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ASTA eNEWS Table of Contents October 2007
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ASSOCIATION AND CHAPTER NEWS
* Attend ASTA’s National Conference
* Volunteer as a Session Presider at the National Conference
* Elizabeth A.H. Green Award Nominations Continue Until December
* Holiday Sale for Publications Begins November 1
* ASTA Names Member of the Month for October
* State Chapters Receive Special Project Grants
* Advocating for Strings DVD Now Available
* 2008 Summer Conference Information Now Available EVENTS AND COMPETITIONS
* South Carolina Cello Choir and Workshop
* The Stulberg String Competition
* Summer Study Opportunity for Students in Italia
* Merle J. Isaac Composition Contest
* 2008 National Orchestra Festival Participants Announced
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ATTEND ASTA’S NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Don’t forget to mark your calendar for ASTA’s 2008 National Conference held February 28 through March 1 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Registration is open and December 1 is the date to be registered by not only for the best rate available, but also to have your name automatically entered into a drawing for a Conservatory Bow with a Snakewood frog. This item was generously donated by CodaBow International Ltd. Conference brochures were mailed to all members in late-September/early-October. If you’ve misplaced your brochure, simply go online to the conference section of the ASTA website. You’ll find all the information you need to know about educational offerings, social events, competitions, performances, biographies of clinicians, speakers and performers, silent auction items, registering, and more. Remember you can easily register online at [ http://www.astaweb.com/Content/NavigationMenu/Conferences/NationalConference/Reg istrationNowOpen/default.htm ]http://www.astaweb.com/Content/NavigationMenu/Conferences/NationalConference/Re gistrationNowOpen/default.htm
VOLUNTEER AS A SESSION PRESIDER AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
ASTA is looking for conference attendees to serve as session presiders at the National Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A presider introduces the session and its presenter, troubleshoots problems, signs attendees’ professional development document forms, and completes a short evaluation of the session. Presiders confirmed by January 3 will be listed in the official conference program book. For more information or to volunteer as a presider, please contact Deanna Tompkins at [ mailto:Deanna@astaweb.com ]Deanna@astaweb.com and list you top five choices of sessions/presenters. The schedule is in its final stages so a list of sessions by day and time can be found on ASTA’s website in November at [ http://www.astaweb.com/Content/NavigationMenu/Conferences/NationalConference/Edu cationalSessions/default.htm ]http://www.astaweb.com/Content/NavigationMenu/Conferences/NationalConference/Ed ucationalSessions/default.htm. It is still available now by category.
HOLIDAY SALE FOR PUBLICATIONS BEGINS NOVEMBER 1
A 20 percent off holiday publications sale begins November 1 and ends December 7. Look for ASTA’s new and updated publication brochure in your mail the first week in November. This is a great way to begin holiday shopping without the hassle. As always, we encourage you to order via our website for speedier delivery of product. Thanks in advance! ELIZABETH A.H. GREEN AWARD NOMINATIONS CONTINUE UNTIL DECEMBER Nominations are currently being accepted for the ASTA Elizabeth A.H. Green School Educator Award. The award is given annually to a school string teacher with a current and distinguished career in a school orchestral setting. Past recipients include Mary Lou Jones, Jan Garverick, Michael Alexander, Pamela Tellejohn Hayes, and E. Daniel Long along with a host of other distinguished string educators. The postmark deadline for nominations, which should be sent to the ASTA headquarters, is Friday, December 15. Late forms will not be accepted. For more information and to download forms, visit [ http://www.astaweb.com/Content/NavigationMenu/MemberResources/FilesFormsDownload s/IndividualFilesFormsDownloads/EGreenApplication.pdf ]http://www.astaweb.com/Content/NavigationMenu/MemberResources/FilesFormsDownloa ds/IndividualFilesFormsDownloads/EGreenApplication.pdf
ASTA NAMES MEMBER OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER
Over the past few years, Melissa Dufrechou has devoted a great deal of time and energy to advocating string education in Alabama. Three years ago, she was the first teacher in a brand new string program at Eastwood Middle School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Even though she was not a string major, Dufrechou was enthusiastic and energetic. She worked with Alabama state president, Anne Witt, to plan and purchase everything from instruments to music to cello racks. What is the secret to her success as a first year teacher? She talked to her mother, an elementary music teacher, every morning for advice. Dufrechou is now taking a leadership role with the two new teachers in the program – both logistically and pedagogically. She has furthered her string involvement by coordinating the local All State auditions and is currently the president-elect of the Alabama Orchestra Association. In two years, she will run the orchestra division of the Alabama Music Educators Association. Dufrechou is a great example of how young ASTA members can take string advocacy by storm! We are proud to award her the title of ASTA’s Member of the Month for October. We look forward to her future work on behalf of ASTA and string advocacy.
