The American String Teachers Association (ASTA) is pleased to announce the 2006 winners of the National Orchestra FestivalÒ. South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts Concertato String Orchestra from Greenville, S.C., under the direction of Kathryn Dey, was named Grand Champion of the festival on Friday, March 10, at the 2006 ASTA National Conference in Kansas City, Mo. The winning group along with first-place Youth Orchestra winner, New World Chamber Orchestra from Indianapolis, Ind., under the direction of Susan Kitterman, performed a winners’ concert on Saturday, March 11, for conference attendees.
            The 2006 National Orchestra Festival consisted of 17 ensembles from 14 states and more than 760 orchestra students. Competitive orchestras were separated into three divisions: Middle School Orchestra, Youth Orchestra, and High School String Orchestra. Several groups also performed to receive ratings and comments from adjudicators Gerald Doan, Gerald Fischbach, and Carol Smith.  They were adjudicated based on technique, tone quality, intonation, rhythm, and interpretation. The Grand Champions were chosen by adjudicators from the first place winners of these categories. Groups alsoreceived a one-on-one clinic with one of ASTA’s clinicians Joanne Erwin or Mark Russell Smith.
            Other winners by division were: Middle School Orchestra (1st place, Tenafly Middle School, Tenafly, N.J.; 2nd place, Horace Mann Middle School, Charleston, W.Va., 3rd place, John Lux Middle School, Lincoln, Nebr.), Youth Orchestra (1st place, New World Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis, Ind.), High School String Orchestra (1st place, Norcross Philharmonic Orchestra, Norcross, Ga.; 2nd place [tie], Brainerd Chamber Orchestra, Brainerd, Minn.; and Centerville High School Symphonic Orchestra, Dayton, Ohio), Resident Art School (1st place, South Carolina Governors School for the Arts Concertato String Orchestra, Greenville, S.C.). 
Groups receiving a superior rating included Tenafly Middle School 8th Grade String Orchestra, Tenafly, N.J.; Anderson High School Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati, Ohio; Albuquerque Academy Chamber Players, Albuquerque, N.Mex.; Norcross Philharmonic Orchestra, Norcross, Ga.; New World Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis, Ind.; and South Carolina Governors School for the Arts Concertato String Orchestra, Greenville, S.C.
Groups receiving an excellent rating included: Horace Mann String Orchestra, Charleston, W. Va.; Lux Middle School 8th Grade Orchestra, Lincoln, Nebr.; Springfield Youth Orchestra, Springfield, Mo.; Brainerd Chamber Orchestra, Brainerd, Minn.; Centerville High School Symphonic Orchestra, Dayton, Ohio.
            Applications are now available for the 2007 National Orchestra Festival, being held March 8 through 10 in Detroit, Mich. The deadline to submit applications to the ASTA national office is April 10, 2006. Applications and requirements are listed on the ASTA website at www.astaweb.com under “Competitions” and “2007 National Orchestra Festival®”.

The American String Teachers Association (ASTA) is committed to advancing string education and performance in the United States and around the world. Its 11,500 members include educators, performers, string industry representatives, students, and string enthusiasts.