I am honored to succeed Sarah Schrader as President of the Alabama Orchestra Association. Under Sarah’s leadership, All-State Orchestra participation increased, and the AOA successfully ran Alabama’s first ever Orchestra Music Performance Assessment for full orchestras, string orchestras, and guitar ensembles this past April. Hosted by Auburn University, the event was a huge success and we plan for it to become an annual event!
AOA’s new executive board includes President-elect Dr. Guy Harrison (Auburn University), Secretary Dr. Daniel Stevens (UNA), and Treasurer Jacob Frank (Decatur Youth Orchestras). I myself teach at Samford University in Birmingham. The four of us, along with Past-President Sarah Schrader, are professional musicians and educators at all levels, from elementary to higher education. We are all strongly invested in building and strengthening programs across the state, and I encourage you to reach out to any of us with ideas on how we can create, support, and strengthen orchestras and string ensembles across Alabama.
It is no secret that Alabama lags far behind other states in public school string and orchestra programs. Each student who participates in All-State Orchestra, OMPA, youth orchestra, or their school program is a testament to the parents, teachers, and administrators who are invested in exposing our students to the greatest music of the past 350 years. With a full slate of high profile clinicians and conductors coming to Alabama to work with our children during the AMEA conference, All-State, and OMPA, I hope that even more school administrators will become aware of the value of orchestra and strings. Just imagine the school musical with a live, student orchestra in the pit, or a collaborative concert between the choir and orchestra!
Students in Alabama deserve opportunities to experience string and orchestral playing, just like they do in surrounding states and around the country. The University of Alabama, Samford, Auburn, and UNA are all producing high quality music educators who would love to remain in Alabama and start string or orchestra programs. Instead, they are leaving for opportunities in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas to name a few. Take pride in not only supporting music education, but supporting professional and youth orchestras across the state. While we obviously need more string programs, it is just as important that our wind players are introduced to the exhilaration of symphonic playing. Orchestra must not be merely a niche, but an invaluable vehicle of fine art that opens doors to musical appreciation, education, and performance.
I am excited to announce that Dr. Andrew Dabczynski has accepted our invitation to present three sessions at the 2017 AMEA conference as one of our distinguished clinicians. Professor of Music Education at Brigham Young University, Dr. Dabczynski is co-author of the String Explorer series of method books. In addition to an exciting state conference, we will welcome Dr. Sandra Dackow (Festival), Dr. Foster Beyers (Sinfonia), and Dr. Christina Chen-Beyers as our 2017 All-State Orchestra conductors. Under the direction of Dr. Dackow, the Festival Orchestra will present the world premiere of Alejandro Basulto-Martinez’ Triptico de Luz, winner of AOA’s 2017 composition competition. Please visit www.alabamorchestrassociation.org for more information on our guests, and event dates including 2017 OMPA which will occur in the Spring at a date TBD.
We welcome you to join us for an exciting upcoming year!
