Plano Community Band
Serving Plano, Texas Since 1979

Association of Concert Bands Convention 2010
in Richardson, Texas
Hosted by the
Plano Community Band
Wednesday April 14 through Sunday April 18, 2010

Convention Overview

Musical expression is an art. There is no better place to see musical artistry in its truest form than at the 2010 ACB National Convention. If there was ever a MUST SEE ACB convention this is it. Hosted by the nationally recognized Plano Community Band, this music-filled event will be staged in the incredible surroundings of the esteemed Eisemann Center in Richardson, Texas. Known for world-class acoustics, stunning architectural beauty and first class facilities, the Eisemann is in a class all its own.

Like many conventions before, the ACB 2010 convention will feature the musical expressions from a wide range of wind bands. You can look forward to original compositions (with world debuts) from a number of groups (Including the Plano Community Band and the Convention Band) and even an unforgettable performance from the Dallas Wind Symphony. You can also expect relevant, information-packed clinics featuring a wide range of topics and exhibits from numerous organizations and vendors.

Of course, every ACB convention is a good opportunity to network with your peers and 2010 is no exception. You will have plenty of time to make the most of your networking opportunities in the luxurious surroundings of the Renaissance Hotel connected to the Eisemann center. This new, resort-style facility features large, first class rooms and exceptional food, service and facilities all at specially negotiated rates for the convention that make it surprisingly easy on the wallet.

Whether you are focused on making the most of the valuable clinics and networking or if you want to simply hear some of the finest musical organizations perform in a gorgeous music hall, the 2010 ACB convention in Dallas will offer an unforgettable experience. Make the most of this unique venue. Register early for the 2010 ACB convention and enjoy the art of musical expression.

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Performing Groups

Dallas Wind Symphony

The Dallas Wind Symphony is the leading professional civilian wind band in the United States today. Comprised of 50 woodwind, brass and percussion players, the band performs an eclectic blend of musical styles ranging from Bach to Bernstein and Sousa to Strauss. They combine the tradition of the British brass band with the musical heritage of the American town band and the pioneering spirit of the 20th century wind ensemble.

For more information, visit www.dws.org.

Greater Fort Worth Community Band

The Greater Fort Worth Community Band is the result of a cooperative effort by longtime Birdville ISD employees and friends, Dee Tucker and Henry Schraub. From an initial enrollment of 50 the band has grown to 84 musicians and draws from a myriad of professions such as banking, law enforcement, programming, nursing, medicine, and teaching. With a number of active and retired band directors and private teachers also performing, the level of performance has been outstanding!

For more information, visit www.ftworthband.com.

Carrollton Wind Symphony

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Mr. John Zulli founded the Carrollton Wind Symphony in 1995. He could not have known then what an impact on our community and our lives his band would have. The band was small then, but has grown to over 60 members in this new century. Most of us played music many years ago and longed for it in our busy, professional lives. The wind symphony gives us that chance again and serves young and old alike.

For more information, visit www.carrolltonwindsymphony.org.

Arkansas Winds Community Concert Band

The Arkansas Winds Community Concert Band is a non-profit, tax-exempt, all-volunteer organization dedicated to providing concerts to the Northwest Arkansas community and to providing a place for musicians to enhance their musical skills.

For more information, visit www.arkansaswinds.org.

Austin Symphonic Band

The Austin Symphonic Band is the official band of the City of Austin. Under the baton of Music Director Richard Floyd, this Texas-based group has become one of this nation's premier volunteer concert bands. The band was awarded the John Philip Sousa Foundation's coveted Sudler Silver Scroll in 1993.

For more information, visit www.asband.org.
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FAQ's

Table of Contents

  1. When will the Convention Band rehearsals take place?
  2. When will the Convention Band perform?
  3. If I am playing in the Convention Band, will I get my music in advance of the convention?
  4. What is the Convention Band concert attire?
  5. When I submitted my registration form I did not sign up for the convention band. Can I still sign up?
  6. I signed up for the convention band but have since changed my mind. How do I opt out?
  7. Will there be opportunities to play in an ensemble?
  8. I am a Regional Membership coordinator. Will there be a RMC meeting?
  9. What is the keynote luncheon?
  10. Will there be a New Member luncheon?
  11. Will there be a Life Member luncheon?
  12. Can I sign up for convention meals when I arrive?
  13. Can a spouse or guest attend the convention meals without having to pay the convention fee?
  14. Can I change my banquet meal choice?
  15. If I have dietary restrictions or other special needs, how can I alert you?
  16. I would like to know the clinics that will be presented. Will you be posting a list?
  17. When will you be announcing the convention schedule?
  18. How can I stay up-to-date on announcements regarding the ACB 2010 convention?
  19. I submitted my registration but have not received a confirmation. How can I find out if my registration was received?
  20. I received my registration confirmation but my check has not cleared. How can I find out if my check has been processed?
  21. Where can I find the ACB block code for the hotel?
  22. What airlines fly into Dallas?
  23. Does the hotel have an airport shuttle? How will I get from the airport to the hotel?
  24. Do I need to rent a car?
  25. Are there shuttles from the convention hotel to the Eisemann Center?
  26. Are the convention hotel and Eisemann Center handicap accessible?
  27. Will I have any free time to see local attractions?
  28. Where can I eat near the hotel?
  29. Which performance venue within the Eisemann will bands perform in?
  30. Is there a parking charge if you are registered at the hotel?
  31. Is there a cut-off date for signing up to play in the Convention Band?
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  1. Q. When will the Convention Band rehearsals take place?

