From President Rebecca Jonas

It’s been fun watching colleagues countdown and celebrate their last days of school. (As I write this, I have 1.5 days left). Whether you’re a school teacher, studio teacher, gigging musician, or most likely, some combination of the three, I hope that you are finally heading into a season of rest and renewal. Whether you’re filling your time with porch sitting, hammock swinging, hiking, practicing, a stream of wedding gigs, or working on some home improvement projects, I hope that you’re able to enjoy time off, sunshine, and friends and activities that feed your soul.

Rest up, and I hope to see everyone at the Summer Conference next month!

2017 Summer Conference Details

The 2017 Colorado ASTA Summer Conference will be held July 27th and 28th at the King Center on the Auraria Campus in Denver. Registration is now open, and we have a great conference lined up! More information will be sent out soon, but please go ahead and submit your registrations and session proposals now.

All details regarding the summer conference can be found on the Colorado ASTA website, but here are a few documents to highlight:

Conference Registration Form (link)

The "Early Bird" Registration Deadline is July 10th. You can print, fill-out and mail, or complete the PDF electronically and email to castasrep@aol.com.

Conference Session Proposal Form (link)

Dr. Michael Hopkins of the University of Michigan will be the headliner for this year's summer conference, but we are also in need of local presenters. The session proposal deadline is Friday, June 16th. PLEASE consider applying--EVERYONE has strengths and ideas that the Colorado ASTA membership can learn from!

Hotel Information (link)

The Marriott Springhill Suites on the Auraria Campus has offered our Colorado ASTA members the Metro State University discounted rate! $175 per night (before taxes and fees) for July 26th, 27th, and 28th. Follow this link to book your room.

We encourage you pre-register and come to the conference. Bring a friend! Bring your kids! Now is the time to be a part of Colorado ASTA and enjoy all of the benefits your membership has to offer.

Congratulations to the Lifetime Teacher and Teacher of the Year Nominees

Congratulations to the following teachers who were nominated for the 2017 Lifetime Teacher and Teacher of the Year Awards! Bios and voting information will be posted on the Colorado ASTA website soon. Voting will be open June 15th - July 3rd, and these awards will be presented at the Colorado ASTA Summer Conference. Please help us congratulate these fine educators on their nominations and their great contributions to the string teaching profession.

Exemplary Award Nomination Deadline is June 15th

The nomination deadline for the Exemplary Award is June 15th. This is a self-nominated award, and there are awards for private teachers, elementary, middle, and high school orchestra teachers, and university professors. Criteria for each of the awards can be found on the Colorado ASTA website, as well as in the corresponding nomination forms linked to below. To nominate yourself, please fill out the appropriate form 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 Member Teacher Orchestra

A couple months ago, we asked if there was interest in a teacher orchestra and heard from several of you that there is. We'll enter planning phases over the summer (with a discussion or two taking place at Summer Conference). If you are interested in an informal CASTA member teacher orchestra that would meet monthly with the goal of playing great repertoire at a high level, please email rebajonas@gmail.com. Thanks!

Colorado ASTA Website Now Includes Links to Honor Orchestra Audition Materials

We'd like to give a special "thank you" to Colorado ASTA member Susan Crisfield who suggested that we provide links to audition materials for various honor orchestras (at the city, county, state, etc. levels) across Colorado. There is now a page on the Colorado ASTA website that includes links to these types of materials. If you have materials to add, please email hsmith26@cherrycreekschools.org. This is a great resource for private teachers who are helping students prepare for honor orchestra auditions.

If you ever have other suggestions or ideas for the website, please let us know!

Kansas ASTA Summer Conference (6/23 - 6/24) to Feature Dr. Robert Gillespie

Kansas ASTA is holding a summer conference on June 23rd and 24th that will feature Dr. Robert Gillespie of The Ohio State University. The Kansas ASTA chapter has invited interested Colorado members to register for the Kansas conference. Please visit the Kansas ASTA website for more information.

Golden Music is Offering Summer Camps This June

Join us for band, orchestra, and rock band summer camps at Golden Music this June! Students choose a week-long track (band, orchestra, or rock band). Each track offers opportunities for students of all abilities to improve their individual skills while working in a group setting. For beginning students, the focus will be on learning to hold and play the instrument of their choice. All students will learn and perform songs as a group. The overall focus is the experience of growing together as a musical group and as a community, as well as getting to know each other and becoming lifelong music makers! All groups enjoy ensemble activities, small group playing, pizza Thursdays, and a performance party at the end of each week! Please visit the Golden Music website for more information. Choose a camp, a week in June, and call 303-279-1111 or email info@goldenmusic.co to register today.

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

June 16, 2017: Deadline for Summer Conference Session Proposals

June 18-23, 2017: CU-Boulder Summer Music Academy (High School)

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

June 25-30, 2017: CU-Boulder Summer Music Academy (Middle School)

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

July 10, 2017: Early Registration Deadline for Colorado ASTA Summer Conference

July 27-28, 2017: Colorado ASTA Summer Conference

November 2-4, 2017: Western States Honor Orchestra

January 24-27, 2018: Colorado Music Educators Association (CMEA) Conference

February 8-10, 2018: Colorado All State Orchestra

March 7-10, 2018: National ASTA Conference (Atlanta, GA)

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.