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Wednesday, March 20

5:00 - 6:00 PM: Intersectional Affinity Space - Kick-off Event

The DEI committee invites ASTA attendees of historically excluded and underrepresented identities to participate in the affinity social gatherings. These meet-and-greet events are designed to provide a platform for attendees to have a dedicated space to connect within affinity groups among the diverse coalition of ASTA membership.

The DEI committee requests these events be reserved for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled members of the ASTA community. We invite all allies to join us for the facilitated roundtable session in the conference.

5:30 - 6:30 PM: Newcomer's Welcome

Are you new to ASTA or is this your first ASTA National Conference? Join us to connect with others who are new to the community, grow your network, and meet the ASTA Board of Directors.

6:30 - 7:30 PM: ASTA Welcome Experience

Take this opportunity to meet your colleagues, reconnect with friends, and enjoy a performance by the ASTA National Teacher’s Orchestra.

7:30 - 9:00 PM: ASTA University & College Student Mixer

Hosted by the Student Advisory and Mentorship Committees

Attending the 2024 ASTA National Conference? Join us on Wednesday night for a time to socialize, network, and support each other! Enter to win a FREE registration for the 2024 Virtual String Teachers Summit or 2025 ASTA National Conference in Atlanta, GA – and MORE!

Thursday, March 21

8:00 - 9:30 AM: Thursday Keynote Speakers and Performers

Featuring Vijay Gupta and the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra under the direction of John Nardolillo

Vijay Gupta is a violinist, speaker and citizen-artist dedicated to creating spaces of wholeness through music. Hailed by The New Yorker as a “visionary violinist...one of the most radical thinkers in the unradical world of American classical music,” Vijay is the founding Artistic Director of Street Symphony, a community of musicians fostering connection for people in recovery from homelessness and incarceration in Los Angeles.

Vijay enjoys a protean career as a collaborator and communicator, sharing his work with dozens of communities, companies and campuses across America. Vijay has collaborated with artists such as the Kronos Quartet, Yo-Yo Ma, the Philharmonia Orchestra of London, and served as a member of the first violin section of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for 12 years.

Vijay is the recipient of a 2018 MacArthur Fellowship. Vijay plays on a 2010 violin made by Eric Benning.

University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1918 and is in its 105th concert season. The UK symphony is a 100-member all-student orchestra that presents classical, chamber and education concerts each year, and is made up of undergraduate and graduate students from across the United States, Asia, South America, Africa, and Europe. The UK Symphony Orchestra regularly performs major repertory works, as well as performances and premiers of new works by living composers, including recent and upcoming performances of pieces by Nina Shekhar, Hannah Eisendle, Mathilde Wantenaar, Gabriella Smith, Salina Fisher, Outi Tarkiainen, Missy Mazzoli, Hannah Lash, Natalie Dietterich, John Adams, Ahmed Saygun, Angélica Negrón, Kaija Saariaho, Vivian Fung, and Anna Thorsvaldsdottir.

John Nardolillo has appeared as a conductor with more than thirty of the country’s leading orchestras, including the Seattle, San Francisco, Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas, National, Nashville, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Utah, Columbus, Indianapolis, Oregon, Fort Worth, Buffalo, Alabama, Louisville, Missouri, North Carolina, Toledo, Vermont and Honolulu symphonies, as well as the Boston Pops. He also conducted concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, and Carnegie Hall in New York, and has made conducting appearances in the United States, France, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and China. John Nardolillo serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor for the Prague Summer Nights Festival in Prague, and in 2004 John Nardolillo joined the faculty at the University of Kentucky, where he is currently serving as the Director of Orchestras. John Nardolillo earned degrees in violin from the Cleveland Institute of Music and violin and conducting from the Peabody Conservatory.

12:00 - 1:00 PM: Exhibit Hall Grand Opening

Come visit our incredible vendors in the Exhibit Hall! Be sure to walk through and see the latest products to help you in your daily teaching. Also, visit college booths throughout the conference!

5:00 - 5:45 PM: Intersectional Affinity Space

The DEI committee invites ASTA attendees of historically excluded and underrepresented identities to participate in the affinity social gatherings. These meet-and-greet events are designed to provide a platform for attendees to have a dedicated space to connect within affinity groups among the diverse coalition of ASTA membership. The DEI committee requests these events be reserved for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled members of the ASTA community. We invite all allies to join us for the facilitated roundtable session in the conference.

7:30 - 9:00 PM: Evening Concert

Featuring Mike Block's Biribá Union. Conference attendees are invited to enjoy this fantastic concert by entrepreneurial artists!

“a dynamic trio, blending original music with world fusion influences”

— SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE

“An unusual collaboration with a refreshingly new sound... improvisational spontaneity and high energy performance.”

— WSLR RADIO

Mike Block (Cello, Vocals), Christylez Bacon (Beatbox, Guitar, Rhymes), and Patricia Ligia (Electric Bass, Pandeiro, Vocals) form a dynamic trio, blending original music with global influences to form a fresh and accessible sound. Each member of the collective brings influences and repertoire from their diverse backgrounds, such as Brazilian, Hip-Hop, Classical, Jazz, Bluegrass, Funk, and Pop styles, synthesizing them through original compositions and songs that highlights their improvisational spontaneity and high energy stage presentation.