    A. Convention Band rehearsals will be from 9:00am – 12:00pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

    Back to FAQ

  2. Q. When will the Convention Band perform?

    A. The Convention Band will perform Saturday at 7:00pm.


  3. Q. If I am playing in the Convention Band, will I get my music in advance of the convention?

    A. The host team is making every effort to provide the music in advance.


  4. Q. What is the Convention Band concert attire?

    A. Convention Band performance attire is concert black (formal).
    Men: tux (w/ jacket) or black suit, and a white shirt
    Women: floor-length black dress, floor-length black skirt with black top or black slacks and black top

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  5. Q. When I submitted my registration form I did not sign up for the convention band. Can I still sign up?

    A. You can sign up for the convention band as long as you understand that you will not receive the music ahead of time, and there may not be space in your section based on the confirmed instrumentation. It is best to commit to playing in the convention band when you register. You can always opt out. To sign up for the convention band send an email to acb 2010 using the contact link above with your name, instrument, and the part you wish to play.


  6. Q. I signed up for the convention band but have since changed my mind. How do I opt out?

    A. Please send an email to acb 2010 using the contact link above. A confirmation will be sent to you via email.


  7. Q. Will there be opportunities to play in an ensemble?

    A. Yes. We will allocate a room for ensembles and create a sign-up sheet at the registration desk for using that room. You will need to bring your own sheet music.

    Back to FAQ

  8. Q. I am a Regional Membership coordinator. Will there be a RMC meeting?

    A. Yes, the RMC meeting will be listed on the convention schedule when the day and time has been finalized.


  9. Q. What is the keynote luncheon?

    A. The Thursday keynote luncheon will be a Tex-Mex buffet at the convention hotel. This luncheon will be an opportunity to recognize New Members, ACB officers, and Life Members. There will be a keynote speaker. We recommend all convention participants attend this welcome luncheon.


  10. Q. Will there be a New Member luncheon?

    A. The Thursday keynote luncheon will be an opportunity to recognize New Members, ACB officers, and Life Members.


  11. Q. Will there be a Life Member luncheon?

    A. We are scheduling the Life Member Meeting as a Friday morning breakfast. The Thursday keynote luncheon will be an opportunity to recognize New Members, ACB officers and Life Members.


  12. Q. Can I sign up for convention meals when I arrive?

    A. The cutoff to sign up for convention meals (e.g. keynote luncheon, banquet) is Tuesday, April 1, 2010. We need to give the hotel a firm headcount before the convention begins.

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  13. Q. Can a spouse or guest attend the convention meals without having to pay the convention fee?

    A. Yes, as long as the meal costs are included in your registration payment and the spouse/guest does not attend any clinics.


  14. Q. Can I change my banquet meal choice?

    A. Yes, if you contact us at acb 2010 using contact link above before April 1, 2010.


  15. Q. If I have dietary restrictions or other special needs, how can I alert you?

    A. Email our ACB 2010 team at using contact link above.


  16. Q. I would like to know the clinics that will be presented. Will you be posting a list?

    A. The list of clinics will be posted on the PCB’s ACB 2010 web page and our ACB 2010 Facebook page sometime in January 2010.


  17. Q. When will you be announcing the convention schedule?

    A. The high level schedule, listing convention band rehearsals and concert times, will be posted on the PCB’s ACB 2010 web page soon. The detailed schedule with clinic times will be posted sometime in January.

    Back to FAQ

  18. Q. How can I stay up-to-date on announcements regarding the ACB 2010 convention?

    A. You can:

    1. visit our ACB 2010 web site for updates
    2. Become a fan of ACB 2010 Facebook
    3. Email our ACB 2010 team using contact link.


  19. Q. I submitted my registration but have not received a confirmation. How can I find out if my registration was received?

    A. Send an email to the ACB 2010 team using the contact link.


  20. Q. I received my registration confirmation but my check has not cleared. How can I find out if my check has been processed?

