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Updated Insurance Offerings for ASTA Members Announced
Introducing More Robust Instrument Insurance!
ASTA’s recognized musical instrument insurance broker,
Additional Insurance Coverage for ASTA Members
As part of our continued goal to provide members with the best possible benefits, ASTA partners with a leading group insurance administrator,
A few highlights include:
Educators Professional Liability Insurance Plan
Comprehensive Health Plans
10-Year Level Term Life
Personal Automobile Insurance
ID Theft Assist
The health and financial well-being of our members and their families is of great importance to ASTA. We have great confidence in the folks at FTJ because they have been offering insurance programs to educators for more than 50 years.
2023 National Conference Highlights—See You in Orlando, March 15–18!
Bring a Friend to the National Conference and SAVE!
Do you know a friend or colleague who has never experienced all the annual ASTA Conference has to offer?
Perhaps you know someone who has not attended the Conference in the past 10 years?
For the first time, if you recruit a friend to attend who falls in either of these categories, BOTH of you will receive $60 off the registration rate! Simply fill out the form on the conference website—astastrings.org/nationalconference. Once the ASTA team confirms eligibility, you and your friend will receive a promo code via email to complete the registration online.
Early Bird registration opened September 1 and will remain open until December 19. Registration rates increase 20% after the early bird deadline. Make plans now to get the best deal!
Keynote Speakers Announced
Founder and Executive Director of United Sound, Inc.
United Sound was created with the goal of developing relationships between students with and without disabilities and providing them with the opportunity to build self-esteem, self-confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging through music. In its first seven years, over 8,000 students have participated in United Sound and they have logged over 213,000 relationship-building, music-making hours together.
Marion Stedman Covington Distinguished Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the University of North Carolina—Greensboro School of Music, co-author of Culturally Responsive Teaching in Music Education: From Understanding to Application
Dr. McKoy’s research, which has been presented nationally and internationally, has focused on music teachers’ cross-cultural competence, and culturally responsive pedagogy in music. In 2017 and 2019, she was invited to participate in the Yale Symposium on Music in Schools and contributed to the 2017 document, The Declaration on Equity in Music for City Students. She is a past president of the North Carolina Music Educators Association, and past chair of the Society for Music Teacher Education, an affiliated society of the National Association for Music Education.
Apply to Perform in Master Classes at the 2023 National Conference
The top two applicants in each category will perform in a live master class at the national conference. To apply, make sure you have the following items ready:
Link to a video recording of you performing a solo piece of your choice
This performance does not need to be of the piece you intend to play in the master class
Information about the piece (title, movement [if applicable], and composer) you would like to perform in the master class, if selected
Performer and teacher contact information
If an accompanist is needed for your performance, if selected
An accompanist will be provided by ASTA.
Learn more about our incredible master class clinicians on the National Conference website! Applications due December 15 and notifications will be sent in January 2023.
ASTA eLearning Updates!
ASTA is revamping our professional development offerings! Each month, there will be multiple webinars offered on a variety of topics—K12, Studio, Research/String Research Journal (SRJ), Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Student, Mentoring, ASTACAP, College, Eclectic, Wellness, National Orchestra Festival (NOF), and more!
Stay tuned for registration information. ASTA members register for FREE, and non-members are welcome to participate for $15. From now on, you will receive professional development contact hours for attending any of our webinars!
Student Chapters!
It’s Time to Register Your Student Chapter for the 2022–2023 School Year
ASTA collegiate student chapters provide valuable opportunities for leadership, career development, and lasting relationships between peers and mentors. Chapters make our community stronger and help insure a bright future for the string profession. If your institution already has a chapter, we encourage you to become an active member. If your school does not have a chapter, we invite you to establish one. Learn more on the ASTA Student Chapters webpage: https://bit.ly/3RiWQ8P. ASTA can help you and your peers achieve your goals and provide a strong, unified voice for string music education and performance.
Apply for Student Chapter Awards—DUE January 31, 2023
Get recognized for your hard work—apply for an ASTA student chapter award. Winners will be announced at the ASTA National Conference, awarded a commemorative plaque, and recognized in the American String Teacher journal.
Student Exemplary Service Award
Outstanding Student Chapter
Most Improved Student Chapter
ASTA Welcomes New Members
Below are members who joined ASTA between June 1, 2022, and July 31, 2022. Welcome to our community and thank you for your membership!
Senior Members
Mary Meridith, FL
Christopher Reidlinger, TX
Student Members
Dameer Gustafson, NE
Jurang Kim, KY
Brittany Kubiak, WY
MarieFaith Lane, CO
Alison Lilly, VA
Sean Paree-Huff, IN
Tena Shizuma, NC
Madeline Summers, GA
Professional Members
Cheri Astolfi, DE
Jane Ball, MI
Sam Bardfeld, NY
Avalee Bean, AL
John Benton, TX
Shelly Burgess, KY
Orion Burke, VA
Corey Burrow, IN
Clinton Capshaw, TX
Brian Clem, FL
Holly Cline, PA
Rachel DePriest, SC
Kyna Elliott, GA
George Fahlund, TX
Catherine Farrelly, TX
Aurora Foster, TN
Shontel Gaddis, TN
Callie Garber, KS
Michele George, OH
Kari Glasco-Jaques, AZ
Tyler Goldman, OR
Marta Hernandez, PR
Eric Holdhusen, MT
Linda Hughes, MD
Stephanie Iorga, CA
Katie James, TX
Othello Jefferson, CA
Abby Jones, GA
Karen Kenny, CA
Keith Kroesen, NV
Andra Kulans, IL
Anika Kumar, CA
Brian Liu, MD
Kathy Luzader, VT
Andy Ly, CA
Bryce Melaragno, CO
Rosa Mickey, ID
Aaron Money, MO
Lollie Newsome, GA
JJ Norman, VA
Cristin Patterson, CO
Angela Peugnet, TX
Yulia Potvin, MA
D. Gregory Springer, FL
Melody Steinbart, WI
Amanda Suckow, IL
Stephanie Sunder, TX
Michael Susinno, NY
Ben Therrell, WI
Mark Thompson, CO
Mads Tolling, CA
Dan Totan, TX
Lynn Tuttle, VA
Rachel Wallin, UT
David West, NY
Esther Williams, TX
Cynthia Wright, TN
Stephanie Wright, NM
Alan Yunfei Yang, CA
Patrick Yim, HI
Institutional Members
Brooklyn Arts Music Academy, NC
New Hampshire Fiddle Ensemble, Inc., NH
University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, IL
String Industry Council Members
Davidson Violins, NC
Grand Mesa Strings, WI