It is wild that we have made it to the start of another school year. I hope Alabama music teachers have enjoyed a well-deserved rest. The Alabama Orchestra Association has an exciting year ahead, so please make sure you keep up with member emails, social media, and our website!
New Executive Board Member
While we typically welcome new board members in even-numbered years, our dutiful treasurer, Tricia Marotz, made the decision to move away from Alabama to be closer to her family. We are so grateful for her five years of membership in AOA and three years of service as our treasurer. We wish her much luck on her new adventure. At our February General Membership meeting, AOA elected Rachel Sherrod to finish Tricia’s term as AOA treasurer. We are so excited to welcome her to our team.
- President: Jordan Ford, Alabaster City Schools
- Past-President: Joe Lee, Huntsville Youth Symphony
- Vice-President/President-Elect: Keith LaBenne, Gadsden City High School
- Treasurer: Rachel Sherrod, Etowah Youth Orchestra
- Secretary: Rachel Christmas, Ramsay High School
2025 All-Region Orchestras
After rescheduling All-Region Orchestras due to winter weather, both North and South Region events went off without a hitch on May 24-25. The North Region Symphony Orchestra and the String Orchestra performed an excellent concert at Huntsville High School. Conducted by Dr. Christopher Lawhorne, symphony musicians performed Verdi’s Nabucco Overture, selections from Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, and Warrior Legacy by Soon Hee Newbold. The String Orchestra, conducted by Laura Walters, played a wonderful program including works by Tchaikovsky, Robert W. Smith, and Deborah Baker Monday. The South Region Symphony Orchestra and String Orchestra had an outstanding performance at Greenville High School. Justin White conducted the Symphony Orchestra in their performance of Overture in the Classical Style by Harnsberger, Collage Symphony arranged by Richard Meyer, and Highlights from WICKED arranged by Ted Ricketts. The string orchestra, conducted by Keith LaBenne, performed a fantastic program including works by Brian Balmages, Am’re Ford, and Jamin Hoffman. We are grateful to our performance venues, conductors, AOA volunteers, and students for making this event possible on an unusual weekend!
AMEA Conference
We are so excited to stay in Birmingham for the 2026 AMEA Conference. Angela Ammerman will be our featured AOA clinician. As many of you have seen from her Instagram page, @musicteachersguide, Dr. Ammerman is a fabulous resource for music education, and we can’t wait to see what she provides for music educators at this year’s conference. We also always look forward to our other sessions and spending much-needed time with our fellow string educators from across the state. We look forward to seeing you there!
2026 All-State Orchestra Festival
AOA is looking forward to returning to Tuscaloosa for the All-State Orchestra in February. We have a great lineup of clinicians for each ensemble.
Strings Audition materials have been posted on the AOA website. Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion materials will be posted when ABA audition materials are released.
Important Dates
- Strings/Harp/Piano Audition Videos: DUE Oct. 17
- Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Audition Videos: DUE Nov. 14
- All-Region Orchestra Festivals: Jan. 10-11
- All-State Orchestra: Feb. 12-15
- OMPA: April 10
Please feel free to contact any of the Executive Board with any questions you may have. We are here to support the music educators of Alabama!
Respectfully,
Jordan Kirchner Ford
AOA President