Lisa Caravan- President, Alabama Orchestra Association
Hello everyone! As I write this article, All-State Orchestra Festival is a short two weeks away! The collaboration of 215 students with three incredible conductors, composer-in- residence and countless volunteers is expected to bring a phenomenal experience for all. Thank you University of Alabama once again for hosting Alabama All State Orchestra Festival this year! Our guest conductor for the Festival Orchestra will be James Ross, director of orchestral studies at University of Maryland. Dr. John Fetter, assistant professor of music education at the Eastman School of Music, will conduct the Sinfonia Orchestra and Dr. James Mick, assistant professor music education at Ithaca College’s School of Music will conduct the Consort String Orchestra.
Our composition competition was an exciting success. We had 21 entries from all over the world but in the final decision, the winning composer was Michael-Thomas Foumai, with a piece called Kinder-und Hausmärchen (Children’s and Houshold Tales).
A brief biography of Mr. Foumai follows:
The music of Michael-Thomas Foumai has been described as “vibrant…cinematic” (New York Times), “full of color, drama and emotion” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) and “exciting, energetic and full of vivid passages and picturesque moods” (Honolulu Advertiser). He has recently been named MTNA Distinguished Composer of the Year and his music has received numerous awards including the 2013 American Prize for Orchestral Composition, Composer of the Year from the Sioux City Symphony, Jacob Druckman Prize from the Aspen Music Festival, three BMI composer awards and the Presser Foundation Award. Michael’s orchestral works have been performed by the Milwaukee Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, American Composers Orchestra, Sioux City Symphony, New England Philharmonic, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, Aspen Philharmonic and Alarm Will Sound among others.
Onto other news, the AMEA conference was a great success this year with enlightening information on left hand technique and orchestra bowings by Gabriel A. Villasurda, an incredibly informative and helpful session on string repair by Anna and Charles Huthmaker, and Dr. Anne Witt shared her expertise with establishing systems and
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routines in your classroom. Thanks to everyone who attended the educational sessions, participated in the two-hour J.W. Pepper reading session and to the presiders! I would like to especially thank Rob Seebacher and the Mobile Symphony Youth Orchestra for a moving performance at the AMEA conference. We’re already looking ahead to next year’s conference with some exciting ideas for performances and new session topics. If you are looking for specific topics for the session please let us know!
Let me end with a special thank you to all of the AOA Governing Board, District Chairs, judges, sectional leaders and volunteers who spent countless hours insuring the success of the Alabama Orchestra Association’s 2014 All State Festival! Everyone involved is essential and so appreciated!
Whether you sing in the choir, dance in a musical theater production, play an instrument in a band, have a passion for opera, or lead worship for your church, the University of Mobile Center for Performing Arts has the program for you!
If you desire a university that prepares you to make a difference in today’s culture, UMobile is for you!
center for performing arts The course of study is music - the four-year journey is the real education!
To schedule an appointment to audition:
cpaauditions@umobile.edu or call
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