Category: AlaBreve Articles

My role as AVA President-Elect and now President has afforded me the opportunity to learn about and observe choral students and programs across the state.

Another successful AMEA conference is in the books for our association and the AOA. We had a great group of string educators come together for a weekend of good food, conversation, and learning.

Brooke Gray and The Oak Mountain Melodies kicked things off for us with a wonderful concert bright and early Thursday morning. Dr. Scott Sexton led us through so many genius ideas about using solfege, teaching musical literacy, and incorporating historical events like the

The 2026 AMEA Conference is now in the books, and it was definitely a great one. Every session that I was able to attend was very interesting and informative. I was also pleased and impressed by some great performances.

We had another successful year at the 2026 AMEA Professional Development Conference at the BJCC in Birmingham, AL! During this conference, we had many opportunities to network and attend educational sessions.

Another successful conference is in the books! Thank you for coming and sharing so many great experiences. It seems that every conference just gets better. This year, we had a huge turnout. My records show that we had nearly 1100 members in attendance!

On February 17, 2015, the musical Hamilton premiered in an Off-Broadway theater. Within a few short months, it transitioned to Broadway’s Richard Rodgers Theatre, where it quickly became a cultural phenomenon. This contemporary portrayal of the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton captivated audiences with its powerful narrative and innovative blend of musical styles.

October is here. The excitement of a brand-new school year has started to fade, the “back-to-school” energy is long gone, and the reality of daily rehearsals, football games, sectionals, and concert prep is in full swing. For many of us, this time of year feels like the longest stretch of the school calendar.

Every school year seems to go by a little faster than the last. I can’t believe we are halfway through the first semester. The beginning of the year is a whirlwind of new students, establishing new routines, new parents, new policies, scheduling issues, new repertoire, and on and on the list goes.

Happy fall, music educators! I hope everyone had a successful back-to-school season and is settling into their school years nicely. We are excited to get into our 2025-2026 events and celebrate orchestral music in our state! AOA is looking forward to an excellent year of learning and music-making.