Alabama Orchestra Association
All State Orchestra Festival and Conference A Few Words
Maggie Snyder, President, AOA
Hello Everyone! I'm looking forward to this year's All State Orchestra Festival, February 9-12, 2006 on the cam- pus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. I think we have a great group of people lined up this year. Included in the materials in this issue, are biographies and pictures of all of our guests for this year's festival. This will be a first visit to Alabama for a lot of our guests, and I am really excited to show them how much of a good thing we have going here!
This year, the AOA board voted to change a little bit about how we audition our participants. In years past, we have had an open invitation for the younger string play- ers to participate in the festival. Due to overwhelming enthusiasm and record enrollment we are very pleased to announce that we will be going to all videotaped audi- tions this year. This will help us have a little bit more of an organized approach to how we do seating auditions at the festival. We do hope it will not deter ANYONE from auditioning and participating, and encourage you all, teachers, students, and parents alike, to make sure and get the word out that we want all those interested in partici- pating to audition!
I do believe that this is a sign of the future in Alabama- we have had record enrollment in the festival, and we have a higher and higher level of player coming in to audition. I hope in the future that we continue to grow!
A couple of points about the changes- 1. Yes, everyone has to audition, including String Sinfonietta and Premiere String participants, and we must have students fill out the form specific to the orchestra they audition for. There are 3 different forms instead of 2 like last year. 2. Yes, students need to indicate in the box on the form if they would like to be considered for a lower level orches- tra if they are not placed into the one they audition for. Premiere Strings is the introductory level orchestra. 3. Yes, there will be sight reading at the auditions. 4. Yes, there are 1st and 2nd violin parts, and students and teachers should choose which one to audition on. There
40 ala breve - October 2005
are some tricky parts in the Festival Orchestra 1st violin audition materials.
audition for FO but aren't capable of playing in the high- est positions, should audition for 2nd violin. Those who audition for 1st WILL be considered for 2nd if they are not placed in the 1st violins, and vice versa.
5. Yes, there will be more information coming to the dis- trict chairs about how to make the logistics of the audi- tions more manageable (shortened audition excerpts for on-spot notification, and very short sight reading materi- als). 6. Yes, this is going to be really fun! And if it is a logisti- cal nightmare, and all these changes are not for the best of the festival, then we can discuss that at the AOA board meeting in January at Conference and again debate and vote on possible changes to the audition policy.
I feel greatly indebted to the teachers and district chairs for their patience with the changing procedures for this year. I know that you're really 99% of what makes this possible for our students and I respect and appreciate what you do! I also appreciate all of your input and recommendations on how to make this work. I thank you and value you for your advice.
As for AMEA Conference, we're getting revved up for another good time, and I hope you'll all enjoy some of the new presentations we've got going this year. We're all very excited to have AOA area performance sessions by the Etowah Youth Symphony (General Session) and the Mobile Youth Symphony (AOA Performance Session). Bravo to both groups for their participation. I anticipate a great Conference on all fronts, from guest groups to guest presenters (and a little bit of planning and something from me too)! Bring your instruments, we're going to play and have fun.
If anyone has any questions about anything to do with All- state Orchestra Festival or even Conference, I'm still tak- ing the open in-box policy! Do not hesitate to email me!
maggieviola@comcast.net
Those students who are qualified to
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