Ohio String Teachers' Association

Ohio String Teachers, come and join us for a great day of learning and making music together!!

Congratulations to our 2022 OSTA Award winners. They were recognized at our annual meeting during the OMEA Professional Conferenceon February 2nd, 2022 in Cleveland.
Please join us in celebrating these wonderful educators!!

School Orchestra Director of the Year (’20-’21): Chris Lape, Upper Arlington Schools

School Orchestra Director of the Year (’21-’22): Erin Broadhurst, Hilliard City Schools

Collegiate Teacher of the Year (’21-’22): Dr. David Pope, Baldwin Wallace University

Studio Teacher of the Year (’21-’22): Juan Carlos Ortega, Columbus OH

Young Teacher of the Year (’21-’22): Tanner Otto, Sycamore Community School District

Administrator of the Year (’21-’22): Mark Sholl, Hilliard City Schools

Chamber Music Competition

Congratulations to all the participants in the 13^th Annual OSTA Chamber Music Competition. This year;s event was held on January 19, 2020 at Otterbein University. Nine ensembles participated. Our guest judges this year were Dr. Richard Lopez from the piano faculty of Otterbein University, Ms. Beth Uhimchuk, violinist with Cincinnati’s 4-Way String Quartet, and Mr. Thomas Wood violin professor from the College of Wooster.

Congratulations to the winning ensembles.

Junior Division Honorable Mention

Mars String Quartet: Blake Collins & Jack Demos, violins; Cedrick McCafferty, viola; Danielle Hall, violoncello

Junior Division Second Prize

Torro String Quartet: Elizabeth Martin & Marissa Tayal, violins; Gabrielle Cassell-Ramirez, viola; Joshua Richards-Jarvis, violoncello

Junior Division First Prize

Marquis String Quartet: Cecilia Martin & Kenneth Becthel, violins; Jacob Liu, viola; Eric Spain, violoncello

Senior Division First Prize

DAJJ Quartet: Anna Linder & Mathias Koo, violins; Julian Tugaoen, viola; Kate Fornshell, violoncello

All participants

Senior Division 1st Placee

Junior Division 1st Place

Junior Division 2nd Place

Junior Division Honorable Mention

Congratulations to the 2019-2020 recipients of OSTA awards of recognition.

Administrator of the Year          Ann Schloss, Elyria City School District

Studio Teacher of the Year        Elizabeth Council-Phelan, Corryville Suzuki Project

New Teacher of the Year           Kathleen Schnerer, Perrysburg Schools

Collegiate Teacher of the Year   Mr. Robert Vernon, Cleveland Institute of Music

School Teacher of the Year        Gretchen Zunic, Upper Arlington Schools

-7:45 pm room 263/264 in the Convention Center – New Music Reading Session Sponsored by Stanton’s Sheet Music and led by Megan Wetzel. IMPORTANT!! Bring a folding stand. The assigned to us in NOT a performance room and will not have music stands in it. Large instruments will be furnished by The Baroque Violin Shop. If you are able, bring a bass or cello with you from the exhibits.

Are you looking to fund a project that enhances and supports string teaching in Ohio? OSTA awards several Mini-Grants each year of up to $200 to members and their students/programs. Criteria and application is included in the Google form below. Grants will be awarded by April 1st. Deadline is March 1.

Click here to access the description and application!

Do you know an Outstanding Teacher or Administrator? Please take a moment to submit YOUR nomination for one or many the 2019-2020 OSTA Awards, including:

-School Orchestra Teacher of the Year
-Collegiate Teacher of the Year
-Studio Teacher of the Year
-Young Teacher of the Year (5 or fewer years of experience)
-Administrator of the Year.

The 13th Annual OSTA Chamber Music Competition will be held at Otterbein University in the Battelle Fine Arts Center on January 19, 2020. The competition is open to collegiate groups from the state of Ohio, and pre-college groups. Pre-college groups can compete in the Junior division for cash prizes or participate in the Apprentice division for comments only. The Senior division groups compete for cash prizes. All groups must include one ASTA member, or be coached by a member of ASTA. Applications must be received by January 15, 2020. Click here for details and guidelines –> Chamber 2020 Guidelines . Questions and inquiries can be directed to:

Jim Bates, OSTA Competition Organizing Chair
Director of Orchestra Activities, Otterbein University
1 South Grove Street, Westerville Ohio 43081
614-823-1553 (office), jbates@otterbein.edu (email)

Directions to Otterbein University and the Battelle Fine Arts Center can be found here:
http://campustour.otterbein.edu/sites/default/files/tour/media/OtterbeinCampusMap.pdf

Dear Ohio String Teachers, Friends and Colleagues,

Another school year comes to a close, completing the cycle once more. I hope that the past year was marked by many successes and teaching triumphs. The summer will be a chance to recharge and prepare for the cycle to begin once again. However, some things are already revving up for next year, and one of those is planning for OMEA PDC in Cincinnati Jan. 30, 31 and Feb. 1.

I hope you will consider submitting a string clinic proposal for OMEA as one of our OSTA sponsored events. Having sponsored events/clinics helps OSTA maintain a healthy relationship with OMEA. Clinic session proposals must be submitted by May 31, 2019. If you would like to submit a proposal as a sponsored session, please send your complete proposal to me by the end of the day May 30. [See the OMEA website for the complete information required for submission. www.omea-ohio.org ]

I will then complete the submission process for you. If you have already submitted a proposal for next year. No problem! Send me a copy of the proposal that you have already submitted and I will submit it as an OSTA sponsored session.

May 30, 2019 deadline!!

Enjoy your summer,

Jim Bates

President, Ohio String Teachers Association

Please join your OSTA friends and colleagues on Thursday January 31, 2019 in Cleveland for the annual OSTA Reading Session, awards and membership meeting. Dan Clark from Stanton’s Sheet Music will provide the latest and greatest in string orchestra literature  complete with commentary and witticisms. We will catch up on state string news and honor some of our outstanding members. Gayley Hautzenroeder has put together tasty treats and cool drinks for your enjoyment. We hope to see you there!

Photo by Tom Swinnen on Pexels.com

OSTA Reading Session @ OMEA Professional Conference
The Cleveland Convention Center

Date: Thursday January 31, 2019

Location/Agenda: PLEASE NOTE LOCATION CHANGE
-Reading Session, Awards, & Meeting and at 7:30 in Ballroom CC26, 
-Refreshments at 8:30 in Room CC25