AOSA News 2024

AOSA NEWS 2024

Scroll below to read the details for each headline. Posting date is included with the headline. Links to prior year posts can be found at the bottom of the page.

In Memoriam: Dr. Konnie Saliba – December 5, 2024

The Orff Echo is soliciting articles for the Fall 2025 issue: Open Submissions – November 5, 2024

AOSA Announces the 2025 NBT Candidates – October 22, 2024

Accepting proposals for 2025 Conference Performing Groups – October 1, 2024

Join us for AOSA’s annual virtual 5k fundraiser – September 20, 2024

AOSA Announces 2024 Award Recipients – September 17, 2024

Conference Committee accepting proposals for the 2025 Professional Development Conference in Lexington, KY – August 5, 2024

The Orff Echo Editorial Board is soliciting articles for the Summer 2025 issue: "Respond" – July 31, 2024

Fall Professional Learning Network – Back to School: Classroom Management Tips and Tricks – July 6, 2024

AOSA Forms Affinity Groups – June 18, 2024

The Orff Echo is soliciting articles for the Spring 2025 issue: Perform – May 7, 2024

AOSA Seeks Applicants for National Conference Chairs for 2025 – May 3, 2024

The Secret Song Airs April 6 on PBS – March 23, 2024

AOSA Seeks Applicants for Social Media Coordinator – March 18, 2024

AOSA statement regarding Carl Orff and his alleged participation in National Socialism – March 8, 2024

In Memoriam: Danai Apostolidou Gagné – February 18, 2024

AOSA Seeks Applicants for Associate National Conference Director – February 5, 2024

The Orff Echo is soliciting articles for the Winter 2025 issue: Create – January 31, 2024

Writing for AOSA Online Session: February 1, 8-9:15pm EST – January 3, 2024

AOSA Announces the 2023 National Board of Election Results – January 3, 2024

In Memoriam: Dr. Konnie Saliba Konnie K. Saliba, 86, Professor Emeritus at the University of Memphis and internationally renowned music educator, passed away peacefully on December 2nd, 2024, at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Konnie was a distinguished leader in music education and was widely recognized for her expertise in Orff-Schulwerk. Read more about Dr. Konnie Saliba

The Orff Echo Editorial Board is soliciting articles for the Fall 2025 issue. In the spirit of welcoming new voices and ideas to the conversation, the editorial board has dedicated the Fall 2025 issue to Open Submissions. The deadline for contributions is February 15, 2025.

We invite Orff Schulwerk-inspired practitioners and scholars to share their insights, experiences, and innovative ideas related to Orff Schulwerk. Whether it is philosophical or theoretical work reflecting the application of Orff Schulwerk, interpretation and adaptation of Orff Schulwerk pedagogical techniques for music and other teachings, empirical and/or historical research related to Orff Schulwerk, articles that support AOSA’s diversity statement, or research findings shaping the future of music education, we welcome your contributions.

We encourage writers to consider the following questions:

What are you curious about?
What is missing from our conversation?
What might you feel compelled to write about?
What might you feel compelled to read about?

This is your chance to shape the dialogue around Orff Schulwerk and inspire fellow educators around the globe. Share your stories, strategies, and successes as we continue to explore the diverse and dynamic world of Orff Schulwerk. Start brainstorming article ideas and be part of the vibrant community shaping the future of our approach. Together, let us enrich our practice and celebrate the transformative power of Orff Schulwerk.

Please contact issue coordinators Diana Hawley ([email protected]), Erika Knapp ([email protected]), and Alan Spurgeon ([email protected]) with questions regarding the Fall 2025 issue. For general questions about The Orff Echo, send inquiries to Linda Hines ([email protected]). Articles can be submitted through the Echo Articles Submission Portal at bit.ly/echosubmission.

AOSA Announces the 2025 NBT Candidates – The following members have been nominated as candidates for servant leadership on the AOSA National Board of Trustees. Candidate statements will be available when voting opens. Voting will take place from November 14 to December 14, 2024.

