Congratulations to our All-State Orchestra Students

Congratulations to Mae Martin (violin), Christy Reed (viola), Jackson Nunneley (violin), and Vivek Sasse (viola). Dawson Music Academy proudly recognizes these students for their participation in the 2017 Alabama All-State Orchestra. These students demonstrate excellent musicianship and strong technique. Each of these musicians take private lessons with Julianne Odahowski Steele at the Dawson Music Academy.

To prepare for All-State auditions, students learned musical selections that demonstrated their ability to play complex rhythm passages, to develop melodic phrases, and to incorporate musical techniques that enhanced the beauty of their music. After hearing auditions in October, All-State Judges selected these talented students to participate in the 2017 Alabama All-State Orchestra Festival.

The 2017 All-State Orchestra Festival took place Thursday, February 9 through Sunday, February 12. During the Festival, students participated in large group rehearsals and small group sectionals. There were three orchestra groups who played at the Festival: the Festival Orchestra, the Sinfonia Orchestra, and the Consort String Orchestra. The conductors who led each orchestra were Sandra Dackow, Foster Byers, and Dr. Yi-Ping Chen. By playing with other students in the All-State Orchestra, students gained new musical insights. They learned how to turn the notes on the page into beautiful, expressive pieces of music played by an orchestra of musicians.

By participating in All-State Orchestra, students also improved their individual musicianship. They devoted weekly practice time to polishing their music and improving their technique. They learned new songs and developed new technical skills. We are extremely proud of these students for their musical talents and for the hard work they invested to prepare for the All-State Festival!

Contributor Kimberly Jones is a wife, mother, and the Director of the Dawson Music Academy at the Dawson Family of Faith.