Register for the
2009 Utah ASTA Annual Fall Workshop
“The Way We Play”
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Ecker Hill Middle School, 2465 Kilby Rd., Park City, UT

Featured guest artists and teachers:

 

• Brent Taylor, Summerhays Music Center
• Dr. Donna Fairbanks, UVU faculty, violin
• Dr. Victor Uzur, WSU Faculty, cello
• Janene Holmberg, OTS Principal violist
• Eric Hansen, BYU faculty, bass
• Dr. Paul Abegg, Dixie College faculty, Director of Orchestras
• Brittany Gardner, Salt Lake Youth Chamber Society Coach
• Denise Willey, Suzuki Teacher/Trainer
• Deborah Moench, Suzuki Teacher/Trainer
• Curtis Woodbury, BYU, Jazz Violinist
• Jon Skidmore, BYU, Psy.D., Performance Coach
• Karen Blalock, Private Instructor/Adjudicator
• And More!

Registration fee –  only $20. for UTASTA or Suzuki Association members
Special $5./student pre-registration fee offer for students who accompany you!
Registration includes lunch, graciously provided by Summerhays Music Center.
Pre-registration deadline – Oct. 31

(Click here to download registration form)

 

The National High School Honors Orchestra needs additional applications for French Horn, Trombone, Trumpet and Timpani. High school students in all grades are eligible to apply.

The National High School Honors Orchestra (NHSHO) is a performing group of about 120 competitively selected high school musicians who assemble biennially to perform the highest quality orchestral repertoire under leading conductors. The 2010 National High School Honors Orchestra will be held in Santa Clara, California, February 16- 19, 2010. The NHSHO will perform Mahler's Symphony No. 1 in D Major, "Titan," under the direction of Maestro Scott Speck.

Repertoire

A solo of applicant's choice that shows off his/her caliber of playing ability. Solos should be a minimum of 5 minutes and a maximum of 10 minutes in length. All applicants are requested to include a copy of the solo with their applications to which the judges may refer. Applicants for the Timpani position MUST perform a TIMPANI solo.

Applications must be postmarked by October 1, 2009.

Applications (including application form, resume, CD/recording, and application fee of $75) should be mailed to:

Attn: NHSHO
4153 Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax VA, 22030

For application, click here.

Questions or concerns: contact the ASTA National Office at 703-279-2113 x28
or libby@astaweb.com

2010 Utah ASTA Composition Competition

Prize: $2,000
Submission Deadline: October 15, 2009

Downloads:

Official Guidelines

2010 Composition Competition Application (PDF)

Competition Rules: 
Composers are invited to submit an original, unpublished composition that is suitable for middle school/junior high or high school string orchestras.  Materials must be postmarked by October 15. Composer of winning composition will receive $2000. Upon publication, all royalties will remain the sole property of the composer.

Grade Level:  Grade 3, scored for String Orchestra (optional piano part permitted). Click Here to download the Difficult Level Criteria.

Length of piece: Single or multi-movement work – 3 to 6 minutes

Specifications:  Composition must reflect a Utah theme (history related, cultural background, geographic features, etc.)  Only one entry per composer will be allowed.  Each entry must contain the score plus a MIDI/audio recording.  The manuscript must not contain any identification of the composer.  The manuscript must be clear and legible and include the title and rehearsal numbers or letters.  String parts should be thoroughly edited with bowings and fingerings.

Application Components - Each application packet must include the following:

• Completed application form (see below)
• Four (4) copies of the score and one (1) set of parts are required.
• Application fee:  (Checks payable to Utah Chapter ASTA)
  • ASTA members - $25 (non-refundable)
  • Non-ASTA members - $35 (non-refundable)
    
• Composers should include a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage if score/recording return is desired at the conclusion of the competition.

Selection:  In the preliminary round all entries will be screened through score analysis and audio recording by a panel of judges.  If necessary, the judges reserve the right to arrange for a live performance of selected final-round entrants.  Only the winner’s name will be announced. If the judging panel concludes that none of the submitted compositions meet the specified criteria or quality expectations, Utah ASTA reserves the right to decline the award of a winning prize. Previous Utah ASTA Composition Competition winners will be eligible to re-enter the competition five years after receiving their award.

Premiere Performance:  We anticipate that the winning composition will be performed at the annual Utah Music Educators Association Mid-Winter Institute held February 2010 in St. George, Utah.

President's Message

String teachers are fortunate to be able to celebrate the “New Year” twice: once in January along with the rest of the world, and a second time as the new academic year begins. And so I wish you a “Happy New Year” as our students return to us, like swallows to Capistrano!

Our New Year is marked by some exciting news and achievements of our Utah ASTA students and members. Bassist Alexander Willey won the 2009 National Solo Competition in his division at the national ASTA convention in Atlanta, and two Utah students have been accepted for the 2010 National High School Honors Orchestra. Further, a number of UTASTA members and students have been accepted to present and otherwise take part in the 2010 national convention in Santa Clara next March, including the American Heritage Lyceum Orchestra from American Fork (see related stories in this Newsletter and at utasta.com).

