Sarah Schrader - President, Alabama Orchestra Association
I hope your summer left you well rested and full of inspirational ideas for the new school year. As we begin a new year in our private studios and classrooms, may we remember this quote:
“Every person is important. It doesn’t matter
whether you play the violin, the flute, the cello or the drums, you’re still part of the orchestra.” ~unknown
When students enter your classroom or studio for the first time this year, remember that everyone is different and important. Your teaching style is unique to you and also unique to each individual student. All of your tricks (exercises) will not work with every student. You have to find what works for each student and help them grow as a musician in their own way. Remember to work with all of your musicians, not just the one who learns fast or the ones that need lots of help.
students to work to their fullest potential. When everyone works to their fullest your group will accomplish amazing things.
I thank you for giving me the opportunity to lead AOA this year. I am excited for what the year will bring and the great music we will be making around the state. I would like to welcome our new faces to our AOA leadership team: Samuel Nordlund is our new Vice President/President-Elect and Eliza Warden is a new Central District chair.
One of the main events AOA organizes is the Alabama All State Orchestra Festival. This will be held at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa on February 12-15, 2015. I am excited to announce the conductors and music each orchestra will perform this year.
The Festival Orchestra will be conducted by Daniel Black (Assistant Conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra). They will be performing Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, 4th movement, Borodin’s Prince Igor Overture, and the composition contest winner’s song.
Sinfonia will be led by Dr. Robert Gardner (Penn State University). They will be performing Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suite No. 1, movements 1-3 and Suite No. 2, movement 4; and Symphonic Poem - an original composition by their conductor Dr. Gardner. We will be looking for 4 percussionists, a saxophonist, and harpist for this group along with all the other standard orchestral instruments.
Dr. James Mick (Ithaca College), will conduct the Consort String Orchestra. They will perform An English Folksong arranged by Terry McQuilkin, Toccatina by William Hofeldt, For the Star of
County Down Arranged by Deborah Baker Monday, Appalachian Sunrise by Doris Gazda, Spartacus by Brian Balmages, and M to the 3rd Power by Carold Nunez.
Please encourage your string, wind, brass, and percussion students to audition for this year’s festival. This will be our third year where the top two orchestras are full orchestras. Both orchestras will be performing non-arranged music. This steps up the level of the wind and brass musicians needed, and hopefully makes it an educational and growing experience for all. We were blessed last year with amazing brass and wind musicians. I hope we will get an even greater response this year. Audition excerpts will be posted on our website on August 11, 2014:
http://www.alabamaorchestraassociation.org
As teachers our goal should be to get ALL
String teachers, after your students finish their auditions for the All State Orchestra in early October, encourage them to attend the ASTA Alabama Honor’s Orchestra Festival held at the University of Alabama, November 7-9, 2014. For more information on the Honor’s Festival go to
www.astabama.org
If you have a student who yearns to be a part of a youth orchestra year round here are a few they should check out. The Alabama Youth Symphony Orchestra (AYSO) new conductor, Dr. Blake Richardson is looking to increase their numbers this coming year. This is a high performing youth orchestra based in Birmingham. Audition registration deadline is August 25.
http://www.alabamasymphony.org/asyo.htm
The Mobile Youth Symphony-
www.mobilesymphony.org/youth-orchestra Huntsville Youth Symphony-
www.huntsvilleyouthorchestra.org Etowah Youth Orchestra-
www.culturalarts.org Montgomery Youth Symphony-
www.montgomerysymphony.org Baldwin County Youth Orchestra-
www.bcyorchestra.com Tuscaloosa Youth Symphony-
www.music.ua.edu/community- music-school/tuscaloosa-youth-orchestra Tiger Strings Youth Orchestra (Auburn)- contact Dr. Kathy King-
kingkat@auburn.edu
If your orchestra was left off of this list and you would like it to be included, please send me the contact info, so I can post on our website. Feel free to contact me with any questions about AOA or information on how to become more involved.
Burkart_Sarah@yahoo.com
Remember, every student is important! productive and inspiring school year!
Calendar of events:
All State Audition excerpts posted
online.............................................................August 11, 2014 All State Audition Registration
Deadline........................................................September 30, 2014 Composition Contest Deadline..............................................................................October 1, 2014 All State Results Posted
online........................................................................November 17, 2014 All-State Scholarship Application
Deadline.......................................................December 1, 2014 All-State Festival...........................................................................................February 12-15, 2015
14 August/September 2014 May you all have a
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