    A. The ACB 2010 Registration team will make every effort to deposit registration fees in a timely manner. If you need more information please send an email to acb 2010 using the contact link.


  21. Q. Where can I find the ACB block code for the hotel?

    A. The hotel created an easy link directly to the reservation page, which can be used for making your hotel reservations for the ACB 2010 convention. It already has the group code and rate loaded:
    http://tinyurl.com/ygy4klp
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    We also have the registration form on our PCB web site, along with information we update as we get more details. If you prefer calling the hotel to make your reservation you just need to request the ACB block of rooms. The hotel telephone number is 972-367-2000.


  22. Q. What airlines fly into Dallas?

    A. Dallas/Ft. Worth is served by two airports – DFW Airport and Love Field. For more information on both airports go to the “Helpful Links” section of this page.


  23. Q. Does the hotel have an airport shuttle? How will I get from the airport to the hotel?

    A. The Renaissance Hotel does not have an airport shuttle. Taxis and several shared ride services (e.g. Super Shuttle) are available at both airports to bring you to the hotel.

    The estimated cost for a roundtrip fare from DFW is $26.00 each way
    The estimated cost for a roundtrip fare from Love is $22.00 each way.

    The zip code for the Renaissance Hotel in Richardson is 75082 (needed to work out your reservations).
    Super Shuttle Information


  24. Q. Do I need to rent a car?

    A. If you choose not stay at the convention hotel you will need a mode of transportation to get from your hotel of choice to the convention hotel and Eisemann Center. There is a DART light rail station within walking distance of the hotel, which can take you to many local attractions. If you wish to go somewhere the DART does not you will need a mode of transportation.

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  25. Q. Are there shuttles from the convention hotel to the Eisemann Center?

    A. The convention hotel and the Eisemann Center are adjacent to one another. If you choose to stay at the convention hotel you can easily walk to the Eisemann Center.


  26. Q. Are the convention hotel and Eisemann Center handicap accessible?

    A. Yes.


  27. Q. Will I have any free time to see local attractions?

    A. It is recommended you extend your stay to see the many attractions Dallas has to offer. The convention hotel DART rail station provides easy access to the light rail that can take you to many downtown Dallas locations (go to the “Local Attractions” section of this page). The people at the registration/information desk will be able to help you with directions. We have planned clinics every afternoon, so if you choose to take an afternoon to see some of downtown Dallas you will miss clinics being presented.


  28. Q. Where can I eat near the hotel?

    A. There are restaurants across the plaza from the hotel in a retail area. Also our DART light rail system has a stop right at the hotel and there are many eateries on other DART stations just a few minutes away. Two stops north takes you to downtown Plano and several nice restaurants, such as The Urban Crust, Jorge’s Café Vienna, and the Fillmore Pub.

  29. Q. Which performance venue within the Eisemann will bands perform in?

    30. A. All ACB performances are scheduled to take place in the Hill Performance Hall.

  30. Q. Is there a parking charge if you are registered at the hotel?

    31. A. Self-parking for registered hotel guests is $9 per night. Your room key will let you in and out of the garage as needed. If you are local and coming in just for the day you can pay $5/car per day parking fee in the business center or at the front desk of the hotel. If local attendees leave and come back on the same day the hotel will stamp the new parking ticket to indicate you already paid the parking fee for that day. The garage is gated; you must take a ticket or use a room key to open the gate.

  31. Q. Is there a cut-off date for signing up to play in the Convention Band?

    32. A. April 1 is the latest date to register to play in the convention band. Your registration must be received by April 1st, 2010 in order to participate in the convention band.

    Back to FAQ

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Local Attractions

The Sixth Floor Museum
www.jfk.org

Adults: $13.50 Seniors: $12.50 Open: 10:00am-6:00pm

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is located on the sixth and seventh floors of an early 20th-century warehouse known in 1963 as the Texas School Book Depository. Opened on Presidents Day 1989, the Museum has since welcomed more than 6 million visitors from around the world-people of all ages seeking information and understanding about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Museum tours are self-guided with audio guides. The audio guide provides a thorough explanation of and directions through the permanent exhibition on the sixth floor. The guide features excerpts of historic radio broadcasts and the voices of reports, police officers and witnesses to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Dallas World Aquarium
www.dwazoo.com

Adults: $18.95 Seniors: $14.95 Open: 10:00am-5:00pm

The indoor adventure begins at the top of the Orinoco - Secrets of the River rainforest exhibit. The upper levels showcase mixed avian species as they fly freely throughout the vegetation, foraging for food, building nests, caring for their young or preening at the top of the 40-foot waterfall. Mammals, ranging in size from small Vampire bats to large Antillean manatees, share the rainforest with amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates and fish.

