Newsletter Publication Change

Due to the summer months approaching and the challenges of navigating our day to day world through COVID-19, the newsletter will now be published every other month for the foreseeable future. Thank your for your patience!

2020 CASTA Certificate Advancement Program - Update

CCAP events and dates have been now been canceled. 

In lieu of CCAP being cancelled, Kip Mason and Nancy Allwein have offered to host a similar event for students who still wish to participate. Thankfully, Kip and Nancy are exploring different options to honor the work Colorado students have done to prepare for this opportunity. 

The decision to cancel CCAP was made to comply with the state and federal guidelines for safety during the Covid-19 outbreak. Canceling CCAP and other Colorado ASTA-sanctioned events also mirrors that of many other musical and educational organizations and activities such as:  

State ASTA Large Group Festival

State CBA Large Group Festival

All State Band

Professional Orchestra Performances

Graduations 

Please know that Kip and Nancy are diligently working to provide an alternative event, under a different title. If you are interested in learning more, please contact them at:

Kip: kipmason89@gmail.com

Nancy: cameostring@gmail.com

Large Group Festival State Qualifiers

Since the Large Group Festival State performances were canceled, all ensembles and directors will be issued a full refund. Alison Mayes will make contact with each director to proceed forward appropriately. Please contact her with questions. alisonmayes523@gmail.com

Best Communities For Music Education - NAMM Foundation

Congratulations!

Cherry Creek Schools, Jeffco Public Schools, and Lewis-Palmer School District were selected as three of 754 school districts nation-wide as the best communities for music education in 2020. "The award program recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education. Designations are made to districts and schools that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education." 

Thank you for representing Colorado music programs! 

Learn more here.

UPDATE - 2020 Summer CASTA Conference

The in person conference will not be happening since Metro State University is closed. 

The Colorado ASTA Board discussed alternative options to an in person conference. The board is eager to see what the membership interest would be for supporting a virtual summer conference this year. 

Please give your feedback through this survey.  

CBA Members attend FREE with proof of CBA Summer Conference registration!

UPDATES - CMEA Deadlines 

• Call for Proposals for conference sessions will open on June 1, 2020 and close on July 31, 2020.
• The audition submission for conference performing groups will open on August 1, 2020 and close on September 16, 2020.
• Honor Awards applications will be posted on June 1, 2020 and close on July 31, 2020.

National Recognition - Colorado ASTA Chapter

Congratulations!

Our state received the 2020 ASTA State Chapter Best Website Award and the 2020 Most Improved State Chapter Award at this year's National Conference in March. Past President Alison Mayes and President-Elect Dr. Lindsay Fulcher were in attendance at the ASTA Conference to accept these awards on behalf of our state chapter! 

National ASTA Conference, Orlando, Florida

The 2020 National ASTA Conference was another smash hit!

Highlights were:

*Past-President Alison Mayes received the Elizabeth A.H. Green School Educator Award

* Students from UNC, CU, and CSU were in attendance

*Lots of Colorado teachers attended

*Margaret Berg and Denese Odegaard presented "Bringing Teachers and Students to the Next Level through Effective Assessment"

*Gregory Walker was part of a panel who presented "Music by Black Composers: A Treasure Trove for Expanding Your Repertoire"

Anyone can download the app that was used for conference (search for “American String Teachers Assoc” in your app store) and as you click on session titles, and scroll down, you’ll often see that the presenter attached their handout. Free resources! (FYI, once you’re in the app you’ll probably need to select “past events” to see the 2020 conference.)

Check out Dr. Fulcher's presentation links here and here.

Job Openings

As we go through educator hiring season, please check out the website often for new posts. Click here to view current job listings. 

If you know of any current string job openings, or any upcoming anticipated openings (retirements, maternity leave), please let us know. Send us the information and we'll put it on our website.

Looking to Advertise in the CASTA Newsletter?

Just a friendly reminder: if you would like to advertise with Colorado ASTA (on our website and in our newsletter), your business or organization must be an institutional member of ASTA. The membership rate is only $175 per year!

Looking to highlight success in the CASTA Newsletter?

Please send program, area, school highlights, stories, article ideas, etc. to Webmaster leannarutka@gmail.com for our monthly e-newsletter and website. We would love to show-off you and your students!

Additionally, Dr. Joel Schut from CU Boulder is serving as Editor for The American String Teacher Journal. You can send him your ideas at joel.schut@colorado.edu.

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 leannarutka@gmail.com 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 Leanna Rutka (leannarutka@gmail.com), Colorado ASTA webmaster and newsletter editor, with any questions.