Register Now for CMEA 2019

Be sure to join us at CMEA in January 2019 for not only some great workshops and demonstrations by our own state’s professionals, but these phenomenal guest clinicians (pictured from left to right below)!

Mark Wood, Violinist, Educational Advocate, and Composer

Duane Padilla, Punahou School, Honolulu, HI

Jim Palmer, National ASTA Elizabeth A. H. Green Award Recipient, Composer and Conductor

CMEA recently launched an updated website! Visit the new-and-improved CMEA website for more information about the conference and to register early!

Congratulations again to string ensembles selected to perform at CMEA 2019:

Denver School of the Arts High School - Enrique Lasansky, Director

Cherry Creek High School - Jennifer Poole, Director

Rock Canyon High School - Benjamin Dale, Director

Altona Middle School - Jill Fischaber, Director

Bell Middle School - Barbara Casanova, Director

Save the Dates for the 2019 National ASTA Conference

National ASTA Conference

National Orchestra Festival

March 6-9, Albuquerque, New Mexico

The 2019 National ASTA Conference is really close by this year! Come hear phenomenal school orchestra performances (EIGHT from Colorado!), check-out clinics and sessions from nationally renown pedagogues, mingle with vendors and advocates of music education, and connect face-to-face with other passionate string specialists from around the country. Not to mention some incredible concerts from world-class artists. It’s truly an incredible experience! Register now! www.astastrings.org/NationalConference

Next General Membership Meeting is 11/3 in Greeley (In Conjunction With WSHOF)

Congratulations to the students and directors selected for the 2018 Western States Honor Orchestra Festival! The next Colorado ASTA general membership meeting will happen in conjunction with this event on Saturday, November 3rd at 10:00am in the Union Colony Civic Center. All ASTA members (regardless of whether or not you have students participating in WSHOF) are welcome to attend this meeting. We hope to see you there!

Nominations Now Open for 2018 Lifetime Teacher and Outstanding String Teacher Awards

Nominations for the 2018 Colorado ASTA Lifetime Teacher and Outstanding String Teacher Awards are now open. Nominations will be accepted through October 31st, and these awards will be presented during the CMEA clinic/conference in January. Follow the links below to nominate a colleague.

Lifetime Teacher Award

Outstanding String Teacher Award

Visit the Colorado ASTA website for more information about the awards and associated criteria.

Colorado Bach Ensemble Sponsors Inaugural Violin Concerto Competition

Colorado Bach Ensemble’s new Violin Concerto Competition is an opportunity for high school violinists to showcase their individual talents. Contestants prepare a memorized solo concerto by Johann Sebastian Bach, participate in a live audition with piano accompaniment for a panel of judges, and receive written educational feedback about their audition.

The winner will be a featured soloist on his or her chosen concerto and two runners-up will be selected to play as ensemble members for Coffee Cantata, BWV 211, in May 2019. The winner will receive a cash award of $1,000 and the two runners-up will be awarded $500 each.

Click here for the application form, and visit the Colorado Bach Ensemble website for more information. 

CU-Boulder to Host Rocky Mountain Bass Festival On October 21

CU-Boulder will be hosting a bass festival for bass players of all ages and experience levels on October 21st. Click here to access the registration form, and contact Paul Erhard (paul.erhard@colorado.edu, 303-492-4918) with any questions.

University of Wyoming to Sponsor ViolaFest West on October 13th

The University of Wyoming will be hosting a viola festival for students in grades 8-12 on October 13th. Applications are due October 8th. Click here to access the registration form, and contact Philip Moline (pmoline@uwyo.edu) or Jim Przygocki (przygcki@uwyo.edu) with questions.

Jefferson Symphony Orchestra to Sponsor International Young Artists Competition for Strings

Save the Dates for 2019 CCAP Festival

The 2019 CCAP Festival will be held on the following dates and times. Mark your calendars now!

Saturday, April 13 at Parker Performing Arts School, Parker

Saturday, May 4 at Front Range Community College, Fort Collins

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

November 1-3, 2019: Western States Honor Orchestra

January 23-26, 2019: CMEA Clinic/Conference

February 7-9, 2019: Colorado All State Orchestra

March 2-5, 2019: Colorado ASTA Large Group Orchestra Festival (Regionals)

March 6-9, 2019: National ASTA Conference (Albuquerque, NM)

April 13, 2019: CCAP Festival (Denver Site)

April 23, 2019: Colorado ASTA Large Group Orchestra Festival (State Level)

May 4, 2019: CCAP Festival (Northern Site)

Thank you to the following businesses for supporting Colorado ASTA!

Do you have an article, announcement, or other information you'd like to share with the Colorado ASTA membership? If so, we'd love to include it in our monthly newsletter! Please send your newsletter submissions to hsmith26@cherrycreekschools.org by the 20th of each month, and we will be sure to add them the next newsletter, which is published at the beginning of each month. Contact Hannah Smith (hsmith26@cherrycreekschools.org), Colorado ASTA webmaster and newsletter editor, with any questions.