2008 SUMMER CONFERENCE INFORMATION NOW AVAILABLE
If you’re planning to hold a 2008 summer conference, the application deadline is December 1 for inclusion in the special Summer Conference section of the February issue of American String Teacher. Summer conferences and workshops have proven to be among the most revitalizing and worthwhile projects for string and orchestra teachers. We encourage you and your colleagues to provide this significant service to string and orchestra teachers. Several different summer conference advertising packages are available. For more information and to download application forms, visit [ http://www.astaweb.com/Content/NavigationMenu/Conferences/SummerConferences/defa ult.htm ]http://www.astaweb.com/Content/NavigationMenu/Conferences/SummerConferences/def ault.htm
STATE CHAPTERS RECEIVE SPECIAL PROJECT GRANTS
ASTA is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2007 Special Project Grants from the National Foundation to Promote String Teaching and Playing. The following state chapters received awards: * Kentucky Chapter of ASTA received $650 for “L.O.V.E. Commissioned Composition.” The students and teachers of Lexington’s Only Viola Ensemble (L.O.V.E.) will commission a multiple viola work by Elizabeth Stuen-Walker—an experienced violist and composer of multiple viola ensemble pieces. This piece will have parts for different skill levels and students at the local schools wills be given the opportunity to perform with the ensemble, thus encouraging viola performance and “state musical camaraderie.” * Ohio Chapter of ASTA received $850 for “OSTA String Festival.” This project will provide the opportunity for string teachers and students to perform in a non-competitive atmosphere where they can share their talent and growth. Each orchestra will perform for three certified string teachers and receive verbal and written feedback on their performance. A fourth string teacher will also listen to the performance and spend 25-30 minutes in a clinic setting with the group. * Michigan Chapter of ASTA received $700 for “MASTA Camps DVD.” The project will create a DVD to promote MASTA Elementary and Junior High String Camps to get the word out to young string players about summer string music opportunities in Michigan. * Nebraska Chapter of ASTA received $850 for the “Tri-City Youth Symphony/Tri-City Junior Youth Symphony Retreat.” This project aims to bring together the students in central Nebraska together for a weekend of music-making. Often these students study privately and have no orchestra program available to them. By bringing the students together for an intense weekend of music making led by two conductors with additional assistance from sectional coaches, the state chapter may offer students a unique musical opportunity to play music at the highest level of performance. * New Jersey ASTA received $700 for the “Tenth Anniversary NJASTA Symposium.” This project will offer New Jersey teachers and string students a smaller scale experience of the ASTA National Conference. The symposium will offer a full day of events, equally promoting both traditional and alternative styles in string performance/education. * North Carolina Chapter of ASTA received $850 for “String Pedagogy and Practice for the Classroom and Private Studio.” This project will deliver specific knowledge of pedagogical skills to string music education majors from three Schools of Music in North Carolina and visiting public and private school teachers. * Rhode Island Chapter of ASTA received $850 for “Professional Development for Music Educators who Teach Strings in RI.” This project will offer a series of professional development days for all public school music teachers who teach strings as part of their jobs in Rhode Island. The goal of the presentations is to help music teachers acquire a deeper knowledge of how to teach strings. * South Dakota Chapter of ASTA received $700 for “Workshops for Strings.” This project will present two string master class/workshops in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The presenters will be Jaromir Krovacek and French Chamber Orchestra. The workshop will provide an opportunity for South Dakota string students to work with expert teachers/performers with special insights into Sevcik’s methods and orchestral string playing. * Texas Chapter of ASTA received $850 for “Statewide Implementation of Certificate Program for Strings.” TexASTA will host two separate days of Certificate Program for Strings Examiner training, in two different locations in the state. * Virginia Chapter of ASTA received funding in the amount of $850 for “Senior Regional Prep Days.” The workshop will include master classes on each string instrument (violin, viola, cello, and bass) to prepare area high school students for the SRO Audition requirements. The Special Project Grants are designed to provide financial assistance to projects planned at the state chapter level. Funding up to $850 is available to innovative projects that will advance ASTA’s mission and increase the strength, visibility, and activities of a state chapter. Applications must be received by June 1 of each year. Information and applications are available at [ http://www.astaweb.com/Content/NavigationMenu/CommunityInitiatives/ASTAGrantInit iatives/default.htm ]http://www.astaweb.com/Content/NavigationMenu/CommunityInitiatives/ASTAGrantIni tiatives/default.htm
NEW ADVOCACY DVD AVAILABLE FREE FROM ASTA
ASTA recently released “Advocating for Strings”--a 10-minute DVD that focuses on the benefits associated with playing a string instrument and features artists and students from the 2007 ASTA National Conference held last March. “Advocating for Strings” stresses important benefits of playing a string or musical instrument and provides solid evidence in the form of statistics. According to Bob Gillespie, ASTA past president and professor of music at Ohio State University, research proves that music students are: * scoring significantly higher on the SAT than the average general student body population; string students have the highest scores among music students, * leaders in classes and activities, * members of academic honor groups, * in the upper 10 percent of their graduating class, and * less likely to abuse alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. The DVD not only interviews ASTA’s vocal leaders but also gives students a chance to encourage their peers to play and get involved in string competitions at a national level. “This DVD is extremely well done, and we excited about its release,” says Donna Hale, ASTA executive director. “The overall theme of advocating strings should change many nay-sayers’ perspective on the value of string education and pursuing a career in string teaching.” This public service DVD would not have been possible without the sponsorship of dedicated ASTA members. They are CodaBow, D’Addario, Heinrich Gill, Knilling, The National Youth Orchestra Foundation, and Yamaha. “Advocating for Strings” is available at no charge for individual, institutional, and council members of ASTA. Nonmembers may purchase the DVD for $9.95. Simply go to the ASTA website at astaweb.com to order. You can also join ASTA and gain the many membership benefits at the same address. This tool can be used by teachers as well as anyone who is an advocate of string education. Contact the ASTA National Office at 703/279-2113 ext. 25 for questions relating to the DVD.
