Colorado ASTA Newsletter

March 2017

From President Rebecca Jonas

Happy March, a few days in! Sitting down to write this, I was thinking of referring to the late winter as the “busy season” in string teaching, but I think it’s all starting to blur together into “busy years." We work as CASTA leadership to offer more opportunities to members. As teachers, we work to offer more opportunities to our students, and meet their needs whether it means time helping them before or after school, arranging music, mentoring student ensembles, creating new ensembles, arranging more trips and concerts, and the list goes on. String playing and string teaching is alive and well in the state of Colorado, as is evidenced by all that you, our wonderful members, do!

 

We’re seeing increased participation in CASTA events including our Orchestra Festival, Summer Conference, CCAP, and of course our sessions and meetings at CMEA. Members are getting increasingly involved in the planning and execution of these events, and we value your opinion. We are also excited at new programs and opportunities taking shape including our Solo Competition, and Teachers Orchestra. We invite you to continue to support CASTA with your time, feedback, and service, and also invite you to reach out to your friends and colleagues who aren’t members. CASTA will continue to grow and benefit with the inclusion of new members, and as we grow, not only will we be able to offer more opportunities to string teachers and students, but also more openings for leadership positions, more ways to share information and expertise, and new ways to get involved, make new friends, and help each other grow into the best string professionals we can be. Please, help us continue to grow and meet the diverse needs of our string teachers and students across the state. Thanks for all you do.

2017 CCAP Registration Deadline Is Tomorrow, 3/15

The dates for the 2017 Colorado Certificate Advancement Program (CCAP) exams are Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Front Range Community College in Fort Collins, and Saturday, April 29, 2017 at Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy in Denver. Please see the Colorado ASTA website for details and the national ASTA website to download the handbook. CCAP is a great opportunity for private teachers and students in Colorado. The 2017 registration deadline is March 15th, and the registration form can be accessed here. Please contact Margaret Miller (violaco@comcast.net) with any questions.

2017 Colorado ASTA Sudent Summer Scholarship Application Now Availalble

Colorado ASTA offers scholarships based on a combination of merit and financial need for students wishing to attend summer camps in 2017. Please click here for a link to the application form, and/or visit the Colorado ASTA website for more information. 

Photo Highlights from the 2017 National ASTA Conference in Pittsburgh, PA

Colorado was well-represented at the 2017 National ASTA Conference in Pittsburgh. Here are a few photos from our members.

Cherokee Trail High School Orchestra Performs at National Conference

The Cherokee Trail High School Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Kyle Rupley, performed at the 2017 National Orchestra Festival in conjuction with the National Conference. Cherokee Trail High School is part of the Cherry Creek School District and is located in Aurora, CO. 

Colorado ASTA President Rebecca Jonas Presents Advocacy Session at National Conference

Rebecca Jonas presented a session titled, "From Elective to Essential: Ensuring Your Program's Future Through Everyday Advocacy" at the 2017 National Conference. 

Jessica Chen Receives National ASTA Student Exemplary Service Award

Jessica Chen, a master's student at the University of Colorado at Boulder, received the 2017 Student Exemplary Service Award from National ASTA at the 2017 National Conference in Pittsburgh. This award is given to a student who displays an outstanding commitment to the string teaching profession and who devotes exceptional time and energy to the ASTA chapter at his/her school. Jess is pictured at right with Lindsay Fulcher, Professor of String Education at the University of Northern Colorado. 

Dr. Margaret Berg Receives 2017 String Researcher Award

The String Researcher Award is given to a researcher whose work has contributed significantly to scholarship in string education and/or performance. Dr. Margaret Berg of the University of Colorado at Boulder has an impressive record of sustained engagement in research activities and scholarship—including publication in juried research journals, research presentations at professional meetings, mentorship, and involvement in the strings community. 

2017 Colorado ASTA Large Group Orchestra Festival a Huge Success

The third annual Colorado ASTA Large Group Orchestra Festival took place on March 8th and 9th at Longmont High School in Longmont and Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy in Denver. We would like to congratulate all of the participating orchestras and directors on their fine performances. We would also like to thank our 2017 adjudicators: Margaret Berg, Jennifer Cowell-DePaolo, Gary DePaolo, Katherine Jetter, and Brett Wallace. Please go here if you'd like to see the program from this year's event. 

