Arkansas Junior Honor Orchestra Festival
ArkMEA Professional Development Conference with Arkansas ASTA and NSOA
Hot Springs Convention Center, Friday, Nov 7, 2014
Please visit the ArkASTA LiveBinder for copies of this letter, more detailed information on this year’s festival and clinicians, and links to the Registration Form and the selected repertoire.
ArkASTA LiveBinder:http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=1495643
Access Key:Arkansas ASTA
About the Honor Orchestras:
The Honor Orchestra Festival will be comprised of an intermediate and advanced orchestra with 30-45 musicians in each ensemble. The advanced orchestra will be directed by Guillermo Teniente, cello professor at Texas A&M University and conductor of the Laredo Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and I will be directing the Intermediate orchestra (Brittany Osman, violist and conductor from New York, Director of Orchestras at Lakeside School District in Hot Springs).
Our program this year focuses on collaboration and communication through music. The Advanced orchestra will perform with a vocal duet and both orchestras will perform arrangements by their respective clinicians. I will make copies of the music available digitally the week of September 15 for those who need it so that students will be able to practice for about a month and a half before the festival. We do not want any students sight reading at the festival. Works to be performed include:
Intermediate Orchestra
Honor and Glory – Soon Hee Newbold FJH Music Co. catalog number FJ.ST6164
Two Celtic Dances – Bob Phillips
Alfred Music Digital Sheet Music catalog number AX.00-PR-0003080
Firework - Dean, Eriksen, Hermansen, Vee, Perry, arr. Brittany Osman
Advanced Orchestra
Brandenberg Concerto No. 3 – J.S. Bach, arr. Merle Isaac
Alfred Music Digital Sheet Music catalog numbers AX.00-PR-0000086
AX.00-PC-0000090_VN1
AX.00-PC-0000090_VN2
AX.00-PC-0000090_VA1
AX.00-PC-0000090_VC1
AX.00-PC-0000090_SB
El Toro – Don Brubaker
Alfred Music catalog number AP.14001
Duetto Buffo di Due Gatti – G. Rossini, arr. Guillermo Teniente
Nomination:
Please recommend your outstanding student musicians for participation based on the following criteria:
INTERMEDIATE ORCHESTRA
1. Reads music, understands most elements of basic score notation (dynamics, bowings, accidentals, roadmaps).
2. Is not a beginner this year, and can play material from Suzuki book 1 or 2.
3. Is a confident player with good rehearsal skills and playing ability.
4. Students can range from 1st grade through 8th grade.
It is understood that this may be the first orchestra experience for some students. Please be attentive to the requirements above so that the students and the clinician have a successful day.
ADVANCED ORCHESTRA
1. Mostly students from 7th to 9th grade with 2 or more years of orchestra experience.
(Outstanding younger players will be considered.)
2. Strong reading skills and can play grade 2 and 3 level music.
3. Serious students in your studio or program and are achieving success (can play solidly from late from level 2 or 3 Suzuki or higher).
4. Participates in region activities and exhibits leadership in your program.
Please complete the Nomination and Registration form (Excel spreadsheet). Please e-mail your completed form to me at .
Each student nominated is guaranteed participation if the nomination form is submitted by October 10th, 2014. Please be thoughtful to the success of the orchestras when nominating students. In addition to recommending each student for either the Advanced or Intermediate orchestra, you will also be asked to estimate the students’ Suzuki Book level, and for Violins, to recommend placement in the Violin I or Violin II sections. This information will help us determine seating in advance.
If you have any issues with the October 10th deadline, please email me. I would like to have names ready for the program by October 17th.
Fees:
Each teacher should submit only one Nomination and Registration form. Please add your total number of participating students from both orchestras, then calculate your total registration fee. Registration is $15 per student. Please make checks payable to “ArkASTA” and write the Teacher’s Last Name and School/Studio in the memo.
You many mail checks to:
Brittany Osman
Lakeside Middle School
2837 Malvern Ave
Hot Springs, AR 71901
OR you may bring your check to the event on Nov. 7.
Concert Dress:
Concert dress will be Black bottoms and white tops with black shoes. Do your best to help students meet the dress code. It is important that we look sharp for a state event.
We will begin checking in students at 9:00 a.m., break for lunch at noon (please make arrangements for students), 1:00 resume rehearsals, 4:15 concert. I will provide more details of the specific rehearsal rooms and times in response to participation.
Thank you for your dedication to the art of string playing and for fostering a love of orchestral music in our children. I am so looking forward to meeting you all and to working with your students,
Brittany Osman
Festival Chairperson and Treasurer, Arkansas ASTA
Email: