Guitar

Creating the FGEA!

Hello, Florida Guitar Education Enthusiasts!

Bottom line up front: set your calendars for a first and second reading of the bylaws for the Florida Guitar Education Association on Thursday, September 4th, and Tuesday, September 9th. Both Zoom meetings start at 7 pm. See additional details below!

You are cordially invited to a first reading of the bylaws for the emerging organization known as the Florida Guitar Education Association on Thursday, September 4th, at 7 PM (see the link below for the Zoom meeting credentials). This first reading will see no formal actions taken yet and will provide an opportunity for feedback and input on the wording of the bylaws themselves. This will essentially be the final "committee" meeting on the creation of the bylaws themselves.

A second reading will see official actions taken, such as the formal acceptance of the bylaws, nominations of officers, and elections of the Board of Directors. This second reading will take place on Tuesday, September 9th, at 7 p.m.

To allow for the most efficient meetings, here is a link to the bylaws document as it sits in DRAFT format: FGEA Draft By-Laws September 1, 2025

We are super excited for these developments and look forward to your input. As always, please feel free to contact me at prasse@aol.com if you have any specific feedback or questions.

Best,
Ed Prasse

September 4, 2025, 7:00 PM Eastern Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 871 7645 6818
Passcode: 204611

September 9, 2025, 7:00 PM Eastern Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 845 7932 0232
Passcode: 556882

All-State Guitar Ensembles

This year marks the 16th offering of the FMEA All-State High School Guitar Ensemble, AND the debut offering of the All-State Middle School Guitar Ensemble! I would like to thank the committee of dedicated guitar instructors and the FMEA Executive Board for establishing this ensemble and driving guitar instruction in Florida to even greater heights. Kudos to all!

The 2026 All-State 9-12 Guitar and 2026 All-State 7-8 Guitar audition items are available for immediate download and study. We are honored to have Dr. Kami Rowan (9-12) and William Hart Wells (7-8) leading our ensembles this year. Both conductors have chosen a challenging and varied program that will surely excite the performers and audience members alike at the January 2026 event. 

2025-2026 All-State Middle School (7th & 8th Grade) Guitar Ensemble Audition Information

2025-2026 All-State High School (9th - 12th Grade) Guitar Ensemble Audition Information

Teachers, please note the "timeline" information on page 1 of both documents, as it contains very important deadlines for August and September. If you have any questions, please contact Ed Prasse by using the Contact Us page and select "Guitar All-State or Guitar Festival Questions."

To enter your students for the auditions: Go to MPA Online and log in or create an account. On your "Profile" page, look at the Schools and Jobs box and make sure you have a Guitar "job" listed there.  If you are also a band, chorus, or orchestra director, you will need both that job and the Guitar job listed in order to submit all-state auditions for both.

MPA Online will generate an entry form that must be signed by you and your principal, an invoice, and student/parent participant contracts.  All of these must be sent along with payment to the FMEA office. 

Guitar Ensemble Festivals

The 2025 Guitar Festival has passed but we are keeping this information posted for your reference. Thank you to all participants and clinicians.  Please check back later for details about the upcoming 2026 Guitar Festivals. 

The FMEA Guitar Ensemble Festival is a day full of guitar activity, including ensemble performances from elementary, middle, and high school programs. Ensembles of all levels of experience perform for NO RATINGS and receive instant feedback in areas of technique, tone, musicality, and musical interpretation. 

2025 Festival Sites:

• February 15, 2025: University High School, Orange County, Orlando 
• February 27, 2025: Leon High School, Tallahassee
• March 8, 2025: West Port High School, Marion County, Ocala
• April 5, 2025: Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers (Canceled)

Performance Options:

• Solo: Perform one piece in a 10-minute timeslot for evaluation. $15 entry fee.
• Small Ensemble: Perform one piece in a 10-minute timeslot for evaluation. $10 per performer, maximum 8 performers
• 30-Minute Ensemble Workshop: Perform 2 pieces in a 30-minute workshop setting. $150entry fee
• 60-Minute Ensemble Workshop: Perform 3 pieces in a 60-minute workshop setting, $300 entry fee

Deadline:

Checks and signed entry forms must arrive at the FMEA office 14 days prior to the festival date of the site you choose to attend. Credit card payments are not available for the festival entry fees at this time, so please plan accordingly.  

Enter The Guitar Festival