Nominations for State Awards Now Open

It is once again time to submit your nominations for the Colorado ASTA Lifetime Teacher and Teacher of the Year Awards. Nominations will be open through the end of the month. Criteria for each of the awards can be found here. Please consider nominating one or more of your outstanding colleagues; to do so, fill out the appropriate form below.

 

2017 Lifetime Teacher Nomination Form

2017 Teacher of the Year Nomination Form

 

It is also time for you to consider nominating yourself for the Exemplary Award. Anyone can submit an application to receive this award, which will be presented at the summer conference. We have Exemplary Awards for private teachers, elementary, middle, and high school orchestra teachers, and university professors. To nominate yourself, please fill out the apporpriate form below and supply all requested documentation.

 

2017 Exemplary Private String Teacher Nomination Form

2017 Exemplary Elementary String Teacher Nomination Form

2017 Exemplary Middle School String Teacher Nomination Form

2017 Exemplary High School Orchestra Teacher Nomination Form

2017 Exemplary College/University String Professor Nomination Form

 

Please visit the Colorado ASTA website for more information.

Colorado ASTA Summer Conference to Take Place 7/27-7/28 in Denver

Save the date! The 2017 Colorado ASTA Summer Conference will be held Thursday, July 27th and Friday, July 28th at the King Center on the Auraria Campus in Denver.

Dr. Michael Hopkins from the University of Michigan will be giving sessions, and session proposals from local members are now being accepted (see session proposal form). Hotel, registration, and banquet information will be coming soon, and more details can be found on the Colorado ASTA website. 

String Job Openings

Job application season is just around the corner! If there's a job opening you'd like to share with the Colorado ASTA membership, please email Hannah Smith at hsmith26@cherrycreekschools.org. We will post it on the Colorado ASTA website. Check back regularly for updates!

Save the Date: 2018 National ASTA Conference (March 7-10 in Atlanta, GA)

The 2018 National ASTA Conference will be held March 7-10 in Atlanta, GA. ASTA is currently accepting applications/auditions for the 2018 National Orchestra Festival and session proposals for the 2018 National Conference. For more information about the 2018 National Orchestra Festival, please consult this brochure or the ASTA website. The application/audition deadline is April 15th. Session proposals will be accepted through April 17th. Please click here for more information. 

Darol Anger to Lead Fiddle Workshop and Concert in Colorado This April

Acclaimed fiddler and educator Darol Anger will bring members of his group The Republic Of Strings to Boulder, Colorado for a fiddle workshop and concert on Sunday, April 23. Fresh from a packed week at the National ASTA Conference where Darol led a 5-hour Intensive session and a Master Class and hosted two monumental jams, Berklee professor and online school instructor Darol is ready to share some of his knowledge and music with interested string musicians of all ages.

Both the concert and the workshop will happen at the Nalanda Events Center at Naropa University in Boulder. See times below. Check the Event Facebook page for more info and sign-up.

 

Event Page:

https://www.facebook.com/DarolinColorado/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

 

Workshop Sign-Up:

https://form.jotform.com/70284558315156

 

April 23, 1-3 pm - Fiddle-ology workshop at Naropa University (Nalanda Events Center)

Open to intermediate to advanced fiddle, cello, and mandolin students ages 15 and up.

https://www.facebook.com/DarolinColorado/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

 

April 23, 7:30 pm - Concert at Naropa University (Nalanda events center) - open to the public

6287 Arapahoe Ave. Boulder, CO

Registration Now Open for Camp Con Brio, String Camp of the Rockies

Camp Con Brio is gearing up for another great summer at the Golden Bell Camp and Conference Center in Divide, CO. The middle school camp will take place June 21-24, 2017, and the high school camp will take place June 26-July 1, 2017. Please visit campconbrio.com for more information. 

String Summer Camp Offerings Across the U.S.

It's time to start gearing up for summer camps! Check out this great list on the National ASTA website of various string-related summer camps offered throughout the country. 

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

April 22, 2017: CCAP (Northern Colorado)

April 23, 2017: Darol Anger Fiddle Workshop

April 29, 2017: CCAP (Denver)

June 21-24, 2017: Camp Con Brio (Middle School)

June 26-July 1, 2017: Camp Con Brio (High School)

July 27-28, 2017: Colorado ASTA Summer Conference

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.

Thank you to the following organizataions for supporting Colorado ASTA.

rebajonas@gmail.com
540-604-6554

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