Testimonials from band directors, staff members, and sponsors who have worked with CSJA judges.
My name is Avious Jackson, and I am the Director of Bands at Mason City Schools. As a show host, our experience with CSJA is always professional, communicative, and user-friendly.Judges from CSJA are always accommodating to our show needs and expectations. They ask great questions as to how they can best serve the needs of our show and have been easy to work with. Communication with CSJA has always been a positive. We can always trust that questions will be answered in a timely and precise manner, and the organization has always been very easy to work with. The commentary on our tapes is always thoughtful and informative. Having outside perspective and reinforcement of the concepts that we teach daily is useful and productive for student growth. Having CSJA be a part of your show offers a complete package, along with an ease of operation that will allow you to focus on the experience of every student participating in your show.
I am Dr. Mike Phillips, the Director of Athletic Bands of Campbell University, a university that hosts the Caravan of Bands competition on our university campus. I have 31+ years experience in Music Education (as a band director) in both secondary (middle and high school) and higher education. I have taught in five states in my career and have experience working with athletic bands in the SEC, Sun Belt, NAIA, Big South and CAA. I have worked with bands as an educator and clinician in the US and Europe and have had groups perform at BOA, multiple high school events, London, Netherlands, Disney (US and Euro), Paris, and Mardi Gras in NOLA.
CSJA felt like a member of our staff and band family. Their suggestions were spot on, they superbly organized/team focused, and very supportive to make the event successful not matter what (we had a very rainy start to the day this year).
.Our chief judge went out of his way to make communicate with us and his team to make the best experience possible for the participants. Tim was hands on and always willing to give suggestions or follow the flow.
CSJA was honestly the top-rated segment of our event in our feedback and surveys. We had a very diverse set of programs (BOA to very inexperienced programs) and everyone one appreciated the judges sheets and thought they were professional, educational, and clear.
We absolutely recommend CSJA to help with your show adjudication needs… if this is your first time hosting a show, they will be your partner in the process… if this is your chance to use them with an on-going event, you and your participants will only gain from their partnership. CSJA takes all worries out of the show logistics element resulting in quality adjudication, great feedback experience, and comments you can honestly use with your students whether it is your first show of the season or the last.
From Nick Little: I am the Director of Bands at Campbell County High School in Alexandria, Kentucky. We’ve hosted a marching band competition for over 50 consecutive years. In 2017, we began working with CSJA to hire our judges. CSJA has streamlined the process and provided us with high-quality adjudicators ever since.
Marching band season is already an incredibly busy time of year. Knowing CSJA will fill our panel with quality judges means we can focus on other things.
Knowing that a CSJA judge is reviewing commentary each week is also reassuring. It’s nice to know that there is ongoing accountability and feedback for adjudicators. Having that oversight is a huge advantage when hiring CSJA judges.
CSJA is easy to work with, affordable, and provides quality adjudicators. I recommend them to anyone looking for quality judges at their contest!
From Chad Simons: I am the Associate Director of Bands and Senior Conductor of Instrumental Music at the University of New Mexico. It was my pleasure to direct the Zia Marching Fiesta for 20 years. The Zia Fiesta has a 45-year history as a premiere event in New Mexico. When I began our relationship with CSJA, I needed competent, reliable, accurate judges to supplement our pool of professionals. Since those initial stages, we have come to rely on CSJA as our primary pool of judging talent and experience.
The administrators, chief judges, and members of CSJA are class acts. We have always had a professional, positive experience with this organization. The training they provide to their judges is unequalled in this field. The pedagogical knowledge that these judges bring to our event is a large part of what makes it so special. Listening to tapes from a CSJA judge is much like unfolding a fresh lesson plan for your next rehearsal.
I recommend CSJA judges to any organization that wishes to raise the integrity and educational value of their event. The feedback and professionalism of these adjudicators is second to none.
More to come…