Sara Womack AMEA President-Elect
Effective Advocates
While we embark on advocacy efforts to gain
support for music education across the state, we must remind ourselves of the qualities an effective advocate possesses in improving the status of our profession and hence, our impact on student learning.
• Sensible advocates for music education work to recognize the reasoning of others. Then, a plan of action can be developed to counter those
opinions.As said by English poet and philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince his opponents that he understands their arguments and sympathizes with their just feelings.”
• Valuable advocates for music education have impeccable timing. They knowhowto
persevere and not give in, but also know when to reach out for a compromise. Music is timing. So, for a group
of music educators, timing should be a strength.
• Reliable advocates for music education always remember the students in all advocacy efforts. They understand that they speak for those who otherwise would not have a voice. Without students, advocacy would not be necessary. Therefore, remember this phrase by Stephen Covey, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Our “main thing” is students.
• Honorable advocates are not afraid to be the "lone wolf." They ask the difficult and uncomfortable questions and are sometimes ostracized at first for their unpopular views, only to be thanked later for their vision and courage. They also build harmony, lead by example, foster leadership in others, and give and receive honest feedback and criticism.
Alabama Orchestra Association Marcy Wilson, President The AMEA festival
thrived in its new location this year. AOA sponsored many great sessions by Marguerite Wilder, Clay McKinney,
and Daniel Jamieson. All of the sessions were very enlightening and extremely educational. I know I left the conference exceedingly inspired. TheHuntsvilleYouth Symphony Orchestra presented the AOA performance session. They collaborated with “Act of Congress” and the performance was entertaining for the audience. The HYSO did a fabulous job during the performance and should be very proud of their accomplishment. Congratulations! The Alabama All-State Orchestra
Festival, held on February 10-13, 2011, was a musical success! The students performed beautifully, and all the ensembles sounded like professional groups. Mother Nature tried to intervene again this year with snow, however, like last year;All-State prevailed. The AOA composition contest winner this year was Sean Pallatroni. His work When the Grass was Still Green received its world premier during the Sunday performance.
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AMEAismaking a concerted effort to be a voice for students and music education across our
state.Acommittee, comprised of representatives from each division, has begun work on a plan of action for advocacy. The committee consists of the following music educators: Dr. Sara Womack, Greystone Elementary School (E/G) - Chair; Tim Hammonds, Thompson High School (ABA); Clay McKinney, Booker T.Washington Magnet High School (AOA); Kathy Hughes, Spanish FortHigh School (AVA);
Dr.Moya Nordlund, Samford University (CMENC); Dr. Gary Packwood, University of Montevallo (HED); Martha Lockett, Alabama State Department of Education
If you have any ideas or concerns regarding music education advocacy, please contact your division’s representative, who will relay yourmessage to the committee. Plans are also underway to meet with the leadership of other arts education organizations to begin joint advocacy efforts. There is strength in numbers! Please join our forces and be an effective advocate for arts education inAlabama.
The work was well received, and Mr. Pallatroni spent the entire weekend as the composer-in-residence and spoke at the “Meet the Composer” event Friday evening. “Meet the Composer” was well received as Mr. Pallatroni sat at the piano the entire time demonstrating and explaining his great compositional skills. He was a wonderful addition to the weekend. The students had a magnificent time
learning from our talented conductors.Wes Kenney, Festival Orchestra Conductor, showed the students how to feel the music and taught
the students that when
performing late 19th centuryworkswemust wear the emotions of the music on our sleeves. FredGeiersbach, Sinfonietta String Orchestra Conductor, inspired the students with musical challenges, and all students exceeded the challenge. Latoya Lamons, Consort StringOrchestra, taught the students that almost right is never good enough. Her group saw the most improvement of the weekend. Every year theMontgomery Symphony
sponsors a deserving student to attend the Montgomery string fellow’s camp. This student has shown dedication and leadership
throughout the entire weekend. We ask the conductor each year to nominate a student fromthe Sinfonietta StringOrchestra for this scholarship. We are pleased to announce that this year is recipient is Laney Hatfield fromTuscaloosa. During the All-State Festival, AOA
members welcomed our new executive board for the 2011-2013 term, President ClayMcKinney, Secretary, Felicia Sarubin, Treasurer, Daniel Jameison, and Executive Director Julie Hornstein. Next yearAOAwill be implementing on-
line registration for auditions as well as festival
registration.The audition registration will be available sometime over the summer and will allow all students to receive their audition times faster. We are also on Facebook! Please become a fan ofAOAand automatically receive updates and reminders about deadlines. Check out our newwebsite at
www.alabamaorchestraassociation.org It has been my distinct honor to serve as President ofAOAfor the past two years and to serve on the governing board for the past four years. It has truly been a humbling experience, and I know that AOA will continue to promote the best in music education. Thank you to allAOAmembers and the AOA executive board for all your support and encouragement duringmy term as president.
February 2011
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