President’s Message – September 2011
Greetings and good wishes for a great year on behalf of the NYASTA Board of Directors! Welcome to our newest members: Matthew Ardizzone, Heath Kennedy, Charles Asch, Arvilla Rovit, Anna Clement, Marshall Greenberg, Kathryn Feibusch, Kevin Sherwin, Christopher Sforza, Charles Jourdan, Matthew Heiler, Allessandra Holmes, Kayla Dempsey, Denise Guiliano, Katie Schlaikjer, Alden Terry, Bob Spear, Taka Koike, Susan Hwang, Ashley Tomei, Thomas Grisanti and The Rainbow Tape Company. Please let me know if I left you off this list.
Congratulations goes out to Julie Carr on her ASTA grant for the SOAR project. This project facilitates kindergarten string instruction in local communities by college music education majors at Ithaca College. We are proud to have been one of only four recipients of those coveted national ASTA grants awarded in the entire country. Thank you for representing us Julie and good luck! We look forward to a report from you in the future about the imminent success of this worthy project. And for those of you looking to apply for a national ASTA grant, be aware that our NYASTA chapter helps fund a portion of that award.
Our membership directory is in this issue. If you are not listed you can contact membership@astaweb.com to update your records. If your membership is expired or about to expire, please consider rectifying this and bear in mind that you can pay in installments now. Also, consider giving us an e-mail address so that you may benefit from our e-Bridge publications and President’s e-blasts. Opportunities crop up at various times during the year that we would like to pass on to you. For that reason we are looking to include private teachers and other music industry resources in our publications, so pass this information and our website information along!
We hope you will take advantage of what NYASTA has to offer, such as grants, solo competitions, eclectic string festivals and competitions at the national conference, summer and winter conferences in Albany and Rochester respectively. If you have had a great musical experience with your students and/or a clinician, please report that to your zone rep so we may all benefit from your experience. Although we only have one hard copy of The Bridge a year, we periodically publish an e-version where these resources can be included.
We have some new initiatives in the works. A new website is in the works as we speak. We hope to have that up very soon and the website address will remain www.nyasta.com. We are also hoping to have an “astachat” where we can share information in a shorter time frame. Thank you Nancy Strelau, our President Elect, for that new development.
And this opportunity awaits you if you have an interest in an innovative teaching experience or know someone who might be interested. Music Kids is seeking faculty members to teach string lessons in private schools. They have already set up custom programs in several surrounding states. More information can be found at www.MusicKidsProgram.com or by contacting Anthony Gualandri.
I hope to see you at the NYSSMA Winter Conference, December 1 – 4 in Rochester. NYASTA has enlisted Christian Howes, renowned jazz violinist, to provide two clinics on instrument technology and improvisation. Christian Howes is also looking to work with a couple of local school string programs the week prior to or ensuing the NYSSMA Winter Conference. Contact him by email at chris@christainhowes.com.
We hope to see you in Atlanta, Georgia, March 21 – 24. Visit astaweb.com to register. Do not hesitate to contact one of us on the Board of Directors for assistance or to share some great information.
Respectfully,
Lisa Leonardi
NYASTA President