President Elect: Christopher Giles and Connie Van Engen
Treasurer: Karen Petty and Michele Sampson
Region III (AR, KS, LA, MO, OK, TX): Michelle McCarver and Angela Neal
Region IV (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN): Deanna Bell and Vicki Raisley
Region V (CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT): Johanna Abell and Becky Burdett
Region VI (IL, IN, KY, MI, OH, WI, WV): Hannah Lemont and Chris Powers

Per the 2023 AOSA Referendum, all members can vote for all positions regardless of region. Read candidate profiles and watch candidate videos.

Accepting proposals for 2025 Conference Performing Groups – The 2025 National Conference Committee is acceptions proposals for Performing Groups. Applications are due February 1, 2025. Application form

Join us for AOSA’s annual virtual 5k fundraiser. Come run, walk, skip, dance, and move with us between October 5 and November 15. Thank you for joining AOSA in this great event! Get your chapter, family, friends, and community involved and have fun while supporting AOSA. Learn how to register.

AOSA Announces 2024 Award Recipients The Leadership Development and Nominations Committee of AOSA is pleased to announce the following awards that will be bestowed at the 2024 Professional Development Conference in Des Moines, IA: Dr. Carolee Stewart and Dr. Julie Scott – Distinguished Service Award; Brent Holl (Beatin' Path Publications) – Industry Service Award; and Jean Barrack – Grassroots Impact Award. The Distinguished Service Award is intended to recognize and honor those who have supported the mission of AOSA through exemplary service at the national level and who have contributed to the growth of Orff Schulwerk in the United States. The Industry Service Award recognizes and honors individual members of AOSA, employed by AOSA industry members; who, above and beyond the requirements of business, have given exemplary service to AOSA and/or its members; and who have contributed to the growth of Orff Schulwerk in the United States. The Grassroots Impact Award is intended to recognize and honor those who have supported the mission of AOSA through exemplary service at the local and regional levels. Congratulations Carolee, Julie, Brent, and Jean!

Conference Committee is accepting proposals for the 2025 Professional Development Conference in Lexington, KY. Sessions are 75 minutes in length. All presentations are ticketed to avoid overcrowding. Many sessions are repeated to provide access to as many attendees as possible. Proposal applications are accepted until October 1, 2024. Proposal and Rubric Information

The Orff Echo Editorial Board is soliciting articles for the Summer 2025 issue. The featured topic is “Respond.” The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2024.

“Responding,” part of the National Core Arts Standards for music, is integral to Orff Schulwerk classrooms. Students have multiple ways to respond to various creative media, to one another, and to their communities. As Orff Schulwerk educators, we are also constantly responding—to our students’ needs, identities and ideas, to our colleagues, to our community, and to our professional realities.

We invite various types of submissions such as (1) philosophical and theoretical work reflecting the application of the Schulwerk; (2) interpretation and adaptation of Orff and Keetman's pedagogical techniques for music and other teachings; (3) empirical and/or historical research related to the Schulwerk; (4) articles that support AOSA’s diversity statement.

Among other ideas this theme might bring to mind, writers may consider the following questions:

In what ways might students learn to respond to their own performances and music making and that of their peers (for example self-evaluation and peer feedback)?
How might we guide students to generate a musical product in response to a non-musical subject?
In what ways might Orff Schulwerk practitioners respond to emerging technologies and creative technologies that students use?
How do we respond to conflict within our classrooms, schools, and communities?
What is it like to be culturally responsive in the face of social and systemic issues that we, our students, and our communities face?
How can we use Orff Schulwerk processes to respond to community needs, and engage with parents/caregivers?

Please contact Ian Cicco ([email protected]), Christa Jones ([email protected]), and Roxanne Dixon ([email protected]) with submissions or questions regarding the Summer 2025 issue, “Respond.” For general questions about The Orff Echo, send inquiries to Linda Hines ([email protected]). Articles can be submitted through the Echo Articles Submission Form at bit.ly/echosubmission.

