Thank you for taking the time to read this message from your Alabama Orchestra Association. If the start to your fall has been anything like mine you are already in need of some time to rest and rejuvenate from the hectic start of the new school year.

While the start to the school year is always a busy time, it doesn’t slow down for those of us involved in the orchestral world here in Alabama. For us, October is audition month with students from all over the state preparing and auditioning for a spot at the 2019 Alabama All-State Orchestra Festival being held February 7-10, 2019 at the University of Alabama. With a great lineup of conductors and some fantastic repertoire, students will have an experience like no other right here in their own state.

Auditions for our All-State Festival will take place during the first two weekends in October, with results posted to our website by November 18. Students that have a successful audition and are selected for All-State will need to accept their spot by December 1. Financial Aid forms are also due at that time.

The AMEA conference in January 2019 is the perfect pick-me-up as we transition into our spring semester. Your AOA has been fortunate to select several great clinicians, headlined by Bob Phillips, who will offer something for everyone – both for our division as well as the general membership as a whole. More information about these sessions can be found elsewhere in this edition of Ala Breve. If you have not yet done so, this would be a great time to renew your membership and register for the conference.

I would also like to bring to your attention the work Chip Gulbro and the new ASTA-Alabama board is doing to advance string playing in Alabama. They will be holding their annual Honor Strings Festival at the University of Alabama from October 26-28, 2018. For more information about the festival and the other work being done by the Alabama chapter of ASTA, please visit their new-look website at: http://astabama.org

Finally, your AOA wants to hear from you. We would love to feature you, your program, your upcoming events, and anything else you feel should be shared on our social media platforms. We need to better highlight all the orchestral activity occurring in our state and we can assist to make that happen. Please take advantage of this opportunity.

I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you all soon. Regards,

Guy Harrison