Category: What’s New

Posted on

Milan High School Interim Opening

Milan Schools are seeking Interim Music Teachers
My wife and I are expecting twin girls this February! Rachel teaches elementary music in Milan, and I assist with middle school and direct the high school programs daily.
We are seeking individuals to hopefully fill in for us during our time off. If anyone knows any students graduating this semester who would need a job, someone who needs a placement, or anyone looking for a position currently or a retired director interested, please let us know.
Rachel is planning on taking 6 weeks or more, and I will be taking 4 weeks off.
If you know anybody who would be interested in this, please let us know: edmaistond@milanssd.org
Posted on

Memphis Wind Symphony Performance

The Memphis Wind Symphony will present “Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” in a FREE concert Sunday, December 15, 6:30pm in the Christian Brothers University Theater. You can of course expect the usual seasonal melodies, but also two world-premiers and the ensemble will be joined onstage by the amazing vocalist: Jake Drzycimiski. Come join in the Spirit of Christmas with the Memphis Wind Symphony.

Posted on

Professional Development Opportunity

In partnership with ArtsED Tennessee, TMEA is creating “Unified Vision,” a day of K-12 arts professional development that will take place on February 17 at East Hickman County High School.  This day will be similar to what teachers in larger districts experience, with sessions for all areas of Arts education.  This day will be available to all arts teachers, regardless of the district in which they teach or association membership status.  We hope that this event will accomplish lots of goals, but primarily:
  • Validating Arts teachers in this area of the state.
  • Helping these teachers strengthen their professional network.
  • Raising awareness of ArtsED Tennessee and its work.
  • Demonstrating that TMEA is serious about its commitment to music teachers in the rural areas of our state.
Posted on

Upcoming Events in the Memphis Area

Dear colleagues,
As you have hopefully seen on multiple news outlets and posted on social media, there are two great opportunities coming THIS WEEK for you and your students.
1. Grind City Brass Band. The very first British-style brass band in Memphis is having its inaugural concert Monday, December 9, 2024 at 7:00 pmat the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center. If you’ve never heard a brass band perform, you are truly missing something amazing.
Tickets are for sale at www.grindcitybrass.com/events. Educators and students receive a STEEP discount. This is something your brass players will want to hear! A flyer with details is attached.
2. TUBA CHRISTMAS. This will take place Saturday, December 14 at 1:00 pm at Crosstown Concourse. EVERYONE is invited to the performance. Tuba/euph players who want to perform have a rehearsal that morning and will need their instrument, mouthpiece, and a music stand. Music will be available to purchase. Performer registration is $10/person. Check out tubachristmas.com! A flyer with performer details is attached.
I look forward to having you all at these events!
ZC
Posted on

All-West Orchestra Audition Cuts

2024 All West Strings Cuts

Middle school strings: no cuts

9-10 Strings

Violin: no cuts
Viola: Bach – play beginning until first repeat sign (A#); Enesco – play 14-end
Cello: Mozart – no cuts; Mascagni – beginning until end of m. 38
Bass: Brahms- Beginning through beat 3 (dotted quarter note B) of m. 92; Mendelssohn- no cuts

11-12 Strings

Violin: Mozart 103-end; Beethoven 117-end
Viola: Enesco – beginning – beat 3 of m. 10 (D quarter note); Mozart play m. 41-end
Cello: Schumann m. 182 – end; Mahler – start on beat 4 of m. 10 – end
Bass: Beethoven – skip the multi-measures of rests; Brahms – play through the downbeat of m.136 (cut begins on the eighth rest)

Posted on

Karla Phillipp Obituary

Karla Phillipp, 69, died on October 27 at her new home in Tucson, Arizona.

Karla Philipp’s years of dedication and passion as the volunteer director of the handbell choir, the Calvary Ringers, were just one of the ways she served at Calvary. As a professional musician, Karla had been to Calvary many times over the years, but she first attended as a prospective member in January 2001. She was received into the Episcopal Church in March 2002 and was involved in the ministries of Calvary ever since.

Although Karla officially retired in August 2009 after teaching orchestra for the Memphis City Schools for 30 years, she was still a very active music teacher. She maintained a studio of private students who received weekly lessons on bass technique and literature. She conducted the Memphis Youth String Ensemble and the Memphis Youth String Sinfonia, which were part of the Memphis Youth Symphony Program. She was an adjunct instructor at the University of Memphis, where she taught string methods to music education majors. She also did a little substitute teaching for Shelby County Schools as an orchestra teacher.

In addition to directing the handbell choir at Calvary, Karla served as a lector and a member of the Adult Christian Formation Committee and was an Education for Ministry (EfM) graduate. Over her 20 years at Calvary, Karla came to appreciate many things about Calvary, including the spirit of our mission statement: Making God’s Love Visible in Downtown Memphis. She noted, “The great thing about this statement is that we really mean it. Our parish works every day to help citizens of the Memphis community. No one who needs help is turned away.” Karla also appreciated Calvary’s diverse congregation that spans several generations. But perhaps the most important thing about Calvary to Karla were the words of our Sunday liturgy. The ancient words and prayers filled her heart with joy.

Burial will take place at the Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona, at a later date.

Donations in Karla’s memory may be made to the music program at Calvary Episcopal Church or the Memphis Youth Symphony Program.

Please pray for all of Karla’s family and friends.