Fall Professional Learning Network – Back to School: Classroom Management Tips and Tricks Dr. Amy Brown, Kelly Mraz, Betsy Carter, and Linzie Mullins share management tips and tricks for your Orff Schulwerk classroom. Topics: Proactive Management: Preparing Instead of Reacting, Building Classroom Management Skills in the Orff Classroom, and Managing the Mayhem. The three sessions of this PLN will be held on Wednesday evenings at 8:30pm EDT starting August 14 and continuing in September and October. Learn more and register. Learn more and register.

AOSA Forms Affinity Groups AOSA is forming Affinity Groups with the goal of creating safe and comfortable spaces. Meetings of these groups will begin in July, 2024. These meetings are intended to provide a venue for group members to share their experiences, hopes and visions so that they feel a sense of belonging within AOSA. The desired outcomes of the meetings are to grow the organization so that every member feels seen, heard, affirmed and supported. Learn more.

The Orff Echo is soliciting articles for the Spring 2025 issue The featured topic is “Perform,” part of our series on the National Core Arts Standards. The deadline for submissions is August 15, 2024. Performance is a large piece of many elementary and secondary music programs. Orff Schulwerk emphasizes the importance of the process of learning while giving attention to musicality and meaningful experiences. How do we attend authentically to the principles of the Orff Schulwerk approach and ensure our students perform to the standards expected by communities, schools, and programs? The editorial board is interested in your experiences crafting, processing, and facilitating child-centered performance.

We invite various types of submissions, such as (1) philosophical and theoretical work reflecting the application of Orff Schulwerk; (2) interpretation and adaptation of Orff and Keetman’s pedagogical techniques for music and other teachings; (3) empirical and/or historical research related to Orff Schulwerk; (4) articles that support AOSA’s diversity statement.

We wonder:

How do we support our students in generating ideas and refining those ideas to become performance pieces?
How can we help students overcome performance anxiety or reluctance?
What are the processes that lead students towards meaningful musical expression?
What is the teacher’s role in performance—“sage on the stage” or “guide on the side?”
What are the potential benefits in engaging students to have performances for their communities?
How do performances present differently in an array of communities?

The Orff Echo Editorial Board is always interested in original research and informative articles covering all aspects of Orff Schulwerk and music education, such as movement, play, singing, assessment, and curricular planning. Our format allows for submissions dedicated to your area of interest in addition to our featured topic.

Please contact Christine Ballenger ([email protected]), Austin Cooper ([email protected]), and Kelly Poquette ([email protected]) with submissions or questions regarding the Spring 2025 issue, “Perform.” For general questions about The Orff Echo, send inquiries to Linda Hines ([email protected]). Articles can be submitted through the Echo Articles Submission Portal at bit.ly/echosubmission.

AOSA Seeks Applicants for National Conference Chairs for 2025 The American Orff-Schulwerk Association seeks applicants for the following positions: 2025 National Conference Chairs(s) – begin July 1, 2024 through January 30, 2026. This position will consist of planning and overseeing all aspects of program and local volunteer management for the AOSA Professional Development Conference in 2025 in Lexington, KY. Please click here for the National Conference Chair Job Description. Individuals and two-person teams will be considered. Teams that are composed of a former National Conference Chair and new applicant are preferred. To apply, please complete this Google form including a resume and an interest statement. Deadline for application is Tuesday, May 31, 2024.

The Secret Song Airs April 6 on PBS The Secret Song is an immersive view into the final chapter in Doug Goodkin’s 45-year career teaching music to children in San Francisco. In what could have been a celebratory victory lap, the veteran teacher finds his efforts to instill a sense of belonging interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. When their classrooms are shuttered, Goodkin and his students must surmount new adversities and find a way to keep the music playing and the learning going. Watch on PBS or stream.

AOSA Seeks Applicants for Social Media Coordinator The American Orff-Schulwerk Association seeks applicants for the following position: Social Media Coordinator – begin May 1, 2024. This position will consist of coordinating all AOSA social media content, chairing the Social Media Committee, and collaborating with the Communications Director. You will find more details of the position in the Social Media Coordinator’s Job Description.