In addition, UTASTA is sponsoring a number of upcoming events that promise to be of great importance to our members, including the 2009 Annual Fall Workshop (Saturday, November 7 at Ecker Hill MS in Park City) and the fourth annual Utah ASTA Composition Contest (deadline is October 15). So mark your calendars, spread the word, and plan to be a part of these events. For further information, see additional information in the Newsletter and at utasta.com

Despite all the good news, this particular “New Year” brings with it some particular trials, as we all try to navigate the backwash generated by the wake of the struggling economy. Financial constraints have caused many string programs in Utah to be altered, with a few sinking entirely, and I have heard anecdotally that the number of students seeking private lessons has diminished. Rather than causing us to wring our hands in despair, we have to remember that these conditions will be temporary – as economic fluctuations always are and always will be. In response, we may need to make adjustments to the way we do business, to the way we teach, and perhaps in some ways to our expectations. I urge the UTASTA membership to work closely with one another, in efforts to share ideas and strategies, and perhaps even to pool resources. And let us dare to think outside the box, remembering that “the way we’ve always done it” may not necessarily be the best way now. If you discover or develop ideas that are particularly useful, please get the word back to the UTASTA board. We’ll share the information on our website if at all possible.

Above all, remain optimistic! String playing and string education has survived worse than this – and we’ll all come out on the other side of these challenges better and wiser, too.

Best wishes for a wonderful year ahead! I look forward to seeing you in Park City on November 7.

Yours,
Andy

Andrew H. Dabczynski, Ph.D.
Professor of Music Education
Brigham Young University

President, UTASTA

Alexander Willey Wins National Solo Competition

Alexander Willey of Pleasant Grove was declared the winner of the Bass Division at the 2009 ASTA National Solo Competition held in Atlanta, Georgia. He was also the winner of the 2008 Utah State Solo Competition held at the UTASTA Fall Workshop last November. Alexander is a freshman music major at Brigham Young University where he is a student of UTASTA member Eric Hansen. He is a graduate of Pleasant Grove HS where he played in the orchestra under David Beck, another committed UTASTA member. Alexander is the son of Denise Willey (yet another Utah ASTA member!). Congratulations to Alexander upon this remarkable achievement.

Two Utah Students Selected for 2009 National High School Honors Orchestra

Utah ASTA is proud to announce that Utah students Megumi Gass of Washington (violin) and Catherine Anne Willey of Pleasant Grove (cello) have been selected and invited to participate in the 2010 National High School Honors Orchestra.  These fine young musicians were selected for the 120-piece orchestra from some 300 students who applied. The orchestra will perform at the 2010 ASTA National Convention to be held in Santa Clara, CA, in March. Many thanks to Becky Roessler, orchestra director at Logan High School, who served as the UTASTA chairperson for this year’s NHSO.

American Heritage Lyceum Orchestra Selected to Perform at ASTA National Convention; Invites New Players

The American Heritage Lyceum Orchestra, under the direction of UTASTA members Kayson Brown and Denise Willey, has been selected to perform at the 2010 ASTA National Conference in Santa Clara, CA. Associated with the American Heritage School in American Fork, the comprehensive orchestra program consists of four groups of varying ability levels (beginning to advanced). Lyceum Orchestra students have performed side-by-side with the BYU Philharmonic, BYU-Idaho Symphony, University of Utah Philharmonia, and recently were named the "Best Youth Performing Ensemble" by Best of State Utah.

The orchestras are audition-only, after-school groups and offer scholarships to qualified students.

Auditions will be held Wednesday, September 9.

For further information, contact Kayson Brown at:  kbrown@ahsmail.com
Or go to: http://www.american-heritage.org/Lyceum.htm

Recent Publications by Utah ASTA Members

Andrew Dabczynski (Utah ASTA President)

"Themes from Handel’s Messiah” -- Handel/Dabczynski (Alfred)
“Shamrock Polkas” – traditional Irish/Dabczynski (Alfred)
“Hopak Dance” – traditional Ukrainian/Dabczynski (Alfred)
“Les Quebecois” – traditional French-Canadian/Dabczynski (Alfred)
“Andantino and March” – Elgar/Dabczynski  (Alfred)
Another addition to the Fiddler’s Philharmonic Series:  Basic Old-Time Fiddle Tunes (Alfred)

Awards Presented at the Annual General Meeting and Awards Luncheon in St. George, UT, at the UMEA Mid-Winter Convention:

February 7, 2009

Elementary Teacher of the Year - Dennis Harrington

Secondary Teacher of the Year - Rachel Wheeler

Higher Education Teacher of the Year - Eric Hansen

Studio Teacher of the Year - Carey Cheney

Studio Teacher fo the Year - Elliott Cheney

2009 Composition Contest Winner - Jay Richards

For "The Wild West"

with support from the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies

Outstanding Contribution to Music Education - Peter Prier

 

Februrary, 2008

Outstanding Studio Teacher of 2008: ShruDeLi Ownby

Outstanding Secondary Teacher of 2008:  Karin Hendricks

Outstanding Higher Education Teacher of 2008:  Sergio Bernal

Educator of the Year 2008:  Kory Katseanes

Winner of 2007 Utah ASTA Composition Competition:  Robert S. Frost for “Niltshi.”

Outstanding Contribution to the Arts:  Fry Street Quartet

We recognize their great contributions to students, schools, communities and to our state. Our congratulations and thanks to each of you.

 

ASTA Newsletter

The Utah ASTA Newsletter is finally here!
Find a downloadable PDF copy in the "About Us" Section of this website!