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SOUTH CAROLINA CELLO CHOIR AND WORKSHOP
The South Carolina Cello Choir and Workshop with Anthony Elliott was a huge success. There were 200 cellists from South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama all performing on stage at the Kroger Center on September 28-29. This was the largest number to date! Elliott led the large and small choirs in original cello choir pieces by various composers. A new piece was premiered by the USC composer John Fitz Rogers in honor of Mstislav Rostropovich, called “Ad Pacem.” There were five master classes on Friday and Elliott led three of the classes working with the students on pieces by Chopin, Bach, Popper, and many others. Saturday featured clinics on the Junior and Senior All State pieces. Robert Jesselson, University of South Carolina, wishes to thank the USC ASTA student chapter for their work in hosting this successful event. The next South Carolina Cello Choir will take place at Furman University in September 2008.
THE STULBERG STRING COMPETITION
The Stulberg String Competition is for string players under the age of 20. The date of the competition is March 8, 2008, and the application deadline is December 15, 2007. The judges are: Bayla Keyes, violin; Rhonda Rider, cello; and Tom Knific, bass. The application fee is just $75. For more detailed information and requirements, visit [ http://www.stulberg.org ]www.stulberg.org.
SUMMER STUDY OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS IN ITALIA
Attention string teachers. Please make note of an opportunity for your students’ summer study at the Adriatic Chamber Music Festival (ACMF). The intended audience is college-age string players and pianists and high school students with outstanding maturity. The festival is held in Bonefro, Molise, July 23 - August 13. The ACMF, celebrating its 11th season, is an intensive chamber music festival where students have the opportunity to study and perform with world-class chamber music faculty - former members of the Cavani, Cascade and Manhattan String Quartets. Students will live and work in a XVII Century monastery in Bonefro, a small village near the Adriatic Sea. For more information please visit the festival website: [ http://www.acmf.org ]http://www.acmf.org. Applications are open to individuals or pre-formed ensembles (discounted tuition applies).
MERLE J. ISAAC COMPOSITION CONTEST
The purpose of the Merle J. Isaac Composition contest is to encourage the composition, publication, and performance of music of quality for the benefit of school orchestra programs. For the second year, ASTA will accept compositions in the junior and senior divisions. The junior division is open to student composers through the age of 18. Students are invited to submit an original, unpublished composition that is suitable for string orchestra at the elementary or middle/junior high school level. The senior division is open to composers age 19 and above. Composers are invited to submit an original, unpublished composition that is suitable for string or full orchestra at the elementary, middle/junior high school or high school level. The selection process: in the preliminary round, all entries are screened by a panel of three judges. Compositions selected for the final round are rehearsed and performed by a school orchestra for a panel of five judges. ASTA reserves the right to declare that a winner does not exist if the entry requirements and musical standards are not fulfilled. The next postmark deadline for both competitions is January 15, 2008.
2008 NATIONAL ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS ANNOUNCED
The 2008 National Orchestra Festival participating groups have been selected. The following orchestras will perform as part of the ASTA National Conference to be held February 28 through March 1 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Check your program book or the ASTA website for performance times. This event is free and open to conference attendees as well as friends and families of the orchestras. The participating groups are: * Century High School Orchestra, * Coronado High School String Orchestra, * Coronado High School Symphony Orchestra, * Harrison High School Chamber Orchestra, * Hershey Symphony Festival Strings, * Iowa City West High School Symphony String Orchestra, * Kodiak Youth Orchestra, * Las Flores Middle School Orchestra, * Las Vegas Academy Philharmonic, * Las Vegas Academy Symphony, * Los Alamos Middle School Orchestra, * Milton High School Chamber Orchestra, * Punahou Symphony String Orchestra, * Rocky Mountain High School Chamber Orchestra, * San Domenico Orchestra da Camera, * Springville High School Philharmonic Orchestra, and * Valley High School Chamber Orchestra. ********************************************************************************
SAVE THE DATE! 2008 ASTA National Conference February 28 – March 1 Albuquerque, New Mexico
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