To apply, please complete this google form including a resume and an interest statement. The deadline for applications is Monday, April 15, 2024.

The American Orff-Schulwerk Association statement regarding Carl Orff and his alleged participation in National Socialism. The American Orff-Schulwerk Association releases the following statement regarding Carl Orff and and his alleged participation in National Socialism.

In Memoriam: Danai Apostolidou Gagné Danai Apostolidou Gagné passed from this world on Friday, February 16, 2024 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Danai was known throughout the Orff Schulwerk world as a master teacher, beautiful dancer, stellar musician, and loving human. Countless students have been touched by her gentle spirit and spark of joy. In 2007, Danai was the recipient of the prestigious AOSA Distinguished Service Award. Read more about Danai Gagné.

AOSA Seeks Applicants for Associate National Conference Director The American Orff-Schulwerk Association seeks applicants for the following position: Associate National Conference Director – begin March 1, 2024. This position will consist of collaborating with the National Conference Director, facilitating the work of the National Conference Chair(s), providing oversight of the local conference team and as needed, supporting the Professional Development Director. Follow this link to review the Associate National Conference Director Job Description.

To apply, please complete this google form including a resume and an interest statement. Deadline for application is Friday, March 1, 2024.

The Orff Echo Editorial Board is soliciting articles for the Winter 2025 issue. The featured topic is “Create.” The deadline for submissions is May 15, 2024.

“Create” seeks to celebrate and examine the creative vibrancy of our classrooms, our work with children, and our children’s work with one another.

We invite various types of submissions such as (1) philosophical and theoretical work reflecting the application of Orff Schulwerk; (2) interpretation and adaptation of Orff pedagogical techniques for music and other teachings; (3) empirical and/or historical research related to Orff Schulwerk; (4) articles that support AOSA’s diversity statement.

There are so many possible directions for this theme. You might consider the following questions:

How do we facilitate meaningful student creation and creative ownership across a variety of media? How do we assess this?
How do we navigate the tension between scaffolding student improvisation/composition experiences through the Orff Schulwerk process and making space for students’ diverse musical knowledge and expressive freedom?
How might research on creativity and neuroscience inform our Orff Schulwerk teaching?
How does the Schulwerk support the National Core Arts “Create” Standards?
How do we include creative openings in experiences of culturally diverse repertoire with integrity and fidelity?
What else might this topic inspire you to explore?

The Orff Echo Editorial Board is always interested in original research and informative articles covering all aspects of the Schulwerk and music education, such as movement, play, singing, assessment, and curricular planning. Our format allows for submissions dedicated to your area of interest in addition to our featured topic.

Please contact coordinators Roxanne Dixon ([email protected]) and Erika Knapp ([email protected]) with submissions or questions regarding the “Create” issue. For general questions about The Orff Echo, send inquiries to Linda Hines ([email protected]). Articles can be submitted through the Echo Articles Submission Form.

Writing for AOSA Onlines Session: February 1, 8-9:15pm EST Would you like to write for AOSA? Join The Orff Echo and Reverberations editors online Thursday, February 1, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern (7:00 p.m. Central, 6:00 p.m. Rocky Mountain, 5:00 p.m. Pacific) for an interactive, dynamic discussion of upcoming article topics. This session is open to novices and experts alike interested in writing for AOSA. Use this registration form and then watch your email for a reminder and Zoom link one week prior to the session.

AOSA Announces the 2023 National Board of Trustees Election Results The Leadership Development and Nominations Committee of AOSA is pleased to announce the results of our 2023 National Board of Trustees election. We would like to thank all members who were on the ballot for their willingness to serve AOSA and participation in the election process. Congratulations to the following new board members who begin their position July 1, 2024.

Region I: Sarah Fairfield
Region II: Joseph Gershin
Region IV: Crystal Briley
Region V: Sarah Williams
Vice President-Elect of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access: Victor Lozada
Recording Secretary: Dan Gullick