Winter Guard who was directed by Scott Sexton.  The Northern Middle School Concert Band, under the direction of Scott Sexton received Distinguished Ratings at KMEA Concert Band festival on March 23, 2011.  The NMS Band presented their Spring concert May 15, 2011.  The concert was followed by a dessert social fundraiser.

The Wayne County Band had Vince DiMartino - Trumpet - Centre College - as guest performer/clinic in April.

On May 12th the Harlan County High School Music Department presented a “Spring Collage Concert” featuring the high school choir, under the direction of Jeanne Ann Lee, the high school percussion ensemble, under the direction of Bryce Miller, and the high school concert band, under the direction of James Adams, Bryce Miller, and Mike Shepherd. 

On May 12th the Harlan County High School Music Department held its inaugural Tri-M music honor society induction ceremony.  Chapter Advisor Bryce Miller inducted 20 new members into the organization.

On May 24th the Wallins Junior High Bands, directed by James Adams, presented a spring concert featuring the 6th grade beginning band, the 7th/8th grade concert band, and the honors wind ensemble. The concert included a Memorial Day tribute featuring the combined 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands performing America the Beautiful.

South Laurel HS recently a week long run of the broadway version of "Beauty and the Beast".  The choir will be traveling to New York City May 25-30.  Our Spring concert was performed on April 17th.

Pulaski Elementary School's fourth grade students gave a  recorder concert in November, and the fifth grade  students gave a recorder concert in May.

Pulaski Elementary Chorus presented their Christmas concert to mall shoppers, and along with the drama team they presented the mini-musical "The Music Man" in April.

The Southern Middle School Bands have been hard at it this year.  The 2010-2011 school year saw the introduction of the Southern Middle School Jazz band, as well as The Warrior Batucada Percussion Ensemble.  The only Brazilian Percussion ensemble in the state of Kentucky.  This group features members of Southern Middle School and Southwestern High School Bands.  Also, we of course have 6th, 7th, and 8th grade concert bands as well as 8th grade percussion ensemble.  In the future, we hope to keep adding to the amount of groups and ensembles students can be involved in. Members from the 7th and 8th grade concert bands were selected to attend a private clinic featuring members of the National Symphony Orchestra. The NSO members taped an instructional video using our SMS students as the audience.  Members from the NSO fielded excellent questions posed by our young band members. Southern Middle Schools band students and administration continue to strive for excellence in music.

The Oak Hill Elementary Chorus and Instrumental Ensemble, in collaboration with the drama club, performed Dateline: Rock and Roll on Thursday, May 12, 2011, and Friday, May 13, 2011.  The performance included familiar songs from the 1950's through the present day.  Students sang, played songs on the dulcimer, and also performed songs on the recorder.  Students were directed by Valerie Durham, Mandy Nicholas, and Ashley Smith.

In January, the South Laurel HS band conducted its 3rd annual Concert Band Camp featuring 3 guest conductors and several masterclasses.  In April, the band traveled to Washington D.C. for the Cherry Blossom Festival.  In April, we also  presented our 2nd annual Solo & Ensemble recital featuring entries from the S&E Festival.  Three entries advanced to the state level.  On May 10, the band performed at the State Band Festival at the University of Louisville.

May 20th Arts and Humanities Day (all-day event; local artists volunteer and lead small group sessions throughout the day) May 23rd Africa Video Chat (my choir has partnered with a school in Africa, and we are meeting and singing for each other on Skype) May 24th Africa Concert (we'll sing and play drums to raise money for our partner school in Kenya) May 26th and 27th Arts Showcase (a chance for everyone in the school to show off their talents in music, visual art, dance, and drama).

The Southwestern High School Marching Band participated as part of the cast for a recent National Tour Company production of "The Music Man" at the Center for Rural Development in Somerset.  The Southwestern High School Choir performed a pre-show concert in the Center lobby prior to the production.  Both ensembles are under the direction of Dan Carpenter.

The Southwestern High School Jazz Ensemble was the featured performers for the Somerset-Pulaski Co. Chamber of Commerce luncheon honoring administrative assistants.

Members of the Southwestern High School Band played for a Memorial Day service at Rock Lick Baptist Church in Pulaski County.The Jazz Ensembles of Southern Middle School (Adam Hopper, director) and Southwestern High School (Dan Carpenter, director) held a "Picnic in the Park" concert at the Southwestern High School Amphitheatre on Tuesday, May 31.

The Southwestern High School Musical Theatre (Dan Carpenter, director) recently produced this year's Spring musical entitled "I Want My Mummy!".