9:00 - 10:00 PM: Jam Session

Come participate in and learn more!

Dubbed "...dazzling, violin phenom" by the Boston Globe, Mimi Rabson is one of Boston's most creative and versatile musicians. She is a Professor at Berklee College of Music. Her mission is to open musical styles to string players even if they are outside of the pedagogical canon. Her newest book called "Berklee Arpeggios, Chords and Etudes for the Violin" is on Berklee Press/Hal Leonard.

Friday, March 22

8:00 - 9:30 AM: Friday Keynotes and Performers

Featuring the members of the Sphinx Virtuosi and a performance by the Music Institute of Chicago Virtuoso Strings

The Sphinx Virtuosi is a dynamic and inspiring professional self-conducted chamber orchestra and serves as the flagship performing entity of the Sphinx Organization – the leading social justice non-profit dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. Comprised of 18 accomplished Black and Latinx artists, a critical aim of the Sphinx Virtuosi is to evolve and transform the face of classical music through artistic excellence, pioneering programming, and impassioned community engagement. Its members serve as cultural and diversity ambassadors for audiences and communities around the United States and abroad.

The MIC Virtuoso Strings is a performing and touring chamber ensemble consisting of 22 young performers from the Chicagoland area. Repertoire integrates classical and different styles of music from various ethnic, cultural, and religious traditions.

5:00 - 5:45 PM: Intersectional Affinity Space

The DEI committee invites ASTA attendees of historically excluded and underrepresented identities to participate in the affinity social gatherings. These meet-and-greet events are designed to provide a platform for attendees to have a dedicated space to connect within affinity groups among the diverse coalition of ASTA membership.

The DEI committee requests these events be reserved for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled members of the ASTA community. We invite all allies to join us for the facilitated roundtable session in the conference.

5:45 - 6:30 PM: Exhibit Hall Mix and Mingle

Come join your friends and colleagues for appetizers and conversation in the Exhibit Hall – and get more time with our conference exhibitors!

6:30 - 7:30 PM: SAASTA Fiesta!

Let's come together as a music community!

9:00 - 10:00 PM: Jam Session

Come participate in and learn more!

Award-winning eclectic violinist/composer/educator Christian Howes has been widely recognized for leading the way for through the pandemic by creating and sharing hundreds of free play-along videos for all levels and in many styles on the Christian Howes YouTube channel. The lessons have accumulated over 3.5 million views and Christian has visited hundreds of districts across the country leading play along workshops focused on improvisation, harmony, and eclectic styles. His methodology has been used across the world by string players and teachers interested in going past playing prescribed parts to make and teach music in more diverse and creative ways.

Saturday, March 23

8:00 - 9:30 AM: Saturday Keynote and Performance

Featuring Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser and a performance by the Indiana University - Jacobs School of Music String Academy Virtuosi.

Tim Lautzenheiser is a well-known name in the music education world as a teacher, clinician, author, composer, consultant, adjudicator, and, above all, a trusted friend to anyone interested in working with young people in developing a desire for excellence. Dr. Lautzenheiser has been a part of the Bands of America family for over 25 years. He served as Executive Director in 1980-82 and has since worked directly with tens of thousands of Bands of America students and directors in leadership and motivational training. His career involves ten years of successful college band directing at Northern Michigan University, the University of Missouri, and New Mexico State University. During this time Tim developed highly acclaimed groups in all areas of the instrumental and vocal field. Following his three years with Bands of America, he created Attitude Concepts for Today, an organization designed to manage the many requests for workshops, seminars, and convention speaking engagements focusing on the area of positive attitude and effective leadership training. He presently holds the Earl Dunn Distinguished Lecturer position at Ball State University. Tim also is the Director of Education for Conn-Selmer, and he serves as the national spokesperson for NAfME’s “Make A Difference with Music” program.

The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music String Academy Virtuosi are a unique collection of violinists and violists between the ages of 13 and 18 who perform as an ensemble and as soloists. Their intense musical curriculum includes weekly private lessons, chamber music, theory, master classes, and Virtuosi rehearsals. The Virtuosi have performed throughout the world and have been enthusiastically embraced in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Japan. The Virtuosi have also performed throughout the US, including at Carnegie Hall. Musical collaborations have been with Jaime Laredo, Marco Rizzi, Augustin Hadelich, Mark Kaplan, Alex Kerr, Soovin Kim, Joshua Bell, Joseph Swensen, Atar Arad, and many more. National Public Radio programs From the Top and Prairie Home Companion have featured The Virtuosi on their nationwide broadcasts. In 2006, Public Television released the Emmy-nominated documentary Circling Around–The Violin Virtuosi, which has been widely aired. String Academy students have won local, national, and international competitions. Graduates are performing and teaching throughout the world. Students that decide to pursue other careers take with them a unique love and understanding of music that has been developed over many years of study.

10:00 - 10:45 PM: Intersectional Affinity Space

The DEI committee invites ASTA attendees of historically excluded and underrepresented identities to participate in the affinity social gatherings. These meet-and-greet events are designed to provide a platform for attendees to have a dedicated space to connect within affinity groups among the diverse coalition of ASTA membership.

The DEI committee requests these events be reserved for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled members of the ASTA community. We invite all allies to join us for the facilitated roundtable session in the conference.

12:00 - 12:45 PM: ASTA Annual Membership Meeting