As the new school year starts, we are all gearing up for the excitement that is sure to come. Here’s a quote to remind us how important our profession is.

“The back-to basics curricula, while it has merit, ignores the most urgent void in our present system- absence of self-discipline. The arts, inspiring— indeed requiring – self-discipline, may be more basic to our nation’s survival than traditional courses.” Paul Harvey

Wow! How amazing is it to be reminded that our classes are not just EXTRA, but essential to the survival or our nation. I hope this year you remember how important our roles are as music educators. Be inspired to be the best you can be so those essential character traits needed to keep our country great will be instilled in your students.

As this new school year begins, the AOA executive board is busily working to make this year of festivals and conferences amazing for our students and teachers. We are working on All State auditions, nailing down speakers for our AMEA in-service conference, and working out details for the first ever AOA Music Performance Assessment Festival.

All State Excerpts will be posted on our website www.alabamaorchestraassociation.org on August 10, 2015. All State Conductors and music will be as follows: Festival Orchestra: Peter Bay will conduct the Brahms Academic Festival Overture, Nielsen’s 3rd Symphony, Finale, and the AOA composition contest winner’s piece; Sinfonia Orchestra: Dr. David Pope will conduct March Militaire Francaise by Saint-Saens/arr. Isaac, Swan Lake Suite, Op. 20a: No. 1 Scene by Tchaikovsky, Millennium by Meyer, and Pines of Rome by Respighi/arr. Bulla ; Consort String Orchestra: Kirsten Marshall will conduct Coiled! by Lipton, Dance of the Harlequins, by Clark. Agincourt, by Spata, Deep River by Gruselle, and Final Quest, by Chisham. I am very excited about our lineup of music and conductors for this year’s Festival. I can’t wait to see all the students again in February and hear the amazing results at the concluding concert from your hours and hours of practice.

AOA will have an amazing line up of speakers at this year’s AMEA in-service conference. Mark your calendars for Januray 21-23, 2016 to make sure you are in attendance. We will be featuring sessions from nationally acclaimed composers Soon Hee Newbold and Brian Balmages. We will also have sessions from our Alabama ASTA President, Caroline Nordlund and two of our college string professors, Dr. Anne Witt and Dr. Daniel Stevens. Some of the session titles include: “The Frenzied Instrumental Conductor’s Guide to Score Preparation,” “Injury Prevention for the String Studio,” “Bow Games and Twinkle and Solfege, O My!,” “Classroom Management 201,” “ The Publishing Process,” and “Picking the Perfect Piece for Your Concert.” In addition to these wonderful sessions we will have the opportunity to hear the Shoals Symphony under the direction of Dr. Daniel Stevens perform. You don’t want to miss this conference!!!

I am excited to tell you about our new Orchestra Music Performance Festival that is set to happen on April 22 and 23, 2016. This Festival will be held at Auburn University. All details are still being worked out, but we are excited that this will take place this year. Details will be posted on our website as they become available. www.alabamaorchestraassociation.org I wish everyone an exciting year of music teaching and performing. I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!