The Aquarium portion of The Dallas World Aquarium includes marine species from around the world. Adjoining the aquarium are the outdoor South Africa exhibit and the seasonal Madagascar display. The indoor pathway continues at the bottom level of the Mundo Maya exhibit by way of a forty-foot long tunnel through the Cenote filled with sharks and rays. The stone pathway ascends into the upper levels where tiny hummingbirds and large raptors have an up-close encounter with the tall Tree of Life.

Dallas Museum of Art
www.dm-art.org

Adults: $10.00 Seniors: $7.00 Open: 11:00am-5:00pm

The Dallas Museum of Art is located in the downtown Dallas Arts District, now considered the largest urban arts district in the United States. The DMA has a proud history of serving the North Texas community and connecting art and people, and welcomes over 600,000 visitors each year. The Museum was established in 1903 and features an outstanding collection of more than 23,000 works of art from around the world, from ancient to modern times.

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Nasher Sculpture Garden -
www.nashersculpturecenter.org

Adults: $10.00 Seniors: $7.00 Joint ticket with the DMA: Adults: $16.00 Seniors: $2.00 Open: 11:00am – 5:00pm

In addition to more than 10,000 square feet of indoor gallery space, the one and a half-acre sculpture garden will feature settings designed to frame outdoor works. More than 170 trees, including cedar elms, live oaks, crepe myrtles, weeping willows, and magnolias, together with stone pathways, pools, and fountains, define intimate landscapes for quiet reflection and contemplation of works, and create a verdant oasis in downtown Dallas.

Approximately 25 large-scale sculptures from the Nasher Collection are on view in the garden at any one time.

Southfork Ranch
southfork-ranch.visit-dallas.com

Adults: $9.50 Seniors: $8.00 plus tax Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm

Today Southfork Ranch is a popular attraction for tourists and a meeting facility for groups of 10 to 10,000. Visitors can tour the famed Ewing Mansion and re-live exciting moments from the series in the Dallas Legends exhibit. Some of the items on display include the gun that shot J.R., Lucy's wedding dress, and Jock's Lincoln Continental. Visitors can also take a guided tram tour of the ranch grounds, eat at Miss Ellie's Deli and shop in two themed retail stores.

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Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
www.dallasarboretum.org

Adults: $10.00 Seniors: $9.00

Dallas Blooms festival will be in going through April 17th. The annual celebration showcases both new and old favorites and remarkable examples of garden design. Special displays, such as the fashion show in the DeGolyer House in 2007, complement the gardens and concerts and performances are scheduled for most days. The gardens cover 66 acres and showcase a variety of garden styles.

Cavanaugh Flight Museum
www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com

Admission: $8.00 Open: 9:00am-5:00pm

Step back in time and watch aviation history unfold before you.... Trace the steps of a century of flight. Walk past wood and fabric aircraft from the World War I era. Pass by significant aircraft of the 1930s and World War II periods. Stop and study the early jet planes of the 1950s. Walk on and look with amazement as newer, faster, more efficient aircraft technologies continue to be developed. In the process, you will see how much aviation affects our lives.

No visit to The Cavanaugh Flight Museum would be complete without a stroll through our art collection. It is, in effect, a museum inside a museum.

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The Cavanaugh Flight Museum is home to one of the largest and most outstanding collections of aviation art in the country. The collection includes pieces from internationally famous artists, including Keith Ferris, Roy Grinnell, William Phillips, John Shaw, Stan Stokes, Robert Taylor, Nicholas Trudgian, and many others.

For more things to see and do during your stay visit these websites:

Plano Visitors Bureau - http://planocvb.com/main/index.php
Dallas Visitors Bureau - http://www.visitdallas.com/
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Helpful Links

DFW Airport information
http://dfwairport.com/

Airlines that fly into DFW: American, Delta, United, US Air, Midwest, Continental, and more

Car Rentals – go to Ground Transportation


Love Field Airport Information
http://www.dallas-lovefield.com/airportguide/airportguide.html
Airlines that fly into Love: Southwest Airlines, Continental, Delta, American/American Eagle

Car Rentals – to go Parking/Transportation

Super Shuttle http://www.supershuttle.com/
For those wishing a ride to and from the airport without renting a car.

Directions from DFW Airport to the convention hotel: http://tinyurl.com/ycs36xq

Directions from Love Field Airport to the convention hotel: http://tinyurl.com/yhnussd

DART Light Rail information: http://dart.org/riding/dartrail.asp

Eisemann Center: Concert Venue
http://www.eisemanncenter.com/tickets/

Renaissance Hotel: Convention Hotel
http://www.richardsonrenaissance.com/home.aspx

ACB block of hotel rooms at the Renaissance Hotel:
http://tinyurl.com/ygy4klp
This link pre-fills the room rate and group number.

Association of Concert Bands http://www.acbands.org/



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