May 16, 2008

Jeffrey Solow Named ASTA President

Fairfax, Va.---Cellist Jeffrey Solow of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was recently elected 2008-2010 president by the 11,500-member American String Teachers Association (ASTA). His term as president runs from May 2008 to May 2010. Following his two-year term as president, he continues on as past-president for another two years.

As president, Solow will work closely with the executive director on all issues regarding the industry and strategic planning activities. He is responsible for overall association leadership and serves as the official spokesperson. He will also oversee the national conference ensuring its relevance and value to members.  Appointing committee chairs and members, writing a quarterly column for the American String Teacher journal, reviewing reports from the executive director regarding national programs, and serving as the official spokesperson are among his “other” duties.

A professional performer and university educator, Solow has been an active member of ASTA for many years. Since 2004, he has served the association as a member of its national board of directors. A frequent contributor to ASTA’s award-winning quarterly journal, American String Teacher (AST), he has also served as the publication’s Cello Forum editor and as a reviewer. In addition, Solow has chaired ASTA’s Committee on Studio Instruction and its first Studio Teacher’s Forum as well as the National Solo Competition. For the past two years he has served as president-elect; a position that has allowed him to gain an in-depth understanding on all of the association’s programs.   

Solow’s impassioned and compelling cello playing has enthralled audiences throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. His multifaceted career includes performing as recitalist, soloist with orchestras, and chamber musician; teaching, writing, and lecturing on a variety of cellistic topics; and arranging and editing music for the cello. Two of his many recordings were nominated for Grammy Awards. Solow graduated with a degree in philosophy—magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa—from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Recognized worldwide as an outstanding teacher, Solow has presented master classes throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, Europe, Asia and South America. He was a member of the faculties of UCLA, California State University at Northridge, the University of Michigan, and the Peabody Conservatory. For eight summers, he taught cello and chamber music at the renowned Chautauqua Institution in New York State and twice he has been artist/teacher at the Gregor Piatigorsky Memorial Seminar for Cellists at the University of Southern California. He is professor of cello and chair of Instrumental Studies at Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music and Dance in Philadelphia.

“We are thrilled to have Jeffrey Solow serve as president of ASTA,” says Donna Hale, the association’s executive director. “The board and membership are confident that his knowledge and experience as a string educator and performer will be critical in helping ASTA succeed.” For more information about Solow and other board members, visit the ASTA website at http://www.astaweb.com.

The American String Teachers Association 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.